Pentax Digital Cameras

I'm not a pro in photography. Until recently I had several point-and-shoot cameras, but none of them made by Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Sony or Pentax. So when I finally decided to buy a DSLR, I didn't have any brand affiliations or knowledge. I did a lot of research about DSLRs, read reviews and looked at various models performances and features. Finally I chose the Pentax K200D and I'm satisfied with my decision. Here are some of the reasons I chose this model from Pentax over other's that I've read about:

1) It's the first camera in its class that is environmentally sealed

2) While some models can only save medium quality JPEG, the Pentax K200D allows high quality JPEG and RAW saving at the same time (RAW+).

3) Like a preview from Popular Photography read, this camera is the mixture of a SLR with a tank. It's very strong and firmly built, and I must admit that I did get the impression that some Canon and Nikon devices were a bit flimsy.

4) Even though some people consider that AA batteries are a downside, I believe this is an advantage. And good 2500mh AA batteries are very cheap and you can find them at every store around, so you don't have to worry about running out of juice.

5) The model supports any Pentax lens that was ever made.

6) In-body stabilization - it's a very neat feature. It translates to the lenses you buy and not once did it save my shots.

7) It is an APS-C sensor.

I have the camera for a few days now and I must say that I'm quite pleased by it. From what I've read on the Internet, its kit lens isn't as bad as those of other cameras and I've "played" with it for a few days. The autofocus system is pretty quick, though I did experience slight delays at low light.

The burst rate is of 4 RAWs or JPEG, but it's ok for the moment. When I'll have a memory card with a lot of memory I'll see if it's an inconvenience for me. I find the grip and handling very comfortable. Also the menu is pretty clear and easy to understand. The manual is huge and explains everything you need to know about the device's features.

I've tried using it in low-light situations, at night, and I got pretty good results. So, for now, I'm very pleased with my choice for my first DSLR.

New Digital Camera

The best new digital cameras that are available on the market today are extremely user friendly. For instance digital cameras allow you to be able to view the pictures that you take the instant that you snap a picture. This will allow you to know right away how your photograph turned out. You can also take large numbers of pictures, due to the capabilities of the memory card, in addition to being able to capture both sound and video. Many photography enthusiasts really appreciate the ability that the best new digital cameras give them to be able to edit and delete the images that they take.

Fuji is one of the top producers of today's best new digital cameras available on the market today. For example the Fuji Finepix is packed full of interesting and exciting features. For instance it boasts a 7.1-mega pixels so you are able to take high quality photographs with incredible resolution. The Finepix has a 10x optical zoom, which will make anything that needs a little bit of extra magnification look fantastic.

There are many of the best new digital cameras available on the market today that are equipped with live preview capabilities. This application allows camera users while in movie mode to be able to capture images at a frame rate that is acceptable for video. There are also many new models of digital cameras that are quite compact without skimping on any features and very portable. Compact digital cameras are extremely popular with those that do a good amount of traveling. Some of the very best new digital cameras including models such as the Fujifilm Fine Pix F40fd and the Panasonic Lumix FX30 are able to produce some of the most brilliant images able to be created by digital cameras.

umix Digital Cameras

Panasonic is a well respected name around the world due to their high quality line of consumer electronics, so it was only natural that Panasonic digital cameras retain the same high quality. The company was founded 1918 by Konosuke Matsushita on a small work bench in his house. Matsushita invented the two-socket light fixture, which was a big success and led to the establishment of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.

Today, Panasonic is one of the largest producers of consumer electronics in the world. The company manufactures a wide selection of products, and has a policy of achieving 100% customer satisfaction. The Panasonic name has become synonymous with quality and innovation. As for digital cameras, Panasonic has a big selection of products that will be suitable for almost any need or any budget. The company has also joined with Leica, a German camera company, to produce still digital cameras. Panasonic is still a small player in today's digital market, and hopes that this alliance with Leica will allow both companies to take a large percentage of the digital camera market share.

The most recent series of Panasonic cameras consists of three main lines. The Lumix digital camera series is produced by Panasonic and uses high quality lenses provided by Leica. These lenses help capture very clear and bright photos. The Lumix is an advanced digital camera with a shutter interval of less than 0.04 seconds, allowing photographers to take shots very rapidly. The D-Snap line of digital cameras is produced to give a smaller and less expensive alternative. The D-Snap cameras are trendy, come in various colors, and are thin and convenient. The target audience for D-Snap cameras is teenagers and young people who are looking for a good camera that will fit their budget. The D-Snap line of cameras can record videos and play music, which is a popular feature for today's young people.

Panasonic is continuing to succeed at maintaining its well-respected name, as well as build a great reputation for itself in the digital camera world. The company has always had a policy of putting the customer's needs first, and they are continuing that same philosophy with their digital camera line.

Digital Pentax Cameras

This world is full of beautiful things. And everyone likes to make those beautiful things their own. But that is not possible. The one way to make that possible is to take photographs of those things. In early days the people could hardly believe that one can create the identical image of something or some person though it is believed that the camera had been invented before Christ. It is not before 5th-4th century when Greek and Chinese philosopher had analyzed the laws of optics, people started to believe the conception of the camera. In 1664-1666 when Isaac Newton told that the white light is composed of seven lights the invention of camera became easier. After that, John Strognofe had invented the fist camera in 1685. The discovery of the silver nitrate's power to darken upon exposure of light by Johann Heinrich Schulze in 1727 has paved the way for the first Panorama opening by Robert Barker. In 1814 Joseph Nicphore Nipce had achieved the first photographic image by camera obscure. The first mass marketed camera was marketed in 1900.

There are so many companies manufacturing cameras. One of the renowned companies among those is Pentax. Pentax cameras have been manufactured by China. They are one of the major manufacturers of Digital cameras, Digital SLRS cameras, compact cameras, point and shoots, and accessories. Pentax also manufactures the water proof Digital cameras named Ocean Blue. Pentax has a selection of more than 30 cameras. Whether a professional photographer or an amateur one can click their desired photograph with a Pentax Camera.

Since then the camera has gone through many developments. It had started with black and white photographs clicked with rather big cameras. Photographs from that time could not be taken in the night or darkness. Then gradually this problem had been solved and the cameras became more powerful. There are many types of cameras, some of them are analogue and some are digital.

In today's world most of the people use the digital cameras. They are easy to handle. Other than that those cameras have more memory space, and one can do a variety of work with them. These cameras have many features which can help even an amateur to take good photographs. To capture the great moments of their life everyone wants a personal camera, whether any memorable moment during their holidays or to capture any memorable event of life. Sometime photography can become a source of joy as it can take one to the most beautiful places on this earth.

Digital Cameras Zoom

Digital Cameras Zoom

Digital Cameras Lenses

Your lens is an essential element to good photographs. It's not just your camera. People spend thousands of dollars on a good camera and neglect the lens.

Change that around! Make sure you buy a good camera lens when purchasing a camera. Buy a good camera as well, but don't neglect a good camera lens.

Why? Your camera is just the 'holder' for the photograph. The lens is what your camera sees all your shots through. A good lens is essential to clear and sharp photos.

With most compact digital cameras, you can't change the lens. So in that case, don't just buy a good camera, ensure it also has a good lens.

Avoid a plastic digital camera lens because it doesn't have the clarity of a glass lens.

What model of lens?

Stick with camera lenses from well known manufacturers like Nikon, Canon and Pentax. Ensure you purchase a lens that works with your camera too. A Nikon camera lens usually won't work well with a Canon camera.

There are specialty lens manufacturers like Carl Zeiss, Leica and Leupold. If you're a beginner, don't worry about these lenses until you are more advanced as they come with very high prices and it's hard to justify the price for the small increase in quality.

Types of Camera Lens

The most common lenses are : Wide Angle, Normal and Telephoto. The type of lens is determined by the Focal Length of the lens. See below. A Zoom Lens is simply a lens that can change Focal Length from a Wide Angle to a Telephoto (or somewhere inbetween).

There are a number of things to look for when purchasing a camera lens.

Lens Focal Length

The Focal Length of a lens determines the amount of magnification and angle of vuew the lens can see. The Focal Length is measured in mm. It's the Focal Length that determines if the lens is a:

- Wide Angle; small magnification, wide angle of view. 20mm to 35mm

- Traditional, or Normal; 50mm

- Telephoto; high magnification, narrow angle of view; 105mm to 300mm.

- Zoom; A Zoom lens can change it's focal length to zoom in. A Zoom lens might have a Focal Length of between 50mm and 150mm.

Some lenses are interchangeable between film cameras and digital cameras, but you need to be aware that the effective focal length CHANGES between film and digital. The focal lengths I describe above are for FILM cameras and need to be multiplied by 1.6 to get the effective focal length on a digital camera. So using a film 35mm lens on a digital camera has an effective focal length of 56mm.

What does this mean for you? It means that you won't get as wide angle on a digital camera as you would on a film camera using the same lens. A 35mm lens which gives a medium wide angle on a film camera acts as a traditional lens on a digital camera

This is a complex subject, so I can't go into too much detail here. If you need more help, the best person to speak to would be your local camera store's resident expert.

Lens Speed

The 'speed' of a digital camera lens also defines a lens. The speed is determined in f-stops and is similar to the f-stop aperture setting on your camera. Faster lenses are more expensive and usually heavier.

Focusing Distance

This is the minimum distance from the camera lens that a subject must be to be in focus. Don't worry about getting a camera with a close focusing distance. Concentrate on a telephoto instead.

More Advanced Features

More expensive lenses have more advanced features.

- Vibration Reduction. A feature called 'vibration reduction' keeps images sharper when shooting in low light. They help to counter any vibration in the camera. Try to find a digital camera lens with this feature.

- USM USM stands for Ultrasonic Motor. This feature of Canon lenses gives you a high speed auto focus but the main benefit is the 'motor' is almost silent, so you don't disturb people around you when your camera is focussing.

- Filter Thread. When purchasing a half-decent lens, it should have a filter thread. This is a thread that allows you to screw on a filter (such as a polariser) to help when photographing difficult situations. Even if you don't need filters right now. it's handy to purchase a lens with a thread so you can add a filter later.

You get what you pay for

Generally the more expensive the lens, the better it is. More expensive lenses usually have a higher number of glass elements in the lens, which also makes them heavier.

Final Notes

While it is important to choose good quality camera lens, for beginners it isn't as important as good composition. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can only take a great picture with an expensive top-of-the-line lens. A badly composed picture won't look great with a great camera lens.

I don't mean to discount the importance of a good quality lens. A good rule is to only add to your lens collection only when you have a specific need for a particular digital camera lens.

Digital Cameras Lens

Your lens is an essential element to good photographs. It's not just your camera. People spend thousands of dollars on a good camera and neglect the lens.

Change that around! Make sure you buy a good camera lens when purchasing a camera. Buy a good camera as well, but don't neglect a good camera lens.

Why? Your camera is just the 'holder' for the photograph. The lens is what your camera sees all your shots through. A good lens is essential to clear and sharp photos.

With most compact digital cameras, you can't change the lens. So in that case, don't just buy a good camera, ensure it also has a good lens.

Avoid a plastic digital camera lens because it doesn't have the clarity of a glass lens.

What model of lens?

Stick with camera lenses from well known manufacturers like Nikon, Canon and Pentax. Ensure you purchase a lens that works with your camera too. A Nikon camera lens usually won't work well with a Canon camera.

There are specialty lens manufacturers like Carl Zeiss, Leica and Leupold. If you're a beginner, don't worry about these lenses until you are more advanced as they come with very high prices and it's hard to justify the price for the small increase in quality.

Types of Camera Lens

The most common lenses are : Wide Angle, Normal and Telephoto. The type of lens is determined by the Focal Length of the lens. See below. A Zoom Lens is simply a lens that can change Focal Length from a Wide Angle to a Telephoto (or somewhere inbetween).

There are a number of things to look for when purchasing a camera lens.

Lens Focal Length

The Focal Length of a lens determines the amount of magnification and angle of vuew the lens can see. The Focal Length is measured in mm. It's the Focal Length that determines if the lens is a:

- Wide Angle; small magnification, wide angle of view. 20mm to 35mm

- Traditional, or Normal; 50mm

- Telephoto; high magnification, narrow angle of view; 105mm to 300mm.

- Zoom; A Zoom lens can change it's focal length to zoom in. A Zoom lens might have a Focal Length of between 50mm and 150mm.

Some lenses are interchangeable between film cameras and digital cameras, but you need to be aware that the effective focal length CHANGES between film and digital. The focal lengths I describe above are for FILM cameras and need to be multiplied by 1.6 to get the effective focal length on a digital camera. So using a film 35mm lens on a digital camera has an effective focal length of 56mm.

What does this mean for you? It means that you won't get as wide angle on a digital camera as you would on a film camera using the same lens. A 35mm lens which gives a medium wide angle on a film camera acts as a traditional lens on a digital camera

This is a complex subject, so I can't go into too much detail here. If you need more help, the best person to speak to would be your local camera store's resident expert.

Lens Speed

The 'speed' of a digital camera lens also defines a lens. The speed is determined in f-stops and is similar to the f-stop aperture setting on your camera. Faster lenses are more expensive and usually heavier.

Focusing Distance

This is the minimum distance from the camera lens that a subject must be to be in focus. Don't worry about getting a camera with a close focusing distance. Concentrate on a telephoto instead.

More Advanced Features

More expensive lenses have more advanced features.

- Vibration Reduction. A feature called 'vibration reduction' keeps images sharper when shooting in low light. They help to counter any vibration in the camera. Try to find a digital camera lens with this feature.

- USM USM stands for Ultrasonic Motor. This feature of Canon lenses gives you a high speed auto focus but the main benefit is the 'motor' is almost silent, so you don't disturb people around you when your camera is focussing.

- Filter Thread. When purchasing a half-decent lens, it should have a filter thread. This is a thread that allows you to screw on a filter (such as a polariser) to help when photographing difficult situations. Even if you don't need filters right now. it's handy to purchase a lens with a thread so you can add a filter later.

You get what you pay for

Generally the more expensive the lens, the better it is. More expensive lenses usually have a higher number of glass elements in the lens, which also makes them heavier.

Final Notes

While it is important to choose good quality camera lens, for beginners it isn't as important as good composition. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can only take a great picture with an expensive top-of-the-line lens. A badly composed picture won't look great with a great camera lens.

I don't mean to discount the importance of a good quality lens. A good rule is to only add to your lens collection only when you have a specific need for a particular digital camera lens.

Do your research and your homework first, and find the lens that suits both you and your camera.

Buy Digital Camera

Nowadays every second person wants to buy digital cameras. It has gained a high popularity due to its easy to use features. Well, the manufacturers of digital companies upgrade their products every month to make sure that their products attract a large number of customers. When we want to buy digital cameras, it is of primary importance that we do a lot of research work; after all, you are investing a fair amount of your hard-earned money on your camera and you don't want to have pangs of regret afterwards. The giant companies often offer cameras at cut-down prices especially during festive seasons. So these seasons are a good time to buy digital cameras. It is important to compare the facilities also along with the prices. You also look out for the different camera accessories offered with the cameras.

If you want to shoot pictures that will look more alive and vibrant then go for higher megapixels; the resolution is much better with higher megapixel cameras. But if you want to take long shots or want to zoom in the long distance shots, then you must compare and check the optical zoom facility also. The more the optical zoom, the clearer the long distance pictures will be.

The cameras also come with SLR facilities and if you are a professional photographer you can go for this camera or a DSLR camera. Then there are various types of lens that can be attached to these cameras. You can compare the lenses of a SLR camera with that of a camera used for shooting films. Also make sure that that the memory cards given with the cameras are of a higher memory.

You can choose from a whole lot of colors and looks. Digital cameras are sleek and come in a variety of colors ranging from black, silver to red, hot pink and other alluring colors. Before you buy digital cameras also study about the free accessories that the different companies are providing or whether at discounted rates. The batteries are rechargeable and are offered for free at the time of purchase; the battery charger is also free. The camera case and memory cards or sticks are also included with the camera. During festive seasons, you can also buy the tripod stand for your camera at a much lower cost. You will get reflectors and extra flashes at low cost if you are lucky enough.

At the end I would like to point out the fact with which I began this article. You will spend your own money when you buy digital cameras. Look out for the advertisements of cameras, jot down the prices and the features and then scurry through the shops, bargain (if you have an option) and buy your desired one.

Digital Cameras Under $100

There's no doubt that tech is projected to be big for the 2007 Christmas gift season. Anything that can be plugged in or turned on is cool in the eyes of children. And children are becoming tech-savy at a much younger age. If you haven't taken a look at kids' toys lately, you may well be suprised. Even baby toys mimic adult technology. Toddler toy laptops, cell phones and digital cameras all popular toys today.

But not all parents embrace that trend, thinking that expensive technical toys for small children encourages computer-addicted couch potatoes. Many parents long for the classic toys of their own youth - the simple bicycle, Mr. Potato Head, or a simple wooden train. The problem is, most kids are exposed to the high tech toys somewhere - in school, visiting the homes of others, or in the media - so the old stand-bys don't seem as exciting today, and in the eyes of our children, are quite dated.

And, with childhood obesity on the rise, parents have a hard time embracing toys that encourage children to veg in the front of a computer or TV screen. We welcome inexpensive toys that combine technology (because it's not going away) with classic learning and exercise. Some toymakers have answered our call. Here are five inexpensive, fun and popular toys that combine tech with exercise and learning.

1. Fisher-Price Smart Cycle: The Fisher-Price Smart Cycle combines exercise, education, and video game-type fun all into one toy. This toy is a bike that attaches to your TV. Your child has to petal the bike in order to play the game and "steers" handlebars that actually move. In essence, children are getting exercise and learning coordination while in video game nirvana. The games included are educational and allow your child to pursue alphabet letters, take a trip to "math mountain, and explore "shape lake." Fischer Price also offers software with favorite TV characters (like Sponge Bob, Barbie and Dora) so your child doesn't get bored. Priced at about $90, it's the most expensive toy on this list, but still pretty cheap by tech standards.

2. LeapFrog 100 Hoops Basketball Counting Game: This is the only child's basketball game that teaches number recognition and counting (all the way to 100 in both English and Spanish). It features built-in rally and cheering sounds to encourage your child to exercise while he learns regular and skip counting (by 5s and 10s) to 100. The game is completely portable and can he attached to a chair, wall, or door knob or can be taken outside and hung on a tree. Priced under $25.

3. Leap Frog Leap Learn & Groove® Alphabet Drum: It's no wonder this toy was winner of the 2006 iParenting Media Greatest Products Award. Priced at under $15, this toy not only encourages physical activity, rhythm and fine motor development, it also teaches language and music. It has two programs. Children can either simply make music with it, or it can be programmed to display or speak letters of the alphabet to encourage early letter recognition.

4. Discovery Exclusive Ready Set Learn! Jump & Dance Music Mat: This item is among the Discovery Store's best sellers. This toy allows your child to exercise by dancing and hoping, while it also encourages problem solving, creative play skills, and fine motor skills. Kids can chose to either dance to their own routines while the music follows their moves or they can repeat pre-programmed routines which light up with every move. This item is under $30.

5. Leap Frog Learn & Groove® Counting Maracas: Similar to the above mentioned Alphabet Drum, the counting maracas operate on the same principal of children making music and exercising while learning. The maracas teach counting from 1-10 in English and Spanish and introduce colors as well. This gem of a toy is under $15.

Digital Cameras 35mm

My family says I am stuck in the 70s. They have their reasons and there are many. One example is photography. I have used a 35mm single lens reflex camera since - well 1974. Yes, the same camera. This was a no frills, all manual, fantastic camera. I had the standard lens, 2 zooms, 2 wide angles, extenders, dozens of filters, flash, and macro adapters. The camera has served me well for more than 30 years. My family thought it was time for a change and that a digital camera would bring more enjoyment to my bird watching and nature walks. It was like saying goodbye to an old friend as I shoved the large camera bag to the back of our closet.

I finally have a digital camera. After holding out for several years for a digital camera with changeable lenses, I finally got the camera I wanted. Almost. Ok, this camera does not have the interchangeable lenses. I did some homework and studied the major differences in picture quality between cameras. Everything I read said "optical zoom" outperformed "digital zoom" for picture quality. But why? Simply put, optical zoom works throughout with the same number of pixels while digital zoom does not. Say you compare two 5 megapixel cameras - one with optical zoom and the other with digital. The optical zoom uses "optics" or lenses to magnify the image. This means the image retains 5 megapixels throughout the zoom range and therefore retains image quality. Not so with digital zoom. Again we start with a 5 megapixel image. Digital zoom enlarges a portion of the digital image. If your zoom ends with an image that is an enlargement of 25% of the original, this image will now have 25% or 1.25 megapixels. Quite a loss!

The camera I now have has a 15X optical zoom with a 2X digital zoom. There is also something called "smart zoom". This handy feature allows you to retain a higher number of pixels even when using the digital zoom, resulting in a clearer picture that will stay clear at larger print sizes. Other brands now offer this feature under different names, so do your homework. Comparing these numbers to my old camera and its several lenses, I have in 35mm equivalents @ 40 to 205 with the optical zoom and 80 to 410 with the digital zoom on. All of this comes in such a compact package. No large bag, no changing of lenses, built in light adjustment - no filters. Maybe I waited too long!

The proof is in the using though, isn't it? One of my hold backs to making the jump to digital is the lag time between the pushing of the button and the taking of the picture. I found that by turning off several options - focus size and face recognition are two - this lag drops considerably. In the most basic "automatic" setting, the lag time is cut to 7 milliseconds per the manual. Not bad, but enough to miss that action shot.

I took the camera on a road trip. After a few photo stops with a caravan of fellow British car owners, I became more impressed with my new toy. I like that pictures can be zoomed, cropped, and saved in the camera after a picture is taken. Night photos were awesome. The sensitivity - even in low light was something I could not have managed unless my 35 was on a tripod. This camera has image stabilization and apparently it works! Our next test was inside a cave. My son took most of the photos and again they were great. We used the flash and the low light settings and WOW was all we could say about the results. Sure, I could have gotten the same shots with my 35, but much slower and again the tripod would have been a must. The camera had passed every test to this point.

Nature photography was next. I like to photograph birds, deer, and whatever comes along during nature walks. Here, I found my first drawbacks. My old camera weighed several pounds with the long zoom lens and because of the lens length, the left elbow found a prop against my chest for steadying the camera. Not so with the digital. It is so light and small, I did have trouble holding it steady. I assume this is something I will grow accustomed to. The armadillo I surprised darted just as I snapped. I got him, but only partially - that lag cost me the shot. A grey heron was next. Some great shots until he started flying. I could have followed him with the 35, but with picture review on, this was a hopeless cause (being a male - I will read how to turn this auto review off later). Slightly frustrated, I tried unsuccessfully to catch up to a red tailed hawk. My fault - not the camera's. Remember, patience with nature gets the best shots.

Then came "the shot". Two monarch butterflies were flitting on some nearby flowers. I eased closer and started snapping. Still frustrated by the picture review, I was pleased nonetheless. Still butterflies are easy. What about flying butterflies? I was successful part of the time. The lag again did me in. But overall, the butterflies looked pretty good.

We began comparing these shots at home, zooming them in the camera. The missed armadillo shot was amazing. Sure, it was the head, shoulders, and one leg, but the clarity of his eyes and the vibrant colors were far better than I could have done with the old 35 under the same conditions. The butterfly pictures blew me away! I was shooting at 8.1 megapixel at full optical zoom. Using the 2x smart zoom, could that be what I think it is? WOW! Several of the butterfly pictures actually had the tongue of the butterfly, shown crystal clear, delving into the various petals! Amazing! Maybe with the 35, I would have gotten one. But not from the distance I was shooting and not this clearly. I am sold!

The bottom line is that with practice, reading the huge operators manual, and lots more shutter time this should become another great friend with which to share many outdoor adventures. Will this camera fill all my needs? Maybe. There are things I like and things I don't. I must become more familiar with the settings that reduce lag and focus time. Still, I see great adventures and amazing photos ahead. I think maybe I did wait too long, these digital cameras are great. Do your homework and compare before you buy. Most importantly, remember that optical zoom is always favored over digital.

Digital 35mm Cameras

The Best Digital SLR

If money is no object and you are looking for the best possible 35mm digital SLR, then you will want to know exactly which is the best digital SLR. At the moment most people would probably reply the Nikon D3, but this is about to change. This summer Leica, who were always known as the Rolls-Royce of 35mm cameras, will be launching their latest offering in digital SLRSs - the Leica S2.

The only problem there is likely to be with the new S2 is the cost. With this new digital SLR Leica are taking aim at the medium-format digital camera market, by creating a 35mm camera that can provide the same quality image as a medium-format camera such as a Hasselblad. The Nikon D3 for example has a 24 megapixel sensor, which is about double that of the 'average' high-quality digital camera.

The Leica S2 will be taking this even further by featuring a 37.5 megapixel digital sensor. In Leica's own words the Leica S2 is a "remarkable new camera from Germany that redefines the professional DSLR class with a custom 37.5-megapixel, 30 x 45 mm sensor built into a 35mm-sized body".

This digital camera is expected to seriously shake up the digital camera world and will force other manufacturers to significantly improve their products.

The 37.5 megapixel 30 x 45 mm sensor on the Leica S2 is almost 60% larger than full frame 35mm and the quality it offers is "well beyond that obtainable by conventional pro-caliber DSLRs".

The aim is to combine the quality of a medium-format digital camera with the ergonomics, and ease of use of a 35mm DSLR.

Back in 1925 Leica redefined photography when they created the legendary model A. The S2 is expected to have the same effect on digital photography in the 21st century.

The S2 is completely weather-sealed for use in the studio and also outdoors as it is, according to Leica, the ideal camera for "people who actually want superior image quality, but the nice hand-held option of taking pictures. So more the moving kind of taking pictures."

Although the S2 approaches medium-format quality, it is significantly lighter and less cumbersome, you can therefore take it with you up mountain sides with relative ease, which cannot be said for medium-format cameras which are heavy and generally also require a tripod to be carried up the mountain too.

Leica are keen to emphasize that the S2 is a "tool, not a toy," and that it has been created for professional photographers and pro-am photographers who require quality and reliability, it also has only enough buttons as are absolutely essential to professional photographers, i.e. there is no unnecessary no clutter.

The launch of the S2 is expected for the summer of 2009 and will be up against medium-format cameras such as the Hasselblad H3DII-39 megapixel with an 80mm lens. The Hasselblad sells for around $22,000 - the Leica S2 is expected to be priced around $20,000 - so start saving.

Cheap Digital Cameras

For people who cannot help but click away at whatever interesting object or person that they see, the need to own a good digital camera is very strong because such digital cameras have greatly simplified how we take photographs and they have opened up possibilities to shoot virtually limitless numbers of pictures without the need to load and reload camera films. Thus, the need to own digital cameras is very real, and if it were possible to buy cheap digital cameras, then the world of photography would be very thankful, and mercifully for the many millions of photography enthusiasts all around the world, there are indeed many cheap digital cameras available today.

Start Off By Searching The Internet

A good starting off point in the search for cheap digital cameras is the Internet where there are many outstanding deals to be had and where there is a lot of choice as well that includes big names such as Kodak, Canon, Sony as well as Toshiba that each have a broad range of cheap digital cameras on offer. And, times have changed because now there is no need to shop around as much to locate cheap digital cameras because most of these cameras are pretty similar and all you need to do is pick the brand name that you like the most and follow a few simple steps to get the best from your purchase.

There are certain sites where these cheap digital cameras have been compared and you may want to visit sites such as techbargain and also cnet.com where you can find many cheap digital cameras that are being sold in hundreds of online stores, and all you need to do is glance at the different products and check them out feature for feature and price for price.

If you visit eBay, there is sure to be a bargain buy available, and there will also be virtually every digital camera make and model available, though some of the things you buy on eBay including cheap digital cameras can often are a bit of a gamble, so it means that you makes sure to buy only from reputable sellers who have feedback scores that are excellent.

Price Digital Camera

These days, the digital camera has become the more popular choice for those seeking to make a brand new camera purchase. Lower prices over the past few years have enabled camera buffs of all ages and abilities to indulge in purchasing a digital camera. Without the need to constantly purchases a stock of film and then pay again for the developing, digital cameras have led to people being able to practice their art of photography to their hearts content without in becoming a financial burden. If you are on a budget, simply seek the lowest price. Digital camera technology enables the absolute beginner to snap a perfect shot following little instruction.

The variety available when seeking a new camera is rapidly increasing. Whether you search for the brand Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Casio, Kodak, Sony, Fuji or Panasonic, all these digital cameras can be obtained in both store sales and online for the lowest price. Digital camera purchasing may now offer a few too many choices rather than too few.

Sometimes the style of camera model may be the clincher when selecting a digital camera, even when searching only for a camera of the lowest price. Digital camera shape, color, size, or function can all play a part in the purchase decision, but sometimes the look alone can make the final decision. Perhaps you are looking for a sleek black compact model, or maybe a silver feature-filled style of camera fits your purpose better. You may alternatively prefer a red or green modern design.

Some of the features you may be concerned with include the zoom and megapixel counts. Zoom comes in both optical and digital zoon, and frequently a combination of the two is offered. The megapixel count may be of importance to you, the better models of digital camera having the higher rating if you have a choice between models of the lowest price. Digital camera features also include various sizes of on-screen display. If you want to ensure the optimum photograph before taking it, a larger display screen will offer extra detail.

Some purchasers of the lowest price digital camera may make their choice based on the battery. There are two main styles of battery, the easily inserted and often rechargeable AA size regular camera battery and the smaller watch-like batteries made from materials such as lithium-ion. These also are rechargeable, and some camera packages offer a free recharger among their contents. Cheap priced battery chargers for digital camera batteries are also purchasable from most camera stores, both online and off.

The higher classed models available on the market often come with a variety of detachable lenses. These may add to the zoom capacity, or simple alter the photographic image. Some lenses allow for fisheye shots, others cater for distortions or microscopic imaging. These tend to appeal most to the camera buff seeking something new in their images, or the expert, professional photographer who needs to cover a wide range of options for their occupational use of the digital camera.

Some of the more expensive brands and styles of digital camera can still be purchased at a lower rate during sales and other opportunities to buy at the lowest price. Digital camera sales increase at sales time accordingly. However, this can also happen when a camera store sells off former stock to make way for new models, at which time many fantastic bargains are obtainable, allowing for purchasers to buy a better model with their money than they expected.

If you are simply searching for an everyday digital camera at a great price, many of the features will be irrelevant and you simply need to ensure that all necessary items are included to save further purchases later on. The essentials generally include batteries, a battery recharger, a camera case, and a memory card or USB attachment, the latter two enabling you to transfer your pictures from camera to computer or printed photograph. These complete camera packages can be located online or in sale for the lowest price. Digital camera use is now within everyone's budget.

Minolta Digital Cameras

Nowadays digital cameras are in rage, and it is not surprising, since they moved up the concept of photography on a new level. The owners of digital cameras enjoy the ability to take quality pictures without the need to wait for them to be developed. Those who are more on a professional side of photography should consider purchasing a Minolta digital camera.

About the Minolta Brand

Before purchasing a Minolta digital camera, you might want to know a little background about the company itself. Minolta, a Japanese camera company, was founded 1928 in Osaka, Japan. The founder of the company was Kazuo Tajima, and the original name of the company was the Japanese meaning of "Japan-Germany Camera Shop."

It was not until 1962 that the company officially became known as Minolta. It was also in 1962 that John Glenn took a Minolta Hi-Matic camera (that was specially modified) into space with him aboard the Freedom 7.

In 2003, Minolta merged with the Konica Corporation to become Konica Minolta. However, this partnership did not last very long, because Konica Minolta announced on January 19, 2006 that they were leaving the camera business and selling part of their SLR camera business to Sony.

About Minolta Digital Cameras

Minolta digital cameras were designed mainly to enter the professional digital photography market. Thus, the DiMage line of Minolta digital cameras was created not only as an avenue for advancement in the digital camera market, but also as a way for professional photographer to purchase a camera from a trusted brand. This line included scanners and software as well as the digital cameras themselves.

DiMage cameras (specifically the DiMage 7) were designed for people who had experience using 35 millimeter SLR or single-lens reflex cameras. However, this line of cameras was more advantageous being easier to use, since the photographer would not have to deal with the complications of such things as interchangeable lenses. Thus, these cameras were meant to be sophisticated in design and purpose, but at the same easy to use, just like today's digital cameras.

Although Minolta digital cameras are no longer in the production, they are still available for purchase. Prices of these cameras will most likely be high, since no more are being made, but they are totally worth it. With any of the Minolta digital cameras you can be sure that you are getting excellent equipment - reliable and professional at the same time.

Digital Minolta Cameras

Minolta is one of the oldest companies which manufacture cameras. The Minolta camera still retains a respect among the photographers and the camera lovers and collectors. Minolta upgrades its products as often as required. So if you are looking for technologically most upgraded camera, then you can give the first preference to Minolta cameras.

It is a common knowledge that the Japanese are the makers and users of the most advanced technology in the whole world. So we have a lot of faith in the products manufactured by any Japanese company. The body of the camera, the various types of lens, the features provided is unparallel. In this age of cut-throat competition, when various makers of cameras are bringing their latest innovations, Minolta camera has still retained its position. Minolta's wide range of cameras prevents us to look beyond; we are spoilt for choice!

The features provided by Minolta camera are unique. The cameras manufactured in 1960s used the manual-focus technology. From there, the face of camera has evolved a lot. Now is the age of digital cameras. The digital cameras are high resolution cameras; it means that the pictures taken with digital cameras have a very high resolution. The pictures look clearer and the colors are vibrant. Minolta now provides digital cameras with SLR facility. They provide a wide range of models for the users. The user friendly models come in classic black color. The picture clarity of these cameras is something that is worth mentioning.

While we talk of high resolution and picture clarity, we cannot forgo the topic of megapixels. The higher megapixels give better resolutions. The photographs will look even more real. Besides, the cameras will reflect the exact color of that of the subject. The colors will never look artificial or superimposed. There are different modes incorporated in the camera. You can go to manual mode and adjust it to your liking; or you can take pictures in auto mode. Then there is the natural setting, the scenery mode and even the video mode. Home videos and holiday videos are very easy to make with Minolta cameras.

The cameras have another important feature known as the red- eye correction. It is usually seen that in some pictures the pupil of a person or an animal looks red; this is because when a camera is focused at the person or animal the flashlight falling on the pupil of the eye makes it look red. This was a great problem with the older cameras. Now with Minolta's upgraded digital cameras this problem is auto corrected and the pictures look natural. All these technologies offered by Minolta have made it easy for us to choose our careers as photographers.

5mp Digital Camera

Digital cameras are the camera of choice today. They offer so much convenience and you can get a camera with decent digital camera ratings for not a lot of money. Just keep in mind that the less money you spend, the less options you will have. Here is a look at some of the lowest price digital cameras out there.

Oregon Scientific DS6210

This camera has a sleek design and is very compact. It has 2.1 megapixels. It is compatible with emailing and sending images online. You can have prints made up to 3x5", and it has a 1.5" color LCD to view your photos. It also has 4x digital zoom. It has a continuous, or burst, shooting mode, and an automatic shooting mode for still shots. It features 16MB of internal memory storage. You can get this digital camera for around $70.

VistaQuest VQ-5015 Camera

This compact camera boasts 3.5 megapixels. It also has 8x digital zoom and a 1.5" color LCD. It has 5 white balance preset settings to allow you to customize your shots. It has a movie mode that also has sound. It also features 32MB of internal memory and allows you to use an SD card to store additional images. It has 3 flash modes and a self timer delay. For the options that this camera has it is one of the lowest price digital cameras around. It also has very good digital camera reviews. This camera will cost you around $59.

VistaQuest 5MP Digital Camera

VistaQuest makes several of the lowest price digital cameras. Their products generally have decent digital camera ratings. This particular model features 5 megapixels. It has a frame movie mode and an automatic exposure mode. There is 5x digital zoom, and a 10 second self timer. To store your pictures use an SD card or a Multi Media card. It also has a 1.5" color LCD display. This camera is sold for about $40.

VistaQuest VQ-3007 Camera

This VistaQuest comes in several colors and has a modern round shape. It is perfect for teens who want a cool camera to be able to share pictures with their friends. It has 3 megapixels and it's images can make either 4x6 or 5x7 prints. It has a black and white LCD. It has a frame movie mode and automatic exposure and white balance modes. There is no zoom. It is a very basic camera, and the price reflects that at around $29.