Saturday, July 7, 2007

Repairing A Digital Camera

would be ideal if you never had to use a digital camera repair service but the chances are that you will have to find one during the life of your digital camera. If you have bought your camera carefully then it should have a lengthy digital camera repair warranty. Even if your camera is still within the warranty period for digital camera repair then you still have to ensure that you meet the requirements of the warranty.

o digital camera repair warranty covers damage caused by abusing the camera or incorrect use. You also need to check what paperwork you have to send off with your digital camera repair for it to be carried out under warranty, such as the sales receipt and completed warranty card. Your warranty will provide instructions for how to obtain a digital camera repair and the procedures to follow. It is important to use a digital camera repair service authorised by the particular manufacturer of your digital camera to ensure that you do not incur any extra costs. A digital camera repair carried out under warranty will not cost you anything unless the equipment needs to be returned to the factory, in which case there are shipping charges.

One of the most frequent problems that require a camera to be sent to a digital camera repair service is a zoom lens that will not zoom, because the lens is out of alignment. This may have been caused by rough handling or some type of impact which will not be covered by the warranty. If your camera is not able to focus then it will not fire and may print out ‘system error’ or not turn on properly. It is a relatively simple process for a digital camera repair service to realign the zoom lens or reset the zoom barrel guide pins that may have been pushed out of their slots, and this will then enable the lens to focus and zoom. The cost for this form of digital camera repair will vary from service to service but it should be a relatively quick job, as long as the digital camera repair company has the correct equipment onsite. It is worth checking before you decide which digital camera repair service to use that they have the necessary equipment and expertise to carry out the repair and not have to send it away.

The best digital camera repair services have skilled digital camera repair technicians that specialize in repairing certain types and brands of cameras, hundreds of specialized tools to properly service your camera and some may also have custom test jigs to help complete repairs more effectively and efficiently.


About the Author:
Steve Gargin is the administrator of http://digital-camera-reviews.helper-guru.com/5000-camera-digital-olympus/index.html which is a great website dedicated to giving free advice on Digital Cameras.

Digital SLR Camera Versus A Compact Digital Camera

Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are excellent cameras that produce clearer, sharper and more colourful images than most point and shoot digital cameras available. With prices falling rapidly, they are now more affordable then ever. With the price gap between an entry model digital SLR camera and the most expensive compact digital camera narrowing; the question is… do I spend the extra money and get a Digital SLR camera? or save a few hundred dollars and purchase the best digital compact camera.

Well, it really depends on your budget; however if you do spend the extra money, here's what you get:

In addition to the price falls in the Digital SLR models, the performance on these cameras has increased year on year with the latest Digital SLR cameras being quicker and faster than ever before. They have improved to such an extent that power up or start-up time is near instantaneous with virtually no lag time. “Lag time is the time between you pressing the shutter release button and the camera actually taking the shot”. This delay can vary quite a bit between different camera models and it is one of the biggest drawbacks compared to a compact digital camera. The latest digital SLR cameras have virtually no lag times and react in the same way as conventional film cameras, even in burst mode. Compact digital cameras are catching up; however the difference is still significant. A lag time of ~0.5 seconds can result in you missing the heartbeat of the moment and hence that potential great picture.

Digital SLR camera also has a larger sensor versus a smaller sensor in a compact digital camera. This equates to higher sensitivity and less noise and results in the camera taking clearer pictures in low light. (They also have better autofocus speed in low light as well). A measure of sensitivity in a digital camera is ISO and a typical ISO range for a Digital SLR camera varies from ISO 100 – 1600 with the latter being more sensitive. The ISO range for a compact digital camera varies from ISO 50 – 400. In summary, the higher the ISO rating, the greater the sensitivity and the better the photo can be taken in low light.

The Digital SLR cameras have a much longer battery life due to the limited use of the LCD screen. Please note, that as the LCD screen is only used for viewing the image, the battery life of a digital SLR can allow up to 2000 shots per charge in some cameras compared to 500 for a good point and shoot digital camera.

Digital SLR cameras also allow you to interchange lens such as adding a zoom or macro lens when required.

On the negative side of a Digital SLR camera; they are usually larger and heavier than compact digital cameras, the image cannot be previewed on the LCD screen prior taking the picture. If you really require the image to be viewed on the LCD prior to taking the picture, there are third party manufacturers that produce LCD screens that attaches to the viewfinder and allow the scene to be view just like a compact digital camera. The other drawback is the inability to take videos and finally, lenses are expensive with the majority costing more than the camera itself.

Although compact digital cameras cannot compete on features with a Digital SLR camera, they are great value, have the ability to take videos and are portable. If you have decided to purchase a Digital SLR camera I recommend you visit other websites which has Information on Digital Camera and compare the features. If you are still undecided, purchase both.

About the Author:
Virginia Wong is an IT consultant and has a passion for digital photography. Her research into digital camera resulted in the development of her own digital camera website. http://infodigitalcamera.com This article is free to use, distribute and copy as long as the link remains in place.

Underwater Photography: The Wonders Under The Sea

The world of photography is an amazing one. It’s been with us for quite a while now but it is constantly changing. Cameras are changing and improving. Methods of developing are changing and improving as well. We have digital cameras that allow people to take a view of their pictures immediately without traditional developing. Another change in the world of photography is underwater photography.

What do you think brings us those great shots of saltwater fish and movies that film in the ocean and under the sea? What about shots taken in swimming pools? You see those in the movies a lot but may not have thought about how they take those pictures and videos.

You probably never thought about it because for a long time underwater photography was not really an option for everyday people. But now it is not just an option, it’s really easy to achieve.

- What is Underwater Photography?

Underwater photography is as the name implies photos that are taken under water. This is pretty interesting since early cameras could not function if wet. But as people started discovering the wonders under the sea, they wanted to be able to share that with others or even just to prove what they actuallysaw. So we began creating cameras that
could work under water.

It is no surprise that underwater photography is a
favorite pastime for scuba divers. The idea could have come from those few people that were able to experience the joys and beauty of underwater life and a desire to share that beauty with others.

There are many different occasions where people use
underwater photography. As we mentioned earlier,
underwater photography is used in Hollywood for movies. You have probably also seen it used on documentaries and national geographic type programs about underwater life.

But it is still most commonly used by divers. There are many websites dedicated to all the ins and outs of underwater photography; which cameras and lenses are best, which film to use, and much more can be found on these sites.

- How to Take Underwater Photography

Equipment is an important factor in taking great underwater photography. Of course you will need an underwater camera but there is more than just that.

You can take some amazing pictures using underwater
photography. There are now even disposable use underwater cameras and you can take them on vacation with you and get that great underwater look. Even an amateur can do it. Disposable underwater cameras can typically be developed at your local Wal-Mart or other film developing center. You can also purchase underwater cameras for more of a price but they last whenever you need one. Some people find this more economical than disposables, especially if
they want to take these pictures often.

Just like other venues of photography, you will probably start off with a cheaper and less advanced camera and work your way up if you continue underwater photography for a long time. There are two basics kinds of cameras; the underwater or waterproof camera and the encased camera which is inside a housing that protects it.

When taking pictures, you are going to need to be familiar with:

- Your camera
- Your lens
- Your film
- Your flash

There are different things in your environment that will affect the quality of your underwater photography.

Such as:

- Depth of water and transparency of water
- Light
- The angle of the sunlight on the top of the water
- The backscatter
- Water has a magnifying effect

These are some things to help you get started in the world of underwater photography. If you are lucky enough to be swimming in the sea, you should get some proof to share with others.

About the Author:
Looking for information about Photography? Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com 'ASA Photography' is published by Colin Hartness - An excellent resource for Photography! Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti

Of course all that gorgeousness and indestructibility doesn’t come cheap. The lowest current internet price for the IXUS 900 Ti is £195, but you’re more likely to find it for around £230. Compare this with the price of some other high-end 10-megapixel compacts, such as the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 (£143), Pentax Optio A30 (£154) or Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 (£215) and you’ll see that the Canon is very much a premium camera. It’s even expensive compared to the rest of the notoriously pricey Canon IXUS range. The brilliant IXUS 850 IS is around £214, while the IXUS 75 is around £195. Even the new IXUS 950 IS is only around £220, but as you’ll see next week it’s really worth the money.



So apart from good looks and the Canon name, what does the IXUS 900 Ti offer to justify its hefty price tag? It’s certainly not size and weight, because it measures 91.2 x 59.6 x 28.2mm and despite its high-tech Titanium shell it weighs a chunky 165g without battery or memory card, making it significantly thicker and heavier than any of its immediate competitors. It’s not exactly bursting with fancy features either. The Casio Z1050, Sony N2 and Pentax A30 all feature CCD-shift image stabilisation systems, but the IXUS 900 Ti has no image stabilisation at all. It has no manual exposure options (the Pentax A30 does) and only ten scene modes (the Casio Z1050 has 38). By current standards it looks a bit frugal.



It does have some features of course, but they are common ones found on nearly all Canon cameras. It has an optical viewfinder, which is rare these days, although it is very small and dark. There are wide range of colour adjustment options including settings for different skin tones, as well as manually adjustable contrast, saturation, sharpness and colour balance, and of course the usual metering options of multi-zone, centre-weighted or spot. AF options include Canon’s AiAF system or the now ubiquitous face detection mode. Like all of Canon’s compacts the 900 Ti features a quick-to-use function menu for most common settings, and also has an on-screen display of the operations available via the D-pad, which include ISO setting, continuous shooting and delay mode, and flash options. The external controls are all very well laid out and easy to operate.


http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2007/07/06/Canon-Digital-IXUS-900-Ti/p2

Canon Powershot SD900 Review

I have at various times been accused of being biased towards Canon, because of the high review scores its cameras often receive. I’d like to assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact I’d say that if anything the opposite is true; because Canon has the largest share of the compact camera and especially the DSLR markets, I tend to hold its products to a higher standard simply because they are so successful. Like most British people I love to cheer for the underdog and boo the over-achiever, but the fact is that Canon cameras get high review scores because they are, almost without exception, very good products. However a reviewer should always strive to be impartial, so I’ll happily point out faults where I find them.



Take this Friday’s review camera for example. It’s the flagship of Canon’s Digital IXUS range, the 900 Ti launched last September. It’s a high-spec pocket compact camera, featuring a 3x zoom lens, 10.0-megapixel 1/1.8" CCD sensor, 1600 ISO maximum sensitivity and a 2.5-in 230k LCD monitor. If that wasn’t enough it also has a titanium body. Titanium, as I’m sure you’re aware, is a metal which is stronger and lighter than steel, and is able to withstand the temperatures and stresses of sustained speeds over Mach 3, which is sure to come in handy. It’s also a very pretty metal, giving the IXUS 900 a lovely matt bronzy-grey finish which is beautifully set off by its chrome highlights. It’s a very sexy looking camera, and it almost goes without saying that the build quality is fantastic. The titanium body is immensely strong and resists marks and scratches, and all the controls feel like they’re made of the same stuff. This is a camera that should be able to survive in any pocket of handbag without damage.



Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the LCD monitor, which is a great pity. Like most of Canon’s high-end compacts the 900 Ti has one of the best monitor screens on the market. It is bright, sharp and fast, with excellent contrast and a superb anti-reflective coating to make sure it works just as well in bright sunlight. Unfortunately it also also marks very easily. The camera which I was sent for review had previously been reviewed by someone else, and whoever it was should be ashamed of themselves. I always treat review cameras as what they are; somebody else’s very expensive property. I make sure I return them in the same pristine condition in which I usually receive them, but this one arrived looking like it had been put in a sack full of rocks and shaken for a few hours. While the titanium body was largely unmarked, the monitor screen was covered in scuffs and scratches. Fortunately it still worked perfectly, testament to the camera’s durability, although not to the manners of whoever was responsible.


http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2007/07/06/Canon-Digital-IXUS-900-Ti/p1