Retta on August 4th, 2010

Minolta X700 Camera

 

Minolta X700 Camera

Minolta X-700, the state-of-the-art SLR camera at the center of the Minolta Program System, offers you the focus-and-shoot simplicity of programmed auto-exposure (AE) control: Both aperture and shutter speed are automatically set over a wide range by the camera, with continuous viewfinder LED readout of speeds being set.

The program is designed to maintain fastest practicable speeds as light dims, then give audible beeps, if desired, to guard against blur from subject/camera-movement, making the X-700 ideal if you're starting out in photography or if you want full program automation for ease of use or fast-breaking action.

The X-700's aperture-priority AE mode lets you control the depth of field but still maintain AE control of stepless shutter speeds fine-tuned for proper exposure with light metered up to the instant of exposure. This mode is excellent for AE photography with the wide range of Minolta SLR system lenses and accessories available, including mirror lenses and close-up bellows – not possible with shutter-priority AE systems.

For full creative flexibility, aperture and shutter can be set independently in any combination in the X-700's metered/full-manual mode.Other handy features of your X-700 include; touch-switch metering that keeps the LEDs on for 15 seconds after you first touch the operating button; AE lock for holding adjusted-framing meter readings; +/- 2EV stops' exposure adjustment with LED indicator in finder; self-timer with triple-rate visual/audible indications; flash-ready and Flash Distance Checker (FDC) indications in finder; split-image microprism spot and Acute Matte focusing screen; integral front and back grips for surer holding; Safe Load Signal; and a new easy-load take-up spool.

 

 

Product Features and Technical Details Product Features

  • * Programmed automatic or manual exposure
  • * Camera body only; lens sold separately
  • * Programmed auto flash
  • * Date/time imprinting
  • * Exposure override up to 2 stops Technical Details
  • * Brand Name: Konica-Minolta
  • * Model: X-700
  • * Device Type: SLR camera
  • * Metering Description: Center-weighted
  • * Film Speed Range: ISO 25 – 1600
  • * Included Flash Type: None
  • * Width: 5.4 inches
  • * Depth: 2 inches
  • * Height: 3.5 inches
  • * Weight: 17.8 Ounce

 

The Minolta X-700 SLR camera does not require manual setting of the aperture or the shutter, however, you can program the camera for automatic exposure, even in difficult lighting conditions.

Catch the action without stopping to adjust your camera. You can also select an aperture priority mode that automatically sets the corresponding shutter speed when you program the aperture. Aperture priority is especially useful when taking portraits, close-ups, and landscape shots.

For creative effects, you can set exposure plus or minus 2EV in half-stop increments. An auto-exposure lock is useful when the subject is in the shade with strong backlighting. Manual exposure and manual focus give you full control of the X-700 when you have to time to think about each shot in advance.

Retta on May 14th, 2010
This thin subcompact is  highly rated in image quality and  has some intriguing design features, including a non-telescoping zoom lens and control buttons that light up, which can be useful in low-light situations. The camera has  good image quality  with very good sharpness and little noise. Next-shot delay and first-shot delay, both of which are short, and  good dynamic range allows this camera to shoot photos in a variety of shooting situations. It also includes an output for HDTV, and wide-angle capabilities for landscapes and group portraits.  

 

   
Retta on May 4th, 2010
 slim digital camera blue

Slim digital cameras.

Advantages of owning slim digital cameras.

The advantage of a slim camera is all in the size. These days, you can get a camera that is the size of your palm, and it will easily fit into a shirt or pants pocket without you hardly even knowing that it's there. The great thing about this is that you can carry it with you wherever you go without hindrance, and you always have something to grab to take that great Kodak moment photo.

Another great thing about these slim cameras is that they are all automatic. It is literally a "point and shoot". There is no thought processes, there are no adjustments, you justpoint it at what you want to take a picture of, half press the shutter so that the lens can focus and then press the shutter all the way and voila! You have a picture.

Some digital cameras are popular with young adults because of their very mobility and light weight. They are also popular with the younger crowd because they are very affordable. Generally speaking, you can find these slim digital cameras for less than $200, and if you do some shopping around, you may be able to find them for a lot less than that.

Another reason they are popular with young adults is because these cameras are made for entry-level users, and for the most part they are only used for the snapshot moment. The people who are using these cameras are not trying to win a photography contest, they are simply wanting something to capture the moment to post on Facebook, or perhaps to add to their digital photo album. The size of these thin digital cameras means that it is possible to carry them with you no matter what you are wearing or where you're going. You can slip them into your pants pocket, and for the women it will fit into the smallest of purses. So even if you are headed to the club in your sexy black cocktail dress, you will have space for one of these slim digital cameras. 

lumix slim digital camera

 

Disadvantages of owning slim digital cameras.

The problem with slim digital cameras is that they do not offer you any kind of functionality. They are strictly point-and-shoot, which means that you do not have any creative control whatsoever. While they do usually come with a zoom, and the ones coming out on the market today will come with face recognition, they are still automatic cameras with no user controls.

Another problem that can be present with the slim cameras is the photo quality. This is not true of all slim  digital cameras, but when you are looking at a new digital camera you will want to be sure to check the specifics of that feature. If you are looking at a review of a camera check for photo quality, if you are doing an in-store comparison you can ask the salesperson to show you an example.

pink digital camera

If you're thinking about buying a slim digital camera, you may want to take a look at your hands first. Why, you might ask? Well, by their very nature, slim digital cameras are very small. If you have sausage fingers, you would probably not be compatible with slim digital cameras. It is not impossible to use these cameras if you have large hands, but it does make it harder.

Retta on March 20th, 2010

Why a Norcent?

Norcent is a marketer of high-quality home entertainment and digital products. In 2008 they introduced the Norcent digital camera 10 megapixel; it is part of the 50 series of slim digital cameras. The Norcent DCS-1050 10.0 Megapixel Digital Camera has face detection and anti-shake qualities and a 3 inch LCD display.

With 10 megapixels it is capable of capturing the ultra-high-resolution images of up to 3648 x 2736. In addition to the slim design it also has a built-in flash, which is capable of redeye reduction; and the flash modes include always on, forced on, slow sync and forced off.

You can choose from 22 different scene modes, including the normal portrait, landscape, and movie with MPEG-4 video capabilities, but also including food, soft skin, and backlight. It also comes with 3X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom. Included are white balance settings of manual daylight, cloudy, tungsten florescent and custom.

The Norcent digital camera 10 megapixel DCS 1050 has 16 MB of internal memory and uses SD/MMC flash storage as an external storage media. Retail prices run under $300, but if you look around, you can find it for around $150.

This is a good camera for amateur photographers, who like to use point-and-shoot variety of cameras. It does not come with a lot of user functions, such as being able to set the shutter speed or the aperture. But if you don't know how to use those functions, it's better to let the camera make the decisions anyway.

So if you are looking for a slim digital camera that will take a quality photograph, check out the Norcent digital camera 10 megapixel.

Retta on February 28th, 2010

Some things you will want to consider when looking to compare and buy digital SLR camera are:

Megapixels – Most SLR's these days come with at least 10 megapixels, but if you will be wanting to do a lot of cropping and/or large prints, you may need more. 10 megapixels will be enough for most things you want to do, but it is something you should think about.

Fit - Before deciding on an SLR, you might want to go to a store and see how they feel in your hand. Once you get an idea of the look and feel of some cameras, it will be easier to know if a camera will be right for you.

LCD Screen – You may not realize that on some digital SLR's, the screen is not "live". You can use it review your photos, but you cannot use it to frame and shoot your photo. I myself prefer to look through the viewfinder, but some people do not.

Nikon D90 This camera is from one of the best rated digital camera makers.  It has 12 megapixels, excellent image quality and dynamic range.  Its versatility and ease of use are both good.  The maximum ISO on the D90 is 3200 and with the supplied battery you should be able to take 850 photos before running out of juice.  The D90 is one of the top rated digital cameras on the market, with it's 3" LCD screen you can take 4.5 fps, and the price comes in around $900.


Sony DSLR-A550  Sony is another well known brand name in cameras, although they are better known for their point and shoot lines of cameras.  The A550 is a highly rated 14 megapixel camera that comes with a 3" LCD and weighs in at 24 ozs.  The image quality, ease of use and dynamic range are all excellent, and the versatility is very good.  It has an ISO capability of 3200 and you should be able to take 1000 photos before the battery gives up.  If you are looking for speed, this camera can shoot at 7fps and the price range is around $900 also.

 

Pentax K200D Pentax has long been a known name in the camera world, and they can be counted on for quality cameras.  With this 10 megapixel camera they have dialed in the dynamic range with this camera with excellent results, and the versatility, ease of use and image quality are very good.  It might be considered a little on the slow side with only being able to fire off 2.8 fps and the ISO range only comes in at 800.  The amount of picture taking you will get out of a battery life is lacking also, only coming in at 400.The price range on this camera is about $500.

 

Canon EOS Rebel XSi  Canon is a powerhouse in the camera world and this 12 megapixel model will provide you with excellent picture quality, dynamic range and ease of use.  The versatility lags a bit behind, as does the ISO, which only comes in at 800.  The battery life range is 500 pictures.  It has a nice 3" LCD screen and will shoot 3.5 fps.  I have to admit to a partiality to this camera, as I own the XTi, and I have to say I have never had a better camera.  The picture quality is indeed excellent.  The price range on this one is $550.


Olympus EVOLT E-510  Olympus is another well known name in the camera business, but this camera does not seem to rate as highly as some of the competitors I have mentioned so far.  Even though this 10 megapixel camera has very good image quality, dynamic range, ease of use and versatility, it does not get the high marks that the others did.  The ISO runs at 800 and the battery life will get you 650 pictures.  This is one of the lighter weight cameras, coming in at only 16.4 ozs.  The lighter weight is partly achieved by its smaller, only 2.5" LCD screen and it can shoot 3 fps.  The price range for this is $600.


Check out the store, it will be a great help for you to compare and buy digital SLR cameras.

So when you are ready to compare and buy digital SLR do some research and you will not be disappointed down the road with your purchase.

Retta on February 15th, 2010

Digital cameras are here to stay.  They are a great investment and are easy to use.  Photo storage becomes so much easier with a digital camra, since the media is digital, you no longer have to have large photo albums, you can put everything on cds.

 

 

Here is a solution for helping to download your photos to your computer without having to hook your camera up. Instead, plug this device into a usb port and insert your card into this reader. Faster and easier than using the cord to hook up your camera and it saves your camera battery too.

 

There are tons of accessories for digital cameras and digital photos. Flashdrives for storing your photos as well as cd's or dvd's. Card readers. Extra lenses. External flash. Camera bags. Tripods.

So if you are ready to think about a digital camra check out some of the other pages to help you make your decision.

Retta on February 6th, 2010

A lot of people search for inexpensive digital cameras, but what exactly does that mean? Inexpensive is a point of reference and your point will not be the same as mine. Inexpensive to you could mean $500, while to a single parent with four kids, inexpensive means $20. That being said, I think we can find some middle ground.

When I started looking for a new camera, I did quite a bit of research before I bought one. I also wanted one that was inexpensive because I am not a professional photographer and I did not want to spend a lot of money on what would essentially be a toy.

But on the other hand, I did not want a toy; I wanted something that would give me a good quality photo now with my limited skills, but that could grow with me, because I did not plan to stay an amateur forever.

So, if all you are looking for is something to pop off a few shots, maybe upload to the web or send as emails, you can get away with a VERY inexpensive camera. Head on over to Walmart and pick something off the shelf and you will probably be very happy with your choice.

 

If, however, you want a camera that you can make quality prints from, even enlarged ones, you will want to increase your budget somewhat. For a couple of hundred bucks you can get a quality camera that will make some excellent prints for you, and you can even get enlargements, maybe an 8×10 with good quality. For most people this will be sufficient, or maybe even more than sufficient. There is quite a selection of cameras to choose from in this price range.

 

 

If you have even better skills or plan on obtaining those skills, you can take your budget up another notch and for something in the $500 – $700 range, you can get yourself a pretty fine digital SLR.  These are still inexpensive digital cameras, just in a higher wage bracket.  They have the point and shoot built in functions for the beginner, but they also have manual controls that will let you experiment and grow.

In addition to the manual focus, you can set your cameras other settings, such as the ISO, or film speed, the shutter speed, the fstop, the backlighting and you can even set groups of settings as a picture style.  With these types of controls on the camera, you have a good chance of getting good pictures now and better pictures in the future.

The great thing about the digital SLR is that while you are learning, you don't have to waste a lot of money developing crummy pictures, as they are digital, just hit the delete button if it does not turn out right.  No Worry's!

So it is really your choice.  If all you need is  inexpensive digital cameras, there is no reason to spend a lot of money.  But if you want something to grow with you, there is a camera that will get there without spending a fortune.

Retta on January 18th, 2010

So, what to consider when comparing cameras?  The first thing you want to do is realize that when you make comparisons, you want to compare apples to apples, or in this case, maybe an SLR to an SLR.  In other words, don't try to compare that $20.00 Walmart special to the $700.00 Canon.  When you are doing a comparison, start with two or three that are similar in price range and in features.

So you will want to make your comparisons on the aspects of the camera that are important to you.  If price is your biggest consideration, then you should start your comparisons in the price range that you want to be in.  After all, you don't want to spend hours researching cameras that are not even in the realm of where you need to be.  No since looking at cameras over $1000 if your budget only runs to $300.  Similarly, if your budget is $300, you won't want to waste your time looking at $50 cameras because inexpensive digital cameras are not the ticket for everyone.


So you have your price range nailed down.  What else is important to you?  What will you be using your camera for?  Will you need one that is more of a basic point and shoot or will you be needing extra lenses?  Do you know how to use cameras that have interchangeable lenses or is that something you will be learning as you go?  If you don't know how to use all the bells and whistles that come on some of the higher end cameras but it is something you want to learn, you will want to make sure that your new digital camera is going to be easy to learn with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you start taking those photos, you will need a way to print them out.  Some people like to print them on their own printer at home and that is ok if you have a decent printer, at least for the snapshot size.  If you need a larger print though, you might try PhotoWorks

So there is a lot to think about when you begin the process of what to consider when comparing cameras.