How Long Does the Battery Last?

It's really hard to tell. It all depends on use. Here are some things that use up battery power heavily.

1. Turning power on. The camera checks its main parts quickly during startup so frequently turning it on and off uses a significant load of battery power. If you know you will be shooting the whole morning, keep the camera on. It will sleep in a minute or so without activity. When that happens, all you need to do is press the shutter button halfway to wake it up. That doesn't involve the quick checks thereby saving precious battery power.

2. Using the rear LCD. The LCD is the single most power hungry part of the camera. Keeping it off saves a huge amount of battery power. That's the advantage of dSLR's. You can set it off. Even Automatic Preview can be set off. If you are sure about your shots, you can survive without checking every picture you take. If however you are one of those who are fond of using the camera as a viewing device then battery will get used up fast.

3. Autofocus. Of course you need to focus but if the subject stays put you can lock AF in place by sliding it to MF. If it's dark and the camera has trouble using AF, switch to manual focus right away.

4. Flash. If not needed, don't use it. Most complain about it anyway so it would be best to shoot under well lighted conditions all the time. The camera's built-in flash is in the worst place a flash can be. That's the reason high-end cameras don't have it.

5. Charge. Saving battery power is not enough is charge is not enough. You have to charge the battery fully to get the most out of it. Most chargers shut off automatically when charge is full. This means you can leave the battery charging overnight even beyond the time when the light says it's full. Don't overdo it though by charging longer than that.

6. USB. Connecting your camera to the USB port of a computer actually uses up the camera's battery power (unless it is in charge mode which only a few small cameras can do). If you're just copying files from the camera to the computer, use a USB card reader. Never work on the pictures while in the memory card. Trasnfer them first to the computer's hard disk.

Now you know!

Keerok

Common Reasons Why Camera Won't Autofocus

1. Make sure the camera is on. (Classic)

2. Make sure you have the camera (and lens) set to AF on.

3. Make sure you are shooting under optimal lighting conditions.

4. Make sure you are beyond the minimum focusing distance of the lens. Not just you, the camera too if you're using LiveView.

5. Make sure the lens cap is removed.

6. Make sure the dSLR has a lens attached.

Now you know!

Keerok

Why are DSLR cameras so darn expensive?

1. DSLR's use much larger digital sensors compared to point-and-shoot (PNS) cameras. Full frame is at the top. The second line are the sizes of common dSLR's. The bottom line are those used by point-and-shoot cameras.


2. DSLR's offer manual controls for Shutter speed, Aperture size, ISO rating and White balance in standard settings with more range.


3. DSLR's have interchangeable lens mounts allowing the use of the best lens for a certain scene. Bigger glass, bigger price.


4. DSLR's have an optical viewfinder allowing the photographer to see what the lens sees exactly.


5. DSLR's have a real shutter. DSLR's have no shutter lag (theoretically, very minimal) as compared to PNS cameras.


6. DSLR's use better quality parts than PNS cameras. They are the cream of the crop products in every camera builder's factory hence they get the best treatment.


7. DSLR's are expensive to discourage people who don't know the basic principles of photography from wasting their precious cash only to get pictures that look exactly like those they got from their old PNS cameras (or worse, cellphones).


8. If you think $500 is exaggerated for a camera's price then don't look at
this.

Now you know!

Keerok

Common Reasons the Camera Turns Off Automatically


1. Low power. If your camera uses rechargeable batteries, recharge them overnight using the correct charging method indicated by the manual. If the camera uses disposable batteries, get a fresh new set of alkaline or lithium batteries with the correct size and number. Sometimes even rechargeable batteries have to be replaced. On a few cases, the charger has to be replaced.
2. The camera is broken. Nothing else you can do.

Now you know!

Keerok

Blurred shots?



Here are a few reasons why pictures come out blurred.

1. Out of focus. Press the shutter release button half-way first to give the camera ample time to autofocus. If you are using manual focus on a dSLR, calibrate the diopter if you keep getting blurred shots. Consult the manual about it.

2. Movement. Either you or the subject moved. Make sure both you and the subject stay still as the picture is taken. If the camera has anti-shake technology, turn it on. If needed, use a tripod.

2. Slow shutter speed. Long shutter times allow movement to be more evident. Increase shutter speed to go faster.

3. Low light. Basic principles of photography dictate that the lower the amount of light used, the longer the picture has to be taken. You can use a higher ISO setting, a larger aperture size or both to increase shutter speed.

4. Subject is too near. Lenses have a minimum focusing distance. If you are nearer than that, the camera won't be able to focus properly on the subject. Simply step back.

5. Lens is dirty. Classic!

Now you know!

Keerok

Common Reasons Why Camera Won't Shoot

  1. Too dark. Low light to your eyes is already pitch black darkness to the camera.
  2. Focus is not established. You may be too near your subject. Move back. If you are beyond the minimum focusing distance then maybe the lens or camera is not in focus. Make sure AF is set on.
  3. Battery is low. It may be enough to power on but not enough to turn the lens.
  4. Wrong settings. Some smart cameras prevent you from getting humiliated. It would be best to return to full Auto mode.
  5. Memory full. To be sure you have enough space on the memory card, format it. Copy all pictures to your computer first as format erases all files then lays tracks for new ones. There is a format option in the camera's menu system.
  6. Memory card error. If the card is not full but damaged, then that's the cause. You will have to replace the memory card. Make sure to format the new card before using.
  7. Memory card door is open. Turn off camera then close the door.
  8. Buffer is full. This happens after you press the shutter release button for an extended period of time making the camera work like mad taking a series of shots then suddenly stops. The camera's buffer memory is full and has to save to the slow memory card. There is no choice but to wait for this to finish. This is normal.
  9. Lens (for dSLR's) is not mounted properly or electrical contacts in the mounts are dirty. Try cleaning then make sure you hear the click when you mount.
  10. Error message. It means something. Do not ignore it. Check the manual to see how to resolve it.
  11. Camera is damaged. If nothing seems wrong but nothing works then bring it to the authorized service center of your camera's brand. If you don't know where it is, check the papers that came with your camera or ask the store where you bought it from.
  12. Power is off. Classic!

Now you know!

Keerok

Digital camera as viewing device?




Most digital cameras do not display manipulated pictures and pictures it didn't take in Preview mode. Not recommended but due to insistent public demand, here's how to do it otherwise.


We'll start from the computer. Simply open the picture in your favorite graphics program like Paint in Windows. On the menu click on File-Save As. On the "Save as type" box, select 24-bit bitmap (BMP). Save. Close Paint (or whatever program you used) then open it again. Open the bitmap file you just saved then Save it As a JPG file giving it a new filename (if not, the original will be overwritten-we don't want that to happen). Copy that new file to your camera. If your camera is smart enough, it will still not display the new file (at least you tried and should stop wondering already). I'd expect most dSLR's behaving this way. Some dumbed down point-and-shoot cameras may be fooled however so just hope you have one of those.


Now you know!

Keerok

Memory Problems


Any problem with a memory card can be remedied by formatting it and solved by replacing it. It's that simple.

Now you know!

Keerok

Polaroid

I give . Polaroid will never . Whatever your was, I'm sure it will be answered by through all of these . Here is the official website. There you may find this revived and the digital version. For those still using their classic , you would surely be looking for and if you want to learn more, is a good place to ./a

Detailed instructions on how to transfer files from camera to the computer


Objective
To copy files including pictures and videos from the camera to the computer.

 

Materials

  • Digital camera
  • Memory card
  • USB card reader
  • Computer

 


Methodology

  1. Take out the memory card off your camera.
  2. Insert the memory card to a USB card reader.
  3. Plug the card reader to an empty USB slot in your computer.
  4. Wait for Autoplay to come up then select "Windows Explorer" or for Macs, start Finder.
  5. Browse and Navigate to the memory card's folder containing the pictures or videos if you are not yet there.
  6. Select which files you want to copy.
  7. Copy.
  8. Navigate to the folder in the computer's hard disk where to paste copied files.
  9. Paste.

Now you know!

Keerok

Lenses for the Bridge Camera

It's still a point-and-shoot camera with a fixed lens. You can't take the lens off and swap it with another one.


If your camera's lens has a filter thread on it, you may be able to attach a semi-fisheye adapter to it. If there is no filter thread, your other option is to use a magnetic or stick on fisheye adapter. Most point-and-shoot cameras do not have the option to use a semi-fisheye lens adapter. Such is a fact of life.


The Kodak DX7590 pictured below has an optional filter tube that allowed the installation of a UV filter or a semi-fisheye adapter.




Now you know!

Keerok

Make way for fist pump!

It's not so often one gets recognized. Please click on the link and celebrate with me for a moment. Cheers! Thank you.

Panorama, the lazy way





Take the picture normally. Transfer to your computer. Fire up your favorite graphics program. Paint will do but Irfanview (freely downloadable from the internet) is better. Cut the extra top and bottom parts.




Sound with Video



Not all digital cameras do video. Among the few that do, not all record sound. To those that do, not all play back sound in-camera. You will have to transfer the video file to your computer and play it there to hear the sound.


If your video file does not play either video or sound or both see this.


Now you know!


Keerok

ISO

ISO is an international standard for light sensitivity. The higher it is, the more sensitive to light the capturing medium is, the more concentrated the light becomes, the more grain appears on the picture.




Ideally, you should always use the lowest ISO setting possible for rich and vivid colors. When the picture becomes blurred or when the camera insists on using the flash, you may try raising ISO. Bear in mind that the higher the ISO value the more grainy the picture becomes. In very low light, it is most advisable to use the flash. If you don't know what you're doing, it would be best to leave ISO setting to Auto and let the camera decide the best one for you.


Now you know!


Keerok

The Camera



A camera is nothing more than a light-tight box with a hole (aperture) and a cover (shutter) for that hole. The correct amount of light must enter the camera to form a properly exposed picture. Aperture size and shutter speed are critical in measuring that amount of light.




The shutter can be opened at varying fractions of a second to whole seconds. The longer you leave the shutter open, the more time for light to enter the camera, the more prone for blur to appear in the picture. It is ideal to use the shortest possible time to attain very sharp pictures. Slow shutter times can be used for artistic shots like flowing water, star trails, purposely blurred action like in sports and making fake ghosts.






The other way of controlling the amount of light that enters the camera is the size of the aperture which is denoted by f/numbers. The smaller the f/number, the larger the aperture, the more light is allowed to enter the camera at once, the faster you can set the shutter speed of the camera. It becomes obvious now that large aperture lenses are the ideal ones to use in low light photography. Large apertures also have the benefit of providing shallow depth of field which is great for blurring the background. Small aperture sizes (large f/numbers) are great for more depth of field like when taking group shots, landscapes and sunsets (for underexposing intentionally).


Now you know!


Keerok

Quality has a price



In photography, you get exactly what you pay for.


Now you know!


Keerok

Camera does not work?


Set the camera to Auto mode, ISO to Auto, AF on, EV to 0 (zero) and go outside during the day. Take a picture of a brightly colored parked car under the sun. If the camera doesn't work perfectly with that, you'll have to have it repaired or replaced.




Now you know!

Keerok

DSLRs are not for everybody

You don't seem to be familiar with dSLRs. I suggest you do not get one. They are very heavy, large and bulky. They are extremely difficult to set-up and use. The worst part is they take exactly the same quality of pictures you can get with a point-and-shoot camera if you use it exclusively in Automatic mode. Don't get me wrong. You will be able to take pictures with a dSLR even if you don't know photography. It's just that the quality of pictures you will get won't be what you expected given the amount of money you paid for the camera. You also need to spend time and effort learning photography first to get the most out of a dSLR camera.

If you just bought your dSLR and it hasn't been a week yet since you got it, there is still hope. Rush to the store right now and return it. Replace it with a digital point-and-shoot camera and a digital video camera. Those will serve you better.

If you think you deserve to be a dSLR owner, work hard on this.

Now you know!

Keerok

Third-party lenses



You probably don't know the rule in buying lenses yet. As much as possible, get the same brand as your camera. If you can not afford the original brand, only then do you get the equivalent or approximate equivalent from another brand. If you do that, make sure that you are getting the lens with the same mount as your camera. Just don't complain about certain compatibility issues. If you didn't get the original brand, it won't be 100% compatible.


The most common third-party brands are Sigma and Tamron. Sigma is generally better than Tamron. Among the third-party brands, Tokina is undoubtedly the best.


There are many others like Vivitar, and Promaster. Most are cheaper versions of the original.


To a select few photographers, the original brand won't be enough. That would be the time to look at the higher quality lenses that have greater tradition and pride behind their names than the more popular brands. Some of these are from Zeiss, Voigtlander, and Schneider. Of course you can't blame those who realy know it for spending a fortune just to be able to adapt a Leica rangefinder lens to his dSLR.


Now you know!

Keerok

Pentax ist DS "No card in camera" error

On 1/16/11...


Note to self.


Pentax ist DS error saying "No card in camera" means the lens is not mounted properly.




Grrrr...

Keerok

Interchangeable Lens Mount System

5-25-11

I have learned today that at page 48 of the Pentax K-x User's Manual, it is imperative to turn the camera's power off before replacing or attaching the lens!




Now I know!

Keerok

Best camera for me?

There are basically two types of camera users - picture takers who only know about pressing the button and photographers who know the basic principles of photography.

Those who only know how to press the button will be comfortable with point-and-shoot (PNS) cameras. All you need to do is point the camera to your subject and click.

Those who want to appear they know more than just push the button will be happy with a bridge camera. These are feature-loaded PNS cameras that come in the shape of a miniaturized dSLR. The strongest feature of bridge cameras is their exceptional zoom range.

Then there are those who want the qualities of a dSLR camera but without the bulk. In comes the hybrid cameras that offer electronic viewfinders. The lens can be replaced as in a dSLR. The designs are so varied some look like flattened dSLRs while others look like PNS cameras with huge lenses jutting out of them. Among these clump of cameras are the EVIL (electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens) cameras, MILC (mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras), SLT (or translucent mirror cameras), and most recent CSC (compact system camera).

For those who appreciate total control, there is the dSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. All controls on making a photograph are present, the lens can be replaced and the most important part, the viewfinder, sees through the lens optically. Using a dSLR does not automatically ensure you get fabulous pictures all the time. You have to absolutely know what you're doing.

For those who want more, there is the medium format (MF) dSLR. They have the largest digital sensors and have the most megapixels among the digital cameras in the market. These are the workhorses of fashion and architectural shoots.

But wait, there IS one more! Large format cameras can be fitted with a scanning back. It's the equivalent of slapping a flatbed scanner to the back of your camera. You can't get any action shot with this setup but whatever shot you make will be incredible!

If you hate lugging the Ferrari edition Hasselblad above, there is always the Leica to hang around your neck like this BMW version Leica X1. It's a point-and-shoot camera with a non-replaceable fixed focal lens. Heavenly!

Now you know!

Keerok