Whether you desire to be a pro, want to explore photography as a new hobby or just want to capture those “Kodak Moments,” sooner or later, you’re going to be faced with the need to buy a camera. But with so many options out there, the process of choosing the right camera can be a daunting one. And all too often, shutterbugs either spend too much and get too big a camera, or return a camera disappointed because it didn’t take the pictures they expected. But with a few questions, a dabbling of definitions, and some solid research, even a first time digital camera shopper can get the perfect camera for their needs. Here’s a few tips …

Summary:

• Ask Questions
• Know your lingo
• More MP is not necessarily better
• Don’t fall for digital zoom
• Go Hands On
• Don’t forget the extras

1. Ask yourself a few questions

Before you head to the Internet, or go to Best Buy to look at cameras, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions to help clear the picture:

• What is your budget? Knowing how much you are willing to spend will prevent buying a camera you don’t need, or really want.
• What do you need the camera for? Is it to capture the moment or to get a Pulitzer in photography?
• What type of photography will you be doing? (portraits, landscapes, macro, sports)
• What conditions will you be shooting pictures in? (indoors, outdoors, low light, bright light)
• What experience level do you have with cameras?
• What type of features are you looking for? (long zoom, image stabilization, large LCD display etc)
• How important is size and portability to you?

2. Know the lingo

When you head to the store, you’ll hear a bunch of buzz words which will muddy up the waters. So here’s a few quick definitions to help keep things straight:

• MegaPixels:This is the number of pixels each camera sensor uses to process the camera information. It is essentially the resolution of your camera and how sharp your images can get. And it’s measured in millions and is multiplied by the amount of pixels in rows and columns. For instance, 10 MegaPixels equals 10,000,000 pixels. A pixel is the smallest unit that light is exposed to.
• ISO:ISO is the speed of your camera’s light sensitivity at a particular setting. During the film days, this was referred to as ASA and had to do with how fast film soaked up light when you took a picture. The faster the film, the higher the ASA. It also meant, though that the film would be grainier, less sharp. In the digital world, its ISO, and the higher the ISO setting, the faster the light can be imaged. But like film, the faster the light gets imaged, the more noise gets invited to the party.
• Aperture: Aperture is the size of the hole that the light travels through on its way to the sensor.
• Shutter speed: This is the duration of the light being cast on the sensor as the shutter opens and closes. This is quite literal in digital SLRs, but for point and shoots it’s a time value for imaging the light as point and shoots don’t have literal shutters.
• CCD: CCD stands for “Charged Coupling Device” and is the sensor that point and shoot cameras use to capture the image in the camera. It then processes it. CCDs tend to be VERY small, about the size of your fingernail and as such, can cause a lot of noise if stuffed with too many megapixels. But they are ideal for the compact nature of point and shoot cameras.
• CMOS: CMOS stands for “Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor.”  This sensor design is primarily used by digital SLRS and can be as large as a full frame 35mm negative. The benefits to CMOS sensors are obvious – greater size equals more light captured for the image and greater resolution. The downside has been that when shooting moving video that the image can get a bit skewed, referred to the rolling shutter issue.
• Focal Length: Focal Length is essentially the range of your lens. Whether 3x or 35x it is the ability of the camera to zoom from its widest point to its farthest. And the further you can zoom, the slower the lens gets. So it’s important to keep that in mind.

3. DSLR or Point and Shoot? Which should you buy.

There are two categories of cameras … digital SLR (single lens reflex) and point and shoots (which are divided into compact and MegaZooms). When looking at cameras, it largely depends on the kind of camera you want and how you’re going to use it. DSLRs have the advantage of being able to swap out lenses, full 1080p HD video on most models, and provide splendid depth of field. But they are require quite an investment. Point and shoots are inexpensive and offer great capability for capturing the moment. And the HD video they shoot has gotten pretty darn good by comparison to its DSLR cousins. And they have the advantage of fitting in your shirt pocket. But they tend to have smaller zoom lenses. In the middle are the MEGA zooms, which offer up to 40x zoom (equivalent of 600mm) and are cheaper than DSLRs. But they tend to be heavy and do not fit in your pocket. There is one other category that is fairly new and that’s the Micro 4/3s camera. These cameras have electronic shutters (like a point and shoot) but give you the ability to change lenses. So you get the best of both worlds. But they can be pricey.

So when choosing a camera, go back to the questions you asked above and consider which category answers most of them and appeals to your particular picture taking habits.

4. Beware the “more Megapixels is better” myth

Contrary to popular belief, more megapixels isn’t always better. In fact, it can be worse if the increase in megapixels isn’t accompanied by an increase in size of the sensor. What can happen when cameras are stuffed with more megapixels is that a sensor can become less sensitive to light, not more and that means more noise in a picture. And according to a recent study, the “butter zone” for taking snapshots is 6mp. Anything above that for prints up to 8×10 is largely overkill. And considering that only 1 in 5 actually print their pictures, looking at cameras with 14 MP and above is akin to buying a Ferrari for a trip to the supermarket. Sure, it looks good, but you may never use it to its full potential.

5. Beware of the more zoom ploy

Many manufacturers try to lure customers in with large zooms up to 45x and above – especially with megazoom cameras. But the trick with these large focal length cameras is that the camera will suffer from camera shake that becomes more pronounced at the extreme ends. Even with image stabilization, a slight movement can be exponentially larger when taking a picture. And the longer the focal length, the slower the lens. Which can cause a lot of blurry images due to movement. So if you’re thinking about buying a mega-zoom camera, plan on buying a monopod or tripod as well.

Additionally, cameras have a digital zoom feature. This is where a camera can go beyond the physical focal length of the camera by essentially magnifying the image digitally. The downside of this is that the resolution starts to break down and become “artifacty.” And it’ll also become darker as the lens speed drops. And again, camera shake becomes more pronounced. And while some cameras have improved their digital zooms, it’s really more beneficial to the photographer to simply ignore the feature or turn it off altogether.  Then, if you want to take your footage and zoom further, you can just do it in a video editor like Adobe Premiere or with After Effects and get a far better result.

6. Read reviews

When you’re honing in on a particular camera, it’s important to take a look at reviews to get an overall impression of designs. You can go to photo magazines and look on websites like here at GadgetReview. But another valuable review resource is Amazon.com. Go to the product page of the camera you’re thinking of buying and read the user reviews. Toss out the highs and lows (to eliminate the fan boys and the haters) and you’ll have a pretty good grasp of how well a camera performs under real world, daily conditions from people like yourself who have bought them.

7. Go Hands On

While most people are now buying their cameras from online sources like Amazon, do not underestimate the importance of going to a local “brick and mortar” store to try out a camera. Holding a camera in your hand and feeling the weight and form factor will pretty much sell you on one model over another.

Additionally, if you’re thinking of investing in a DSLR system, it may be beneficial to rent a camera from a local “mom and pop” camera store. And many will deduct that rental fee from the purchase price if you buy from them.

8. Think about ‘extras’

When looking for a camera, and making your budget, you’ll want to set aside some money for the extras. Cameras will come with a recharger for the batteries, or will include a USB cable to connect to your computer to recharge (which we don’t recommend). But unless bundled in a kit at the time of sale, they won’t include a camera case, memory cards, or a spare battery. So it’s important to keep those expenses in mind when making your budget. Another consideration is a flash. Most point and shoot camera flashes are designed to shoot a portrait of small group. As such, they flash will dissipate and become largely useless outside of about 10 feet. So if your camera has a top flash attachment (called a “hot shoe) and you’re planning on doing some distance shooting in limited light, then an external flash is a good investment.

9. Shop around

When you’re ready to pull the trigger, go to pricegrabber.com. This is an excellent site for finding the best deal on the camera (or anything for that matter), that you’re looking to buy. You want to pay attention to feedback ratings. This is important. And sometimes the cheapest price may not always be the best bottom line deal (if one is charging more for shipping, for instance). And some online sources will also offer a dirt cheap price to get you to order and then will try and upsell you on extras. And when you don’t, they’ll simply cancel your order. So always remember the old adage – let the buyer beware. But if you stick to the main sources like Amazon, Best Buy,  Costco (which has a nice 90 day return policy) and other mainstream dealers, you should be able to steer clear of that scam.

10. Extended Warranties

Many will want to sell you and extended warranty, and for a big ticket item like a Digital SLR they’re a good idea – but only if they come from a reputable source like the manufacturer. For smaller items like a point and shoot they’re just a cash cow for the retailer. That’s because if a camera is going to go bad, it’ll do it within the regular warranty of a camera (or sometimes immediately after). The older a camera gets, the less likely it will fail. And so the retailer is banking that it’ll be able to pocket the entire cost of an extended warranty and not have to make good on a repair as the camera gets older. And salesmen are encouraged to sell them because they can make up to half the cost as a commission.  Additionally, if you’re paying by Credit Card factor, chances are your credit card company may offer extended warranty protection as a perk of membership.  American Express is one such company, which automatically tacks on an additional year.  And CitiBank Cards theft and drop protection during the first 90 days.

11. Patience is a virtue

Finally, whatever camera you decide on, give yourself time to get used to the camera.  Don’t just take it out of the box, shoot some pictures and expect them to be the quality of Life magazine.   I have talked to a lot of people who returned a camera saying they were disappointed with it, but if you ask a few questions to get deeper behind it, it’s usually because they’re expectations were high, but their patience level was low.  In short, user error often causes most problems with lackluster images.

So, give the manual a cover to cover read to familiarize yourself with the features of the camera.  Shoot a LOT of pictures.  And experiment.  And read up on techniques like the rule of thirds and prefocusing.  The rule of thirds is where you divide the image with an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid.  Place your subject where two lines intersect and your pictures will look much better than sticking them in the middle.  Also, get in the habit of prefocusing.  This is where you place your subject right in the middle and press your shutter half way.  This locks in the focus.  Then recompose and shoot the shot.  Doing this will  virtually insure your subject will stay in focus.

If there’s one thing I absolutely hate doing, it’s having to take my memory card out every time I want to transfer pictures to my computer – it’s either that, or keep a multitude of USB cords plugged in so I’m always ready to clear up space.  It is a very tiring process, and I’ve often wished for someone to come up with a better solution.  Thankfully, someone at Eye-Fi must have been thinking the same thing that I was, because their line of Eye-Fi memory cards have the potential to revolutionize the way you take pictures.

How the Eye-Fi cards work is such an ingenious concept, I’m amazed at how long it took someone to come up with it.  The Eye-Fi memory card has a tiny Wi-Fi antenna built in.  When you first plug it into a computer (you only need to do this once – after that the information is stored) you’ll specify any networks that you want it to be able to connect to.  After that, any time the card is within range of one of those networks, it will automatically upload your pictures to wherever you specified.  Most people will probably use it to upload things to sites like Flickr or Shutter Bug, but if you have a network hard drive and set up port forwarding, you can have the card upload it directly to there whenever you’re away from home.

Speaking of being away from home – say you’re at the beach and there’s no Wi-Fi network around, but you know your card is getting full – what are you to do?  Surely not stop taking pictures, after all what if little Jimmy does something cute or funny.  Well, as long as you have an Android phone or tablet, or an IOS device (and realistically, if you’re going to have something high tech like an Eye-Fi card, you’re going to have one of those devices as well) then your Eye-Fi card can go right into direct mode and send pictures to those devices for backup, or if you have a hefty data plan you can upload them then and there.

There are also upgrades you can purchase for your card – although some of them come free with more advanced cards; take Geotagging for example.  In order to enable Geotagging on my card, I would have had to pay an additional $29.99 for a lifetime license, but the Geo X2, Explore X2, or Pro X2 cards all come with that feature free.  I wasn’t really worried about having it, but in case you’re not sure how it works, the card will “imprint” each picture with the information about where you took it.  I have three cameras that do that for me automatically though, and they do it with GPS (giving me longitude and latitude), which in my opinion is more accurate than how the Eye-Fi card geotags things.  Since the card doesn’t have built in GPS, it instead relies on a Wi-Fi Positioning System.  It allows the Eye-Fi card to map the locations of wireless networks that it finds – even if they’re not on your list – and then gives you a general idea of where you were (i.e. city name and such).

You can also upgrade your card to be able to access AT&T Hotspots around the world.  This also costs an additional $29.99 a year (though the Explore X2 and the Pro X2 both come with a year free), and again I saw no need for me to upgrade to this function.  I always have my tab and iPhone with me (and my tab can make it’s own Wi-Fi network), so there was little point in spending money on a service I’ll never use.  I did think it was kind of neat however, because when you set it up you can also set the system up to sent you a text message (or email – or even tweet) whenever your Eye-Fi card was within range of a Hotspot.  Unless you take a LOT of pictures though, I’m not entirely sure that it’s worth the price.

On the subject of price – they’re actually a lot cheaper than you might think.  Okay, it’s going to be a good deal more expensive than that $5 4 GB card that Wal-Mart was selling on Black Friday – but it is also is a lot higher quality (I bought one of those $5 cards so I can attest to that).  The card I was sent was actually the cheapest of the bunch, and comes in under $50.  The others go up in price according to size and features, but since you don’t ever have to really worry about running out of room on these, I think 4 GB is plenty.

Editor’s Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

The Bottom Line:  When you buy an Eye-Fi memory card, it has the potential to be the last memory card you’ll need – constantly transferring pictures to make room for more means you’ll realistically never run out of space; they do come at a price a good deal higher than standard memory cards though.

Pros:

• Being able to put pictures on your computer without having to remove the memory card or attach anything is absolutely wonderful
• The unlimited space option automatically deletes old pictures if they’ve been uploaded to make room for more, and is well worth using
• Since most people have an Android or IOS device, Direct mode is worth it’s weight in gold for when you’re traveling (and it is free)

Cons:

• Unless you’re willing to pony up more cash for an upgraded card, the add on features are extremely pricey
• The Geotagging feature on an Eye-Fi card isn’t as accurate as what might already be on your cameras
• $29.99 a year just to access a Hotspot (and only to use that Hotspot to be able to upload pics) seems pretty steep to me

You can get an Eye-Fi Connect X2 4 GB Class 6 SDHC Memory Card from Amazon for only $39.88 (and yes, they sell the others there as well)

Tomorrow, Apple will unveil the next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 4GS or iPhone 5.  Not only will it be faster and have an upgraded camera, but it will be powered by iOS 5.  Here are the top 30 new and improved features that users are going to love.

1. Wireless Sync and activation

Literally right out of the box, new iOS devices will be able to activate without a PC with wireless activation.  That’s something that Apple customers have been screaming for as some don’t want a computer, they just want an iPad.  This new feature fills that need.  And iOS devices don’t have to sync through a USB connection to iTunes.  Using a WiFi connection, users can backup to iCloud, as well as sync to iTunes on their PC.  And with new over the air (OTA) updating, users won’t have to sync to iTunes to get the latest iOS updates, something Android users have enjoyed since day one.  And any time you plug your iPhone into an AC outlet to charge, the iPhone will automatically sync to the Cloud via WiFi and look for a software upgrade.

2. Notification Center

The next new feature is another that isn’t really new to Android users, but that iOS 5 does quite elegantly … it’s the new Notification Center.  When users receive a message, whether text or email, iOS 5 will drop down a notification bar in the upper edge of the screen without kicking users out of the app they’re using at the moment.  Users can then swipe down to pull down the bar for more details. If there’s multiple messages, users can simply swipe to reply to messages.  For messages that come in when the iOS device isn’t being used, the Notification Center has lock screen notification, and a simple swipe will reveal and swipe to reply.

3. Greater Accessibility

This is so high on the list because Apple has always made accessibility to iOS a priority.  And these tweaks really help those who are hard of hearing or blind to further use their devices.  Features include LED Flash and vibration activation for incoming calls, improved voiceover support, a hearing aid mode for altering voice and voiceover, and custom gestures to perform key tasks.  Other improvements include a  larger text option, New speak selection, New assistive touch settings, and the ability to Set Mono Audio left or right.

4. Twitter Integration

With iOS 5, Twitter comes built in.  All users need to do is go into settings, select to install the official Twitter app and sign in.  New users can register within iOS 5 without having to launch the browser and go to Twitter to sign up. Once installed and activated, users will find Tweet options in several places from the Safari browser, the camera app, maps, and contact information where Twitter handles can be added.  Additionally, the keyboard has been redesigned for more prominent #(hash-tag) and @ (mention) keys.  Location services can also be added to any Tweet, making Tweet ups easier to create.

5. Greater phone support

You remember that the iPhone is actually a PHONE right?  It can make and receive calls!  That’s what my wife likes to joke about.  Well with iOS 5, users have greater phone support including deleting of individual phone calls with a wipe, unsecured call warnings, location notifications for calls not in contacts, and users can now edit their phone number in settings.

6. Enhanced email features

With iOS 5, users can now add a little more flair to their emails with rich text editing of italics, bold, underline, and even indenting.  And to make addressing an email even easier, users can now drag email addresses to address fields.  Email also will have the ability to organize messages easier with the addition of custom folders. And users can now select & mark multiple emails as read.

7. Enhanced contact features

iOS 5 brings a few extra fields for contact management.  Users can now add family relations, as well as social media links

8. iMessage between iOS devices

Users can also send unlimited messages directly to users of other iOS devices with iMessage.  iMessage allows you to send pictures, video, text messages, group messages, and contacts to any other iOS device – iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch.  Users can set up to receive delivery notification and receipts.  iMessage works on both 3G and WiFi, and messages are encrypted.  And just for fun, users can now use animated GIF images in iMessage (only).

9. Airplay wireless mirroring

Airplay mirroring comes to iOS 5, allowing users to use their iOS device through AppleTV on their TV set.  Suddenly, that iPhone or iPad screen is 50″, making it ideal for meetings or even game play.  And the image will also rotate on the TV as it does on the iOS device as you alter it.

10. Enhanced camera control

Users have been screaming for this feature and now they have it.  In iOS 5, users will be able to take capture those instant moments with a Lockscreen camera control, meaning that they don’t have to go into the camera app to snap a picture.  Additionally, users can use the up volume button to snap photo.  And users have greater control over what the iPhone focuses on with one tap auto focus.  In camera editing features are also added including with red eye reduction, rotating, and cropping.   Users can also organize their photos in camera roll with the addition of albums. And here’s a great additional option – users can use their iPhone earbuds as a remote trigger by using the Volume UP button.

11. Photostream

Through Photostream, users can now automatically upload images and videos to the Cloud and directly to all iOS devices and their Desktop PCs.   Additionally, iCloud stores every photo for 30 days and every iOS device will store the last 1000 snapshots.  Your Desktop, however, can store them all.

12. Improved Facetime features

Apple has also finally freed Facetime from the confines of WiFi.  Users can now video conference over 3G.  And they don’t need a SIM to initiate a call either as calls can be made via phone number or email address.  And what could be better?  How about airplay support?  Facetime now enjoys airplay mirroring for video conferencing over your TV set through AppleTV.  And video quality is improved.

13. iCloud

Here’s the biggie.  Users can take advantage of the Cloud with wireless backup and restore.  Users can also schedule daily over the air backup or disable iCloud syn via 3G to save bandwidth.   As previously mentioned, iOS 5 will also automatically sync and backup to iCloud every time users plug in their phone to recharge and look for updates.   Images, videos and files are also backed up to the Cloud and synced down to other iOS devices as well as your PC via iTunes.  And speaking of iTunes, users have the option of a free 256kb upgrade of songs if backing up to iCloud, with any apps or music purchased not counting towards their monthly cap.  Users get 5GB free, with additional storage options ranging from $20-100 annually.  And  Find My iPhone is also available as a part of iCloud integration with an option to disable it.

14. Calendar enhancements

Calendars become more useful with a tap to add event option, tap and drag to adjust time and duration of an event, swipe left or right to view a different day, and viewing of event attachments.

15. Location based Task manager

iOS 5 makes people more productive now with the Reminder Task Manager.   Tasks can be created and checked off, as well as syncd w/ iCal and Outlook.  Reminders can also be location based, meaning when your iOS device sees where you’re in the vicinity of a task, it’ll remind you to do it. reminders. Reminders — Instead of taking notes on your iPhone’s notepad app or putting a reminder in your calendar, you can now use Reminders in iOS to create a digital to-do list right on your iPhone. The geo-location abilities will trigger surrounding events for you to choose from.

16. Storage usage and clean-up

Here’s a nice feature for housekeeping of your iOS device.  iOS 5 brings Storage Usage Clean Up so that we not only see what files have taken up space but also the option to empty that space of Apps, Game saved data, Music, Videos etc. with single wipe.

17. The Assistant

iOS 5 brings a Voice activated assistant feature.   With a long press of the home button, your iOS device will interact and respond to voice commands. Users will be able to drive hands free and tell the phone to send email, texts, get maps, tweet, and even make phone calls.  Based on the popular Siri app, which Apple recently purchased.

18. Split keyboard for iPad

If you’ve ever used an iPad, you know how hard it is to thumb type.  So iOS 5 adds a split keyboard option to make it easier to type in portrait mode.

19. Video and music now separate apps

With iOS 5, the iPod app is retired in exchange for separate video and music apps.  Seems kind of odd, but it was actually done with the iPod Touch, so this change makes it consistent across all iOS platforms.  Users can also move between tracks with a swipe to the left or right (iPad only) and a slide will delete a song right away.

20. Custom Tones

To make the iOS experience more personal, users can now add custom tones for Calendar events, send/receive mail, voice mail, week view on calendar, year view on calendar (iPad) and more.  And of course, that means a new TONES App store!

21. Dictionary

Not an earth shattering feature, but it’s nice that dictionary has been added and is available in every app.

22. News stand subscriptions

Available through iBooks, users can now subscribe to magazines and newspapers.  Searching by popularity of subscriptions is also a plus.

23. Cellular Network for App Store

If users want to be stingy with their bandwidth and only download apps over WiFi, they now have the option to Enable or Disable App Store downloads via GPRS and 3G.

24. Faster Safari

Safari has become streamlined and is faster to load.  Users can also save web pages in reader mode which eliminates all ads to make them easier to read.  They can also be saved off line to read later.  And in the iPad, Safari also offers Tabbed Browsing support.

25. Alternate Routes in Google Maps

Ever frustrated when Maps gives you a route that’s longer or goes out of the way?  In iOS 5, users can choose alternate routes that are more to their liking.  For those who prefer things old school, users can now print directions from their iOS device.

26. HD YouTube

Users now have the option to stream HD/HQ videos through YouTube over 3G.  For those concerned about bandwidth, the ability to disable HQ video playback is also available in settings.  Nice.

27. Disable In-app Purchases

As a dad, I really appreciate this option.  With iOS 5, users now have the option of disabling in-app purchases.  No longer will I have to pay for things I didn’t want to buy because the purchase was done in-app without our knowledge or consent.

28. Game Center Enhancements

By contrast, Game Center now allows in app purchases of games.  Users can also further personalize their account with photos, and decide if your profile is private or public.

29. Weather updates

The iOS weather app becomes more useful with hourly updates, local weather, and the ability to swipe the weather widget in Notification Center to see a 5 day forecast.

30. MultiTasking

Users can now do gesture based multi tasking (iPad only).  With a swipe of 4 fingers, the app switcher appears.  Pinch will return to home screen.  And a swipe left and right to switch between  any actve apps

There are over 200 new features to iOS, and depending on which iOS device you use, some or all are available to enjoy.  But it’s certainly a well thought out and welcome update which will only get better with the addition of the new iPhone!

5 out of 5 stars

I feel the need to preface anything I write from this point onward by saying that I am by no means an expert on photography.  Before reviewing the Composer I couldn’t tell you what an f/stop is, or what shutter speed my Nikon DSLR is set to.  I didn’t know what aperture size to use to make a picture look good (other than good ‘ol trial and error), and I most certainly didn’t know what flash setting to use for the best effect.  One look at my pictures now though, and you’ll see I learned SOMETHING from all this….

After going over everything I don’t know about cameras, let me say this: the Composer is a damn fine piece of hardware.  While I might not have known what I was doing when starting this review, I was able to figure it out pretty quickly, and take some pictures that really show off what the Composer is all about.  I can only imagine how much easier it would be for someone that actually knew what they were doing to use the Composer (or how much better their pictures would look than mine).

The Composer isn’t a lens you’ll use with normal everyday photography – this is something you’ll use when you want to add a special flairto a picture.  It’s like using PhotoShop effects, without the need of a computer (or PhotoShop itself).  The Composer is basically a lens attached to a ball-and-socket swivel which allows you to add blur and distortion to pictures.  You focus on some object straight on, then tilt the lens and re-focus on the same object again.  This serves to really highlight that initial object, and causes everything else to radiate blur.

Yes, it’s an artsy-fartsy lens, but believe me when I say you’ll start looking for opportunities to use the Composer once you have one.  It’s supposed to work with Lensbaby’s complete “Optic Swap” system, which allows you to change the optics between Lensbaby’s Single Glass, Double Glass, Plastic, FishEye, Pinhole, Soft Focus, or Sweet 35 Optics.  I didn’t receive any of the other Optics (the Composer ships with the Double Glass Optic installed) though, so I can’t comment on how they work, or how easy they were to swap out.

The Lensbaby Composer features an interesting way of changing aperture sizes – you use a magnetic tool to basically “hot swap” little black metal discs.  Each disc has a number on them (2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, and 22) and if you don’t know what you’re doing (handraise!) it becomes a bit of trial and error until you understand what works good for what light.  What is nice though, is that the aperture priority setting on most cameras (most made in the last few years at least) works, and takes out a lot of the guesswork for other settings.

(Taken with Composer, highlighting the orange flower)

I can definitely see the discs getting lost however, so maybe that’s not the best design, but it is simple, and a way to keep costs from getting astronomical.  From what I have said already, I hope that you understand that the Lensbaby Composer is not a “fly by the seat of your pants” kind of lens.  Yes, you can take some absolutely AMAZING photographs with it, but it’s going to take a lot of tweaking to make that happen.

From someone who at the start of this knew nothing about taking pictures other than “set the camera to auto, point, and shoot”, I have to say that even though there was a lot of work involved, I couldn’t be happier with how the Composer performs.  I have no problem recommending this to people, and in fact feel that this is one accessory that every amateur (or professional) photographer should have in their camera bag.

(Taken with Composer – notice the focus on the tall yellow flower and the radiated blur)

At the end of the day when all is said and done, I have no problem at all giving the Composer a glowing 5 out of 5 star rating.  The pictures I’ve taken with it speak for themselves.

Pros:

• Very lightweight
• Creates amazing picture effects
• High end design and function at an affordable price

Cons:

• Not recommended for the true beginner
• Aperture discs are small and could get lost
• If your camera doesn’t support the aperture priority setting it’s a LOT more work (tried on a Nikon D3000 to see)

You can pick up the Composer by Lensbaby at Amazon for $214.87 (the Nikon model), $219.95 (Canon), $243.25 (Pentax), $249.95 (Sony), or $249.95 (Olympus).

I was playing with aperture sizes in this one

The pinpoint focus is on the hidden purple flower, notice how it seems to pop

5 out of 5 stars

Joby’s Gorillamobile is a great device. But I don’t usually shoot at weird angles with a point-and-shoot. I reserve my best and most unique shots for my DSLR, and the Gorillamobile is too small for that. So Joby – the ball-hinge tripod and accessories company – built the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom, made specifically for larger DSLRs with heavier bodies and larger lenses.

And it does a pretty good job of holding up my Nikon D7000. By that, I mean my baby hasn’t been dropped once, and went through all my testing unscathed.

Testing the SLR-Zoom was a heart-wrenching experience. Like when putting a TV on a wall mount for the first time with everything hooked up, eventually you have to let go and hope it holds strong. That one moment of anxiety, where your heart stands in a lurch, was commonplace. My D7000 was strapped to the tripod upside down, hanging from tree branches, and in other hazardous positions far above both soft and hard ground. With relief, I can state that the SLR-Zoom never once gave way. The last thing I wanted to see was over a thousand dollars of equipment succumbing to gravity and heinous normal forces.

The Gorillapod SLR-Zoom can be bent in so many shapes…it could be a stop-animation character

Besides the size and weight capacity, there isn’t much different between the SLR-Zoom and Gorillamobile tested earlier this week. Both use identical – albeit differently sized – ball hinges as tripod legs, which are excellent for standing up straight as well as strapping onto various surfaces. The SLR-Zoom also has a screw-on ballhead connector, which has the actual screw for the camera (which includes a built-in level) and allows for an even wider range of motion for the camera itself. It can sit at a full 90° angle using a small slit in the ballhead. Otherwise, the two products are nearly identical.

However, anyone interested in a Joby tripod should know what sort of weights they deal with before buying. Using one of my larger lenses, a Sigma 30mm 1.4 (short but heavy) the SLR-Zoom would bend under the weight when held at an angle. The SLR model supports up to 800 grams, the SLR-Zoom 3Kg, and the Focus (for professional grade cameras and camcorders), 5Kg. Most DSLRs will work fine with the SLR-Zoom, but if you plan on using larger lenses, it would be safer to get the Focus, even for double the price of the Zoom. Using my D7000 with no attachments except for various lenses (prime and zoom lenses, but no long-distance primes), the SLR-Zoom could hold my equipment in the field without concern. Had I tacked on a battery pack, larger lens and a flash apparatus, that may not hold true, but it’s important to check the weight and compare it to what the tripod can handle.

The Gorillapod SLR-Zoom proved to be exceptionally useful, even without holding a camera

Writing this review, my D7000 is dangling from a bookshelf facing certain doom, but has held in place so far. I have no doubt it will continue to, because it’s sat there for an entire day without moving. Those rubber-coated ball hinges have excellent grip…I can’t say without a doubt I’m not apprehensive, even after over 24 hours of hanging there, but the stress has faded significantly.

My confidence in Joby’s Gorillapod SLR-Zoom is set in stone. It hasn’t dropped my camera or felled any equipment since the day I began testing. It’s stable as can be, durably built, well designed, and a great compliment to any photographer’s arsenal. It really is a working-man’s tripod; you’ll never know when you need it, and I’ve always missed it when I didn’t bring it along. With the SLR-Zoom, I have started to think about how I can take certain shots considering camera placement at odd angles, and not just in my hands.

Chris McCaw is a bit of an engineer. After selling his very expensive medium format camera in order to make rent, he somehow got into DIY and built himself a replacement for $150.

Not content with just replicating his former camera, he started supersizing his new engineering hobby and came up with a bunch of mammoth cameras.

The one in the photo is 30 by 40 inches, requires a bunch of large wheels just to move around, and looks like a cannon from Napoleon’s time.

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Well what do he have here?  Another take it or leave it product, this Travel Mug with Digital Picture Frame has a 1.5 Inch LCD screen and is capable of holding up to 45 digital photos.  The mug includes plug and play software and a USB cable for $25.  The photo frame detaches from the mug for passing around the fire like it ain’t no thing.

With so many cell phones allowing for mass storage of digital photographs, I don’t understand the draw of this product but Americans are known to buy just about anything.

On sale now.

[via RedFerret]

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Is Ortery’s Photosimile 5000 worth $17,000?  I don’t think so, but it sure is cool if you would like a complete 3D animation of any given product.

A Microwave like turn table rotates the inserted products 360 degrees while a robotic swing arm with a Canon point and shoot digital camera attached pans and elevates above the product.   Then using Ortery’s proprietary software, you can create a complete 3D animation of any given product in just a few minutes time.

It’s available now, but as mentioned, it will cost you a pretty penny and then some.

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First responders, pay attention, because you might be able to save some MORE lives with what I’m about to hit you with next.  Some engineer managed to take ten dollars worth of electronic parts–available off the shelf pretty much anywhere–and modify his mobile phone into a cell phone that does double duty as a microscope.

This is no ordinary engineer; he’s an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of California, and he’s actually started up his own company to market the cell phone microscopes.

Not that this is just great for the medical and scientific communities–now any putz can check a blood sample for signs of tuberculosis, malaria, or anemia!

It’s conceivable that, from here, the phone would then be able to remotely send the images back to actual medical professionals for diagnosis before the patient was even put on an ambulance.

No idea when they’ll be available, but they really should do a whole lot of good when they’re done.

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Today, I read an article that made me question my own sanity.

I read all about the Liquid Image Scuba Series HD320, and when you hear what this is and connect it to earlier work, then you’re going to have a serious problem yourself.  Because by the time I finish talking about this you’ll wonder the same thing I did:  namely, maybe Thanko’s Underwater USB Camera wasn’t so lunatic after all.

The Liquid Image Scuba Series HD320, you see, is a diving facemask with a side-mounted HD video camera.  All you have to do is line up the crosshairs on the mask with the thing you want to photograph, then press the button on the mask to take the footage.  It’s the equivalent of a five megapixel camera and can go as far down as 115 feet.

You can get one of these beauties via West Marine for just $300, but there are lower cost versions available.

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When you think of General Electric, the first thing to spring to mind might be light bulbs, or possibly NBC.  But I doubt you think of portable ultrasound gadgets, and that’s a shame.  Because as it turns out, they’ve just invented one.

It’s called the GE VScan Portable Ultrasound, and soon, you too can be jumping from pregnant belly to pregnant belly, offering a sneak peek at Junior.  Hopefully you also know a good lawyer to boost you out of the looney bin if you actually try that.

But actually, this may be a pretty fair idea.  Think about the concept of an EMT with the ability to notice fluid around the heart in the ambulance ride to the hospital.  Cardiologists could have at their fingertips near-instant access to ultrasound gear instead of scheduling it at a larger facility.  And they could do this for far, FAR less money than the average ultrasound gear.

No word as yet on when this will be released, but it’s a pretty awesome idea when you come down to it.

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If you’ve been wanting a digital picture frame that’d really do the job, then you’re probably going to be interested in the HP Dreamscreen, a huge smart display that comes in both ten and thirteen inch diagonals, and will also play picture slideshows, videos, five day weather forecasts, updates from your Facebook friends, and music from Pandora.

You can even directly link the DreamScreen to your computer for easy movement of items.

These bad boys cost two hundred fifty bucks for the ten inch screen and three hundred bucks for the thirteen inch.  They’ll be in stores this October, and if you’ve got media you want exhibited, this could be just the way to go.

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It’s really, REALLY, hard to find a camera any more without an LCD display, so I was definitely shocked to find the OneShot camera, a camera so tiny that it’s about the same size, length and width, as your thumb.

There is no LCD display here.  No slots for flash memory, either.  But it apparently somehow manages to not only come with face detection, but also never need batteries.  This camera actually recharges like some of those flashlights you see–all you have to do is shake it.

The OneShot seems to not only run on a dynamo but also offers no expansions in memory.  This may be one of the weirdest cameras I’ve ever SEEN.

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Really?  Apparently not needing 3-D glasses to enjoy, the FujiFilm FinePix REAL 3D W1 camera won’t require anything more than a press of the shutter.  A 2.8-inch LCD on the back of the camera will display images in 3-D as soon as they are shot, and the camera is also capable of shooting good old fashioned 10 megaixel photos if you so choose.  The camera also features a 3x optical zoom as well as an “interval mode” that lets you shoot in 3-D while moving in a plane or another vehicle of your choosing.

Unfortunately, all these features don’t come cheap.  The FinePix REAL 3D W1 will cost around $940 US.  However, if this camera proves that quality 3-D images are capable, we will soon see that market develop and hopefully the price will go down.

I wonder what will this do for porn?

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As soon as I received the news that the 3.0 App Store was going to have parental ratings I started pressuring my smart friend to learn the development code.  This will be a goldmine for certain I was thinking.  Most recently however, the very first nude content app “Hottest Girls” has been removed from the US App Store.  Rated ages 17+ for “frequent/intense sexual content or nudity” and “frequent/intense mature/suggestive theme,” I love how it’s under the “lifestyle” category.  How true that is!  This undoubtedly marks something really big.  Can you imagine the power of what these types of apps will behold?

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Launching later this month Eye-Fi is releasing two new models: The Eye-Fi 4GB SDHC Share Video and the Eye-Fi 4GB SDHC Explore video.  These new models will effectively bring down the price of the original models to $49 for 2 GB Home and $59 for 2 GB Share.  The entry level Explore is being discontinued.  Also to be released soon will be an iPhone app that owners of Eye-Fi cards will be able to download for free.  The app will provide users the chance to send photos from their iPhones to the 25 Eye-Fi affiliated sharing sites.  Sounds pointless actually.  Here’s a quick rundown and pre order links:

Eye-Fi Share Video

• 4GB SDHC memory card with built-in Wi-Fi
• Effortlessly uploads JPG photos and videos to your computer
• Includes unlimited WebShare service to automatically upload to your favorite sharing website
• Compatible with SDHC-labeled cameras
• Pre Order for $79

Eye-Fi Explore Video

• 4GB SDHC memory card with built-in Wi-Fi
• Unlimited Geotagging
• WebShare to upload photos to online sharing site
• Hotspot Access for 1 year
• Wireless JPG photo and video uploads to computer and web
• Upload photos and videos wirelessly from over 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the nation
• Compatible with SDHC-labeled cameras
• Pre Order for $99

[Electronista]

I’m no professional photographer, but the Ray Flash looks like one tasty piece of gear for anyone attending red carpet laden, celeb infested parties.  It works by attaching to a compatible hot shoe mounted flash, and redistributes its light in an even manner using ‘mirrors and internal light shapers’.  Best of all, it’s light weight and requires no external power source.

The Ray Flash is available in a variety of sizes for $200 and can be purchased here

[RedFerret]

What’s in a name? Everything, it would seem, when it comes to standing out in a crowd. Meet Motorola’s Rapture Cell phone designed specifically to appeal to the fickle demands Verizon Wireless customers.

The Motorola Rapture VU30 stands alone among a sea of imitators. Its unique design and jewel-tone color sets it apart from others of its ilk. This device supports Bluetooth A2DP-Source, AVCTP, AVDTP, AVRCP-Target, BIP-ImagePush, BPP-SenderDev, DUN-GW, FT-Server, GAP, GAVDP, Headset-AG, HFP (1.5) AG, OPP-Client and OPP-Server profiles.

As if by magic, with one single touch, the external on the Motorola Rapture VU30 vanishes and a display is illuminated for easy access to music and photos. Whether the user is in the mood to sync to a PC, capture a special moment in time, purchase songs over the air or download tunes, the Motorola Rapture VU30 is “at your service.” Its smooth zoom feature simulates the experience of a digital camera.

The Rapture’s onyx-like finish and beveled edges give it a sporty look that’s matched by a sturdy feel in the hand. Sleek and pleasing to the eye, the flip phone is only available in black, but its varied textures make it appear two-toned. The Motorola Rapture weighs only 3.4 ounces and is available with service through Motorola for $19.95.

Is this cool Motorola Rapture cell phone for you?

I would say get it now while the supply lasts.

[Mobiledia]

Plans for 2012 are grandiose indeed, including first and foremost the inclusion of improved integrated cameras. Instead of opting for the more conventional 2 mega-pixels and even the 5-8 range, which is already pushing the envelope, they plan on having cameras equipped with 12 to 20 mega-pixels! While 12 may well be an acceptable goal, 20 is reaching quite high.

HD video recording is already a feature of digital imaging and adding this to the list of functionality for camera phones is well within reach. But Ericsson is determined to push the functionality aspect so that it equals that of the high-end camcorders of today. This would require a lot more storage for these phones. Ericsson is also focused on creating an extra speedy 1GHz processor and LTE100+ Mbps mobile broadband connection. It is hoped that along with these innovations which are known battery hogs, Ericsson is also thinking about power concerns as well.

Here’s to Ericsson’s innovations of the future!

The Kodak Theatre HD Player hit stores September 2008 and cost $300.  You can preorder it from Amazon today.

[eHomeupgrade]