How many pictures can I get using this memory card?

Every camera has a status display in the LCD. One of those numbers is the remaining number of shots you can take. If your camera does not show it, read the manual or search the menu to enable it.

Format the memory card to prepare it properly for the next shoot. The number of shots that appears is the total number of pictures that card can save using your camera.

If you know how may megapixels your camera has then check here too.

Now you know!

Keerok

Camera too close.

All lenses have a minimum focusing distance. Move back until the subject is clear. If you really wnt to be that close, use a macro lens. Macro lenses have the word "Macro" explicitly printed on it.

Now you know!

Keerok

Cannon is a weapon.

You shoot with it to destroy things not take pictures.

Now you know!

Keerok

Nixon was a president.

He never made cameras.

Now you know!

Keerok

Use the right tool for the right job.

It's pure common sense.

A hammer is for nailing.

For calling, you use a phone.

Taking pictures is the job of a camera.

Theater films are best shot with a film movie camera.

Videos are best done with a camcorder.

There is always a perfectly right tool for every job. If you insist on using something that will "just do" then be prepared for the consequences.

Now you know!

Keerok

What is shutter actuation count?

That's the camera's shutter which is hidden at the back of the reflex mirror. It covers the digital sensor.

The shutter actuation count is the number of times that shutter has already been opened to expose the digital sensor behind it either when taking a picture or for cleaning purposes. Most factories rate their dSLR's to around 100,000 shutter actuations. This is not a definite number. The camera does not necessarily die when reaching that number. Some cameras function properly even beyond that number. A lot won't even reach it. When the shutter dies at any count, you can have it replaced and the count will be reset.

Shutter actuation count is a good measure of use of a dSLR. This is a good criteria when buying secondhand dSLR's. The closer that count gets to 100,000, the more used and abused the camera is.

As I see it, more than 50,000 is very old and not worth having unless the camera still functions perfectly and the price is below $200. A count of 20,000 is all right and expect that camera to have been used by a pro for quite a short time only so the abuse factor is there. From about 10,000 to 5,000 is just right for a camera not lower than $250. It has been used lightly and the previous owner was probably just a casual shooter. The best are those with less then 5,000 shutter actuations. Consider them almost new. Most of these hardly left the bag or cabinet and are extreme good physical condition. It's up to you to assess the camera personally though and not depend on shutter actuation count alone. This is just a guide.

So how do you find out the shutter actuation count? Take a picture with the camera. Copy the picture to a computer. Load the picture in a graphics program or an internet browser. Check the EXIF data. You can use EXIFtool, GexifView and Opanda to find that out.

Now you know!

Keerok

How to get lens filter size?


Look at the front of the lens. The number indicated by Φ in mm is the filter size.

Look under the lens cap. The number with mm is the lens filter size.

If a filter is currently attached to the lens, look for the number with mm. That would surely be the lens filter size!

Now you know!

Keerok

Picture quality depends on the user.

The camera is only a tool.

Now you know!

Keerok

Megapixels, it's just picture size.

The more megapixels, the larger the picture is. It does not affect picture quality. Your skill as a photographer is what dictates how good the picture comes out. The camera, megapixels and all are only tools.

Now you know!

Keerok

Facepalm

Seriously!

Keerok

There is no such thing as a professional camera.

Professional is a term for a person. The camera is only a tool. If a person uses a camera to earn money then that person is a professional photographer. The brand, model or type of camera used does not matter. The proficiency of the photographer, whether he's good or not at taking pictures, also does not matter. What matters is that the photographer must get paid to be called a professional.

Now you know!

Keerok

It's what you know that matters.

The camera is only a tool. You can shoot anything with it as long as you know exactly what you are doing.

Now you know!

Keerok

Any dSLR can be made to shoot anything.

What matters is how you set up the camera.

Now you know!

Keerok

Any camera can only be as good as its user.

That's because picture quality depends mostly on the skill of the user. The camera is only a tool.

Now you know!

Keerok

What point-and-shoot camera has dSLR photo quality?


Digilife (DV), 8.5mm, f/3.2, 0.004s, ISO 100

It is quite possible to take dSLR photo quality with a point-and-shoot camera. You just have to know the limitations of the camera. It's all about what you know and what you can do. The camera is only a tool.

Now you know!

Keerok

Common reasons the picture gets blurred.

Blur is movement. Anything related to the picture taking process that introduces or highlights movement will result to blur. The common causes of blur are the following.
  1. The subject moved.
  2. You moved or the camera moved.
  3. Shutter speed is slow allowing more time for movement to show.
  4. You are shooting in the dark. (Classic!) This forces the camera to use a slow shutter speed.

To avoid blur, shoot under lots of light and use a fast shutter speed.

Now you know!

Keerok

What camera is best for concerts?

Most likely, your ticket would give you a view like this. No camera, even a dSLR with a long telephoto lens can get you decent pictures at that distance. Impossible.

If you force the issue, you will get something like this. The crowd in front of you. They're not the ones you went to watch did you? Even if relatively near the stage or even right in front of it, how can you prop your camera steadily with this kind of crowd? Not worth it.

If you're lucky and happen to be right in front of the stage, you will need flash to get a decent shot. Most organizers do not allow flash so as not to distract the artists. They might confiscate your camera.

If you don't use flash, your pictures will be blurred. Unacceptable.

So what can or how do you do it? Notice the decent picture above. The angle of view suggests that the photographer was on-stage or riding a crane to position himself correctly for the shot. That is a hired photographer working for the concert producers. You won't be able to get that kind of angles even if you had a press pass.

What camera? It doesn't matter. You can't get decent shots any way. Leave the camera at home and enjoy the show. It's the live experience that makes concerts worth attending. You are there to have fun not consume yourself in documenting the event. Someone else is tasked to do that. Just buy the DVD when it comes out.

Now you know!

Keerok

How to copy files from camera to computer

Remove the memory card from the camera.

Use a USB card reader to connect it directly to the computer's USB port.

When recognized, use Windows Explorer or (Mac) Finder to do the actual copying for absolute total control over what goes where exactly.

Now you know!

Keerok

The fallacy of a compact dSLR.

The Pentax K-x is 4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7 in. and weighs 27.9 oz. It's quite small and is difficult to handle if you have big hands. Pentax has never mentioned it to be a compact dSLR.

Canon refers to its smallest entry-level dSLR's as compact dSLR's. Their smallest is the Rebel XSi which measures 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 inches and weighs 16.8 oz. It's a regular bulky monstrosity you can never put in your pocket. It's just their smallest not really compact.

The Olympus E-420 is the smallest dSLR ever. The Evolt E-420 measures 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1 inches and weighs 13.4 oz. It has a four-thirds mount and a digital sensor that's smaller than APS-C. The E-240 however comes complete with a reflex mirror and a pentamirror (or pentaprism) that are the defining parts of a true dSLR. It's really small but it's not compact.

Make the reflex mirror permanent to take away the pentaprism/pentamirror and you'll have a translucent mirror camera or Single Lens Translucent (SLT) like the Sony Alpha 33. It's 4.9 x 3.6 x 3.3 in. and weighs 25.6 oz. It uses an APS-C sensor. Even without a pentaprsim or pentamirror, it's still visibly bulky and can not classify as a dSLR due to the lack of a pentaprism or pentamirror. The translucent mirror is there for rapid autofocus functions. The camera is obviously flattened but compact? Maybe.

To make a dSLR more compact, you have to remove the reflex mirror. What you will get is a hybrid or mirrorless camera like the Samsung NX10. This one is 4.8 x 3.4 x 1.6 inches and weighs 12.5 oz. It uses an APS-C sensor. Is it a compact dSLR? No. The reflex mirror is gone hence it's no longer an SLR. You can no longer call it a dSLR. Compact? Close.

If you make the dSLR smaller by taking away the reflex mirror, the pentaprism, and then make the lens permanent, you'll end up with something like the Pentax X5 which is a bridge camera. This one's at 4.7 x 3.4 x 4.2 inches and 17.9 oz but other bridge cameras are much smaller. The 1/2.33" sensor is too small for dSLR standards. It may resemble a dSLR but it lacks the defining parts of a dSLR. It can't be called a dSLR. Compact dSLR? Never. Compact, yes.

Take away everything then and replace the sensor and lens with small ones. What you'll have is a point-and-shoot camera. A real compact camera.

Now you know!

Keerok