How to add more plays to MySpace

Ever wondered how to get more plays on MySpace? The fact is fans and friends judge your music based not only on your skills and talent but also on the amount of profile views and song plays a band has.  An important factor for a band or artists is the amount of song plays because of MySpace chart ranking. 

Song Plays

Increasing MySpace song plays will make your music seem more popular and could increase your mp3 sales or get you a record deal. 

The leading benefits of more plays include; increasing your profiles awareness through artist rankings, better MySpace chart positions, fans actually listen to the songs based on plays, and the obvious of potential deals and gigs. Fans will take notice and visit your band profile out of curiosity.  This in turn will generate more friend requests.  This will also expose you to radio, managers, record labels, industry executives, band promoters, and other musicians.  The rumored number of plays an artist needs to increase their profile views and song plays to be 25'000 for major label consideration.


MySpace Charts

Record companies are constantly on MySpace charts looking for artists that are not only talented but also show evidence of popularity within the page.   Myspace takes a song plays daily average play count to determine an artist's position in their genre.

How do you climb up the MySpace charts?

Gradual increases are best, not exceeding anywhere from 5000 to 20,000 plays a day. If you take it slow and gradual, this will help you get better positioning on the Myspace Charts.  The results will also last longer.  You don't want the difference between your profile views and song plays to be so large because you may not be eligible to climb the charts as high as gradual increases.  To make it into the Top 10 depends on your genre, most artists receive at least 5-20,000 plays per day to stay up in the charts and really get noticed.  This is where fans searching for artists in your genre, will actually discover you.  The catch is in order to be in the "Top Artists", you need more song plays. Unsigned or independent artists don’t have huge marketing budgets like the signed artists have. Some artists have started using software or hit services to boost the profile hit and play counts on their profiles.  While the services charge more, a lower cost solution is increaser software such as Mp3 Song Plays Increaser.

MySpace Video

Until now, MySpace hasn’t really focused on engaging users to use their video service.  In the last week “Tom” has even posted bulletins about some of his favorite videos.  MySpace allows its users to embed video the MySpace videos to third party websites.  You can get your MySpace page happening… all these things add up, hopefully, to a successful record.  Some have even added a video or showcase to the requirement, because singers also have to be performers.  You can also use software to boost the video plays to get a better positioning for your profile. 

MySpace Friends

Are you tired of requesting friends or asking people to listen to your music on your MySpace profile?  People tend to get curious when they see a high song play count and see song plays increasing.  They will click and listen to your music and then convert to friends and fans.  It is a must to get your song plays up in relation to your friend count.  Users are always looking for that new song!

Increaser Software

It is important to have the right strategies and the correct tools in place. Ever seen those programs or services that claim to increase your profile views and/or plays?  There is a piece of little known software that has been used privately among many MySpace artists.  I purchase every kind of Myspace software there is to date. I have found the best software to achieve higher song plays and video views to be the Mp3 Song Play increaser found at http://www.mp3songplays.com.  It will increase your MySpace profile stats including, song plays, profile views, and video views.  The cost is a fraction of the price in comparison to the multi million dollar marketing campaigns the major labels use.  In addition, if you’re not a band, it will also help with profile view count.

By using this strategy, you will get more MySpace plays.  The best promotional times are when you released new music, attempting to impress people you are promoting to, have a lot of friends and few song plays, have a new video released, when you are at the bottom of the charts, or when you are tired of spending all day and night promoting yourself on MySpace.

How The IPOD Changed The Industry

Music fans have celebrated ever since IPOD was released. It does not just give them music on the go but plenty of flexibility.

Owning an IPOD means unlimited digital music to fill your soul. You can fill it with songs from CDs you own, from online music sites that offer free downloads or exchanges, and from Apples own innovation iTunes for as little as 99cents. A music lover can pay for just one song that he likes and does not have to purchase a whole CD.

And since IPOD supports MP3 a person can purchase songs from a consumer friendly store like MP3tunes.com. But the battle that rages in the music industry is about copyright protection and loss of revenue. The question is whether the music industry should move forward and allow consumers to transfer music to portable devices without restrictions.

The design of the IPOD is such that it promotes legal purchase and downloading of music around the globe. In three years IPOD owners have purchased 1 billion songs from iTunes stores world over.

It is not just consumers who benefit. Artists can choose to distribute their music world wide through iTunes.  Any artist who has not signed a contract with a major or independent record label can present their music to the world by approaching Apple affiliates like iFanz.com or CCBABY.com. The artist stands to gain as he or she will get 91% of the income.  

The IPOD can be used for more than music. IPODs can contain orientation material for freshmen entering college; students can use IPODs to download academic course material, notes, as well as audio books.

IPODs are for people on the move; you can store music as well as videos and take off. If you own CDs you can load them onto the IPOD or use music from iTunes or other internet sites. The music is pure, does not skip, and it is yours.

IPODs have changed the rules of the music industry. Digital technology has taken music forward but has also created problems with enforcement of copyright and generation of revenues. There are problems of music swapping, free downloads, piracy, and CDs being borrowed from libraries and burned or copied for use on IPODS and computers.

The future seems unrestricted and gurus predict that giants like Amazon.com will launch by end 2006 digital distribution of music and movies. With the boom of the World Wide Web, experts expect the online music industry to show unprecedented growth in the next 4-5 years. The internet is a key distribution point for music and music downloads and subscription services are expected to exceed sales of CDs. PricewaterhouseCoopers estimate that digital music will account for over 40% of US music sales in five years.

So, while IPODs and the new avatar that music has taken will be sweet to music lovers and buyers it is definitely sour or a threat to many giants of the music world.  Sadly big players in the music business viewed the World Wide Web as an arch enemy. And now thanks to the success of IPOD and iTunes, the industry is acknowledging that music buffs will pay for legal music online.

IPODs have revolutionized music and literally the industry has changed “tracks.”

How Does Apple Manage To Dominate The Mp3 Player Market With The Ipod

In the realm of MP3 players, Apple (producer of Macintosh computers and related technology) is the definite dominator when it comes to having the most highly-purchased products among the other manufacturers. One of the main reasons for this – simple as it may seem – is basically out of customer loyalty to the originator of this portable audio device. It was the first of its kind on the market and still remains today, the brand of choice.

Apple actually released the iPod in 2001 as a portable audio device that was strictly compatible with Macintosh technology. Working in unison with Apple’s iTunes, Mac users were able to create, maintain and utilize countless numbers of sound files in their music and audio libraries. However, due the growing popularity among its customers, many Windows users were feeling left out and wanted to be able to take advantage of this great new way of listening to and downloading music and other audio as well. So, in 2002, Apple produced a new form of iPod that was compatible with both Macintosh and Windows interfaces. And later in 2003, they gave the Window’s world a compatible version of iTunes as well. This made the audio playing and storing consumer market very happy.

Then eventually, other companies like Sony and Samsung began producing MP3 players as well but have never reached the level of success that Apple has with their iPods. And moreover, it doesn’t look like those competitors ever will. Statistics show that Apple and their iPod actually dominate the MP3 player market with a 70% selling advantage over other manufacturers of these types of portable MP3 audio devices. And when it comes to hard-drive based MP3 players, they’ve got a whopping 90% lead over the competition.

The main reasons consumers complain about the non-Apple brands of MP3 players is that not only are the competitor versions too expensive, but they are strongly lacking in form. They just don’t have the ease of operation in terms of user-interfacing and also don’t include a lot of the convenient and ‘cool’ features that the Apple iPod does either. Generally speaking, the iPod emphatically outperforms the other manufacture’s brands of portable audio devices by a mile (or more).

And with the addition of Intel into the Apple product line as a whole, the iPod is only going to continue to be improved upon causing it not only to remain the favorite, but also further expand its appeal throughout the music-loving universe.

How Coupon Code Works

Are you really interested in knowing how your coupon code works before using it anywhere? Savvy buyers know that coupon code and discount shopping can help to save their lots of money, shopping for discount should not be hassle. Get your coupon online or from any discount coupon book stores. In every discount coupon book you will get coupon code which can be exchange for your shopping. Coupon code is nothing but the discount coupon where in exchange you can buy any product in discount price, means the amount of discount coupon you have with yourself.

Every discount coupon book has there item code and this code is getting listed with the shopkeepers so when you for discount they will request you to show your coupon code so that discount is given to you.

You can rest assure that you get the discount information from your mailbox or online so that you can enjoy the offers. Always be their first to printable and promotion online coupon code currently available. In this way you will never miss out any great offers that have been introduced in the market.

With coupon code you not only save your money but also make a better purchasing decision. So not only you get the joy but you also save your lots of money on your shopping. Online coupon code helps to build the strongest online community for internet shopping savvy and to save their money and other to make wiser decisions.

The stores that are part of this shopping community are well known, reputed and trusted merchants. So you did not need to worry about your discount they will provide you all the discount of the amount coupon have with you.

One thing is more important for discount coupon users. Before presenting your coupon code please make sure that you have a valid coupon with you as many of us forget to check the date of their coupon. Always good to cross check your coupon expiry date it will be helpful for you and as well as the seller

Anna Josephs is a freelance journalist having experience of many years writing articles and news releases on various topics such as pet health, automobile and social issues. She also has great interest in poetry and paintings, hence she likes to write on these subjects as well. Currently writing for this website <a href=" http://www.borders-couponbook.info /"> Borders Coupon Book </a>. For more details please contact at annajosephs@gmail.com

Checking for Key Digital Camera Features

In this article, I shall provide a list of the digital camera key features that you should think and know about. Here’s a summary of what to look for:

1.Resolution
Resolution determines how sharp your image will be, how much you can enlarge a photo before the pixels start to becomedistracting, and how much you can crop a photo and still be left with adecent image that you can enlarge and manipulate.

2.Lens
The lens is the eye of your digital camera. Look for the following in your lens:
•You’ll want good-quality optics that focus a sharp image on yourcamera’s solid-state sensor. The best way to gauge the quality of the lens is to take a test photo or two. A vendor’s reputation or lab tests in magazines are other ways to evaluate a lens.
•The lens also needs enough light-gathering power to let you shoot inreduced light levels. A camera’s light-gathering capabilities are measured in something called f-stops.
•The magnification power of the lens (how large or small an image appears to be from a particular shooting position) is another factor. A digital camera’s lens magnification can usually be varied by zooming in and out to make the image larger or smaller.
•A related factor, the zoom range, is another key characteristic to look at. Where magnification tells you only how large or small theimage can be made to appear, the zoom range tells you the differencebetween the two. As I mention under the discussion of generalcamera categories, some lenses have only a small zoom range, say 2:1,whereas others have a longer range, up to 12:1 or more (which meansthe image size can be varied up to 12X).

What’s the difference between magnification and zoom range?
Magnification deals purely with how large or small an image appears to sbe. For example, one lens may extend from a 28mm (35mm equivalent)to 85mm (35mm equivalent) magnifications, a 3:1 zoom range. Another lens might go from 35mm to 105mm (both 35mm equivalents) and also qualify as a 3:1 zoom range optic. However, the second lens would provide more relative magnification.

3.Storage
The kind and amount of removable storage is another key feature. The more storage space you have for photos, the more pictures you can take before “reloading” your digital camera. Most cameras use CompactFlash, Secure Digital, or other electronic “film” media.

4.Exposure controls:
Except for the least expensive models, all digital cameras include automatic exposure controls that adjust the amount oflight reaching the sensor based on the lighting conditions of your subject. If the illumination is low, an auto exposure system uses a wider lens f-stop or exposes the sensor for a longer period of time. If there is a lot oflight, the exposure system reduces the amount of light reaching the sensor. Cameras with more versatile automatic exposure controls let you specify what type of exposure to use. For example, when shooting action, it’s often preferable to use the shortest shutter speed possible to freeze the motion and to adjust the size ofthe lens opening instead. Conversely, if you want a lot of your image to be in sharp focus (say, objects very close to the camera and very far are both important), you may be able to choose an exposure mode that favors maximum depth of field. You probably want a digital camera that can handle several different exposure modes and lets you set exposure yourself.

5.Focus controls
Most digital cameras also have an automated system for sharply focusing your images. Some are more versatile than others, and many cameras also let you focus manually to ensure that the subject matter you want to emphasize is the sharpest.

6.Viewfinders
Digital cameras generally have four ways to let you preview and compose your images prior to exposure. The color LCD panel on the back of the camera shows you the same image that the sensor is capturing. The LCD is often hard to view in bright light, so digital cameras also may have optical viewfinders that let you see a non electronic version ofthe frame. More-advanced cameras might include a second LCD (EVF) in the camera, where it is shielded from the glare of the surrounding light. Single lens reflexes (SLRs) let you see an optical version of the picture through the same lens used to take the photo.

7.Other equipment, other features
Finally, as you choose your digital photography gear, think about accessories, such as tripods, filters,add-on lenses, external electronic flash units, scanners, printers, and additional stuff. Even the storage media you use to archive your photos, such as CDs or DVDs, can all be important.

Cheap Digital Photo Printing - Will You Get What You Pay For?

Cheap digital photo processors are a dime a dozen

Digital photo processors that do the printing cheap abound. They are everywhere you look. But to find an affordable location that can give you the quality that you expect is another story. Some places offer prints for as low as 12 cents for a 4X6 print. Others can charge as much as 58 cents per print.

What do you get for 12 cents per print?

Many customers of the chains that offer prints this cheap have a complaint similar to this one; "Some companies try to "alter" the images to get the "highest" quality photos. This person had done a test and submitted the same photos to various processing services. What they received were totally different results. Their complaint was that the photo shops try to make them look good instead of trusting their customers abilities. As simple as it sounds, leaving the picture alone can be a difficult quality to find in a photo printer online. To try to find out on your own is quite a lot to ask of paying customers. Other than altering your photos after you upload them common complaints are that the quality is not what they expected. As a photography lover let me tell you there are a lot of companies that will give you very high quality prints that will amaze you no matter what your expectations are.

What can you get if you find the right photo printing company?

There are printers that do not charge very much more and the quality is outstanding. With these more capable companies they offer very good sign-up bonuses such as 60 free 4X6 prints to start, and free membership. They can also offer various albums to organize your pictures online. All the while offering file uploads as high as 10MB. Other great services are bulk order prices. With bulk order pricing the more you order the cheaper they get. That way having a family reunion will not break the bank. As you look for a great company to print all your favorite photos remember that there are photo printers that can disappoint and there are printers that can dazzle.

Capturing Special Moments With A Digital Camera

There are millions of people around the world who share a keen interest in photography. The charm of capturing a moment in a camera is truly amazing. Probably, this is one of the strongest reasons why a growing number of people are joining the cult of professional photographic pursuit. Traditionally, taking photographs, film processing and developing them in the dark room was a painfully long process. But as digital technology evolved, it enabled camera manufacturing companies to come up with high-end digital cameras.

Digital cameras are an ideal gadget for taking pictures without having to worry about running out of snaps of roll which is the case with the traditional film cameras. This apart, there is no need of having to wait till the entire roll of film gets used just to find the blown-up pictures in the dark room. Digital cameras allow you to take any number of photographs and see each one of them right after you take them. Also you can connect your camera to the USB port of you Personal Computer and store your snaps there in a folder. What is more is that you can customize each photograph, thru software, just the way like it. In case, you want to take a hard-copy of the pictures, you can always use the printer to get your favorite photograph printed out.

Buying a digital camera is a matter of serious deliberation. Since different brands of companies are offering cameras with special features, you have be aware of the standard features of the digital cameras in order to be able to make the right purchase. The following are some of the must-know tips that you should be familiar with before you swipe you credit card in a digital camera kiosk of a shopping mall or punch in the CVV number in the box while shopping online for a captivating camera.

Price Range:

The price of digital photographic cameras can usually range anything from US$100 to $1000. If you are buying a digital compact camera for the first time, then don`t go for an expensive one. It is quite easy to get tempted into spending a lot of money to buy a digital SLR camera offering features that are just of no use to you. Get to know your needs and settle for a prudent purchase. Ensure that the digital camera you pick should be light-weighted and easy-to-use. Later on, after you learn the basics of digital camera photograph, you may opt for an high-end edition.

Features:

The standard features of digital cameras of all make are almost similar except for some special features introduced by some renowned brands in the market. Features such as zoom, automatic functions, special effects, black & white images and video recording facilities are usually offered by most brands. However, as a prudent buyer you have be careful of the claims some manufactures might be making. For instance, the feature of digital zoom magnifications may not actually live up to your expectation level if you are hoping to get the optimal clarity especially if you are aiming at say 8x10 or larger size photos. Do not be tempted by the flashy promotional gimmickry of the brands. Consider the features keeping your pre-established price range in mind.

Lens:

All digital cameras provide two types of zoom features: optical and digital. While the optical zoom feature is based on the lens magnification and gives you images with a sharp and crystal-clear clarity, digital zoom relies on the magnification of the digital image which results in less sharp and fuzzy images. Make sure that the digital camera you buy should at least have the optical zoom features. However, as mentioned earlier, you have to be careful of the digital zoom magnification claim. You can look for digital cameras having lens auto focus and image stabilization features.

Image Resolution:

Image Resolution or Pixel Resolution is one of the most striking features of digital cameras. For personal and email purpose digital cameras having 2.0 mega pixels will deliver clear photos. However, many manufactures are now offering digital cameras with 8.0 and above mega pixels. You get better and clearer images with higher mega pixels. High mega pixel resolution plays a key role in image enlargement. So if size matters to you, consider this aspect seriously.

Battery Type and Longevity:

If you are likely to use the digital camera for outdoor activities, it is important to consider how long the built-in batteries will last. Even if you think of using some extra rechargeable batteries, just make sure whether the digital camera you are buying support the same batteries.

LCD Screen:

Every digital camera has the LCD Screen feature. Just make sure that the screen size should be at least 2 inches or above. It will give you better and clear images.

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Capturing Colourful Fall Foliage With Your Digital Photography

When becoming an experienced photographer being able to capture the marvellous bright colorful foliage of fall is a incredible experience. You have mastered the skills in digital photography, you recognise what you want and you pursue it. With the correct technique and the skills that are necessary to produce good professional digital photographs you can and will be so proud of your collection. If you're a professional and hopefully well known, a few of your beautiful fall foliage digital photographs could be captured and assign into several of the most best-selling books and magazine covers around, for everybody to enjoy.

Now, with digital cameras it is much more available to capture great digital photographs of these unbelievably colorful outdoor fall foliage natural events. With the digital camera you will instantly be allowed to check out your photographs when you are taking them so if there is something not precisely quite desirable for your expectations you are able to change them around right there on the spot and proceed with your digital photography fall foliage photographic collections.

When you have accomplished this fall foliage experience you'll be able to go right to your home and produce magic. Take it easy and enjoy seeing your pieces of artwork, no matter how egotistical they may seem. You will then have the choices of letting other people to admire your digital photographic artistic abilities. I know that everybody looking at them will be in awe of your talents and skills with your digital camera. You may even inspire other people to try their own digital photographing unknown capabilities.

You'll be able to choose to focus in on the landscaping charms that the photographic location provides you or you can make up a gorgeous colour filled maple leaf tree your main focal point. It's altogether in your hands as to what captures your eye at their precise minute you choose to take the digital photograph. What kind of digital photograph are you desiring to accomplish today?

You may do anything what ever you can imagine in your head and create an image that you are wanting, then simply go for it. Like I said before, if it does not suit your needs when you have looked at it on your screen then merely make a few changes and proceed on with your digital photography experience, savoring the wonderful weather that mother nature has to offer you. With digital photography you'll be able to bring out those bright fall colours in every photograph. This is the most natural lighting source you can rely on as well. It is outside with the great sunshine shining down and in the fall your opportunities of having the perfect weather are pretty much likely.

It won't require an high-priced digital camera to accomplish the type of digital photographs you want. Just a simple basic digital camera and a head full of ideas and of course the drive to get out there and get it done. It will be such a rewarding feeling when you have accomplished this type of digital photographing to add along with all of your other digital photography collections. As for you first timers starting out your digital photography experience, begin by simple locations and easy photographs, you will be astonished at how easy and fullfilling this type of hobby or career can be.

Capture Life in Colours with Canvas Prints

<p>Can you imagine, just for a second, how dull we could feel, if our eyes perceived <strong>everything in black and white</strong>. Colors have great effect on us as well as beautiful, life music and nice smell. It is very important to choose the <u><i>right color combination</i></u> to achieve its magical <u>effect</u>. Various experiments have been conducted in this regard and it has been proven that a person can lose the sense of time, experience a burst or loss of energy, as well as lose track of things around him.</p>

<p>Nowadays <strong><u>canvas prints</u></strong> have become very popular to all the ages. They can easily transform an <u>ordinary photo</u> into a real masterpiece, which has a beautiful nature texture visible to the eye. This masterful artistic <i>effect</i> can only be achieved with <b>canvas</b>. You can commemorate dear events, views, places and bright outlines of your past captured onto <i><b>canvas prints</b></i> to relive them later in future. <u>Canvassing pictures</u> of old times which is known as vintage <strong>style art</strong>, can be preserved for ages. Thanks to various software which is used to modify the <u>image</u> the process of <i>canvassing</i> allows us to change and alter the initial <b>photos</b> making them looking really funny and weird and making you smile whenever you see it.</p>

<p><strong>Canvas prints</strong> can be used for wall arts as well and any good canvas printer can offer you the following options: 5 Panel Sets, 3 Panel Sets, Acrylic Art, Abstract Prints, Floral Flair Paint, Pop <u><i>Art Prints</i></u> and Emotive Scene Prints.</p>

<h3>Best gifts</h3>
If you really want to give an unusual but <u>interesting gift</u>, <strong><u>canvas print</u></strong> would be a good idea. And no matter where you go, to an anniversary, birthdays, weddings, the right <i>canvas print</i> could be the most extraordinary and remarkable gift for various occasions. Pictures of celebrities can be canvassed into the gifts for their fans, the bride and groom captured together onto <b>canvas</b>, pictures of ancestors looking back at you onto canvas might give their descendants flash back feelings of their family history, people who adore their pets, like dogs, cats, birds can get a <u>canvas print</u> of their pets. And there can be no doubt about that you will realize the true joy of gift-giving.

<h3>Thanks to digital technology</h3>
Thanks to <b>digital technology</b> and magnificent colour combinations you can obtain <i>canvas prints</i> of any enhancement and they can be in grayscale, the printed pictures would be in black and white, Sepia Effects make the <strong>printed picture</strong> becomes brownish, giving it an authentic look., Pop arts effect as well as any edge type such as Black Edges, Photo Wrap, White Edges and Grey Edges etc. It is also possible to enlarge your <b><u>photograph on canvas</u></b> in any size you want from 12x18” to 48x60”.

<h3>Services, services, services and how to deal with them</h3>
It is very easy to get a custom <b>canvas art</b> via the internet; you can find a great deal of such companies which offer you their services. Among them you can find <u>cheap canvas printing services</u> as well as those who offer their services at a higher price but higher quality is also guaranteed in such cases. And it is up to you to decide which one is suitable for you. However, you must make sure and verify that the company you are going to deal with is legal and not a soap bubble. You can verify the legality of these companies; just look them up in local chamber of commerce. These companies offer you a <i>“customer sales satisfaction guarantee”</i> and <i>“money back guarantee”</i> in the event of receiving the canvas prints not according to the agreement.

Canon Digital Cameras

Canon is a world leader in imaging products and solutions for the digital home and office. Amazing image quality and

outstanding performance are just two of the many benefits photographers, from beginners to professionals, will experience with a Canon EOS digital camera.

Canon's high-end PowerShot digital cameras incorporate the creative performance of a professional digital SLR camera and the compact convenience of a point-and-shoot. Canon's point-and-shoot PowerShot digital cameras are easy to use and boast an array of helpful shooting modes, creative features and advanced functions in an incredibly portable package.

For the Canon accessories, Canon designs optical systems to meet various applications by combining lenses. The design/application of the aspherical lens, fluorite lens and UD lens, and the development of the Vari-Angle Prism form bases for our image-related devices. Some Canon EF lenses incorporate an image stabiliser to prevent camera shake from spoiling the shot. This is particularly useful on close-ups or at slow shutter speeds, in situations where a tripod camera cannot be used.

Canon has been wholly involved in ultraprecision technologies applied in the lens and mirrors of cameras and business machines, automatic focusing mechanisms for cameras.

Now let’s see an example of a compact camera: <b>The PowerShot A710 IS</b> packs a powerful image stabilized 6x optical zoom lens into a remarkably compact space. A real-image optical viewfinder helps with quick composition and framing accuracy. A choice of 20 shooting modes include a full creative zone for manual control and 10 Special Scene modes for tricky lighting conditions, including Snow, Beach and Underwater. My Colors allows dramatic colour effects to be applied to images and movies. <b>High-speed ISO 800</b> allows you to shoot correctly exposed images in low light conditions without using a flash. ISO 800 also enables shooting at higher shutter speeds, reducing the risk of image blur. A complete range of optional accessories includes wide and tele-converter lenses, a close-up lens and slave flash. A waterproof case allows for underwater shooting at depths of up to 40 metres.

The <b><a href="http://www.photoaxe.com/category/cameras/canon/">Canon digital cameras</a></b> are developed over a DIGIC III Image Processor, the newest models having Face Detection Technology for superior image quality, fast operation and low power consumption. On a dSLR camera, the combined technology of the new CMOS sensor, DIGIC II, and a large buffer system, work together to obtain 4-frame per second Large JPEG continuous shooting. Let’s take for example the EOS-1Ds Mark II's 2.0":230,000 pixels LCD is ideal for checking focus and composition and its 10x zoom magnifies details to ensure you have the shot you want; as well as simultaneously shooting RAW and JPEG, there's also the option to select sRGB or Adobe RGB colour space;white balance (WB) bias is correctable by +/-9 levels for both blue/amber and magenta/green bias and WB bracketing is supported up to +/-3 levels.

All these 40 years of Canon technology resulted in a high quality products designed to satisfy every costumer’s choice. I admire the flexibility and large range of manual functions on all Canon's <a href="http://www.photoaxe.com/">digital

cameras</a>, as well as the multitude of scene modes and on-camera effects. But, the real main achievement of Canon Corporation is the appreciation and awards for the best image quality. <br><a href="http://www.submitsuite.com/products/article-submitter.htm">This article was published using Article Submitter</a>

Canon Digital Camera Guide

Canon digital camera innovations have always been at the forefront of photographic innovations and their compact digital cameras package a variety of functions into a deceptively small Canon digital camera body. These are particularly attractive to a wide range of users because of their light weight, ease of use, high image quality and high functionality. Canon digital camera experts are highly experienced in camera manufacturer, leading-edge optical technology, ultra high-precision mounting technology, electronic device technology and color management technology amongst others. All of this experience and expertise is combined to produce the Canon digital camera PowerShot series and the PowerShot DIGITAL ELPH/DIGITAL IXUS series.

Throughout their continuing research, the Canon digital camera development team has collected a large amount of photographic data and also made broad statistical analyses of the frequency involved in taking photographs. This data led to the creation of the Canon digital camera Photographic Space which is a graphical database of information relating to the relationship between surrounding brightness and distance between a Canon digital camera and the subject relative to the focal length and position of the zoom lens when pictures are taken.

The Canon digital camera Photographic Space led to the development of a new scene-recognition technology called "iSAPS" (intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) Technology. Canon digital camera iSAPS Technology analyses the scene to be photographed and makes optimal adjustments of a number of key functions, including auto-focus, before the shutter is pressed.

The Canon digital camera iSAPS Technology closely estimates the camera-to-subject distance based on the lens focal length, zoom position and surrounding brightness which guarantees the most accurate exposure and white balance settings for the overall conditions.

At the high end of the Canon digital camera range are their single-lens reflex, or SLR, cameras. The Canon digital camera company has created ultra-high-precision imaging elements and high-performance digital imaging engines so that their digital SLR cameras possess the same ease of operation as their 35mm film counterparts but produce exceptionally high-quality images.

The Canon digital camera imaging engine, or DIGIC II, creates image data from signals output from a CMOS, or complementary metal oxide semiconductor, sensor. The CMOS sensor is really the brain of any digital camera. Canon developed the Canon digital camera DIGIC II high-performance imaging engine directly due to the increasingly high resolution CMOS sensors. With the help of a high-capacity DDRS DRAM (double data rate SDRAM) as the buffer memory, the Canon digital camera DIGIC II processes high-resolution images at ultra-high speeds.

Canon Digital Camera

The Canon Corporation has an astounding product line of Canon digital camera devices, and compact photo printers that will fit the most discriminatory shopper. Within the Canon digital camera product line are categories of digital cameras that will fit the need of every consumer throughout the world.

The High-End Canon digital camera line features the Power Shot digital camera that is available in three styles, Power Shot G7, Power Shot S3 IS, and the Power Shot S80.
The features of these three high-end Canon digital camera models include still image recording on the Power Shot S80 and Power Shot Se IS models, with still image capabilities and motion picture and monaural capabilities on the Power Shot G7.

All of these models of High-End Canon digital camera models have the 4x digital zoom feature. The total pixel counts of these three high-end Canon digital camera models range from 8.3 megapixels to 10.40 megapixels.

There are 19 Canon Point-and-Shoot digital camera styles available in the Canon digital camera line. The most recent additions to the Canon digital camera Point and Shoot product line are the Power Shot SD900, Power Shot SD800, IS, Power Shot SD40, Power Shot A710 IS, Power Shot A640 and the Power Shot A630.

The features of these Point-and-Shoot models of Canon digital camera devices differ slightly, with a total pixel count that ranges from 7.1 to 10.40 megapixels, with the latest Canon digital camera models varying on the capability of still image recording not being available on 2 models, the Power Shot A710 IS and the Power Shot A640. These models offer still image recording as Normal, Fine and SuperFine instead.

Canon Corporation also offers a superb collection of Digital EOS Canon digital cameras. They are the EOS-1Ds Mark II Digital, EOS-1D Mark II N Digital, EOS 5D Digital, EOS 30D Digital, Digital Rebel Xii, and the Digital Reb XT. The newest addition to the Canon digital camera EOS line is the Digital Rebel XTi.

Some of the features in these Canon digital camera models are 16.7 megapixels, full frame CMOS sensors, DIGIC II Image Processor, fast and responsive EOS class performance, and improved image display. This is a professional level image photography tool line.

Because Canon Corporation cares about the quality and performance of their products, Canon digital camera photography equipment is constantly being reviewed by their well-qualified staff of photographic engineers for safety updates and taking an active stance in solving performance issues to provide their customers with a high-quality photographic experience.

Can’t see your LCD screen in the sunlight? Use a sunshade.

Digital cameras, PDAs, color screen mobile phones, laptops, and many other modern portable multimedia devices make use of an LCD or TFT monitor. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, while TFT means Thin-Film Transistor – usually simply just referred to, incorrectly, as LCD, as they appear to be identical to the end user, and they work on the same basic principle. They lend themselves to these applications well as they have very low power consumption, and a lightweight design. These two factors are essential for portable devices like cameras and PDAs because they are designed to be carried around without being a noticeable encumbrance, meaning both the design of the hardware, and the batteries that power it must keep weight to a minimum. While many of the prevailing issues with LCD screens have been addressed over the years, resulting in vastly improved displays for portable devices, due to the fundamental design of this type of display, one thing that still causes problems is the presence of excess light.

As stated above, LCD and TFT both generate a display with the same basic principle. In color displays, the whole of the screen is back-lit with white light all of the time. To change the color of one of the dots that makes up the screen – a pixel – it shifts through varying degrees of opaqueness. The pixel itself can be made to block all light but, say, green, resulting in a transparent green filter. The white light shines through this, however, only the green component makes it through the pixel, and to the viewer's eyes. The pixel can also shift to red or blue, or if made as opaque as possible, it will appear almost black. One area that LCD screens have never quite been perfect in because of the back-lit design, and the need for the pixels to be able to shift from fully off, where they are transparent, and appear white, to fully on, where they are almost opaque and appear black, all in the space of less than 1 100th of a second, is that the opaque state can never be perfectly created. As a result, LCD monitors always appear slightly gray rather than black.

Compared to what your television, or better yet, a CRT computer monitor can deliver, LCD screens have what is known as a bad “contrast ratio”. This is further compounded when light from outside the screen, such as from the sun, or overhead fluorescent lights shines back onto the screen's surface. The result is an even worse contrast ratio, causing all of the colors to appear washed out, and indistinct. It is for this reason that your LCD screens are harder to see under bright lights. Most people who find themselves in this situation quickly learn the simple remedy of angling the display down, or using their hand to cast a shadow across the screen. This is always inconvenient, and in the case of digital photography, where a good angle and a steady hand is required, it is often simply not an option. This is where a simple but valuable range of products to combat the problem comes into play.

An LCD sunshade is quite simply a hood made to fit over an LCD display, and block all peripheral light from striking the screen. They come in various shapes and sizes, for devices like laptops and notebook computers, to smaller versions for cameras and PDAs. Some of the more expensive ones feature a collapsible telescoping hood that completely covers the display on all sides, even from the front face, where you would look in. Instead, they have an eyepiece mounted on this face that magnifies the image being projected from the LCD display, which the photographer puts his eye to. Simpler designs are less restrictive about the devices they will nicely mount onto. They aren't perfect, as light can still come in from behind the viewer, however, if this light is intense enough to matter, in many situations the photographer's head itself will simply cast the necessary shadow on the screen.

A couple of interesting examples warrant a closer look. There is a wide range of other products along similar lines, however these two serve well by way of example. The first is the Hoodman H200. This LCD shade is specially designed to be compatible specifically with Nikkon and Canon cameras, however, it should be good for most 1.5 to 2.5” LCD displays. It is a simple Nylon box, tapering as it comes out, which secures to the camera with a pair of Velcro and elastic straps. It folds flat easily when not in use, and can be easily accommodated in a camera bag. Retailing for less than $20, if you do any photography in brightly lit areas or outside, it's an accessory that quickly pays for itself with convenience.

The second item, the Hoodman e-clipse E2000 is a sunshade made for notebook computers and laptops. Forming a black Nylon hood on four sides without significantly obstructing the user's viewing area, nor obscuring the keyboard drastically, this could be a useful product if you use your laptop outside at all. Like the camera Hoodman, it quickly folds up flat, and is easily stowed in your laptop case without adding significant bulk or weight. To use it, simply slip it over the upright monitor, and you're good to go. At $40, it's a little on the expensive side, however, for what it delivers, it may well be worth it.

Due to the very nature of how LCD and TFT displays work, bright light remains one of the most inconvenient hindrances to their use. Whether for your camera, multimedia phone, notebook display, or anything else that uses a color LCD monitor, a sunshade solves this weakness in a practical, affordable way with little hassle.

Cameras Of Tomorrow

One time you had only to look into a little lens and press a button to take a photo, but these days cameras are more complicated. Much advertising money is spent on telling us all just how simple and easy it is to take a photo, and it is certainly easier to load a film in the average camera now than it used to be, but you still have to know more about it. You can’t just pick up that brownie box and ready, aim, fire. There are warning lights that tell you to change your angle or adjust your exposure, to mention just a few.

So what is the camera of the tomorrow going to be like? Will it be so complicated that only a rocket scientist will be able to operate it? Probably not, since manufacturers must get good sales for their products. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there are more sales in the masses than in an elite group of rocket scientists.

So come on guys, make it simple. How about a talking camera to tell us what to do? Just imagine Great-aunt Ethel lining up her new camera to take a picture of the latest nephew. The sun slides behind a cloud and the camera growls, “Hold it, stupid!” Ethel retrieves the camera from the grass, dusts it off and focuses again. “Beep-beep-beep! The subject is not smiling!” As the family gathers around with fans and cool drinks for Aunt Ethel, little Johnny grabs the camera and drops it into the fishpond, where it happily snaps the goldfish every time they wiggle.

The camera of the tomorrow may not talk, but at a recent exhibition in New York Canon had a prototype that waits until all the subjects are smiling before taking the picture. Another can tell if you’re blinking. These are expected to be commercial within a year. Fuji has already announced it has a digital camera far superior to most in clarity and resolution.

We think of the digital camera as possessing the most modern technology, but what if it is simply the Model T of cameras? Perhaps today’s digital cameras are the forerunners of some amazing new technology hiding around the corner, just waiting for someone with vision to invent it? Some time in the future, there will surely be moving 3D images that can be clicked into being on our desktops, in mid-air, or beamed to the other side of the world in less than a second. They’ll be in full color and at the click of a button, we’ll be able to hear what is being said. I can hardly wait!

Camera Tripod Variations & Uses

In simple form, a camera tripod is best explained as a three-legged stand used to stabilize and elevate a camera. A camera tripod can be used in either still or motion imagery. Most commonly used by professional photographers in a studio, a camera tripod is designed to capture the perfect image every time.

A camera tripod is available in several variations, including floor model or tabletop. The least expensive begins at $50.00 and goes up, depending on the size and features. A basic camera tripod is designed for consumers and is best used for amateur photography or filming. An expensive camera tripod features feet suitable for rough ground and the head of the unit is designed move smoothly for improved video recording. The most expensive, which are used is studios and professional filming, are made of wood.

A full-size camera tripod is much better equipped to handle heavier equipment, whereas a tabletop model can accommodate up to 50lbs. These portable units are ideal for traveling and where compact equipment is needed.

There are several ways that a camera tripod can be used, including a family portrait where you want to be included in the photo. Simply set the camera up on a tripod and position it so that everyone is in perfect view, set the timer on your camera, push the button to take a photo and get into place with the family. Other uses may include an instance where your hands are shaky and you want to stabilize the camera for a quality image or if you are responsible for taking school pictures. Do you remember the days of middle school when the photographer would come into the gymnasium, set up his/her background sheet and tripod? All he/she had to do was to situate the child, convince him/her to smile and snap the picture. A camera tripod makes it easy to take multiple photos, in which the subjects are in the same location, without having to worry about placement every single time. With a tripod, placement is always perfect so long as the subject is where he/she should be.

When shopping for a camera tripod, first consider the uses that you will need it for. The weight of your camera, the needed features and swivel capabilities, the locations that the tripod will be placed and the needed height. In addition, a realistic budget that you can afford will be best considered early before shopping for a camera tripod. Most photography supply stores, both online and local, may offer camera tripods. Before purchasing, be sure to check out the dealer’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau and also learn about their return policy.

Camera Requirements For Digital Camera Photography

You are going to need a camera if you are taking the plunge into digital camera photography, and the key consideration in choosing a digital camera is speed. In digital camera photography, speed is an important issue because digital cameras need time to transfer the image to your storage media. The photography pros call this 'shutter lag.' With candid photography, a three-second shutter lag can mean the difference between capturing your child with the perfect grin, and taking a blah, ordinary photo.

You also want startup speed in your digital camera, because they eat up a lot of batteries. If you are doing a type of photography where you are taking photos intermittently, you will want to be able to turn of your digital camera, and then have it start right up again when the perfect photography moment arises.

Another speed requirement in digital camera photography is for the autofocus. Once again, you do not want to aim your digital camera, but find your target has wandered off while you wait for your autofocus to resolve your photo.

Also a consideration in digital camera photography is TTL - through the lens composition. This digital camera photography term refers to the fact that some digital cameras require photographers to compose their photos on an image screen. A digital camera with TTL has a viewfinder, like a film camera, allowing the battery-sucking screen to be shut off most of the time.

If you are the least bit interested in using digital camera photography to produce quality photos as a hobby, you will want manual controls. Even if you do not know what those controls do, someday you will want to compose a photo without using the presets built into the digital camera.

Megapixels are also an important element of digital camera photography. Generally, the more megapixels your digital camera can take, the larger your end photographs can be without distortion. However, the more megapixels, the slower your camera responds, and even just three megapixels will produce large, quality photos.

Camera Phone And Police Brutality

If in the past year’s camera phones were just use for capturing funny and charming events. Today, it became a powerful community tool in the debate about police conduct and crime resolution.

Some Los Angeles political groups are starting to train citizens to use cameras, video cell phones and Internet sites like YouTube, Metacafe, Myspace and the like to get their voices and pictures heard like never before.

According to Sherman Austin, founder of Cop Watch L.A, they encourage everyone to have a camera on them at all times so if anything happens it can be documented. The concept of patrolling the police is something that they are trying to press on as a form of direct action.

Moreover, three videos shot on cell phones captured Los Angeles police officers using excessive force to hold down black motorist Rodney King. The video images were captured by an Argentine plumber which brings up evidence that Rodney King was indeed beaten by four police officers. All said three videos came out within the same week.

For about 15 years later there are video cameras in tens of millions of cellular phones that people are carrying all day makes the documentation of almost any public event easy to perform. As a result, Black and Latino activists in tough Los Angeles neighborhoods are leaving nothing to risk.

Furthermore, Austin added "We have tried civilian review boards, we have tried going to City Hall and going to the police and all we have seen is more brutality, technology makes it all the easier now”. There are lots of digital cameras available nowadays that is already capable of taking good photos in daylight and then there's also an Internet that could get your photos out there anytime, anywhere.

L.A. Police Chief William Bratton added that he is investigating officer conduct from the three cell phone videos that is just recently captured, but warned against quick conclusions that he cannot just make judgments based solely on videos or portions of videos.

Moreover, Bratton also stressed that there is no U.S. government agency that has more policies, procedures, guidelines and independent oversight when it comes to use of force than the LAPD. However, Executive director of the Southern California chapter of the ACLU Ramona Ripston stated that these latest incidents underline the case for more citizen oversight.

On the other hand, CNN launch a report regarding 15-year-old boy that used his Sprint cell phone camera to take pictures of a man who allegedly tried to lure him into his car. Such pictures lead to the man's arrest.

The said boy, who escaped from his alleged captor after a struggle, gave the pictures of the man and his car license plate to police in Clifton, New Jersey, after the incident. Thus, armed with that evidence, police officers arrested the suspect William MacDonald.

Moreover after the incident, a spokeswoman from Sprint, the manufacturer of the phone, says the incident is the first time as far as the company knows. “Someone has used the year-old technology to foil a criminal” she added.

Camera Cases: Be Ready for Anything

A successful photographer must be ready for action at a moments notice. A successful photographer never really stops shooting when the action happens. A successful photographer has everything they need close at hand. For all of these things to occur, a photographer needs the right camera case for their needs. There are lots of options available to suit any type of photography.

What Type of Camera Case do you need? First identify what type of camera case you need. Consider the type of photography you are doing. Is it action packed, constantly moving and on the go? Or is it time intensive and localize to one area? These factors greatly affect the type of camera case a photographer chooses.

M-Rock camera cases come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit different types of photographers. For the first case of action photography, a small digital camera case is the perfect fit. M-Rock small camera cases fit a digital camera perfectly inside with soft felt lining so there will be no abrasion during movement. The rigid outer structure composed of water resistant materials, plastic panels, and thick foam protect the camera inside for the worst case scenarios. The small camera cases also have a belt strap that keeps the camera gear where you need it, and also have two small pockets for storing supplies and accessories. With a small M-Rock camera case, photographers can run, jump, and even bike, without worrying about the protection of their camera.

Imagine all the features of the small camera cases on a large scale. For the second case of localized photography, M-Rock large camera cases offer everything a photographer needs. The same quality components are used, with added features that allow the case to store larger cameras, lenses, tripods, and other supplies. To protect valuable lenses, large camera cases come with a u-shaped cradle to carry lenses within the case.

The best advantage of M-Rock camera cases is that they are modular, meaning the can be used alone, or in conjunction with other M-Rock cases for added storage. M-Rock camera cases have Velcro arms on either side that slip into the modular belt or other camera cases for a secure connection.

Visit M-Rock.com and see what types of camera cases are available. You may find some advantages of camera cases you never even dreamed of. M-Rock is number one for camera storage and protection, and will have a successful photographer ready for anything.

Calendar Men: How to Publish a Calendar Featuring Hot College Guys at your University

Ever thought of putting together a pinup calendar featuring hot guys enrolled at your college or university?

Most people who think of creating a "Men of (Your) University" calendar assume that all they need to do is locate 12 hunky college males and have them photographed. This is true, but there are more tasks to publishing a calendar and many more than 12 college guys must be recruited.

Besides recruiting, selection, and training of these student male models, there is production of the actual calendar, which includes photography, arranging graphic design and commercial printing. After the calendars are delivered, news media publicity must be arranged. Promotional Events must be held.

But, first, the best college guys on campus must be found. After a decade of publishing, recruiting of college men is an area were Campus Men Calendar operation is  an expert.

There is a high demand to appear in pinup calendars of college men. Therefore, we do not cater to, or try to convince any one college student to appear. We want to be able to choose from many college guys.

The theme of Campus Men's calendar photographs is very important to who we chose to recruit and select. We present young, all-American college guys in sensual poses in which the viewer never gets to see them.

We answer the question of: I wonder what that incredible-looking guy I saw on campus would look like in bed? We have found that to sell calendars, we do not feature college men wearing sweaters. We appeal to the sexual motivations of the viewer, whether through a cute smile, great face or body or what little you wear. We attempt to give the viewer a fantasy of what it is like to be intimate with the college student.

We also prefer photographs with a "college feel" - a collegiate or athletic feel to them, rather than "beach" photos to them. We try to plan imagery that brings college life to mind or portrays the college student as a sexy athlete.

Remember, the theme of Campus Men Calendars is: "We show people what that athletic guy they passed on the quad looks like in bed."

Far more than 12 must be recruited. Calendar production process calls for locating as many attractive males on your campus as possible. It is not usual to evaluate at least 125 college guys and as many as 500 during the entire process. If you want to organize a calendar, your goal should be to sign up hundreds of hot college guys.

A large number must be secured because the most important issue - other than quality of photographs - is timing of delivery. Timing is very important. Calendars must be produced for delivery June 1 of each year. This allows a seven month long selling season, allows appearing college guys to sell calendars during the summer (when they have ample time to sell because they are not enrolled in classes; are usually home among family and friends; and eventually order more after selling out); allows us to sell through national magazines; and allows us to reach incoming freshmen college guys visiting the campus during orientation sessions, held during June through August. This means the calendar also will be on store shelves in time for college guys who arrive back for the beginning of fall quarter who shop for items to decorate the dorm or sorority room walls.

Winter term is a poor time to recruit college guys because completing any activity takes generally more time due to cold weather. We cannot easily see what college guys look like because they cover themselves with clothing when outdoors. College guys generally stay indoors, become sedentary, gain weight, and do not have tans.

If only 12 college guys are recruited, the operation can be delayed if even one college student drops out of the publication for any reason or is dismissed.

We also need to recruit a large number of college guys because appearing in a calendar is not for everyone. We find that we must screen all guys to select only those who are willing to pose nude or nearly nude. Why? Because college oriented calendars are not the thing for timid or conservative young men. We have published many pinup calendars of varying degrees of provocativeness. Tame pinup calendars are nice. But, few buyers actually part with $15 to buy a boring male calendar. Calendars which have been more risqué have always been more popular in sales.

We found this is the best profile for college guys to appear in a pinup calendar:
• Outgoing, can sell calendars
• Nice body, muscular or lean
• Comfortable posing nude, uninhibited, the kind of guy who would skinny dip or go streaking at the drop of a hat

Help in locating attractive college guys from other college guys is an extremely valuable resource. We found that advertising to get students to contact us did not bring in the "right" kind of college guys. Many young men who are perfect for a calendar would never think of applying. They must be invited. That is where student recruiters are valuable.

We advertised to locate a team of students whose sole duty is to stop college guys on an informal basis. Advertising to locate recruiters can include classified want ads, fliers to sororities, career placement offices, and to all dorms and their resident advisors. We aimed for at least three "hard core" recruiters, a Greek system and a minority representative. Recruiters need not be female. Guys can recruit and sometimes find it easier to approach other guys in gyms, class and on the quad.

We estimate 60 percent of the college guys our recruiters find will be acceptable. Of those college student 75 percent will accept our offer to appear. Therefore, to secure 22 acceptable college men, recruiters should locate 50 guys per calendar.

Compensation to recruiters is a finder's fee paid per college student who appears in the calendar. Finder's fees are payable only if a college student the recruiter found appears in the calendar. We did not pay a finder's fee if we did not select the college student to appear, if the college student declined our offer to appear, dropped out before publication of the calendar, if we dismissed the guy for any reason, or if we did not publish the calendar.

If you can locate a large number of attractive male college guys at your university, Campus Men can work with you to publish an edition of the Campus Men calendar which features college guys enrolled at your school.

You must have an ability to identify many attractive male college guys on your campus, and guide them through the application process, follow up, collect and upload an image of every guy, and collect biographical info on each college student. You upload their name and email address and a photo to us through CampusMen.com. We must receive a snapshot or we ignore the guy's application.

After a college guy applies through CampusMen.com, you will collect a bio or interview the guy on video tape, and supply us with the tape. Then selection of new "male models" begins!

Buying the Digital Camera thats Friendly to Your Wallet

Digital cameras can be pricey - but they can also be cheap. Who wants expensive, anyway? Instead of immediately shelling out hundreds of dollars for a newly-launched model, learn to buy on your terms. You just need to pay attention to the features and bargains and you can have your own camera according to what suits you best. Here are some tips on buying cameras.

The physical design of the camera is not everything. Admit it, consumers always fall for the physical aesthetics.  Just because a camera is small, sleek and eye-catching, doesn't mean it will perform well.

"    Know your budget. If you are an average photographer with minimal interest in photography, then a $100-199 camera will probably do just fine for you. If you have a passion for photography and are very particular about your shots, then you can have a $200-900 camera.   If you consider yourself a professional photographer, then you can spend more than $900 for your camera.

"    How many megapixels? The quality of the photos is the number one query of most camera buyers. A 4-megapixel camera is sufficient for average users with a very slim budget.

"    What capacity memory card that will work best for you? To get a sense of the capacity you will need, ask yourself some questions about your lifestyle. How often do you take pictures, and how many pictures do you take when you do take pictures?  If you take a lot of pictures at a time, then you will want a higher capacity memory card.  When and where do you take pictures?  If you go on extended vacations then you will want higher capacity as well and you may want to consider back-up memory for your camera. 

"    Keep yourself in track with sales and promotions. Almost all gadget stores have year-end sales especially when new models are about to come out. You can strike the best deal when you are not rushing to make a purchase.

"    When buying discounted digital cameras, set a budget ceiling and stick to it. However, do not compromise quality and warranty for a cheaper deal.



Here are some additional points that you may want to consider: 

If you are not a professional, but still want to have latest technology on digital cameras then ask yourself these questions to help you find the right one for you.
   
Does size matter? The size of the camera is an important factor for most buyers. Almost always, the smaller the camera, the better.

Do you want to achieve best quality photos? Then check out the sensor photo detectors (mega pixels).

Do you want a camera with a good LCD monitor size? It’s always safe to get a camera with an average size of LCD monitor for this gives you a peek to the photos you have taken.

Does the camera feature digital zoom? Does the camera support manual focus?

How often do you take pictures? Do you store photos in your camera? Remember to check the size of the internal and external memory of the camera before buying. If the memory is not enough, you can purchase additional memory sticks or large capacity memory sticks. 

Does the camera support USB?  A USB connection is the easiest way of transferring or uploading photo files to your computer when your memory is full.

Can you set your own shutter speed? Setting the shutter speed controls the exposure of the picture.  You may not be interested in this now but you may be later so this is a good feature to have.   

Can you set you own aperture? The aperture setting controls the size of the shutter opening.  Like the shutter speed, this is an advanced feature, which you may want to experiment with down the road. 

Does your camera have video features? Videos are great fun, and like most functionality, you might find you use it all the time once you have it!  

How much does the camera weigh?   Look for a camera that is easy to handle and light. 

Inject some practicality when spending your money. Hype is not everything. Just because a certain digital camera brand is getting all the attention in the media, does not mean you have to have it. Know what you want and what you need. It only takes a few hours to make a research and comparison of brands. Then you can get a cheaper digital camera brand that can reflect you and your personality.

Buying Digital Camera Batteries

A digital camera battery is probably the most important digital camera accessory. Some digital cameras can consume power at an alarming rate, providing no more than a few hours of continuous shooting time before the battery is drained. Other cameras are renowned for the long life of their digital camera battery which allows users to snap away with barely a thought to power consumption. It is important to know how you intend to use your camera and what type of battery it needs.

There are two types of digital camera battery. The most widely available digital camera battery is a standard AA-size battery. The other type of digital camera battery is a rechargeable battery that is made by the manufacturer, otherwise known as a proprietary battery.

A proprietary digital camera battery offers the advantage of being lighter and more compact, but they are substantially more expensive, making the prospect of buying one or two backup sets much less appealing.

The alkaline AA-size digital camera battery usually has a very short life - less than an hour in extreme cases - when used in a digital camera. This type of battery makes an acceptable emergency backup, especially if you are travelling with your camera. However, the Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) digital camera battery can be used instead of the alkaline ones with a charger and this rechargeable NiMH digital camera battery has a substantially longer life at an affordable price.

Another type of AA-size battery is the non-rechargeable Lithium batteries and rechargeable Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries. The lithium digital camera battery has a superior life to alkaline AA's and offers good cold-weather performance but their price and non-rechargeable nature make them less useful than rechargeable NiMH batteries. It is also important to ensure that your camera can take a lithium digital camera battery. On the other hand the NiCD digital camera battery offers the advantage of retaining their charge while unused, unlike NiMH cells, but have shorter lives and need to be discharged completely before recharging which can be extremely inconvenient.

The LCD screen of a digital camera is responsible for consuming the most power from a digital camera battery so it is worth only using the LCD when necessary to help conserve the battery life. Always try to carry at least one backup set of batteries, especially if you plan on being away from power outlets for an extended period of time. The universally-available alkaline AA-size battery can make a convenient emergency backup if your regular digital camera battery fails.

Buying A Digital Camera

When it comes to buying a digital camera, you need to ask yourself one question. “What type of pictures am I looking to take?” Then from that point on, try to envision the image perfectly in your mind, also how you would like then to turn out for others to see. From there on in, it can be easy clicking and all this can be done just by picking out what you are looking for in the features of a digital camera and the picture you have seen in your mind. Buying a digital camera should not be stressful.

Most digital cameras come with the essentials things such as picture storage and a viewfinder and other times when it comes to buying a digital camera, you will find that some extras may be helpful to you on making what envisioned seem real on paper or on a screen. Some digital cameras come with zoom, a self-timer and even flash, so choosing these qualities just might be right up your ally for great picture taking. One of the neat features that some digital cameras offer these days is a moviemaker or mpeg maker, this allows you to capture a few seconds worth of homemade film and can complement any picture you have taken.

Buying a good digital camera does not have to cost a lot of money for anyone, even for the beginner. The good thing about a digital camera is that it takes out the cost of developing the film at a local store plus the drive to the store and back. There is an instant gratification feeling, just by viewing the pictures on the viewfinder or they may also be downloaded from your camera to your personal computer. Almost all digital cameras come with software that can be installed onto your PC and it gives you full freedom of editing your pictures until you are content and happy with them.

Black And White Digital Photography

There are several ways to achieve black and white digital photography. With black and white digital photography, you are bringing the end user back into a period of time when life seemed a lot simpler. Many digital cameras come equipped with a function to take these types of photos. If your digital camera does not support this function, you can still change your photographs into black and white with software programs.

You’ll want your black and white digital photography to look its best when you are finished. A technique that can help you get the best image out of your digital photograph is through image manipulation. You may find it better to convert your eight-bit color images (which are usually jpegs) into 16-bit colors first. This is important because an 8-bit RGB can be the same as a 10-bit grayscale.

You can find information all over on the Internet to help you with your black and white digital photography. These resources can be found in everything from websites to magazines. Colored pictures can look truly beautiful as a black and white display. You will usually have to convert your graphics, because although there are options with digital cameras, there are no true black and white digital cameras.

Correct the Colorcasts

An important part of black and white digital photography is correcting the colorcasts. These are caused by bad lighting, but you can use software such as PhotoShop Elements to make the relevant changes by using their editing applications. The Imaging Factory is also software that can help you to easily convert and fix lighting areas in your graphics to get the best look with your black and white digital photography. If you want to turn your graphics into black and white digital photography, you can step into a completely new dimension in photography. You can do an endless array of projects right from your own computer.

Bringing Memories to Life

Many us of have many treasured photo albums that with just the flip of a page allowing us walk again down paths long since traversed. Dipping in and out of memories as though it all happened only yesterday – until we realise abruptly that our treasured memories are, in fact, from years ago, and we no longer remember where that snap shot was taken, or what year is encapsulated there in paper form. While it is quick and easy to write a brief note upon the back of our photographs, the best way to rekindle those special memories is to log them all, each one, is in a scrapbook.

Using scrapbooks is a wonderful way to raise the storage of photographs and other memorabilia to a more personal level. There is little doubt that retaining keepsakes from important events or occasions is the ideal way to recapture the essence of a particular moment once it has passed us by in time, but it is only in using a scrapbook that the story really comes to life. Our precious memories so often wither in old shoeboxes, clumped together into confused bundles, where their special meaning fades. By gathering our memories into a scrapbook, we can suffuse life into them once more, and bequeath the joy we once shared to a whole new generation.

A scrapbook is nothing less than our own storybook, storing particular items that capture the meaning behind the memories. The straw you kept from your very first date with the man you’ve now been married to for over twenty years, that’s a precious memory, but think how the memory of that date comes alive when you scrapbook that straw with a photograph of the new couple, and include your thoughts from that special night. How much more meaningful does this memento become to your children and your children’s children when it is conveyed as a part of the whole story of your love? What once was a small plastic tube found at the bottom of an old box is now a living memory, conveying far more than you ever thought it could.

A scrapbook can store your memories in the most precious and personal way. Don’t keep your life to yourself; share it with a scrapbook, and relive your memories through the eyes of others.

Bird Photography

Birds have been one of the greatest subject for photographers for centuries now because they have an inspiring beauty and mystify us with their gift of flight and diversity. When it comes to photographing birds and their behavior, catching it on film will add a tremendous visual impact and feeling to any picture. There are different locations where birds gather, but really the best place you may what to start is your backyard. The thing about birds is that they are busy little bodies and a bird feeder in the backyard is a great place to get a picture when they are feeding or even the bird in the air getting ready to pounce one of the birds that is currently feeding.

When you venture out of your backyard to look for birds to photograph your vehicle may just become your newest piece of equipment. Birds see our cars less of a threat then a person carrying a long lens underneath their arm. A vehicle makes for a great blind and along with this patience is a virtue. When you find a location such as a prime feeding ground, park a bit of a ways from it and stop your engine to cut down on noise that may scare them.

Standard,wide-angle and short zoom lenses can be used for photographing birds, but for serious bird photography, a quality 500 mm or 600 mm telephoto lens is ideal.

Please keep in mind to avoid any situation that can put stress on the birds and their surroundings. If you notice a bird that is starting to show any kind of stress, this means that there is a nest or chicks near by. Any further picture taking should be disengaged and you should leave the immediate area. As a photographer of birds or any wildlife, it is a good thing to remember not to put ourselves or the birds around us in any kind of danger.

Beginners Digital Photography Equipment Tips

When you first begin using your digital photography

camera be sure you have got the correct equipment you

will need before you set out. Owning the proper equipment

is  essential whenever you would like to make it

successfully wether you are a beginner or a professional.

If you're going to become a professional with your

digital photography then you had better be willing to

spend a good deal more on equipment than simply somebody

wanting to do this as a hobby. Depending upon what you

would like to do with digital photography it's entirely

up to you as to how much equipment you're going to be

checking out in buying. A professional career in digital

photography might not be what you are looking for do if

you don't have the money for these kinds of equipment

that you will need to have.

Then, if you are merely wanting to enjoy digital

photography as a hobby then I should be able to assist

you out in letting you know what you may require for your

digital camera, accessories and all. For your first

digital camera the important thing is to not spend overly

to much on it. There is no call for in purchasing an

pricey digital camera until afterwards down the road once

you get a good deal more experienced with it. On several

digital cameras you could be capable to even utilize them

as a manual camera. You will merely have to work out how

to adjust all of it's operations. You'll be able to go

out and buy a book for dummies on digital photography as

well, those are always handy to own. They have them for

virtually everything you want to know. Just keep in mind

that owning the proper software for your digital camera

is really significant, it will help you organize all of

the images you have created.

You will need to purchase a bag or case to keep your

digital camera safe and all or any accessories that you

may have bought as well while you're active. Purchase the

camera that you feel best suits your needs and remember

you only require a basic one for beginners. They will

have all of the features you will need just to get going

and with this camera you'll even be able to take truly

great photographs.

Spending more doesn't all of the time mean that you're

buying the better product. If there's not a photographing

equipment store in your city then I suggest you will be

able to simply go online and look up anything you may be

interested in purchasing. You will be able to discover a

couple of really good deals on the internet if you're

wanting to save a little money, who would'nt like to do

that? Or you can ask around, you might have a friend that

can assist you out with your first time purchasing needs.

If there's a local store where you can go in and purchase

digital cameras for digital photography there will be

somebody in there that can help you with any questions

you could have about the product.

Battery Chargers For Digital Cameras 101

Battery chargers allow your digital camera to keep functioning till you get that perfect shot; because digital cameras tend to be one of the most demanding electronic instruments on battery capacity, battery chargers for digital cameras are in high demand.

In order to get the most out of your batteries, and your digital camera, you not only want to have batteries with high capacity NiMH cells, you also need to have a good-quality battery charger. Some battery chargers for digital cameras can’t handle the high capacity NiMH cells within the battery and significantly undercharge it. Other battery chargers actually overcharge and eventually damage the batteries. Choosing the best battery charger for your digital camera will allow you to get optimum use from your batteries and your camera.

Advancements in Battery Chargers for Digital Cameras

There have been significant advancements in digital cameras over the past three years. At one time, the battery charger C-204F was believed to be the most efficient battery charger. Recent advancements in technology have improved the Maha Powerex C-204W, and in test results have proven to be more efficient in ‘topping off’ batteries. There have been a number of improvements to the Maha C-240W’s, making these the most popular battery chargers for digital cameras.

A unique feature with the Maha C-240W is its sophisticated algorithm, which allows it to detect alkaline batteries, which cannot be recharged. Although alkaline batteries can be used in digital cameras, they have a much shorter life, and prove to be very expensive. Although the 204F offered support for NiCd cells, the Maha Powerex C-204W only supports NiMH batteries.

Quality Testing for Battery Chargers for Digital Cameras

When testing the quality of battery chargers for digital cameras it was found that when the quick-charging cycle was completed, many of the fast chargers were unable to completely fill the battery. In order to compensate, some chargers switch to a ‘trickle off’ mode once the fast charge is complete, so that the charger can ‘top off’ the batteries. This is found to be best used when leaving the batteries to charge overnight. But even then, the C-240F was unable to charge the up to the last 5% capacity of the battery.

An important factor to consider in battery chargers for digital cameras is the amount of heat and distress the charger subjects the battery to. A battery charger that consistently overheats batteries will prematurely exhaust the batteries and shorten its life.

Tests have found that the Maha Powerex C-240W is a smart battery charger. Like the 204F, the 204W features two separate charging circuits that enable you to charge either two or four batteries simultaneously. This becomes increasingly important as many of today’s digital cameras run on two AA batteries, and in order to get the most out of your batteries, you need to charge them in the same groups they are used in. This keeps the battery charger from overcharging or undercharging battery cells that have diverse usage patterns.

The Maha Powerex C-240W battery charger is reasonably priced at approximately $30. Some suppliers offer the C-240W within a kit that also comes with four AA Powerex cells at a discounted price. It’s important to keep the quality and the price in mind when choosing battery chargers for digital cameras.

Basics of the Digital camera

Like most things in life when your experiencing something for the first time you are often unsure how to go about it. The same can be true when buying your first digital camera. You will undoubtedly be inundated with facts, figure and more jargon than you know what to do with. We will attempt in this article to help you along with some of the jargon and show you what to look for when buying a digital camera. Some of the feature may not interest you unless you need your camera to perform specific tasks, however its always worth knowing exactly what you are buying so you can pick a good deal when you see one.

<b>Megapixels</b>

The resolution of a camera is measured and advertised in megapixels. The idea behind this figure is the number of pixels that the camera has to take an image with. In this case the higher the number the better quality of picture you will be able to take. For example if you purchase a camera that has a resolution of 4 Megapixels, pictures that you take with that camera will be able to take images made up of 4 million pixels. Its obvious when you think about that a camera with a 2 megapixel resolution will not create as image as crisp or as detailed as the 4 megapixel one.

If you often print out your images on your PC or have them sent away to be printed then the megapixel rating of your camera can be very important to you. Higher megapixels on your camera will allow you to make prints larger in size while still keeping the quality. If you try to print a picture too large than what you camera was designed for then the image drastically loses quality.

The last thing to know about megapixels is the higher the resolution you take pictures in the more space on your memory card will be taken up. A picture taken on a 4 megapixel camera will need twice as much space on a memory card as a picture taken on a 2 megapixel camera. Be sure if you want quality pictures have enough memory on your camera to back it up., Either that or have spare media cards to plug in once your space has been used up.

<b>Digital Zoom and Optical Zoom</b>

No doubt when you are buying a camera you will want some sort of zoom function to take those in the distance shots. This is a troublesome area for some first time buyers. There are two types of zoom on the market for digital cameras. Digital Zoom and Optical Zoom. The only one that really matters is Optical zoom, this is true a true zoom function that brings the objects closer to you using the optics of the camera. Digital Zoom is like using the zoom function on an image editing software package. It enlarges a section of the image so it looks as if its closer to you.

Anything you can do with digital zoom you can do with a photo editing package so don't splash too much money on a camera with digital zoom only. Sometimes you will also so "total zoom" advertised this means the number that is quoted here is the optical zooms magnification added to the digital zooms magnification. Try to find out the magnification level of the optical zoom alone for the true value of the camera.

<b>Aperture Size</b>

We may be going a little further here than some of you would like to care about but bear with us as the aperture size can make a big impact on your pictures. The size of the aperture determines exactly how much light is let into the camera when your picture is taken. Think of the aperture like the iris of your eye. No big deal you may think, however having more light allows you take better pictures in a variety of lighting condition, cloudy days is a perfect example.
With a large enough aperture you would be less likely to need the flash, personally I don't like to use the flash function, the artificial flash of light does not always do justice to the picture you are trying to take. Also effects like red eye are also common.

<b>Shutter Speed</b>

Great effects can be made to images using a variety of shutter speeds. The thing to look for when buying a decent digital camera in terms of shutter speeds is the broadest range you can find. This will give you the best chance of manipulating the picture the way you want it. Combined with a pro-active aperture the shutter speed can make pictures come to life or freeze images in an instant.

This technique is great when you want to take moving objects exactly how they look as if they were still. Setting the shutter speed on a slower setting gives more exposure to the CCD (charge coupled device - the digital equivalent of film). The effect is that the picture almost seems to run. Moving objects are slightly blurred. You may think this is a bad thing but take an example of running water leaving the shutter speed on for longer will soften the image creating a pleasing image to the eye much like the way a waterfall appears in real life.

You can take digital photography to the extreme with a camera that has a very wide range of shutter speeds. With an incredibly slow shutter speed, you can have a long exposure of light to the CCD and hence receive like the famous traffic scenes where the headlights blend into each other into a constant stream.

<b>Storage Media</b>

Digital Cameras come with a slot for a variety of media cards. Check when you buy your camera what type of storage media it requires. There are several popular types including Smart Media, compact flash and xD picture cards. As long as you know what type your is you should be able to safely by the correct type. Always ask at your local store if you are unsure. If you give them your make and model they should be able to point you in the right direction.

The size of the media card you choose depends on your budget but get as much as you can afford. More memory means that you don't have to change media cards, and you will be able to take pictures in the highest quality all the time. You will soon learn the benefits of having plenty storage space when you start to use your camera regularly.

The good thing about cameras media is that its just like a film if you do run out you can simply insert another one if you have one with you. It can be a bit of a pain when downloading your pictures to your PC but much less more of a pain than having to delete some picture because you have run of space on your media card.

Basic Photoshop Tutorials Using The Eraser Tool

Have an object with edges you want to isolate? This is one way to use the Background Eraser tool.

The Magic Eraser is often used to blast large areas that contain unwanted pixels. It certainly can be effective if you want to get fast results, but it is less than subtle. This works well when you want to eliminate big areas of color that you don’t need. It is not always as useful when you are working with areas that are more intricate.

This is one of the reasons that Photoshop is so great. This program provides the user with lots of selection tool choices. Each tool has its own options that can be
customized.

Now, there are some kinds of selection jobs that work better with the Background Eraser than with the actual Magic Eraser.

The Background Eraser is more versatile and gives you greater control over some of the more difficult tasks. For instance, if you are selecting intricately shaped objects, the Background Eraser may be the tool for the job.

Let’s say you want to isolate your image in your picture by removing the sky. The sky consists of edges that may prove difficult to work with. Remove the sky along with the detailed edges using the Background Eraser tool.

Some selection tools would not be able to handle the job because of the position of the crenulations and the arches of the towers. This makes it very tricky when you want to try to remove the sky that is hidden among all of that other stuff.

Here is the way that you can work with the Background Eraser tool to accomplish the above task. You can cut out the complex shapes easily using the Background Eraser. Now you may need to spend a little time fiddling with the options to get the most use of the tool when you are working on a complex project such as this one.

Begin by selecting the tool from the toolbox and in the options bar you will want to set the Sampling option to Once. Sample a section of the blue sky by clicking and the
background swatch icon will change color.

This lets you know the pixels that are headed for deletion. If you hold the mouse button down and spray the eraser’s brush around the image you will be able to get rid of all the pixels of the same color.

Pixels of other colors will not be removed as you spray around the edge of the building. If you want the best results you can tweak the Tolerance setting.

MP3 Players - they're so cool

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ll know that the most popular mp3 player in the world by far is Apple’s iPod. It comes in all sorts of editions, including the Mini, the Nano, and the Shuffle – and every single one is a best-seller.

What you might not have realised, though, is that Apple isn’t at all the only game in town when it comes to mp3 players. In fact, they’re quite a recent entrant into the market. Companies like iRiver and Creative have been around a lot longer, and their players are usually worth considering too, as they can often be cheaper than the equivalent iPod or have more features.

When you’re comparing the prices of mp3 players, the one feature you should look at more than any other is capacity. Don’t lose sight of the fact that a 40GB mp3 player can store twice as much as a 20GB one.

However, there other features to look for. Even though everyone calls them mp3 players, mp3s are not the only format you might want your player to be able to play – if you want to use it with Microsoft’s Media Player, for example, you’ll need a player that is also capable of playing wma (Windows Media Audio) format files. If you want to buy music from the iTunes Music Store, you need a player that can play aac (Apple) format files.

Another issue is battery life. Almost all mp3 players are now powered by mains chargers rather than by changing the battery, but battery life varies wildly, from as little as 2 hours up to as high as 10. Make sure you don’t get saddled with a player that won’t work for a long time if you want to use it for extended periods away from a power outlet.

Of course, the most important feature to many people will always be how their mp3 player looks when they’re using and wearing it. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but don’t be fooled into buying a turkey just because it has a pretty design