Richard Runion asked:

My friend needed a good digicam KW and asked me to help him buy one. So, first, I went about listing all the factors that I consider important before deciding which camera to buy. And finally settled on a Canon G7, as the ideal buy.

While build and design make a first impression, and are important considerations, I also look at how portable a camera is, as you don’t want to have to lug around a heavy package wherever you go. The camera weighs just 320 grams — truly pocket-sized. Yet, it’s not a fragile device, and has good heft, Q which makes it comfortable to handle, and use.

The solid-metal and plastic build make the G7 a stylish camera.

A camera buyer is concerned about the quality of pictures it takes. The G7 has a sharp lens and good focal range, with noise reduction effective up to ISO 400. This insures excellent photos.

The G7 has good auto-focus speed, so an amateur photographer (like me) never has to worry about the sharpness of the pictures. The aperture speed is good, too.

And because there’s good noise reduction, you can hold the G7 at waist height and hope to take good pictures. You don’t need to worry about insufficient light, either.

The other features of the G7 make impressive reading: an optical viewfinder, a large zoom with a good range, audio recording, image stabilization, optional lens adapters, a wide range of parameters for image color and sharpness, a good built-in flash, continuous shooting mode, movie mode, etc.

An optical zoom is very important as it helps you improve the camera’s focus, just by manipulating the lens. Also, you can magnify a photo using digital zoom. The 6X optical zoom of the Canon G7 makes for crisper, clearer close-ups, without too much effort. The lens is equipped with SR coating, Canon’s new technology. This helps eliminate ghosting.

Don’t you like photos which you can make enlarged prints of? The 10 mega pixel sensor of the G7 enables you to do this.

The G7 has a 2.5 inch LCD screen and widescreen viewing. This allows you to see how good your photo is before you leave the scene.

You can do all this with any LCD, but the LCD should be bright enough to see, even in bright sunlight. You should be able to reduce brightness to minimum, in the night. You can do all of this with a G7.

The G7 has a DIGIC III Image Processor, along with Face Detection Technology; this guarantees better pixel count and clearer images. Processing and saving speed are also enhanced by it. Best of all, it doesn’t use too much battery power.

My only complaint about this digicam is that it doesn’t have raw mode. The camera processes the pictures in 8-bit JPG format.

This camera cost my friend more than most digicams. But this is more than a digicam; it’s almost a substitute for a DSLR. That means it’s great value for money.

John Massy asked:


Different digital cameras offer different features and capacities. This is the explanation why selecting one is getting tougher. When you see what each have to supply, you can clearly have a tough time selecting which one to purchase. One of the common mistakes that most of us commit when purchasing their own electronic camera is to be entrapped by what the advertising mediums need to say about them. When they own that camera, they’ll realize that they don’t seem to be as good as they first thought it is. It might then be too late to return it and select another kind. Remember that getting a digicam should take plenty of consideration. Just like purchasing an auto, you’ve got to consider all aspects since this is one thing that you would like to work fine and would need to have for a considerable time. Below are a selection of the things that may help you in your decision making process before purchasing a digital photography camera? One. The pricetag.

Ok, so you wanted the newest canon digital camera out in the market. But are you prepared to lose the required amount for it? Cost is a gigantic factor when purchasing digicam. It is apparent the best camera includes a cost.

And your financial position may not precisely encompass its high cost. This isn’t pronouncing that inexpensive ones are not as good. There are those that you can get for a fair price and still works just as well as a costly one. Just remember to invest in a Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter as this one was rated as one of top cheap filters on the market.

You must window shop for the hottest deal first before you decide on one.

Better yet, you are able to save up on that costly camera that you wanted all along. Two. The purpose. Will you be using the camera to shot your folks members? Or are you planning to shoot some good pictures deserving of a professional? By knowing what use your electronic camera will have, it’d be less complicated to pinpoint the sort of digicam to purchase. If you purchase a straightforward one that may be used at home, you won’t get the capabilities that you want if you plan on taking truly good photographic photos. On the other hand, it’d be a waste of your cash if you’ve got the latest digicam only to be used for private footage at home. Three. The sturdiness. Since electronic camera is more expensive than the traditional film cameras, you definitely would need something that will stay sturdy for ages. You need something which will last even thru coarse handling and seasons. If you chance to get an everyday digicam you may need to buy some accessories to guard it from scratches and damage. It’s best however to get one that is known to have a top quality and sturdiness. Get the best value out of the money that you’ll pay for a digital photography camera. Think hard about these crucial factors first so you’ll get it right the 1st time.

Nollen asked:


When buying a new digital Camera, the options can be is not expected. There are so many cameras out there it is difficult to say, what is better. But there are two very important things you should keep in mind.

First of all, a home digital cameras or cameras for first-time isn’t designed for business or professional used. Home digital Cameras often do not have enough optical resources or the right business applications. If you have a camera for first-time, you should purchase a second one that is appropriately designed for advanced users. A 2 – 3 MP camera isn’t going to give you acceptable sized prints for hanging on your wall – unless you’ll be satisfied with 4×6. You’ll want at least 6 to 8mp to successfully make large prints and even then you’ll want to use the highest resolution your camera allows.

Secondly, regardless of the type of camera you buy – digicam or DSLR – you’ll still need to spend some time to READ AND STUDY the Owner’s Manual for it. IMO 90% of the problems people have with their cameras is due to Operator Error – they simply do not know how to use the camera. A few hours with the Owner’s Manual will save many many hours of frustration and/or disappointment.

I suggest you visit a professional camera store and seek the advice of a trained salesperson. Then buy your camera from that salesperson. Some camera stores even offer an hour or two of hands-on instruction with your purchase. You also can to get that on-line from at BestBuy or Circuit City or Nstuf or other online shops.

Now here are some tips to get you started.

What gives a camera its picture quality?

The short answer is that it is mostly the skill of the photographer that produces high quality pictures. The lens and camera are very important, but the ability to set the scene, adjust the cameras settings, and hold the camera very still or use a tripod with auto or remote shutter actuation when required is what gets the great pictures.

Many of the new cameras come with different parameters.

Megapixel resolution for photo-quality. More is better? Not always. Without a doubt, higher-resolution digital cameras from the same manufacture with the same optics will produce sharper, cleaner pictures – most new brand name consumer  digital cameras sold now are high-resolution, and most people are not using their full capabilities as is!

Optical zoom.

Optical zoom is nice, but do not be fooled – More and more camera manufacturers are choosing to label their digital cameras with the total (optical + digital) zoom.

Camera Size and weight – these parameters are very important – after all you plan to take your camera somewhere, and you do not want to carry a brick in your pocket.

Finally, if you are not sure about what new digital camera you need for you, this is the time to speak with a consultant. Good luck on your search and I hope you find the camera that is right for you.

Alex Don asked:


e who take up photo journalism are those who look for news. In essence they are different breed of people who are inquisitive and are very alert and always look out for news under strange or unexpected situations. The most remarkable attribute of a good photo journalist’s is his or her anticipation of an event, which he/she posses a gut feeling or sense something dramatic will happen. This is apparent among the journalist photographers who are present at the scene or happening. The photo journalists posses eye for detail capturing the very interesting action news. The photo journalist use the photo images effectively to depict the actual news or the story of any particular news event. In other words, photo journalism has become an exciting profession for people who look for challenge and excitement.

The photo journalist has the eye for a captivating news photo. It is the intuitive, alert mind and sharp eye that gives the photo journalist the edge in choosing the visual image that will tell the news most effectively. In photo journalism taking photos at the right moment is vital.

1.Use Appropriate Camera Equipment

If you want to become the photo journalist, you should not only have the eye for deatail and also should be bold enough to get in to the middle of the action irrespective of the camera equipment you possess.

2. The Compact Digital Camera

If you are a new to photo journalism, depending on the circumstances, initially the compact camera may be adequate instead of a Digital SLR. The advantage of compact camera is it can be concealed and conveniently used if in a sensitive or an undercover situation where the photographers personal safety is at a risk. However, there are limitations on using digicam for photojournalism. For example, the lens and zooming capability will not help the photographer to take photos at distance from the subject. In other words, you need to go closer to the subject if you need any clear pictures.

Similarly, the response time of compact digital camera is very slow, as a result volatile or quick action situations where the journalist have to move fast, the digicam may not be able to capture the seen owing to slow response. The main reason is the zoom and sensors which are electronically operated takes a few seconds to get activated . In essence, the main disadvantage of compact digital camera is its slowness in capturing images. When compared to the DSLR cameras which has the auto and manual operations, most photo journalists would agree that digicam is very slow.

3.Digital SLR Camera

If you use DSLR instead digicam, you are able to capture exact moment, by pressing the shutter release button. In other words, DSLR can be zoomed very fast manually, and you can see the actual seen through the view finder rather than the LCD. Hence, you can at once capture the moment by pressing the shutter release button using hand and eye coordination.

Having look at the advantages and the disadvantages of compact digital camera and the DSLR, one should realize that photo journalism not only selecting the right equipment. At the same time using the correct judgement to choose the right equipment at the correct time.

Cooper asked:


A camcorder is a portable device that is capable of recording videos and taking still photographs. But aside from the cold science of it, a camcorder lets you catch those special moments such as your baby’s first steps or a wedding.

When you start looking for a camcorder, you could feel slightly overwhelmed with all of the choice. Because of this, it is worth having a little understanding about what it is you are looking for. There are many components in the camcorder that need to be taken into account including; the type, Battery, Optical/Digital Zoom, Lens Quality and Size.

Type – A Camcorder comes in with many types according to the type and quality of the recording media it uses. A Hi-8 Camcorder will be a good option if you want something cheaper and one that records 8mm cassette tapes. If you are looking for compatibility with a DVD player go for DVD or MiniDV camcorder. The ones who look for editing their videos on a computer can choose a hard disk or a memory card Camcorder that offers direct connectivity with a computer through USB 2.0. A High Definition Camcorder truly the friend of professionals offers every recording media with a very high video quality as well as still photography.

Battery – A long battery life is key so that it doesn’t cut out and miss something important. Be aware that higher capacity batteries will weigh more.

 Optical/Digital Zoom – The quality and range of the zoom is a factor if you are going to be wanting to record from distance. There are a wide range of zoom combinations available and it is worth talking with a sales representative in the store about your needs in this area.

 Lens Quality – The quality of the lens is key to a sharp image. May of the different brands have their top lens brands for example, Sony offers Carl Zeiss Lens, Samsung features Schneider Kreuznach Lenses and Panasonic offers Leica Lens.

Size – What do you want your camcorder for? Will you just be using it at home or are you about to embark on a round the world trip. This should be taken into consideration so that you can choose an appropriate size.

It is worth taking some time to consider the above points before you start visiting stores so that you have a clearer idea about what you are looking for when you arrive.

Shruti Singh asked:


Photography is the good hobby and one of the best pastime of every person. We often go to tourist spots or even visit cultural festivals to relax ourselves from the daily hectic life. Therefore, we often wish to capture the happy moments of our life in a camera for future reference. The captured photos and videos remind us about our past activities as well as deceased relatives. These photo capturing gadgets were always prevalent in the past to cater to the nostalgic sentiments of humans. However, the problem was in the technical part of things. Most of the these old devices were big, heavy and had a complex operative system. The old SLR cameras, which were prevalent among everyone was difficult to use, as it had everything manual. Therefore it was difficult for non professional users to manually set the aperture, depth of field, Zoom, lens angle, shutter speed etc. To operate such complex devices it is necessary to have proper knowledge about the functions of these options.

However, with the advent of Digital Cameras the age old SLR’s have almost become extinct. The SLR Digital Cameras are high mega pixel cameras that provide excellent picture quality. In fact, it also has special options like self cleaning sensors that cleans dust and airflow system to remove dust from the sensors. You are no longer required to clean it manually. Other than this, almost all latest SLR Digicams have d-lighting options, stop motion recording as well as expeed image processing concept. The expeed option helps in better image processing. It is much more user friendly and has less buttons to assist easy operations by novice users. Infact some SLR’s have also come up with enhanced technology that has both manual as well as automatic options. Now, you can get full experience of both professional photography as well as easy automatic operations. What makes it unique is that it can be used by both general users as well as photographers. It does not limit your creativity and opens a wide array of options for you to experiment with your skills. SLR’s are best suited for wildlife photography to capture fast movements with better high resolution zooming effect.

Other than the SLR’s, there are various other latest digital cameras that have proved very user-friendly for non professional users, who may only require to capture festival celebrations, a summer trip etc. For such activities, an above average camera with automatic features are best suited. All you need to do is click the button and everything else gets set automatically. These devices save time as well as energy. The users need not worry about the light condition or the aperture of shutter speed. However, the bitter side is that, these cameras limit the users creativity. With these devices, you would never come to know the actual meaning, the essence and the passion behind photography. Most of the latest Digicams are small in size and have come up with smaller batteries. Hence it has become easy to carry them. They are supported by high quality batteries like AA, CR-V3, CR2 and AAA.