Looking for a new camera? Here’s a few.

Besides being avid an photographer, I’m also a techie. This makes it difficult for me to page past the ads for new camera gear.

In addition to the higher end cameras, I also collect, experiment, use and review compact cameras.

This holiday season is an opportune time to shop for a new or replacement camera.

Why, you ask?

Well, the prices for high quality compact cameras are extremely attractive. Competition among the major manufacturers is very high and that drives prices down. In one week, I saw the price of several medium-end point-and-shoot models drop 20% as the manufacturers scurried to garner additional holiday sales.

This isn’t meant to be a review but let me point out a few of the bargains that I saw.

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS – 14X optical zoom, 12mp, 1080 HD video, builtin GPS, $200 was $300
Nikon Coolpix S6200 – 7x optical zoom, 16mp, 720 HD video, $130 was $200
Nikon Coolpix S6200 – 10x optical zoom, 16mp, 720 HD video, $150 was $230
Nikon Coolpix S9100 – 18x optical zoom 12mp, 1080 HD video, $250 was $330
Samsung SH100 – 5X optical zoom, 14mp, 720 HD video, builtin wifi upload, $130 was $180
Sony CyberShot WX9 – 5X optional zoom, 16mp, 1080 HD video, $140 was $200

You’ll notice that I have listed three Nikon models. Over the past several months, Nikon has been very aggressive with both the number of models that they’ve made and the pricing of them.

I’ve used three of the cameras listed and have found that the image quality from all to be very good. I am also impressed with the ability to take pictures in low-light with the Nikon models.

I also enjoy the longer zoom range on many of the models which let me “reach” subjects are farther away than my feet can take me.

If you’re looking for a new or replacement camera that doesn’t break the bank, you have a large choice available. Best of luck with your shopping.

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Folllowup: After writing this article, I saw a “deal” that I didn’t want to turn down. I ordered a compact camera to be my pocket companion. I’m buying the Canon Powershot SX230HS for $189.

This is the third Canon SX200 series camera that I’ve owned. I’ve taken well over 11,000 photos and videos with my older SX210. Being small, it is easy to carry with me on my travels. Yes, I’ve made this camera work hard these past two years.

The new SX230 takes better photos in low light situations, retains the extended 14x telephoto zoom lens and includes built-in GPS that records the location of my photos. This will make it easy for me to remember where I snapped all of the new pictures.

With the end of the holidays, retailers are anxious to sell any excess inventory. This makes now a great time to be shopping for a new camera- there are many bargains to be found.

 

 
Written by Arnie Lee

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Are you still thinking about those last moment stocking stuffers as the final days of the frantic holiday season quickly approach? It’s not always easy to think of a gift for a photographer especially one who already has lenses, bags, tripods and countless other accessories. Therefore, we’ve put together a list of different ideas for you to consider – whether it’s you or someone else – this holiday season.

You can help Santa with these unusual stocking stuffer ideas for that photographer on your list.”

Lens Bracelet

The Lens Bracelet™ from Photojojo (www.photojojo.com) is, as Photojojo says: the way to wear your camera love on your sleeve. This soft silicone bracelet looks like an actual focusing ring; it even shows the embossed “50mm” and AF/MF switch to the lens grip ridges. You probably won’t need to worry about sizes because one size fits all. The two types Photojojo has available are 50mm prime or 24-70mm zoom.

The Lens Bracelet from Photojojo (www.photojojo.com) is about $10.00

Mode Dial Cuff Links

Here is something different to wear for a more formal New year’s eve party. As you can see these Camera Mode Dial Cufflinks links resemble the mode dial found on most cameras. Mode Dial Cuff Links from www.cufflinks.com for about $49.95. These are available from www.cufflinks.com for about $49.95 as well as amazon.com and other online stores.

Mode Dial Cuff Links from www.cufflinks.com.

F-stop Watch

The way you tell time may not quite be the same anymore thanks to the F-Stop Watch. It displays time with F-Stop or the relative aperture of a camera lens. It measures the hours by aperture so, for example, it’s almost time for that meeting at F11, so you better get your papers together.

“The F-stop Watch from The Unemployed Philosophers Guild (www.philosophersguild.com) is about $34 online at Amazon.com and other locations.

Lens Thermo Coffee Cups
What better way to keep your coffee or other drink hot on an outdoor shoot this winter than to use The Travel Coffee Mug/lens Cup/thermos from Perfect Fit. It’s a typical thermos cup except it’s shaped as a camera lens. Therefore, don’t try to attach it to your camera or don’t pour your hot coffee on your real lens. You’ll find it at several online stores; price is around $15 but depends on the type and style you want.

The Lens Thermo Coffee Cup from Perfect Fit.

Vintage Camera Bookends
Electronic books obviously won’t need bookends but you may still have plenty of printed books and magazines scattered throughout your house or office. A vintage camera bookend might just be the practical solution. You’ll find these (not to mention the original old fashion vintage cameras) on eBay and other online store locations for about $45.

“The Vintage Camera Bookends from Home Decorators (www.homedecorators.com)

Photographer’s Camera Vitamin Box for Pills
This might not be a bad idea for those photographers needing to use a pillbox. You can even have Kyle Design custom make this film vitamin box for you for about $19.95.
Kyle Designs (http://www.kyledesigns.com) also has several other unusual photography related ideas you can check out.

The Photographer’s Camera Vitamin Pillbox from Kyle Designs

Petzl TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp

The small and lightweight Petzl TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp is for the nature photographer on your list. It uses four LED bulbs that will shine up to 150 hours. It even includes a pull-down red filter to help preserve night vision. The Petzl TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp also has a flashing mode in case the photographic adventures takes you farther that you planned. The TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp is about $45 and available at several online stores.

Petzl TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp from Petzl (www.petzl.com).

drop it MODERN Snap iPhone Case

One more item in the retro category is this retro camera case designed to protect an iPhone 4. It’s designed to fit on your device yet gives you complete access to all ports, controls and sensors. You can select from three designs (Black, white and woody). Important note: These cases fit iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S phones purchased through Apple or AT&T carriers only.
The Modern Snap iPhone Case is about $32.95 and available at several online stores.

The drop it MODERN Snap iPhone Case (www.dropitmodern.com).

I hope this has given you different gift ideas that you can add to your list or the list from another photographer friend or family member.

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Written by: Scott Slaughter

Staying close to mother earth

 

One thing that I’ve tried to do to increase the intimacy of my photos is to GET LOW – stay close to the path leading from the camera lens to the subject.

By path, I mean the space between me and the subject. The subject may be very close, slightly close or far away. And the space between me and the subject may be the ground, water, grass, whatever. By including this space up close, I think I’m better able to convey the scale of the subject.

In my younger days, I had little problem photographing these paths by crouching down or even laying on the ground to capture this space. Unfortunately, my legs and back no longer afford me the same body flexibility.

For some years now to save my back, I’ve used an angle viewfinder. The angle viewfinder that I use snaps onto my camera’s eyepiece and has a built-in diopter adjustment (handy since I use eyeglasses for distant viewing) and two levels of magnification for more precise focusing.

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This angle viewfinder is for a Canon DSLR. Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Sony have similar viewfinders for their cameras.	Using the angle viewfinder, I’m able to compose and focus very low to the ground without breaking my back.
The angle viewfinder let me capture a closeup of the pine cone. Instead of a top-down photo, I was able to include the pine needles with this side view of the subject.
Many of the new DLSRs have a feature that minimizes the need for the angle viewfinder accessory – an LCD which swivels. Below, the LCD on this Sony A55 is articulated. You can swivel the LCD to provide a large view when the camera is sitting on the ground and from almost any other angle too. Among the other camera models which have a swiveling LCD are the Canon T3i and 60D, Nikon D5100, Sony A33 and Olympus E-620.
The LCD on this Sony A55 conveniently folds out to provide a 3″ live viewfinder.	In the field, I can place the camera on the ground and compose the photo from my sitting position.
The swiveling LCD made it easy for me to include the surroundings at Monument Valley. Although I was very distant from the monument in the background, this was a convenient way to show the texture of the ground. BTW, my pants remained clean afterwards.
I have many photos of little people taken from above – great if you don’t mind seeing the tops of their heads and hair. But with an angle viewfinder or swiveling LCD you can easily lower your viewpoint for kids’ portraits.
Here I was able to get down to the level of two of our grandkids. From down here, it’s much easier to see their eyes.

 

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The next time you’re out taking pictures (hopefully very soon), make it a point GET LOW. Take a few shots from the very lowest point of view that you can. It can make for some interesting photos.

 

 

Written by Arnie Lee

 

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