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.

Panasonic Digital Cameras

Panasonic is an international brand for many electronic devices. Its name is not left behind with modern day technologies such as digital cameras. It is likely for you to hear about people looking and opting to get Panasonic digital cameras. This is something that is not entirely surprising.

Along with other big names in the photography industry, Panasonic also offers different kinds of digital cameras. Each of the brand's digital camera models is designed for certain purposes that photographers would surely love to have.

It is very hard to designate one model as the best Panasonic digital camera. Each of the models have different features that cannot be compared with one another.

For example, people who want to have light cameras for travelling would benefit from Panasonic's array of products. The brand offers compact cameras fit for people who want to go light. This popular digital camera manufacturer also offers digital cameras that have automated features-a development that would benefit people who do not want to go into the hassle of manually setting up their cameras.

Most Panasonic users recommend the DMC-FX500. This digital camera comes with a good viewing touch screen with a size of three inches. Aside from this the DMC-FX500 is also powered with five times digital zoom. Photographers who love auto modes would find this camera good. This feature of the DMC-FX500 automatically adjusts lighting so that pictures are captured realistically. Beginning photographers who still have shaky hands would also benefit from this model's image stabilizer. Pictures would still come out clear even if your hands are a little shaky.

Panasonic users who want to go for larger pixels should get the DMC-FX100K. This model has a 12.2 megapixel that will work wonders for you. Very light and compact, this camera is a must-have for amateur photographers who don't like bringing bulky digital cameras. People who often want to capture actions should take advantage of the DMC-FX100K's eight frame capacity. And because this camera is designed for action shots, its image stabilizer is also something to boast of. Images won't be blurred even if you can't manage to keep from shaking your hands.

Although the above-mentioned Panasonic models are highly recommended, you should still take the time to compare different models. The best Panasonic digital camera for your needs might not be the ones mentioned here. Look out for them by always trying out each model before deciding on your purchase.

Digital Panasonic Cameras

Panasonic has announced the launch date for the DMC-L1, its first digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable lens. From 22nd July 2006 this camera will be available in Japan and already looks set to be a firm favourite.

Leica D Lens provides a superior optical performance and matches perfectly with the digital SLR camera body

The DMC-L1 has a new LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm/F2.8-3.5 lens equipped with an aperture ring, focus ring and zoom ring, for easy, direct aperture setting. The focal length range is equivalent to 28mm (wide) to 100mm (medium telescopic) on a 35mm film and provides exceptional results.
The lens also provides outstanding macro shooting due to a 29cm minimum shooting distance (0.32x maximum magnification, 35mm equivalent) across the entire zoom range.

Superb image rendering with MEGA O.I.S

The DMC-L1 comes with Panasonic's Optical Image Stabiliser feature which minimises jitter from shaky hands. Thanks to the gyrosensors and Venus Engine Plus LSI built into the lens, the system detects camera movement at a rate of 4,000 times per second
O.I.S features two further corrective modes. Mode one constantly and continuously compensates for movements, ensuring that the image in the LCD and viewfinder is always clear. Mode two only stabilises the image the instant the shutter button is pressed. Both modes work with the DMC-L1, providing consumers with outstanding benefits. Mode one will be available for Olympus users if they are using the new Leica D lens.

Refined design makes the camera a pleasure to hold and use

This new camera features a shutter speed dial on top of the camera body, enhancing the sense of camera control. Combined with a classic design this ensure the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 is distinct in both design and operation. The body periphery and grip are covered with textured, simulated leather ensuring a secure and comfortable hold.

Complies with Four Thirds(TM)* Standard

The DMC-L1 incorporates a live MOS sensor that conforms to the Four Thirds standard and offers 7.5 megapixels. It can be used with lenses made by a variety of manufacturers, giving users a host of equipment options. Noise is minimised by a special processing technology the runs on voltage as low as 5V.
*Four Thirds? is a registered trademark.

The power of the Venus Engine III LSI

The Venus Engine III is a newly developed image processing LSI which maximises the performance of the Live MOS sensor. Offering high resolution, superior colour reproduction and detailed gradation, the Venus Engine III also reduces noise to the level expected from a digital SLR, thus achieving stunning picture quality. The Venus Engine III also improves camera responsiveness supporting high-performance consecutive shooting and a short shutter interval. The Venus Engine III requires only 80% as much power as its predecessor and when combined with the Live MOS sensor's low energy consumption results in longer battery life.

Full-time Live View for a whole new style of Digital SLR shooting

The heart of a digital SLR is the mirror box unit, which integrates a quick-return mirror, viewfinder, and AE sensor. This, combined with the full-time image output function of the Live MOS sensor, achieves a full-time Live View function that displays the image on the LCD directly from the sensor signal. This incredibly useful function can be selected in both Auto Focus and Manual Focus modes. In Manual Focus, photographers can enlarge an image within the frame and then select the area focusing, making it easier to check the focusing condition on the large 2.5inch, high resolution, 207,000 pixel LCD. It is also possible to check the depth of field by pressing the Aperture button.

Shake off dust with the Supersonic Wave Filter system

A big problem with digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses is the possibility of dust getting inside the camera during the lens changes and contaminating the image sensor. If this happens, professional cleaning is often required. The DMC-L1 manages this problem by incorporating a Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction, which uses supersonic vibration to shake off dust that might otherwise affect the image.

A Digital SLR offering home networking capabilities

As with all Panasonic Lumix cameras, the DMC-L1 is uses SD memory and is also compatible with mass-storage SD standard based on FAT32. This includes the upcoming super-high-capacity SD Memory Cards allowing more than 2GB (SDHC).

Digital Camera Review

Reviews can be tricky, if they are provided by a specific manufacturer or sponsor of a specific company they may be slanted in favor of one product or service over another, so it is a bit difficult to know just how to use the "best" digital camera reviews to locate the right camera for your own needs.

To begin with a consumer should simply do a regular Internet search for the best digital camera reviews, and then look for those that are directed towards the type of camera they are particularly interested in. Aren't all digital cameras the same? Actually, there are now compact digital cameras, standard digital cameras, SLR (single lens reflex) digital cameras and a variety of high-quality "prosumer" and professional digital cameras.

The old adage of "know before you go" applies to a best digital camera review, and a consumer is well-advised to do a tiny bit of research before setting out to read any reviews, especially because the more technical issues can quickly become quite confusing or even overwhelming.

The next step is to ensure that the reviews are not stacked in any manufacturer's particular favor. The best digital camera review will be neutral and simply assess each item by its specifications, performance and other consumer or professional reviews.

Generally the best digital camera review is intended to review the most current crop of cameras available in each category, and though there are few "one stop" locations that cover the entire field of available equipment, there are many that itemize a particular range such as the best digital cameras in the compact category, etc.

When reading anything describing itself as the best digital camera review make sure that it touches on the following details:

o "Pros" and "Cons" - this means that it offers accurate commentary on both the good and bad points of the camera.

o Megapixels - this is an issue of frequent discussion where the quality of a camera is concerned. For example, if a camera has too few, the quality of the pictures may suffer, and if it has too many the consumer may have paid too much for a camera whose functions they will not use. A good review will list the megapixels that the camera offers, but also emphasize other valuable features as well - a review that accents this number and little else should be investigated through alternate resources.

o Lens quality - today's cameras should provide high-functioning lenses, even in a smaller or compact model, and a review should cover the "zoom" or "wide angle" functions that a camera provides. It may even be wise to understand how large the sensor is, and how well it functions since this plays a huge role in the final quality of any photograph.

o "Bells and Whistles" - a good review will talk about any fun, useful or interesting additional features, such as automated settings (this could be a setting for snow scenes or action shots, etc.), video capture settings that allow brief movies to be filmed, on board flash units and any other additional equipment that adds value to the camera.