Compare Digital Cameras

With the introduction of the snazzy little Canon PowerShot D10, Canon finally ventures into the one arena of the digital camera wars where they haven’t gone before. The new D10 is Canon’s first underwater point and shoot, waterproof to 10 meters/33 feet. Canon has long offered underwater housings for their more popular cameras, but those contraptions occasionally leak, cost almost as much as the camera, and they’re bulky and complicated in use.

One of the most impressive things about underwater digital cameras (which seem to be pretty popular right now) is that unlike the dedicated underwater cameras of the past, Nikon’s venerable Nikonos for example, today’s underwater cameras are simply tougher waterproof versions of general use compact digitals with all the bells and whistles of their above water siblings.

Canon’s digital cameras are the dominant competitors in just about every Point and Shoot  class, but they’re starting from scratch here. The D10 isn’t particularly compact, elegant, or stylish looking – rather it sports a kind of bulbous metallic industrial-chic look with lots of exposed screw heads. The matte silver and electric blue (I see a matte silver and hot pink model on the horizon) color scheme seemed a bit flashy to me, and one of my friends thought it looked like a slightly garish toy from Hasbro or Mattel.

The D10 features a very good 3x (35mm-105mm equivalent) zoom with optical image stabilization and Canon’s fourth generation DIGIC processor coupled to a 1/2.3-inch 12.1 megapixel CCD image sensor. There’s also a 30 fps VGA (640×480) movie mode and a new Smart Auto (exposure) mode.

I’m not really a water person, so my impressions of the D10 in “wet” mode will be limited. I did submerge the camera in a nearby creek and took several shots at the auto setting with absolutely no problems.

Water and dust seals appear to be very good – after its dunking I dried the D10 off with a small cotton towel and then checked the lens housing and battery compartment for misting, condensation, or moisture – not surprisingly everything was dry as a bone. I didn’t evaluate Canon’s shock-proofing or freeze-proofing claims.

The D10′s compass switch (four-way controller) and FUNC button provide direct menu access to the most commonly changed/adjusted features and functions like exposure compensation, WB, sensitivity, My Colors, flash, macro mode, metering, drive mode, and resolution.

Basic shooting modes on the D10 include:

* Auto: Point-and-shoot mode with very limited user input
* Smart Auto: automatic scene recognition mode that instantly compares what’s in front of the lens with an on board image database and then matches that information with the specific scene’s subject distance, white balance, contrast, dynamic range, lighting, and color (just before the image is recorded) to determine the best exposure. For example if the D10 determines that a face (or faces) is the subject – the camera automatically switches to Portrait mode.
* Program: Auto exposure with user input (sensitivity, white balance, etc.)
* Scene: Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Long Shutter, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch Assist
* Movie: The camera records video at a maximum of 640×480 @ 30 fps for up to 4 GB or 1 hour.

There really isn’t much to complain about with the D10. It’s cheaper than the closest competitor from Olympus, it goes a little deeper than many of the other underwater cameras in its class, and it has the toughest wrist strap ever to grace a compact digital. I’ve been using Canons for more than 10 years and I’ve only been disappointed once. That’s because Canon seems to know what consumers want and they deliver cameras that are affordable, easy to use, feature rich, fairly compact, relatively quick, and capable of consistently producing excellent images.

The Canon D10 can be bought from Capitol Supply their website is 100% secure and you can visit them here.

The Pentax K-x sits in the slot previously occupied by the company’s K200D – one of the best-specified entry-level DSLRs on the market in its time – though that position has now been elevated by the arrival of a new breed of simplified models below it. In Pentax’s line-up that means the K2000/K-m designed to entice compact camera users into DSLR ownership with its easy-to-use interface and diminutive scale, and it’s that camera the K-x is immediately reminiscent of (they share the same body).

Despite its compact size and use of AA batteries, there is more than a hint of the K-7 about the new model’s specifications. It gains the K-7′s 11-point AF system and PRIME II imaging engine, along with its abilities to correct for chromatic aberration and distortion when using Pentax DA and DFA lenses. It also features an orientation sensor.

While, unlike the K-m, on the K-x you can now at least select the active AF-point, it’s still not displayed in the viewfinder. However, despite of all the shared features with the K2000/K-m and K-7 there is still plenty new about the K-x.

The camera is based around a 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor with onboard A/D conversion (a system often associated with Sony), with output fast enough not only for the camera to shoot at 4.7 frames per second, but also for capturing 24 frames of 720p HD video per second. Along with the sensor come higher ISOs – now up to 6400, expandable to 12800. Plus there’s a revised version of the K-m’s shutter mechanism to allow the high continuous shooting speed, which ups the maximum shutter speed to 1/6000 sec. The camera also features a new ‘cross-processing’ mode on top of an already impressive range of filters and processing options.
Pentax K-x Key Features

* 12.4 megapixel APS-C-format CMOS sensor (total pixels: 12.9 million)
* PRIME II imaging engine
* 1/6000th maximum shutter speed
* 720p HD video (24 fps)
* 2.7″ LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
* Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
* 11 selectable AF points
* IS0 200-6400 range (100-12,800 when expanded)
* 4.7 frames per second continuous shooting (for 17 frames)

In the Pentax line-up the K-x sits in the slot between K2000 (K-m) and the semi-pro K-7. While at first sight the new model is pretty much indistinguishable from the K2000, a closer look reveals that, from a features and specification point of view, the K-x has quite lot in common with the K-7, a significantly more expensive camera. It comes with the K-7′s 11-point AF system and PRIME II imaging engine, along with its abilities to correct for chromatic aberration and distortion when using Pentax DA and DFA lenses. Add 720p HD video, ISO 12800 and 4.7 frames per second continuous shooting to the mix and you’ve got a, for the the K-x’s very attractive price point, impressively well-specified camera.

Crucially the image quality does not lag behind the technical specification. The image output at base ISO shows good detail and colors but where the K-x really starts to shine is in low light. Its high ISO JPEGs are possibly the best of all current DSLRs with an APS-C size sensor; they certainly beat any of its direct competitors. The omission of visible AF points might be a serious drawback for some photographers but if you’re not one of them with the Pentax K-x you can bag yourself a very capable entry-level DSLR at a bargain price.

Dbuys sell the Pentax Kx Camera through their 100% secure website.  You can visit them here.

They’ve been making durable watches for years, but the Exilim G1 is Casio’s first foray into the rugged camera category. I like to call this class of snapshooters the tough guys of photography. They’re designed to withstand drops and underwater submersions of a few feet―nothing too extreme, but sturdy enough to take on some outdoor excursions to the beach or up a ski mountain without worrying about breaking the thing.

Unfortunately, picture quality has always been an issue with this type of camera. Even the best of the bunch thus far (last year, our favorite was the Olympus TOUGH 8000) took shots with a slightly grainy, flat quality to them―passable, but with plenty of room for improvement.

We’re happy to report that Casio stepped up to the plate and gave us a hardy camera that takes good pictures too. The user interface could really use some work, but overall, this is our new favorite rugged camera. Here’s why:

When Casio first sent images of the G1 to the press, my first reaction was that it’s one of the funniest-looking cameras I’ve ever seen. The designers obviously have to think about function over form with these rugged models, but the awkward shock-absorbing lumps on the top and left edges looked pretty, pretty goofy in the promo shots.

In person, it’s actually a pretty slick package. It’s surprisingly small – not ultra-compact, but at just 0.78 inches thick, it’s the thinnest, most diminutive of these “tough guy” models so far. I really liked some of the more creative aspects of the design, notably the vault-like compartment with the microSD slot and mini-USB output, opened with a twist of a notched metal knob. Most importantly, it handled all the abuse I put it through with aplomb.

I repeatedly dropped it from shoulder height onto a hardwood floor in a crowded bar, and it auto-focused like nothing had happened. I dunked into my fish tank for a closeup on my goldfish, and the battery and memory card compartments stayed dry as burnt chicken. My boss climbed up a mountain with it, and I ran it over on skis chasing it down a mountain (that part, I didn’t mean to do). Aside from a few tiny scratches in the glossy red paint on the front, the G1 escaped unscathed. I wouldn’t drop it off a building (it’s only shockproof to seven feet) or toss it into Boston Harbor (only waterproof to 10 feet), but it’s plenty sturdy for regular outdoor use.

The life-proof design has a few disadvantages — the battery compartment was a bitch to open without the wedge included in the packaging, and the buttons are a bit stiff. But those are minor gripes, and overall this is a well-built camera.

Wolf Camera sell the Casio G1 from their 100% secure website.  You can visit them here.

Dedicated to casual photographers, the PowerShot A490 and A495 rely to be simple but forget the wide angle.

This compact entry level is intended for those who want a device easy to use for casual photography.

The PowerShot A490 and A495 are the new digital cameras entry-level Canon. With a Classic 10 MP sensor, replace these small compact A480, Released last year. They incorporate the features, virtually without any change, except for a significantly new look design. Technically, both say it is not a revolution!

The A490 and A495 have mainly attract photographers looking for a simple device to use. There’s no frills, device technology developed as optical image stabilization and GPS. The new PowerShot are “I edge, I shoot “in the rules of art, which are available only a dozen scene modes. The type of camera is used primarily in automatic mode! Canon highlights the many ways integrated intelligent substitute for the user, such as i-Contrast or face detection.

If specifications are amply sufficient for basic use, damage that the manufacturer has made the economy of a wide angle. With a focal range of 37-122 mm, these devices offer zoom 3.3x comfortable, but a corner far too tight for the wide shots! Lovers of landscapes and panoramic pictures will have to spend their way up or back to frame their subjects. In contrast, a low light mode makes its appearance. It increases the ISO sensitivity for shooting in the dark. The both cameras also offer a transfer function of videos to YouTube (in SD only: they do not filming HD). Finally, they are compatible with the new storage format, SD cards XC can hold up to 2TB of data (cons 32GB for SDHC cards and 4 GB for SD)

Capitol Supply stock the Canon A490 from their 100% secure webstore.  You can visit them here.

There is enormous potential in digital photography. But, it can only bring good returns to those who take the time to perfect it. The truth is that many people with digital photographs have no clue on how optimize their cameras. However, if you are concerned about having more results, you will have to look into digital photography courses. After all, knowledge has to come first and there are varieties of courses that you can take out there. If you are wondering where to begin, go online and see how you can find digital photography courses that will suit you. You will even find free courses.

It is always wise to take advantage of free offers and free courses will only work for you. You want to enroll for a courses that will help you utilize your time properly especially in the fast-paced world. Online, you can learn and be perfect through an online instructor. Look for the sites that offer you this option so that you can learn with utmost convenience. This means that in the comfort of your own home, you can acquire skills free. Among many other online services, School of photography is a good online school to start.

This site will connect you to your dream and you will enjoy all the way. For those who do not have prior knowledge, you can take a beginner course that will go a long way. Your course will be tailored to your abilities and this is crucial. On this stage, you will have a chance to look in-depth at all the major methods that go into making digital photography a success. Those who are starting out will find the help of text animations invaluable as you get around to grasping it. Also, in the course, you will be introduced to digital imaging.

This basically involves improving images with the aid of your computer. To come up with admirable and excellent work, this part is important and will make work much easier. For excellent landscapes, consider the digital landscape photography course which will help you perfect in this regard. There is no doubt that these courses are not just excellent in imparting the right skills but will also provide you fulfillment and enjoyment. You can enroll for another kind of course but online, the merits are undeniable for all people who want ease and convenience.

The Olympus Mju Tough 3000 (also known as the Stylus Tough 3000) is the newest member of Olympus’ extensive range of shockproof and waterproof digital camera range. The Mju 3000 features high-definition video recording for the first time on a Tough camera, offers a number of Magic Filter effects for easy in-camera processing, and features SD / SDHC card support rather than Olympus’ proprietary xD format. Waterproof to a depth of 3m, shockproof against falls to 1.5m, and freezeproof down to -10°C, the metal-bodied Mju Tough 3000 should survive pretty much anything that you subject it to. Other standout features include a 12 megapixel sensor, 3.6x wide optical zoom with sensor-shift image stabilisation, 1GB of internal storage, In-Camera Manual and an HDMI port.

From the outside the Tough 3000 looks a lot like its recent stablemates, the 6010 and 8000 models. It’s about the size of a pack of cigarettes, but weighs substantially more due to being made of (mostly) metal, weighing in at 160g. Most of the front plate is covered in a glossy plastic and features a tiny hole for the microphone, an activity LED, built-in flash and the 3.6x, 28-112mm lens, which is always hidden behind a clear plastic cover regardless of whether the camera is in use or not. This can quickly get covered in dirt and fingerprints, so make sure to keep it clean. The lens is also positioned right in the corner of the camera body, making it easy for a finger to stray into shot.

The Mju Tough 3000 brings Olympus’ all-action camera range to a wider audience thanks to it’s budget price-tag, but at the expense of an ill-thought-out control system and below par image quality.

Although it isn’t quite as tough as previous models, the Mju 3000 should still be able to survive the majority of knocks, scrapes and hostile environments, only really lacking in the crush-proof department. From beaches to swimming pools, rainforests to deserts, coral reefs to mountain tops, this camera can handle them all, which can’t be said about most compacts, and is pretty impressive given the reduced cost of entry.

On the plus side, this is the only Tough model to offer high-definition movies, so if moving images are important to you, look no further, although the inability to zoom while recording is frustrating. The much-advertised Magic Filters are a little gimmicky, with the move to SD memory cards rather than the proprietary xD-Picture format that Olympus have persisted with for many years being of much greater benefit.

You can buy the Olympus Tough 300 through ReStockit’s 100% secure website.  You can visit them here.

Olympus unveils its most powerful line-up of premium Stylus cameras. The Olympus  Stylus 5010 offers beautiful High-Definition (HD) video, 14 megapixels to capture brilliant images, features like Magic Filter that transform average photos into works of art, and AF tracking so your subjects are always in focus. Next to a 5x wide angle zoom lens is the Olympus Stylus 5010 balanced with a new graphical user interface (GUI) for easy operation and new Olympus [ib] software for rapid downloading and improved photo organization with Geotagging and Face Recognition functionality. The new Olympus Stylus 5010 also comes in a range of colors to suit your individual style.

Olympus Stylus Digital 5010 digital camera
“The new Olympus Stylus Digital 5010 camera is the best of all worlds with high-definition video, stunning high resolution stills and a powerful zoom range,” said Nadine Clark, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “In-Camera Creative Filters let your inner creativity shine, while Shadow Adjustment Technology, In-Camera Panorama and AF tracking make it easier than ever to capture exceptional images.”

Olympus Stylus 5010 features HD video
With the new Olympus Stylus 5010 camera you can shoot gorgeous 720p HD videos, so you’ll never miss the chance to capture the scene. Activating HD recording is incredibly easy with a dedicated one-touch button, and playback is also a breeze. Now, you’ll be the hit of the party or any family function when you proudly display your brilliant images and videos on high-definition televisions. Simply connect the camera to an HDTV with an HDMI cable, which can be purchased separately at any consumer electronics store. With HDMI Control, you can use your HDTV’s remote to control playback functions and navigate the camera’s menus from the comfort of your favorite couch.

ReStock It sell the Olympus 5010 through their 100% secure webstore.  You can visit them here.

Underwater housing is the name of the new accessory in digital cameras that has broken bounds to make the impossible possible. I’m talking about making it possible for people to take photographs under water. The depths of seas and waters hold immense beauty and wonders that can be captured easily thanks to this technology. It has definitely changed the face of photography and more and more people are embracing this cutting edge method. If you are one of those who is passionate about it, the wall is down and you can excel greatly. However, before you decide to dive for it, take time to read tips for success in this regard.

There are so many sources of excellent tips and tricks that will help you achieve excellent images. Digital school of photography is one of those sources and you can subscribe to get updated tips that will help you make the best out of it. It is also good to look into a variety of resources that will offer you proper information and the following are others. For underwater articles and forums, why not visit digideep for insights. This stage will host lovers of this art and you can join them and learn.

Also, you can visit this site for detailed news on relevant items. There is nothing more important than taking time to look at all the good sources of tips and information. This is because where and how you get information matters. Therefore, to make sure that underwater images have no compromises; this is the way to go. With this, you can traverse different territories and avoid pitfalls that are not uncommon.

A digital underwater course in photography will go a long way and you can consider it. You are sure to gain a lot and the following shows you how exactly you will benefit. First, you will learn how to choose the best underwater camera. The camera might determine your success with photography. Compatibility is key and will play a very important role. You will also learn methods and strategies to use in your underwater escapades. Over and above this, you will get to learn all the important principles that will help you take photos quickly maintaining the quality. These considerations and more will work together to show you that capturing excellent underwater images with a digital camera is possible.

The successor to their DMC-FX550, the new Panasonic FX580 is a supremely pocketable compact digital camera with a bevy of interesting features and a hefty price tag to match. With a 12.1-megapixel sensor, a 25mm wide-angle stabilized Leica lens, full automatic and manual shooting modes, a potentially groundbreaking face-recognition mode, and a nifty iPhone-esque touchscreen interface, this is a camera with real market cachet. It’s a pretty little thing, too. But does it take good pictures? Let’s find out!

Housed in a brushed metal casing that comes in your choice of black or silver, the FX580 is a very handsome camera. Highlights of glossy chrome are set against the brushed body, along with a matte finish on the ring surrounding the lens. The camera is extremely solidly built, as you would expect from a $400 machine, and its various doors and compartments are well protected from breakage. Nothing feels flimsy here. A metal tripod mount is another sign of the forethought that went into the camera’s build—it’s not something you’ll find on many compact cameras. The back of the camera is finished in a glossy black plastic with stiffly sprung control buttons.

The FX580′s layout is instantly familiar to anyone who’s used a Panasonic compact digital camera in the last year or two—or any compact digital, really. A huge 3.0-inch LCD display with a very nice resolution of 230,000 pixels dominates the majority of the space, with the control buttons squeezed along the extreme right-hand side. The big difference from the Panasonic norm here is that the display is a touchscreen. For this camera, Panasonic has developed a “hybrid” control mode that, for the most part, lets the user choose whether to use touchscreen controls or traditional buttons and directional pad keys, or a combination of both. It works surprisingly fluidly.

The FX580 is yet another frustrating release from Panasonic. As a company they’ve proven again and again that they have a lot of great ideas that appeal well to a broad spectrum of digital camera buyers, but they’re crippled over and over by their slavishness to the megapixel race. In terms of aesthetic design, build quality, and interface, the FX580 has few rivals, which makes it doubly disappointing that it’s underwhelming as a camera. If Panasonic can create a camera that combines the FX580′s brilliant positives with the fantastic image quality produced by some of its rivals’ top models, the competition had better watch out. Until then, it’s back to the drawing board (where hopefully they’ll draw a bigger sensor).

The Nerds stock the Panasonic FX580 from their 100% secure website.  You can visit them here.