Samsung SL310W Camera Review

Camera Summary:
The Samsung SL310W is a 13.6 megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera with 3.6x optical zoom. It is designed for consumers looking for high resolution, a wide-angle lens, and impressive functionality. The SL310W has dual image stabilization, MPEG-4 video, face detection (up to nine faces), blink detection, smile shot, and a self-portrait mode. For cameras, the SL310W offers function description and a photo help guide. It will be available in September 2008 for about $229. Samsung SL310W News Release Excerpt:
Samsung launches the 28mm wide-angle SL310W. The SL310W offers advanced features in compact and affordable package.

Ridgefield Park, N.J., July 16, 2008 – Samsung announces the launch of its feature packed SL310W. Ideal for the step-up shooter, the SL310W is highlighted by features commonly found on higher-end, more expensive digital cameras, including an impressive resolution of 13.6 megapixels, Dual Image Stabilization, and a 3.6x, 28mm wide-angle optical zoom lens which significantly improves the user’s ability to photograph more of a desired scene.

Dual Image Stabilization, which combines both Samsung’s advanced Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Digital Image Stabilization (DIS), is a useful feature that helps reduce the blur found in images as a result of vibrations, hand shake or other unexpected movements at the moment of image capture. When selected, OIS and DIS work simultaneously to reduce the effects of unwanted movement and help shooters capture crisp, clear images. Thanks to the enhanced sensitivity of the SL310W’s imaging sensor, which features a maximum ISO of 1600, and the camera’s Dual Image Stabilization, users can rest assured that they’ll be able to capture images in low-light situations, especially when the use of a flash is not desired.

Additionally, Samsung gives shooters the ability to capture more of a desired scene and fit it into the frame by including a high-quality 28mm wide-angle lens. Unlike a standard
35mm lens which is commonly found on compact digital cameras, the SL310W’s 28mm wide-angle lens gives consumers the ability to expand their creativity and take even more moving and emotional images. Ideal for a variety of scenarios, users can easily leverage the increased viewing angle of the SL310W’s wide-angle lens, especially when shooting landscapes or groups of family or friends.

“The new SL310W sets a new standard for compact digital cameras in its class,” said Tony Sorice, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Digital Imaging, at Samsung Electronics America. “Typically, comparably priced digital cameras don’t offer a full suite of advanced features and functionalities like the more advanced point & shoots. With the SL310W, consumers have access to a number of advanced and helpful features, including Face Detection, Blink Detection, Smile Shot, as well as an impressive wide angle lens and Dual Image Stabilization. Compared to the competitive offerings in this category, the SL310W offers shooters MPEG-4 video, allowing them to record high-quality video clips while on the-go and an intelligent LCD screen that will automatically brighten or dim for easier viewing based on available lighting.”

The SL310W offers a number of user-friendly features, including 11 scene modes, auto red-eye fix and MPEG-4 video recording. The camera also features Self Portrait, Face Detection, Blink Detection, and Smile Shot technology, all of which help enhance the digital imaging experience for the shooter.

Self Portrait mode is a unique function that takes the guessing out of taking a self portrait. When in Self Portrait mode, SL310W automatically detects the user’s face, adjust focus and exposure, and will only allow a photo to be taken if the subject is centered in the frame. Face Detection technology makes taking pictures of family and friends a snap, as it detects up to nine faces and automatically adjusts focus and exposure to ensure better composition and image quality. Furthermore, Smile Shot automatically triggers the SL310W to take a photo only when the camera detects smiles on the subjects’ faces, and Blink Detection will prevent a photo from being taken if the camera recognizes that a subject’s eyes are closed – a useful feature as it’s often difficult to distinguish closed eyes when composing a shot on an LCD screen.

For enhanced versatility, shooters can remove red-eye during image playback, or for even greater convenience, set the camera to Auto Red Eye Fix to automatically detect and eliminate red-eye from their images as they are taken.

The SL310W is also equipped with advanced movie modes. Featuring MPEG-4 video recording and in-camera editing controls, users can pause, and then resume filming of video clips without having to save the clips as individual files. Additionally, users can operate the camera’s 28mm wide-angle optical zoom and engage OIS and DIS while recording to compensate for unwanted movement and to reduce blur.

To reduce the intimidation factor of the camera’s many elements, the SL310W offers Function Description and a Photo Help Guide. Function Description automatically provides a brief and easy to understand description of each setting when scrolling through the camera’s menus, helping the end-user determine which setting is appropriate for their current shooting scenario. The camera’s Photo Help Guide is another intuitive component incorporated into the digital camera. Photo Help Guide offers the end-user a guided tour of how to take better images as well as easy-to-follow tips instructing them how to obtain excellent results.

The Samsung SL310W will be available in September 2008 at an MSRP of $229.

Perfect Light, Stretch It

"People only see what they are prepared to see."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Nature and outdoor photographers the world over have long recognized and worked hard to take advantage of the soft, seemingly magical light of early morning, regardless of their location or assignment. Natural light definitely is different in the first hour or two after daybreak. Although many wild creatures tend to be more active during the first and last hours of a day this is only a happy coincidences for photographers. Just as often, other birds and mammals will be up and moving all hours of the day, despite what the light may look like for photographer. The solution is learning to stretch perfect light so you can still come away with usable and often truly outstanding images throughout the whole day. You’re not changing the sun’s brightness, rather only using it differently, and the techniques are not hard to learn. Sport and new photographers have to utilize these methods every day, and they are easily applied to outdoors and nature shooting. Here are five techniques you can begin using the next time your out in the field; you may have been practicing one or more of them already, and the longer you continue as a nature photographer, the more tricks you’ll use. These five are closely related, so you can combine them as you photograph.

1. Concentrate on color- Although bright light under a clear sky does seem to wash out colors; you can work around this by composing using contrasting colors. For example, place a bright red or yellow against a lighter brown or green. The key is having a brightly colored subject with a lighter background, rather than vice versa. Black or dark brown backgrounds can work, but if your brighter subject is small, a dark background may simply overpower it. At times, polarizing filters can help you, be careful and learn to use them correctly. Their primary function is to reduce glare, which frequently does result in richer color saturation. Some of today’s professional film does not always yield pleasing polarized results because their emulsions already offer excellent color saturation.

2. Shoot tight- This is one of the most critical techniques in making successful midday photos. Using a telephoto lenses isolate your subject so you can eliminate backgrounds brightness or contrast. Don’t Hesitate to choose a telephoto even when you’re already close to your subject; used in this manner, the result is almost three dimensional when you have strong side lighting and you use a large aperture to further reduce depth of field. This is when the zoom lenses in your bag really earn their keep because you can vary your composition without changing your physical position, plus fixed focal length telephoto also work well.

3. Change directions- Quite often, angled light or back-lit scenes are far more dramatic than those with front lighting. In fact, even experienced photographers usually express surprise at how much a photograph can be changed simply by repositioning you a few feet one way or the other.

4. Try fill lighting- Using a fill flash, even in midday, can and will add surprising result when shoot a subject within 10 feet. Flash photography has never been easier than rule governing their use has not changed: a fill flash is used to complement natural light outdoors, not to override it. In other words, don’t shoot into the sun in the belief the plash will eliminate a shadow-covered subject, because it won’t. Instead, use the flash to reduce contrast between bright areas and shadows and create more even overall light. Think small, too, as in subjects like birds or squirrels; a single hotshoe-mounted flash is not going to help much if you’re trying to light up a bison at noon in Yellowstone’s Lamar valley, but conversely, it can certainly help add detail if you’re photographing a small animal. At close distances, regular fill plash can be used successfully with telephoto lenses, too without having to resort to special accessories.

5. Avoid harsh light contrasts- Don’t confuse contrasting light with contrasting colors, because even the best films made, can not handle the F-stop difference between bright light and dark shadow. With professional color transparency film, the exposure latitude you have even on uniformly lit subject is only about one-half stop and practically never more than one full stop. Thus, film doesn’t always capture color the way you see it, especially in high contrast conditions. In many instances, it’s easy to avoid harsh contrasts. Scenes that include land and sky, for example, often present this problem, but it might be solved if your composition includes a long, brushy tree limb as a framing device to eliminate much of the sky. Maybe the sky or the ground isn’t needed at all; reposition your horizon line or change your camera angle to emphasize another aspect of the scene. As you can see, all five techniques are closely related, and with experience you’ll be shooting more and well, so stretch the perfect and shoot all day long. See ya in the field.

Five Secrets to Great Flower Pictures

Soft outside lighting increases the color saturation of flower pictures.

Darren Todd

You don't have to be a professional photographer to capture great flower pictures, whether you want to show off the splendor of a rose in your garden or shoot pictures of flowers during your travels. Here are five secrets to taking great flower pictures.

Tip 1: Lighting for Flower Pictures

It can be tempting to wait for the brightest midday sun to take your flower pictures. That's actually one of the worst times because the powerful sunlight will wash out your image, and can create harsh shadows.

Instead, take flower pictures when it's overcast, or in the morning, afternoon or evening when the sun isn't as bright and overpowering. This will result in more saturated colors in the blooms of the flowers.

Tip 2: Level with the Flowers

To get unique and beautiful flower pictures, move around. Don't just stand and shoot it. Try getting on the same level with it, standing above it, or even shooting underneath it. Play with distances of how close or far away you are.

Tip 3: Focus on the Flowers

Be sure you have a focal point, whether it is a cluster of brightly colored flowers or simply one blossom. Follow the photography rule of thirds, and avoid placing your

Also be sure you pay close attention to everything in your frame. Watch in particular for distractions or unattractive items or lines in the foreground and background. If you encounter that, try moving into another position to shoot.

Tip 4: Keep it Steady

A potentially stunning flower picture can be ruined by something as simple as human nature: the shaky hand. Even if you think your hand is steady, you might be surprised that it does move. Try using a tripod (you can even get a mini tripod if you don't want to lug around a large one.

Tip 5: Add Some Spice to Your Flowers

Don't just shoot the flower, but also look for unique ways to capture the flower or flowers. You can try framing the flower with something natural in the environment, such as dangling vines. You can also look for insects on flowers to make for an interesting flower picture.

Tripod Resolution

Every now and then when the moon is almost full I grab my camera. I think it's because I love the phrase "waxing gibbous moon." Waxing is the opposite of waning; it means it's getting bigger. And gibbous is the opposite, or the complement, of crescent; it means a partial moon larger than a half moon. I've always wanted to title a picture Waxing Gibbous Moon.

Two nights ago I took the camera out by the garage and took this. I tell myself in those situations that there's no time for a tripod. For this shot, I turned on "Anti-Shake" (actually, I never turn Anti-Shake off) and jammed the camera up against the garage door.

When I saw that the exposure wasn't totally sharp and the moon was still blown out (this would be a good application for two quick exposures blended with one of those actions that combines two exposures for extended dynamic range—I'm not just imagining that those exist, am I?), I had one of those "tiny epiphanies" of which my days are full—I realized I dislike tripods on principle. That is, I don't think of myself as a tripoddy kind of person, all finicky and particular. I'm an anti-tripodite.

Real Purple: This unsharp waxing gibbous moon Kind of Blue moon
—a detail from the shot above—is also one of the few times I've ever
actually seen bonafide purple fringing from my 7D and 28–75mm lens.

I have a friend named Christopher Bailey who was once a house painter. I remember keeping him company once four stories above Georgetown. I couldn't leave the window, but Chris was scampering around on boards laid on scaffolding with nothing under him but sidewalk, dizzyingly far below. Now, I'm scared of heights, dramatically so, so just watching him had my stomach in knots. At one point I said, "Chris, aren't you afraid of falling?"

At that, he started jumping up and down on one of the boards, which flexed beneath him and then flung him upwards. He jumped on it like it was a trampoline. "Oh, I don't know," he said, "I just feel like if I fall, I'll get my hands on something."

Bingo. That's how I feel about steadying the camera. I'll use anything and everything to brace the camera on or against—mantelpieces, car windows, someone's back, whatever. I like to extemporize. More than that, I like to think of myself as someone who can extemporize. Even when I do use a tripod, I just jam the camera down on the top plate with my hands—I seldom actually attach the camera to the tripod head. What I realized the other night is that I avoid tripods just because of this self-conception I have—even when they're called for, and would be appropriate and useful. There was really no reason at all not to grab a tripod when I went inside to get the camera the other night.

So here's my resolution. The next time I shoot a waxing gibbous moon (granted, the shot above is another miss), I'm going to get the tripod out, and use it properly. In fact, I'm going to try to use my tripod more often in general. I don't care for "tripod snobs," but being an anti-tripod snob is no better.

Canon PowerShot A470

The Canon PowerShot A470 is a 7.1 megapixel digital camera with a 3.4x optical zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD (no optical viewfinder).

the Canon PowerShot A470 will have a retail price of $129.99 USD when it hits stores in March.

Get a price on the Canon PowerShot A470

Canon PowerShot A470 News Release Extract

The successor to last year’s successful entry level PowerShot A460 camera, the new 7.1 megapixel A470 model has undergone a striking external makeover, matched dramatically by a number of key internal enhancements and advancements. The immediate eye-impact created by the PowerShot A470 camera stems from its availability in four different color accents -- blue, red, orange and gray – over a contoured metallic finish body that highlights the camera’s new design and reflects the camera-user’s individuality, personality and taste.

This camera's technological features compliment its expressive style. Ideal for first time camera-users, the PowerShot A470 camera features a 3.4X (38mm – 132mm equivalent) optical zoom lens that opens up at a responsive f/3.0 at wide-angle and f/5.8 at the telephoto settings. Despite its positioning as an entry-level camera with style, PowerShot A470 camera offers users the option of exploring their creative sides with manual overrides for ISO speed, exposure compensation and white balance, while enjoying the absolute ease of the automatic setting and taking advantage of the camera’s 14 shooting modes.

Canon PowerShot A470 Reviews

Imaging Resource reviews the Canon PowerShot A470 and writes - 'Overall, the Canon PowerShot A470 is sure to be a crowd pleaser. It comes in fun colors, is easy to operate, yet offers a handful of more advanced features for more experienced users. It's small, pocketable, and has minimal controls to fiddle with. Add to this the Canon A470's great exposure and color handling, and a very low price and you have a classic bargain digital camera. What more could you ask? For around $129.99, you get a 7.1-megapixel CCD, 3.4x optical zoom lens, Canon's Face Detection and Motion Detection technologies, and a host of available scene modes and creative tools. If you're in the market for an inexpensive, portable digital camera that performs well, the PowerShot A470 definitely deserves consideration.'

Kodak Easyshare M893

The Kodak Easyshare M893 is an 8.1 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens.

It captures images in HD for viewing on HD devices, features face detection, comes in five colors, image stabilization, ISO of up to 1600, on camera share button and voice tagging.

The Kodak Easyshare M893 has 32 megabytes of internal memory.

Kodak Easyshare M893 Reviews

Pocket Lint reviews the Kodak Easyshare M893 and writes - 'The Kodak EasyShare M893 IS provides nice features within a tidy, pocketable design but image noise and sluggish performance don’t do it any favours. If you are after a reasonable snapper and you’ll print images at modest sizes you’ll be happy, but don’t buy this camera if it is 30 x 40-inch prints you’ll be wanting on a regular basis, as it might just leaving feeling disappointed.'

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight

This week Nikon have announced the Nikon SB-900 Speedlight to go with their new Nikon D700 DLSR

It is a top of the range flash and will be available in August 2008 with a retail price of $499.95 USD.

Learn more about the Nikon SB-900 Speedlight in the promotional material from Nikon below.

Nikon SB-900 Speedlight News Release

New Nikon SB-900 Speedlight Advances Flash Technology At The Speed Of Light With Expansive Zoom And Intelligent Features

Nikon’s Newest Flagship Speedlight Offers a Powerful Addition to the Versatile Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)

Nikon, Inc. today introduced the SB-900 Speedlight to provide Nikon digital SLR photographers with a flash capable of a wide zoom range, increased versatility, faster recycling time, and a wealth of intelligent features to enhance the already vast functionality of the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). Building on the success of the popular SB-800 Speedlight, the SB-900 provides users with extensive creative lighting possibilities with a simplified interface and the ability to stay up to date with future technologies through user-applied firmware updates.*

Nikon broadens FX-format DSLR camera range with

”The Nikon D3 has taken the action photography industry by storm, motivating many pros to change brands and we expect the D700 to contin5ue that trend,” said Robert Cristina, Manager Professional Products and NPS at Nikon Europe. He added: “The D700 excels in the extreme low-light and high-contrast conditions under which today’s cameras are judged and affirms Nikon’s ongoing commitment to meeting tomorrows imaging needs too.”

D3 DNA

The D700 inherits the ‘must have’ image quality of the D3. Using the same core technologies such as the highly-sensitive 12.1 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor with large pixel pitch and gapless micro lens array that affords bright, clean files across a broad ISO range. The D700 also features the same innovative EXPEED high-speed image-processing system, 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit processing pipeline to provide the detail and smooth gradation necessary for outstanding print enlargement and reproduction.

FX on the move

The D700 is ideal for those seeking a perfectly-balanced DSLR on the move, without compromising durability or environmental resistance to moisture and dust. The D700 incorporates an image sensor cleaning system that uses high frequency vibrations to reduce the accumulation of dust on the image sensor surface. A responsive 5fps is possible with the compact 1500mAh EN-EL3e lithium-ion battery, with up to 8 fps possible by attaching the optional MB-D10 battery pack to use the powerful 2500mAh EN-EL4a battery if desired. This offers complete power supply integration for those already using the D3 and D300. Another first is the practical i-TTL built-in pop up flash with 24mm lens coverage, ideal for discrete flash lighting when a full size Speedlight might be too cumbersome.

Getting the shot right

Despite its attractive price tag, the D700 makes no compromises in its comprehensive feature array with a highly responsive shutter release time lag of just 40ms, the acclaimed accuracy of the 51-point MultiCAM3500 AF system, DX Crop Mode and Live View with contrast-detect AF displayed on the same high-definition 3-inch TFT monitor used on the D3 and D300. One of the most important advantages of FX format cameras is the viewfinder experience and the D700 features an outstanding solid glass pentaprism, 95% coverage and adjustable AF point LED illumination for a bright, uninterrupted view. A clever new feature is the ability to display the Virtual Horizon level indicator during Live View mode to determine camera orientation at arms length.

What NIKKORS have been waiting for

The D700 is designed for the future without ignoring the past. As Nikon celebrates the 75th anniversary of the very first NIKKOR lens, and with well over 40 million sold, intelligent image processing technologies to control peripheral illumination (Vignette) and chromatic aberration enable photographers to rediscover the creative possibilities of their existing NIKKOR F mount lenses. For newcomers, the ever-expanding Nikon Total Imaging System provides lenses, Speedlights, Software and accessories for every photographic challenge both now and in the future.

The D700 is supplied with battery EN-EL3e, charger, and Nikon Software Suite and will go on sale from 25 July 2008 with a MSRP guide price of €2599.

Nikon D700 plus hands-on preview

Perhaps the worst kept secret of any recent announcement Nikon has now officially revealed the compact, professional, twelve megapixel, full-frame (FX format) Nikon D700. From the outside the D700 is virtually identical to the D300, albeit for its larger 'full frame' viewfinder, internally it's almost identical to the D3, except for a slightly slower shutter (five frames per second up to eight frames per second with the MB-D10 battery grip). By comparison it also includes several function improvements over the D3 including Image Sensor cleaning ('sensor shake'), more flexible 'hard button' programming, virtual horizon in Live View and different DX mode indication on the focusing screen. The D700 also becomes the first professional Nikon DSLR to sport a built-in flash. As far as competition is concerned the D700 really only faces the Canon EOS 5D (and any replacement that may be in the works). On sale in July for US$2999 or €2599 body only

D3 and D300 get firmware fixes

In addition to the announcement of the D700, Nikon has revised the firmware of the D3 and D300. The latest D3 firmware adds new function button customization options though not the ones featured on the D700. In addition to these and a virtual horizon in live view mode, Nikon has also addressed the problem that some users experienced in which the battery indicator would incorrectly register an empty battery.
This problem, which has come to be known as 'Dead Battery Syndrome,' has also been addressed in new firmware for the D300.

D3 firmware makes improvements to AF and Auto White Balance mode, as well as correcting for the battery indicator errors. Many of the other changes are subtle tweaks to menus and behavior, such as the decision to only all auto-rotate of images in playback mode, not in the review image that appears after shooting (as the camera must already be in the correct orientation to have taken the shot).

The only D700 feature to appear is the addition of a visualization of the virtual horizon function to live view mode. Other than this, the new function button customization options are not as extensive as its new baby brother. The D3 changes add three more options that can be assigned to the Function, Preview or AE-L/AF-L buttons. The only completely original option is the ability to scroll between shooting menu banks (user-defined presets) with a button press and turn of the control dial. The firmware also separates the image area (FX/DX/5:4) option into two, so that you can choose to either scroll between all three image sizes or just between FX and DX.

Olympus E-3

The Olympus E-3 is a 10 megapixel professional DSLR (announced 16 October’07) features a built-in image stabiliser to stabilise all lenses, 5fps sequential shooting with 19 image RAW buffer, 5x/7x/10x magnified view for precise focusing – especially for macro shots, ISO 100-3200, Supersonic Wave Filter, Dual memory slot, pop up flash and a 2.5”/6.4cm pop-out LCD with live view.

Fuji film FinePix S8100fd

The Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd is a 10 MegaPixel SLR-like digital camera features Fujinon 18X Zoom (35mm equivalent: 27 - 486mm), Dual IS, ISO 64-6400, One-touch Face Detection Technology with Auto Red Eye Removal, and a 2.5″ LCD Screen. The camera measures 111.3(W)x78.2(H)x79.3(D) mm / 4.4(W)x3.1(H)x3.1(D) in and weighs 405g/14.3oz.

Casio Exilim EX-Z80

The Sony CyberShot DSC-W130 is a 8.1 megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera features 4X Optical Carl Zeiss Zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 32-128mm), BIONZ processor, Face Detection, Smile Shutter Mode, Optical Image Stabilization, HDTV Compatibility, ISO 100-3200, and a 2.5″ LCD screen.

Sony CyberShot DSC-W130

The Sony CyberShot DSC-W130 is a 8.1 megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera features 4X Optical Carl Zeiss Zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 32-128mm), BIONZ processor, Face Detection, Smile Shutter Mode, Optical Image Stabilization, HDTV Compatibility, ISO 100-3200, and a 2.5″ LCD screen.

Pentax K200D

The Pentax K200D is a 10.2 megapixel CCD Digital SLR features Weather and dust resistant body, Shake Reduction, Dust Removal system, Weather and dust resistant body, 2.8 FPS (4 JPG and Continuous Hi, 4 RAW), Enhanced Dynamic Range mode gives 200% more dynamic range, Auto Picture and Scene modes, and 2.7 inch high resolution, wide view LCD panel.

Sony Alpha A200

The Sony Alpha A200 is an entry level digital SLR camera from Sony features 10.2-megapixel (effective) APS CCD image sensor, built-in Super SteadyShot® image stabilization, an auto focus speed 1.7x faster than the previous model; improved predictive control performance; quieter shutter sound; automatic pop-up flash; and a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCDTM screen. The DSLR-A200 camera’s supplied lithium ion battery offers up to 750 shots per full charge.

Casio Exilim EX-Z200

The Casio Exilim EX-Z200 is a slim 10.1 megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera features 4x optical zoom, Anti-Shake DSP, Face Detection Technology, You Tube Video Capture Mode, and a 2.7″ Wide Super Bright LCD. The camera measures 3.66”(W) x 2.16”(H) x .89”(D) and weighs approx. 4.2 oz