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Scuba Camera
Think You Can't Afford A Scuba Camera?
Underwater Photography 
If you are interested in underwater photography, you will need to learn how to shoot in low light situations and you may want to invest in an Underwater Flash. Another issue when using a scuba camera can be how you use your controls. If you are shooting underwater in a warm water situation, this may not be much of an issue. But if you are shooting in cold water, and you must wear cold water gear to dive in, then using those controls with bulky gloves on can be almost impossible. Just imagine trying to turn the dials of your camera or manipulate the functions, wearing big winter mittens. So before you purchase an underwater digital camera, you want to make sure that you know what you will be using it for and that you are buying a camera that will fit those needs.
If you have never done underwater photography before, you'll want to remember that the same principles of photography apply to underwater photography as they do to photography on the land.
Caring for your scuba camera will be a little different than caring for a normal camera. On an underwater camera the cases are sealed tightly and are resistant to the high pressure that occurs under water. So after every use, you'll want to inspect it thoroughly for cracks in the housing and in the seals. You will want to make sure that you rinse off your camera thoroughly after every use, especially if you're using it in salt water. Salt water has a tendency to be corrosive, and if you do not rinse it before putting it away it will continue to corrode. Also helpful are these Sealife Small Moisture muncher 10 capsules, 1.5 grams each
Here is something new on the market! Now you can dive and take pictures hands free! The camera and controls are built into the mask. It will take still pictures or video, and you will be able to tell which mode you are in by the readout on your mask lens. Also provides crosshairs on your mask lens to help you accurately line up your shot,
Underwater Housing Case for Canon Powershot Digital Cameras
If you need a scuba camera that can handle depths up to 180 feet
VistaQuest V8900 features
- 8 megapixel resolution
- 8x digital zoom
- smile detection
- a usercontrolled integrated flash
- videorecording capabilities
- 2.4inch LCD screen
- maximum depth of 10 feet.
- Photographers can use up to an 8GB SD card for storage.
- Red
- Vistaquest vq8900red 8 Mp Underwater Digital Camera Red
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Canon 70 300 IS Lens
Is the Canon 70 300 IS Lens worth the price?
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens – 0345B002
Surprise – 70-300mm Canon Lens is Much Better Than Expected
By Wayne Rasku
I love surprises, especially if they are like finding a golden nugget where you thought there was junk.
The 70-300mm Canon lens (not the DO model) is just such a surprise.
In fact, it could be the best kept secret among photographers. You rarely hear anyone proclaiming the greatness of this little lens. The lens is too unassuming and ordinary. And yet, when you look deep, you see the subtle praises.
Maybe it's because the lens is not impressive to look at, and "real" photographers want an attention-getter on the front of their prized digital SLR.
Maybe it's because it isn't all that expensive, coming in at about $550.
No matter the reason, the 70-300mm Canon lens is well worth taking a look at.
Image quality is ranked by some well respected photographers right up there with the L lens, and that is impressive.
What you will generally see on blogs and forums is how unpretentious the lens actually is. Comments like, "I thought it was a toy," express the first impressions of many first-time users.
However, the first impressions are not lasting ones with this lens. Once they shoot a few frames, their opinion changes. After all, the lens sports IS (image stabilization) and USM (ultrasonic motor), along with the great image quality already mentioned. Those who disdain the use of a tripod will like these two features.
My favorite story about the 70-300mm Canon lens comes from a guy who found his lens at a garage sale. Picking it up, he figured he would buy it for a young relative who was just getting started in photography. The seller knew nothing about the performance of the lens. So, the photographer buys the lens.
Just to see if it even works, he puts it on his Canon 5D to take a few shots. The relative never got the lens. This buyer was so impressed with its performance, he stated that it was too good of a lens to waste on someone else.
Ken Rockwell had this to say about the Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens, "When I first picked it up I thought it was a toy – but when I saw the great heavyweight image quality, the toy-like lightness became a huge benefit."
Surprises are great when they come like this. You know the old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." True of many things, including camera gear.
Happy Shooting!
I was very impressed by the stories of photographers in all stages of ability, from beginners to pros, in their praises of the Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6.
Compared favorably even to the Canon 70-200 L lenses, most of which cost much more. And you get an extra 100mm of focal length. How can you miss? Visit http://www.canoneoslenses.org for more.
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Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras (CANEF75-300MM)
If you find the Canon 70-300 IS Lens a little too spendy for your budget, there is a cheaper alternative. Canon also makes a 75-300 lens that comes in at a much lower price. As a matter of fact, you will pay less than one third of the price for this lens. But don't think you will be getting almost the same lens for so much less. For the lesser amount of money, you also will not get the IS technology, which is important to some, and not so much to others.
The IS in the Canon 70-300 IS Lens stands for image stabilization. And if you are not using a tripod for those zoomed in shots, it could be that you will never be able to achieve that crisp, clear, shot you are after. If you are using a tripod, the IS technology may not be as important to you, and you may be able to get by with the 75-300 lens
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO Lens for Canon SLR Cameras – (085126508272)
As an alternative to a Canon Lens, you may want to have a look at the same lens made by Sigma. Sigma is a well known brand of lenses, they typically make lenses for high end cameras at a lower price. Reviews are that the Sigma lenses are as good as, or better than, the manufacturer lens.
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Photo Hunts On A Day Trip
Photo Hunts on a Day Trip
Planning is the key
Weekend Photo Trips
By Sharon Hagford
As those of you who have seen my photography know, I often take photo trips up to our friend’s farm near Evansville, MN. This takes some simple preparation on my part in order to make my time up there as productive as possible.
We already have a place to stay when we arrive, but you should make any reservations necessary for yourselves. One thing we can never count on is the weather. I pack accordingly. from shorts and t-shirts to long pants and sweatshirts. I always throw in rain gear, including boots. And because mosquitoes view me as a feast, I always bring plenty of bug spray.
Of course I bring my camera equipment including extra batteries and a canvas chair.
We usually go up to the farm on Friday evening and go to bed fairly early, because we get up just before sunrise. Light is so important in photography. This is the time when you get long shadows and dramatic sunrises. It is also the best time to find all types of wildlife out and about.
Sometimes it is so easy to find photo ops early in the morning. We’ll drive up and down gravel roads in the area and I’ll just spot a picturesque scene. For example, last month I saw a windbreak of trees just leafing out.The lacy trees were beautiful by themselves, but the sky behind them was painted pastel shades of lavender, pink, peach and soft yellow. A nice scene turned spectacular due to the colors in the sky.
Other photographs take more patience. Sometimes I stop near a woodsy or marshy area. I set up my chair and wait for the herons, eagles, deer and other wildlife to come by. It doesn’t always work, but at least I’ll have spent a couple of hours enjoying nature. If it does work and a heron or egret lands nearby, well, you get the picture (and so do I). I’m never disappointed.
I always carry a camera with me up at the farm. You never know when a photo op will present itself. I was out on the lake fishing a couple of years ago when I spotted a loon in the distance. He dove and surfaced right next to our boat. I missed an awesome shot because I didn’t have my camera with me. I won’t make that mistake again.
Late afternoon and early evening is another “golden” time for taking great pictures. Long shadows and deep contrast adds drama to your photographs. And the wildlife reappears from wherever they hide during the day.
Another fun time to get great photographs is in foggy weather. A few years ago I drove down to Lake Harriet. The fog was so dense that I could not see the lake from the road. I walked down to the water and a lone sailboat, moored about fifty feet from shore, began to appear. I took the shot. It’s rather eerie and one of my all time favorites.
Don’t be afraid to try something different. For instance, shooting toward the sun is an option IF the light is right. Also, shooting from different angles can change a good photo into and awesome photo.
Last, but not least, don’t forget to have fun. A few weeks ago, after spending a couple of hours shooting some close ups of some bees, a nesting finch and some damsel flies, I took a short break to do some fishing from shore. I caught a three pound bass on my third cast. What a great weekend trip!
Photo trips can really be fun if you’re prepared.
To discover more examples of My Scenic Minnesota beauty in photography please go online and check out http://www.myscenicminnesota.com
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Children’s Digital Camera
Is Your Child Ready For A Digital Camera?
Have you noticed how tech savvy children are these days? Just like you grew up knowing how to use the phone and how to operate the tv, todays kids know all about using cell phones, computers and Digital cameras
Who can use them?
Kids as young as three can use a Childrens Digital Camera
- They feel grownup when they have their own camera
- Your camera won't get messed up
- Develop their skills, especially if they have a "natural" eye
- Help develop eye/hand coordination
- Children's digital cameras fit kids' hands better than an adult camera will
What kind of features do they have?
Kids digital cameras are for kids, so they are going to be a simple digital camera and are not going to come with a lot of features, but they will have the basics. They will come with an internal storage as well as the ability to add some type of digital memory card. Get the Card!
They will have some fashion of downloading to a computer, most likely through a cord of some type. A feature you will want to look for is the ability for you, as the adult, to set the camera to not allow deleting. My grandson spent our vacation taking pictures to show his Nana and in a fit of pique towards the end of the vacation wiped them all out, and he had some really great photos on there!
Is your child ready for a photography camera?
Well, do they try to get their hands on your camera all the time? Do they like to look at the pictures you take on your digital camera? If they are showing an interest at all, I would say they may be ready. And the great thing about children's digital cameras is that they are pretty inexpensive, it won't take going to the bank for a loan as they will only run you around $25.
Who makes digital cameras for kids?
- Walmart carries the Vtech Kidizoom Plus Digital Camera
which has tough construction and a built in editor where kids can add their own silly frames
- Some makers now carries digital cameras for kids that will also take video
- Disney Pix has editing software so kids can customize photos with Disney characters and frames
- Vtech also makes a kids Digital Photo Frame
that will give them a place to store their very own photos
I ran across this video while doing some surfing and I wanted to share it with you because I thought it was so awesome! He is explaining about the Big Shot Camera Project, which is a world wide project that allows kids to build their very own cameras.
Big Shot Camera Project.
Posted in Children's Digital Camera
Tagged child, Children's Digital Camera, digital camera
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Nikon CoolPix Review
Nikon CoolPix Review
Reviews of a few of the Coolpix line of Nikons.
Nikon has a range of cameras known as coolpix cameras. This is an extensive line of cameras, all point-and-shoot models, and encompasses subcompacts, compact and super zooms. They have their lineup separated into three different areas, the budget, S series, and the high-end series. If you are looking for an SLR lineup you'll want to check out Nikon D. series.
The Nikon coolpix P90
has an optical zoom of 24X. It comes with an image stabilizer, which will help make your pictures non-blurry. This camera also has face detection software in the camera, which will automatically set the focus exposure and color balance so that the faces appear sharp in your photos. The software also prevents that awful green color from showing up on peoples faces.
The P90 comes equipped with a wide-angle lens, which can zoom as wide as 28 mm. Unlike a lot of point and shoot cameras, the P90 has manual controls. You can use the automatic settings, or play around with it a bit and set your own aperture or shutter speed. The aperture opening on the Nikon Coolpix P90 can go from 2.8 to 5 and the shutter speed range is from 8 to 1/2000.
The flash modes include auto, off, forced, redeye reduction, slow sync, and second curtain sync. The P90 has a 3 inch LCD screen and will store your photos in JPEG format. The Nikon Coolpix P90 camera also comes equipped with a diopter adjustment, which can be of a huge benefit to someone who wears glasses.
It comes with some macro focus. You can also use Nikon P90 to record short video clips with sound. The P90 comes with 12 megapixels, and weighs in at only 17 ounces.
It lags a bit in the first shot delay, but performs very well in the next shot delay. It has a maximum ISO of 400, meaning it may not perform as well in low light situations but the dynamic range and versatility are excellent. The image quality is good, not excellent. The Battery 
This camera is considered a super zoom camera, with the one of the longest optical zooms on point-and-shoot in the market. The P90 also has a swiveling LCD.
Nikon Coolpix S60 
A 10 megapixel camera weighing in at only 6 ounces. This is a subcompact with a lot of optical zoom, more than most compacts.
This little camera has a 5X optical zoom and comes with an image stabilizer. It also has the face detection software.
There is no wide-angle functionality with this camera and no manual controls, and since it does not have manual controls, there also is no manual focus.
- It does well with the dynamic range and the next shot delay, although the first shot delay lags a little.
- It does not come with a viewfinder so the only way to take a picture is by looking at the LCD screen, which is touch sensitive.
- The aperture range on this camera is F3.8 to 4.8, and the shutter speed range is 2-1/1500.
- The flash modes are auto, off, forced, redeye reduction, and slow sync.
- It does have macro focus, and you can do exposure compensation.
- It will also record video with sound.
Nikon Coolpix S210 8.0MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Graphite Black)
is an 8 megapixel subcompact camera weighing in at only 4 ounces and the 3.6in. x 2.2in. x 0.7in. size is great for sticking in your pocket. This camera has good image quality and very good versatility, and the next shot delay is very good, although the first shot delay lags a little.
- With the included battery, you will be able to take 220 photos before running out of juice.
- The dynamic range on this camera is excellent, so you should be able to take a picture just about anywhere.
- It has a 3X optical zoom with image stabilizer and face detection software.
- It does not have wide-angle capabilities or manual controls.
- The aperture range on this camera is f3.12- 5.9 and the shutter speed range is 2 to 1/1000.
- Flash modes are auto, off, forced, redeye reduction, and slow sync.
- It will save your file in JPEG format.
- The LCD size is 2.4 inches.
- It has a macro focus
- The S210 will record video with sound.
Nikon Coolpix P6000 
is a 14 megapixel camera that comes with some manual controls, making it a bit more versatile than the normal point and shoot camera. If you are looking to step up from your old point and shoot, but your are not yet ready to take the step up to an SLR, this may be the camera you are looking for.
- The Nikon Coolpix P6000 was released in 2008 and comes with face recognition software.
- It has a 4x zoom and comes with an image stabilizer.
- It has wide angle capability, making it good for landscape shots
- Weighs in at a mere 10 ozs.
- With the battery supplied you should be able to fire off 260 shots before needing a recharge.
Nikon Coolpix S630 12MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Midnight Blue)
Like all of the coolpix line, it has an excellent dynamic range. What this means is it will take a good picture in most situations.
The S630 is very lightweight at only 6 ozs and the battery life will get you about 220 shots.
It also comes with face recognition and image stabilizer, but does not have wide angle capability.
If you own a coolpix, please tell us what you think. If you are thinking of buying one, ask others what they think
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SLR Prices
Why Do SLR Prices Vary So Much?
SLR prices can vary so much, depending upon many factors, including the manufacturer, the features, the quality, and even the market. If a camera is popular, that can have an impact on the price. When you are comparing SLR prices, make sure you are comparing apples to apples, meaning, a camera that has a range of 1/3 Fstops cannot be really compared to a camera that has only full Fstop capability. If there is a big discrepancy between two different SLR cameras 
Most everyone one has a budget for the things they are thinking about buying. Figure out what your budget is and then look in that price range. No reason you can't dream about things that are out of your price range, and in fact it is a good idea to look, because that will help you focus on some of the features that are important to you. Once you have focused on the SLR prices that are in your range, you can narrow down the field and choose the perfect digital camera for you.
Top Rated Digital Cameras
Top rated digital cameras
Digital cameras get their top ratings from consumers like you. They get their ratings based on the same type of criteria the you use to choose your new digital camera. They are rated on features, ease of use and price. Keep in mind that most often the people who rate digital cameras are employees of the manufacturer or professional photographers. That is not a bad thing. Both groups of people are going to be highly knowledgeable about the cameras and the reviews they give will have highly accurate data. But just keep in mind that their criteria for rating camera may not be the same as yours.
So what is important to you in the camera you choose? For me, I like to make sure the camera feels comfortable against my face, since that is how I take pictures, the old fashioned way with the viewfinder to my eye. I know lots of people these days that don't use the viewfinder at all. They always hold the camera out in front of them and frame their shot on the screen. If this is how you take your shots you will want to make sure the screen is large enough to see and that it is clear when you look at a picture. Here's a tip for you, take it outside in the sunlight and see how it performs. Some LCD screens just don't perform well in sunlight and it's better to know that before you purchase.
How about the type of storage it uses? If you don't have one of the newer 7 in 1 card readers on your computer, but one of the older type that only reads 1 or 2 types that might be a consideration for you. I am sure this will not be a top priority for anyone, but in the end it may be a deciding factor. If it is down to 2 cameras that you feel are equal but for one you would have to buy a new reader in addition to the camera? It's just something to think about.
What about brands? There are cameras out there that have been powerhouses in the photography business for years. The reason they are powerhouses is because they have been producing quality cameras on a consistent basis over a period of many years. If you don't know much about cameras, it might keep you in your comfort range to go with a well known name. They are not however, the only makers of quality digital cameras, or even the top rated digital cameras. There are many makers of cameras who make fine products, and the advantage sometimes of going with an off brand is the reduction in price. You are only paying for the camera, not for the brand name.
How about accessories? Again, this choice is going to be dependent upon how you will be using the camera. If you an amateur like me but you hope to get better in the future, you might want to do like I did, and buy a camera that I don't fully know how to use. The reason I did this is so that I have an opportunity to learn more without having to go out an buy another camera. In other words, like a young married couple buying a 3 bedroom house, I am planning for future expansion.
How about features? Does it have manual controls? Can you set the fstop? Can you control shutter speed? Do you even want to be able to do that? Most top rated digital cameras will have user settings on them for portrait, landscape, macro, action and night shots. If you are not looking for creative control, these settings will probably work very well for you, you just put the camera on the proper setting, and the camera will decide what to put the settings at and you will never have to worry about any of the manual controls. The other settings are for people that like to experiment and get creative or for people that know what they are doing.
Have a look at some of the advertisers on this page. Check out some photographer blogs. Look at manufacturer websites. There are even forums where you can interact with people who own the camera you are thinking about. Do lots of research before you buy and make sure you get one that is perfect for you! And come back often to see what else I have come up with to help you learn about the top rated digital cameras on the market today.
