If you are into digital photography, chances are you will be interested in printing your digital photos. Home digital photo printers lets you play around with your photos and offers more convenience than online or retail store printing services.
Rajendra Varma
Epson, Canon and HP are the three main manufacturers when it comes to home digital photo printers. And they offer a wide variety of models to suit every digital photographer. Having a digital photo printer lets you play around with your pictures on your computer and then print them, all in the convenience of your home. Newer digital photo printers even have media card readers that lets you bypass the computer altogether, while most printers will still need to be connected to a computer. Here we look at a few popular digital photo printers available today.
A Look at Digital Photo Printers
Making the Jump to Digital SLR Photography
Factors to Consider When Looking for a Digital SLR Camera
by Rajendra Varma
Digital SLR cameras are a must for anyone serious about their digital photography. Although amateur photographers may find all the features of a digital SLR camera overwhelming, for those with more experience in digital photography, making the jump to a digital SLR camera will be natural. Not only do digital SLR cameras offer better quality digital photographs, but the creative flexibility they provide is unmatched by other digital cameras.
A compact digital camera may be much more convenient to carry and produce good digital photographs, it simply cannot match the possibilities offered by a digital SLR camera. The bulkier digital SLR cameras will be harder to carry around, but their size is required to hold the more advanced hardware they carry. Bigger image sensors mean cleaner image data processing.
Interchangeable lens allow a lot more possibilities and better optical quality than a compact digital camera's miniature lens.
Important Digital SLR Camera Features
There are a number of important features to consider before buying a digital SLR camera.Resolution
Resolution is even less of a problem today in digital SLR cameras than it is in compact digital cameras. The latest digital SLR cameras have upwards of 10 megapixels resolution, which is good enough for extremely large prints. A 10 megapixels digital photograph can be printed into a good quality 20x30 print. Therefore, digital SLR camera resolution is not really a big factor.Lens
Normally, when you purchase a digital SLR camera, it will come with a starter lens that is a multi-purpose zoom lens covering a wide range of focal lengths from wide angle to telephoto. Although the starter lens, or kit lens, will produce digital photographs, it will not fulfill the digital camera's potential. So if you do take your digital photography seriously enough to purchase a digital SLR camera, then you should also think about purchasing a good lens. Depending on your personal preferences, you could look into wide-angle lenses if you are into landscape photography, or a telephoto lens if you want to take wildlife or sports photography.Image Stabilization
Modern digital SLR cameras have image stabilization to compensate for camera movement. Image stabilization will be especially important in low-light situations or high-zoom photos. Each digital SLR camera manufacturer have their own solutions to image stabilization.Shutter Speed and ISO setting
Digital SLR cameras usually have a wider range of shutter speeds and ISO settings available than their compact digital camera counterparts. Nevertheless, there is a variety of digital SLR cameras out there that offer different capabilities, and not all will offer the same settings. If you anticipate shooting very fast actions shots, it is a good idea to look for fast shutter speeds.Flash
Even though digital SLR cameras will normally have built-in flash, this may not be sufficient if you would like to do night photography or portrait photography, for example. You will want an external flash to achieve optimal lighting conditions for your digital photography.Burst Mode
Burst mode allow you to shoot multiple shots in a short period of time, and will be important in fast action situations. The better digital SLR cameras will shot upwards of 5 frames per second.Ergonomics
This includes camera design and appearance, but also ease-of-use in terms of menu settings and digital photo previewing. Button placements and other factors will determine whether you will learn to use the digital SLR camera naturally.Other factors
The above are just some of the basic features to look at when making the jump to digital photography. Depending on how experienced a digital photographer you are, you may look at other factors such as focusing capabilities, image processing, white balance, and shooting modes.It is important to understand that the camera is the most important part of your photography, and therefore it is advisable to invest in a good digital SLR camera if you are serious about digital photography and the quality of your photos.
Advanced Techniques - Hacking Canon Firmware
Supercharge Your Canon Digital Camera with Open-Source CHDK Firmware
from Wired How-To WikiONLY FOR CERTAIN CANON DIGITAL CAMERAS!
It has become apparent that digital cameras have capabilities beyond what is immediately available to the user. On a standard Canon, for example, the fastest shutter speed option offered is 1/1,600 second, but the hardware can actually handle much more than that - up to 1/60,000 of a second.The Canon Hacker's Development Kit, or knows as CHDK, is an open-source software project that can be loaded on cameras using Canon's DIGIC II or DIGIC III firmware platforms. It unleashes new features including RAW file format, live histogram display, a battery readout, in addition to the ability to run scripted actions on a camera.
The good news is that CHDK does not replace the existing firmware on your Canon, so the process is completely reversible. The existing firmware stays intact, while the CHDK software is loaded on demand from an SD card.
How To Install It
It's best to start with a blank SD card, so if there are pictures on your card, remove them first.There are numerous incarnations of the CHDK software, different builds incorporating different features. If you don't have a particularly rare camera or unusual needs, the best build to start with is probably the Allbest build, a good all-purpose build that incorporates a majority of features.
Determine which camera model you own, by looking at the model number on the camera. Download the appropriate CHDK package for your digital camera from this site.
Note: The "Ixus" designation is European: what Americans call the Canon SD800, Europeans call the Ixus 850. The filename of the firmware should include both names, e.g. allbest-ixus850_sd800-100e-49.zip.
Also download the "english.lng" language file.
Unzip the zip file. It should contain two files, DISKBOOT.BIN and PS.FIR. Put your SD card in your card reader and copy those files, plus english.lng, to the topmost directory on your card.
Once you've put those files on your card, put the card back in the camera.
How To Use It
Switch the camera into View (not Shoot) mode, and turn it on. When you press the Menu button, you should notice a new menu option: Firm Update. Select this option (remember, it's non-destructive) and the CHDK software will be loaded on your camera, which should reboot itself. Immediately, you'll see a display of battery percentage and storage remaining.The extra features can be accessed and configured via "Alt mode," an alternate mode into which you toggle by pressing a particular key. On the SD700, it's the Print key; it may be different on your camera. It should be configurable in the Alt menu.
You can tell you're in Alt mode when there's a little "ALT" displayed at the bottom of the screen.
After entering Alt mode, press the Menu key to bring up the menu. This reveals all sorts of options: customizing the on-screen display (called the "OSD"), playing games, you name it. Use the camera's directional keys to navigate the menu.
Play Around
Your camera is now set up to take all kinds of fancy photos. You can do Edgerton-style high-speed digital photography, or low-light high-ISO tricks, or script complex actions. The CHDK wiki includes lots of digital photography tips and tutorials and user-written scripts. Here are some of our favorites:- Unlimited Interval Shooting - Use your camera for surveillance, or use it to shoot at precise intervals during a lunar eclipse or meteor shower.
- High-Speed Shutter - Use this override option in the AllBest firmware to explore life's littler moments. You can also override the camera's slowest shutter speed settings to shoot exposures of a minute or longer.
- Long Exposure Intervalometer - Take multiple long exposure shots all night, then assemble the shots into your own time lapse videos.
- Shoot better HDR pics with CHDK's auto-bracketing features.
Set CHDK as Your Default
At this point, CHDK is only loaded manually when you select Firm Update as you did above. When you shut the camera off, it'll be gone (although your configuration options are stored in a config file on your card). If you want to have it load automatically every time you turn on the camera, follow these steps:- Go to Debug Parameters in the Alt menu, and select "Make card bootable."
- Turn off the camera, remove the card, and switch its manual switch to Lock position. If your card doesn't lock, you can't auto-boot CHDK, sorry.
- Put the card back in. Now CHDK will load automatically whenever you turn on the camera. Unlock the card to disable this.
Full Review - Sony Cybershot DSC-H50
NEW SONY CYBER-SHOT DSC-H50 DIGITAL CAMERA IDEAL FOR FAST-ACTION SHOOTING
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 25, 2008 – Sony today announced the latest addition to its high-zoom camera line, the 9.1-megapixel Cyber-shot® DSC-H50 digital camera. It is the ideal choice for people looking for high zoom, high-resolution and speed.
This new model utilizes a powerful Carl Zeiss® 15x optical zoom lens with Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization to capture action at a distance. One of the main lens elements is manufactured from super low-dispersion glass, which helps it produce more exact point-to-point correspondence between an object and its image. The lens yields sharp, high-contrast images and reduces color fringing, even when shooting in telephoto ranges.
The camera also features a large, 3-inch tilting LCD screen so you can shoot comfortably from nearly any position, at low and high angles. Its scratch-resistant, UV hard-coat finish adds a premium look and feel that mirrors the performance of the model.
Improved Advanced Sports Shooting Mode
Its improved “advanced sports” shooting mode now employs a system to apply higher shutter speeds, up to 1/4000 of a second, more frequently than on previous models. This mode combines high shutter speeds with predictive continuous auto-focusing so you can quickly focus and capture fast-moving subjects with minimal shutter lag - basically the time it takes for the camera to focus and shoot.Sophisticated Operation
The camera’s versatile, long-distance flash is powerful enough to illuminate subjects more than 55 feet away (when using ISO 3200, wide angle).Noise reduction is now a user-selectable option, with high, low and standard settings, for greater control over the final look of images. For example, a high setting used for portraits or night scenes can help produce smoothly textured images with reduced noise.
The unit features extensive manual controls, including an exposure bracketing mode that newly includes settings for white balance and color modes. This function records three images, each with a different white balance or color mode applied, to help capture the ambience of the original scene.
Smart Technology to Capture Better Photos Automatically
The camera also incorporates intelligent features that help you take better pictures more easily. They include improved smile shutter and face detection technologies with child or adult priority recognition, as well as, intelligent scene recognition with standard and advanced modes to analyze shooting conditions and select the optimal setting automatically.Other helpful features include a new D-Range Optimizer (DRO) plus mode that applies a high image correction algorithm to retrieve more picture detail in bright highlights and dark shadows; NightShot® technology to help capture photos in virtually no light as well as infrared remote access; five color modes including “real” for less in-camera processing and more faithful color reproduction; in-camera editing features; advanced in-camera image management functions; improved slide show functions with longer music files; and HD component output for viewing photos on a compatible HDTV set.
Pricing and Availability
The H50 model will soon sit at the top of the Cyber-shot high zoom line. It will ship in May for about $400 with a full line of accessory options. All can be purchased online at www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores, at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide.Digital Camera - Sony Cybershot DSC-H50
Sony's new Cybershot DSC-H50 digital camera is its latest high-zoom camera with 15x optical zoom along with 9.1 megapixel resolution. With a 3.0 inch LCD screen, the Cybershot DSC-H50 also allows easy viewing of your digital photos as well as the menu options.
The DSC-H50 digital camera supports ISO settings up to 3200 and shutter speeds as low as 1/4000 sec, making it a very powerful non-SLR digital camera. Maximum image resolution is 3456 x 2304 pixels. Priced at $399.99, the Cybershot DSC-H50 is expected to be available in early May 2008.
According to Sony's press release, the DSC-H50 "is the ideal choice for people looking for high zoom, high-resolution and speed." Powered by Sony's BIONZ image processor and supporting digital technologies like Dynamic Range Optimization and Intelligent Scene Recognition, the Cybershot DSC-H50 aims to please the most discerning of photographers.
The DSC-H50 digital camera is a very good option for advanced photographers who are not ready for a true SLR yet but take their digital photography seriously enough to want the advanced features this Cybershot offers.
At A Glance
Resolution: 9.1 Megapixels
Optical Zoom: 15x
Dimension: 4.6 x 3.2 x 3.4 in.
Weight: 1 lb. 3 oz.
Visit Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 Official Website
Read the Sony Press Release on Cybershot DSC-H50
Imaging Resource - Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 Digital Camera Review
Photography Blog - Sony Cybershot DSC-H50 Digital Camera Review
Digital Photo Printing
Beautiful Prints from your Digital Camera
by Timothy Rea
There are basically two options when it comes to printing your digital photos and get photographic quality prints for your scrap books or your wallet. Whether you like to be served, or you are a do-it-yourself kind of person, you can get beautiful, high-quality prints from your digital camera.
Online or Retail Store Prints
After you take your digital photos, you can go online to a site like Shutterfly, Snapfish, KodakGallery, or Walgreens Photo Center among other choices to print them. Click here to read about the different online digital photo printing services available.On these sites you can upload your digital photos into your own private gallery. From there you can order prints in all sizes and have them shipped to your home with a minimal shipping fee. You will have to register on the site, and upload your digital photos from your camera to your computer so that you have them available to upload to the site.
Major retailers like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, and other regional or national stores with online digital photo printing services will also allow you to upload your pictures and order prints to be mailed for you to be pick up.
Additionally, you can take your memory card out of your camera and take it to your local pharmacy or to a discount store and look for the digital photo print customer service desk. Here you will hand your memory card to a customer service person to have your prints made. Some of these stores also have kiosks where you can order your prints and download digital photos for printing using step-by-step instructions on the kiosk touch screen.
Home Digital Photo Printers
The other option you have to print your digital photos is to get your own photo quality printer. Companies like Dell, HP, Epson, Samsung, Sony and others make photo lab quality printers to instantly print your digital photos.Some printers allow you to print your digital photos by docking your camera directly on the printing station and downloading your photos there.
Others require you to upload your pictures to your computer and then send them to your digital photo printer to get prints of your digital photos. If you are in the market for one of these digital photo printers, you will want to check the resolution and print quality and figure in the cost of photo quality paper, and the color printer cartridges with which you will print your digital photographs.
For some people, this cost outweighs the advantage of getting instant pictures. It really depends on how much you plan to use your digital camera and how often you want prints of the pictures you take. Click here for home digital photo printing tips.
Whether you choose to let someone else print your digital photos and send them to you, or go to a local store and upload your digital photos to get prints, or buy your own printer and go the self-service route, you are bound to get beautiful, high-resolution pictures with little or no trouble.
Home Digital Photo Printing Tips
How To Get The Best Results When Printing Your Own Digtal Photographs
by Gregg Hall
One of the biggest joys of using a digital camera is to then have the ability to print out digital photos in the comfort of your own home. Usually, when you own a computer, the printer is a common accessory attached to it. This is all you need to be on your way to producing the images from your digital camera. When you are interested in printing out your own digital photos, you should take into consideration some of the techniques you can use to achieve the best results.
Digital Photo Paper
All printer companies produce their own line of ink and paper for their consumers to use. With most of the printing projects you deal with, any type of paper or ink is sufficient, but with digital photo printing, a different type of paper is required. This ensures that you will receive the best quality for your digital photos, including brighter colors and a clearer appearance. If you mix different brands of paper, you will find that each one will give you varied results.One of the options for choosing digital photo printing paper is one that claims to be of the unique archival variety, which is supposed to keep photos from fading over the years. But, once your digital photo is saved to a file, you can always reprint; gaining the same original appearance as the first time you printed it out. All you have to do is find digital photo printing paper that is compatible with your inkjet printer.
There are many different kinds of finishes available for your digital photo printing paper. You may choose from a glossy to matte finish. When storing paper, make sure it is placed within a cool place that doesn't receive any direct sunlight. You will also find that paper designed for digital photo printing costs more than regular copy paper. This means, try not to waste. When you want to use the majority of the paper, let your software guide you on the correct positioning. Speaking of waste, don't forget how expensive the printer ink is.
Digital Photo Printer Settings
Make sure that when printing digital photos that you have chosen the "normal" print setting. Choosing higher options will not make a 300 dpi photo come out any better and sometimes it actually decreases the appearance. These options are really just a waste of ink.Some users opt for the purchase of a printer that is only used for printing digital photos. These options possess a different kind of technology, which are responsible for producing better quality digital photos. A disadvantage to using one of these digital photo printers is that the most common maximum print size is 4 x 6 inches.
But, for portability and added convenience, they are a joy for avid photographers. These types of digital photo printers also tend to create photos that last longer because they use a different method to apply the ink to paper. The long lasting finish is also made possible through a protective overcoat that is added as a final layer.
About the Author: Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as quality digital prints at www.qualitydigitalprints.com
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