Hi Everyone:
The new Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera body looks great, but only if you're lucky enough to find it and see it at a store in the first place. My friends at bestpriceaudiovideo.com have informed me that they are only able to get a few in at a time and they generally all ship or are picked up on the same day as they arrive.
Canon wouldn't comment to me about product availability, either. But word on the street is that these will be tight for a while.
You may be able to locate and purchase the 5D Mark II with 24-105mm lens kits, though. Demand for the combo doesn't seem to be as high. If you're trying to save a bit, or already have the lenses you need and so want to get the body by itself, you'll want to have all the feelers out there you can.
Happy Hunting.
Cheers!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Like Subwoofers? Hate Cables? JBL Has What You've Been Looking For!
Hi All,
Every year new audio products are announced and every year you can immediately ignore a lot of what comes out. Unless an audio product offers a benefit more than just great sounding output, it simply goes on the shelf as "just another audio product" for sale. Well, I'm always looking for newer products and, specifically, newer products from brands I trust that are delivering more than just sound out of a box.
All hail the arrival of the JBL wireless subwoofers! Two models, a 300-Watt (RMS) 10-inch and a 400-Watt 12-inch, provide you with great sounding products you can use in your home conveniently. No more running a subwoofer cable around and behind furniture and no more cutting carpet and running cable under there either. Now you can just connect a short cable to the transmitter, hide that puppy (keeping a line of sight available is recommended here) and set the subwoofer anywhere you can reach the power cord to.
JBL's not the first to have this technology out there, but they are one of the bigger names to push forward on this front and I applaud them for doing so. Home audio equipment is a highly personal purchase and one that supports a complex niche drivin market of both small and large brands offering everything from ultra-tiny and underpowered speakers to the biggest speakers you can dream up that will drive anyone out of the imediate vacinity. And it's here where I believe these speakers can be successful - a family home that has no ability to create a dedicated home theater space and needs to be able to combine technology and life in the same quarters.
And let me tell you these things sound great. JBL subwoofers have always offered a lot of bang for the buck, but in reality they have also always been some of the best product on the market. These new wireless subwoofers follow right along this strong heritage. Adjustable crossovers allow you to alter the subwoofer to your liking and, if your're considering an upgrade or a new home theater, these really compliment the rest of the JBL ES series speakers very well.
The wireless feature has pretty decent range and flexibility to it, allowing users to place the subwoofer in just about any typical home theater position. That said, it is a 2.4 GHz transmission so, even though I have not heard interference when using these, I would imagine that if you have a lot of 2.4 GHz signal in your home from phones or other electrical equipment you could run into some signal interference and need to adjust the system's location or the location of the interfering device(s). Also, depending on the construction of the home, the 2.4 GHz clarity and range could suffer given the right conditions. But I would imagine that 85% - 90% of the customers who purchase one of these units are not going to even have to think about signal interferance.
An easy plug and play setup leads to a lot of listening enjoyment. If you don't already have a subwoofer or if you are using a small passive subwoofer because you had no place to put one or didn't want to run cabling around your living space, I would strongly recommend considering this as the solution.
Check it out at JBL's website. My friends at Best Price Audio Video have these at a great price right now, too.
Cheers!
Every year new audio products are announced and every year you can immediately ignore a lot of what comes out. Unless an audio product offers a benefit more than just great sounding output, it simply goes on the shelf as "just another audio product" for sale. Well, I'm always looking for newer products and, specifically, newer products from brands I trust that are delivering more than just sound out of a box.
All hail the arrival of the JBL wireless subwoofers! Two models, a 300-Watt (RMS) 10-inch and a 400-Watt 12-inch, provide you with great sounding products you can use in your home conveniently. No more running a subwoofer cable around and behind furniture and no more cutting carpet and running cable under there either. Now you can just connect a short cable to the transmitter, hide that puppy (keeping a line of sight available is recommended here) and set the subwoofer anywhere you can reach the power cord to.
JBL's not the first to have this technology out there, but they are one of the bigger names to push forward on this front and I applaud them for doing so. Home audio equipment is a highly personal purchase and one that supports a complex niche drivin market of both small and large brands offering everything from ultra-tiny and underpowered speakers to the biggest speakers you can dream up that will drive anyone out of the imediate vacinity. And it's here where I believe these speakers can be successful - a family home that has no ability to create a dedicated home theater space and needs to be able to combine technology and life in the same quarters.
And let me tell you these things sound great. JBL subwoofers have always offered a lot of bang for the buck, but in reality they have also always been some of the best product on the market. These new wireless subwoofers follow right along this strong heritage. Adjustable crossovers allow you to alter the subwoofer to your liking and, if your're considering an upgrade or a new home theater, these really compliment the rest of the JBL ES series speakers very well.
The wireless feature has pretty decent range and flexibility to it, allowing users to place the subwoofer in just about any typical home theater position. That said, it is a 2.4 GHz transmission so, even though I have not heard interference when using these, I would imagine that if you have a lot of 2.4 GHz signal in your home from phones or other electrical equipment you could run into some signal interference and need to adjust the system's location or the location of the interfering device(s). Also, depending on the construction of the home, the 2.4 GHz clarity and range could suffer given the right conditions. But I would imagine that 85% - 90% of the customers who purchase one of these units are not going to even have to think about signal interferance.
An easy plug and play setup leads to a lot of listening enjoyment. If you don't already have a subwoofer or if you are using a small passive subwoofer because you had no place to put one or didn't want to run cabling around your living space, I would strongly recommend considering this as the solution.
Check it out at JBL's website. My friends at Best Price Audio Video have these at a great price right now, too.
Cheers!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
First Look: Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 Digital Camera
Hi Everyone,
Got a glimpse of some of the new Olympus digital cameras and I must say that it finally looks like Olympus has decided to step up to the plate with their lineup. For years, Olympus has had lots of models that they suggested were "unique" and so not like everything that their competition was offering in the market. Well, one man's 'unique' is another man's 'strange', and it is this reviewer's opinion that Olympus was simply off the mark with many of their previous cameras.
Olympus' new lineup, however, looks quite strong and offers a nice mix of cameras that can go toe to toe with their competition and those that boast a very clever set of features that should allow Olympus to appear separate from the rest of the crowd. My early favorite is the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000.
The Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 - excluding its somewhat awkward model number ("...yes I'd like to take a look at that tough 8000 please." ... ?) - looks like a winner to me. It boasts a 12MP maximum resolution, a 3.6x optical wide zoom lens and a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD screen on back. However, those aren't the features that give it the 'wow' factor; those are just the features that cover the basics that most digital cameras know to ask for.
What separates the Olympus Tough-8000 from even it's little brother (The Olympus Stylus Tough-6000) are things like being shockproof from up to a 6.6-foot drop, waterproof up to 33 feet and crushproof up to 220 pounds of force. This is a camera that you can take great pictures with AND not fear what might happen to those pictures before you get back home.
Another nice feature that shows Olympus has learned as they've gone further with consumer digital cameras; finally sneaking Secure Digital memory (MicroSD to be specific) product into the mix. For as long as Olympus has been making cameras it has seemed they have been on the wrong side of the wall when it came to the memory that their products used to store photos on. Before it was SmartMedia - which was mainstream but just not durable or able to be produced in higher capacities. Then, Olympus and Fuji teamed up with Toshiba to create XD picture cards... oy. They're still marketing and using XD picture cards, but the Olympus Tough-8000 now comes packaged with a MicroSD-to-XD card adapter, which will allow a consumer to purchase a much less expensive memory card and use it with this and likely other Olympus cameras. MicroSD cards can also be manufactured in higher capacities than XD cards can, so you'll be able to store more photos and transfer more conveniently.
The camera body looks great. I'm not a fan of colors when it comes to digital camera bodies and the Olympus Tough-8000 looks good while sparing us all the pinks, purples, greens and browns of the world. It's available in 3 colors: silver, black and an almost navy blue. It might not be the sleekest, fits in your teeny tiny purse, piano-gloss finish looking camera, but it is still attractive and does a good job blending the look of STRONG with the look of sophisticated.
They're showing a $399.99 retail price on the camera right now and Olympus likes to try to keep those prices consistent for a little while in the market. So expect to that or just slightly under that for several months.
Overall, I'm excited to see how this does in a trying time for retailers and digital cameras in general. I think they may have finally figured out how to be on the right side of "unique" and have a player here.
Cheers!
Got a glimpse of some of the new Olympus digital cameras and I must say that it finally looks like Olympus has decided to step up to the plate with their lineup. For years, Olympus has had lots of models that they suggested were "unique" and so not like everything that their competition was offering in the market. Well, one man's 'unique' is another man's 'strange', and it is this reviewer's opinion that Olympus was simply off the mark with many of their previous cameras.
Olympus' new lineup, however, looks quite strong and offers a nice mix of cameras that can go toe to toe with their competition and those that boast a very clever set of features that should allow Olympus to appear separate from the rest of the crowd. My early favorite is the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000.
The Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 - excluding its somewhat awkward model number ("...yes I'd like to take a look at that tough 8000 please." ... ?) - looks like a winner to me. It boasts a 12MP maximum resolution, a 3.6x optical wide zoom lens and a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD screen on back. However, those aren't the features that give it the 'wow' factor; those are just the features that cover the basics that most digital cameras know to ask for.
What separates the Olympus Tough-8000 from even it's little brother (The Olympus Stylus Tough-6000) are things like being shockproof from up to a 6.6-foot drop, waterproof up to 33 feet and crushproof up to 220 pounds of force. This is a camera that you can take great pictures with AND not fear what might happen to those pictures before you get back home.
Another nice feature that shows Olympus has learned as they've gone further with consumer digital cameras; finally sneaking Secure Digital memory (MicroSD to be specific) product into the mix. For as long as Olympus has been making cameras it has seemed they have been on the wrong side of the wall when it came to the memory that their products used to store photos on. Before it was SmartMedia - which was mainstream but just not durable or able to be produced in higher capacities. Then, Olympus and Fuji teamed up with Toshiba to create XD picture cards... oy. They're still marketing and using XD picture cards, but the Olympus Tough-8000 now comes packaged with a MicroSD-to-XD card adapter, which will allow a consumer to purchase a much less expensive memory card and use it with this and likely other Olympus cameras. MicroSD cards can also be manufactured in higher capacities than XD cards can, so you'll be able to store more photos and transfer more conveniently.
The camera body looks great. I'm not a fan of colors when it comes to digital camera bodies and the Olympus Tough-8000 looks good while sparing us all the pinks, purples, greens and browns of the world. It's available in 3 colors: silver, black and an almost navy blue. It might not be the sleekest, fits in your teeny tiny purse, piano-gloss finish looking camera, but it is still attractive and does a good job blending the look of STRONG with the look of sophisticated.
They're showing a $399.99 retail price on the camera right now and Olympus likes to try to keep those prices consistent for a little while in the market. So expect to that or just slightly under that for several months.
Overall, I'm excited to see how this does in a trying time for retailers and digital cameras in general. I think they may have finally figured out how to be on the right side of "unique" and have a player here.
Cheers!
That's All Folks! Circuit City Locks All Store's Doors Sunday.
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 3/5/2009 12:30:00 PM
Richmond, Va. — Circuit City’s liquidators will close all of the chain’s remaining stores this Sunday.
The shutdowns come about a week ahead of schedule and two week earlier than originally planned, as the stores are “basically running out of inventory,” Scott Carpenter, VP of liquidator Great American Group, told The Associated Press.
TWICE confirmed the report with Tiger Capital Group, another of Circuit City’s four liquidators that together sold off some $1.7 billion of inventory in seven weeks.
“Consumers reacted to the top-quality product that they had and the prices we were able to sell it at,” Carpenter said.
Although the last of Circuit City’s stores will close on Sunday, the company’s wind-down process is expected to last two years as a skeleton crew liquidates remaining assets, shuts down remaining businesses and reconciles claims against the corporation.
Richmond, Va. — Circuit City’s liquidators will close all of the chain’s remaining stores this Sunday.
The shutdowns come about a week ahead of schedule and two week earlier than originally planned, as the stores are “basically running out of inventory,” Scott Carpenter, VP of liquidator Great American Group, told The Associated Press.
TWICE confirmed the report with Tiger Capital Group, another of Circuit City’s four liquidators that together sold off some $1.7 billion of inventory in seven weeks.
“Consumers reacted to the top-quality product that they had and the prices we were able to sell it at,” Carpenter said.
Although the last of Circuit City’s stores will close on Sunday, the company’s wind-down process is expected to last two years as a skeleton crew liquidates remaining assets, shuts down remaining businesses and reconciles claims against the corporation.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Top 10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Digital Camera
Hi Everyone,
So, you may know... Millions of digital cameras have been purchased over the years ranging from $30 to well over $10,000. Most people only suggest that some of these purchases led to satisfied consumers while others led to frustrated users. How can you be sure to be a satisfied digital camera consumer and avoid the frustrations felt by many?
Start by asking yourself these important questions before you go into a store or start shopping at your favorite website. Doing so will provide you with a confident starting point and help you to more quickly identify products that best suit your needs or desires.
1. Who is going to use this camera?
2. What kind(s) of photographs are going to be taken?
3. Where will the photographs be taken?
4. Where will the user be in relation to the subject of the photograph?
5. Is the size of the camera important to the user and, if it is, HOW important is it?
6. What is your maximum budget and target budget for this purchase?
7. What will the pictures be used for after they are taken?
8. What is the user's current level of photography experience?
9. Does the user want to increase their photography knowledge and be able to do more with cameras in the future?
10. What technology does the intended user of the camera already own?
1. Who is going to use this camera?
It's a straight forward question, but important to answer as a starting point. Is this camera going to be given to a child as a gift? Is this a camera for a grandfather who is still catching onto the concept of email? Is this a camera that will be used by a student in college who is taking classes in photography or photojournalism? Is this going to be used by ... YOU? Answering this simple question is a surprisingly easy way to get you started on the right path.
2. What kind(s) of photographs are going to be taken?
A critical question to answer that will likely determine a significant portion of the outcome of your buying decision - what kinds of pictures are going to be taken most often with the camera? Will you be taking a lot of action shots of kids participating in school sports or that new pet you've adopted? Will you be taking shots of scenic vacation vistas? What about low-light shots or night shots? Portraits? Close-up photography for appraisals of collectibles? It’s important to identify this because no all cameras, even when advertising similar sounding features, perform at the same level. Some cameras have a very fast shutter and are great for action shots, while others do not have a great shutter speed and try to mask it by offering a similar sounding 'action' or 'sports' mode that artificially enhances the cameras performance while you are shooting. That difference can be quite obvious when you are looking at the pictures you've taken. Further, while most cameras offer a 'macro' mode or a 'close-up' mode, few cameras truly deliver here. So this question and answer is critical to pointing you to the right options.
3. Where will the photographs be taken?
Here's a question that most people think about at least at some level - where will I be using this camera when I am taking my pictures? If you have a pool outside your house and find that the pool is where you end up taking the majority of your pictures, you are going to want to make sure your camera is at least water resistant (if not water-proof) and/or shock resistant - trust me. If you never take your camera outside, you can probably buy anything you want without much fear of it finding moisture, sand or concrete - three of the most deadly substances known to digital camera bodies. With everything available, from completely waterproof cameras that you can go diving with in the Caribbean to very sensitive equipment you would never want to allow a rain drop to find, this is just another question that helps you refine down your options.
4. Where will the user be in relation to the subject of the photograph?
We're talking zoom and image stabilization, here. How much zoom a user needs in a camera is extremely important. And, to be clear here, we're talking optical zoom only. Do not take any value in "digital zoom" - digital zoom is simply a software enabled enhancement where pixels are enlarged to make it appear that you are closer to the subject than you really are. You lose resolution and clarity when you use digital zoom, so don't even think about it.
If the user is going to be shooting sports scenes of their kids playing school sports, you must remember that you will consistently be a fair distance away from the action and so the need for zoom is high. If the user will be taking mostly macro photography of collectibles for appraisal, you can safely assume that the macro feature is the most important and so getting a bigger optical zoom doesn't have much importance. Generally speaking, everyone could use all the optical zoom they can find, but some need it even more so than others.
Secondly, is the subject being photographed moving? Or is the user taking the picture moving while shooting? If the answer to either of those questions is 'yes' you should consider the value in a camera having image stabilization and if you answer the question in a manner such as "always", you should consider it nearly mandatory. Also, on another level, if the user of this camera has unsteady hands you should definitely consider this feature. It will greatly enhance the number of clear shots taken.
5. Is the size of the camera important and, if it is, HOW important is it?
For some people, a digital camera must be able to fit in a purse or a pocket. Some people even have a specific pocket that they want their camera to be able to fit into. For others, the size of the camera does not matter at all; they simply want the Digital SLR because it allows them to use a specific lens that they own which gets them zoomed into the action. Nobody can tell you or recommend to you a camera that suits this need best - only the user can define this. From experience, I can tell you that for years people wanted the smaller camera. Small cameras sold like hotcakes and people looked down upon cameras in the showcase that looked bulky compared to the small, slim, sleek model. In the last year or so, I've noticed more people looking for a camera that they have an easier time holding onto, while still respectably small and modern looking. You'll find that if it is very important for the user to have a small camera, this feature will tend to override most other features available. Simply put, if a user wants a smaller camera they will focus on the size aspect at the obvious expense of both features and price.
6. What is your maximum budget and target budget for this purchase?
I always suggest people make two budgets for this type of purchase. Come up with your maximum budget for the camera purchase and stick to it. If you don't want to spend over $300, fine. If you aren't sure, but know you definitely don't want to spend over $1,000, okay. Identify this, and I encourage you to stick with it. Find a target budget, too. Identify that level where you really want to be in. Maybe you want to be in the $400 range but you are willing to go up to $550 as your max. That's good as it will give you a little flexibility and probably prevent you from getting stuck on just one or two models. If you can get yourself to be able to identify 3 or 4 cameras in two typical "retail" sounding price brackets (e.g. the $399.99 and $499.99 levels) you will find you have good options to choose from.
Last piece on budget: I recommend that your budget include roughly 15% - 25% worth of extras - it's these extras that enable you to use the camera either properly or to it's fullest. These extras will include memory cards, cases, tripods, batteries... or maybe portable external storage for those of you taking a high volume of pictures. So if your max budget is $500 keep in mind that really means you're looking at a $400 - $450 camera and $50 - $100 worth of accessories. Going without these accessories is not like going without window dressings or the perfect tool to add to your toolbox - these are accessories you will use and will enable to you be satisfied with your purchase. In some cases, accessories like a tripod or a big enough memory card could make the difference in being able to take the picture you want to take or not being able to do so.
7. What will happen to the pictures after they are taken?
This used to be a much more important question in the buying process and one that every salesperson should have asked their potential customer back when cameras were 1, 2, and 3 megapixels maximum. Now that almost every camera produced is capturing 5 megapixel shots and up, you can pretty much rest assured that anything you buy now will be capable of taking photographs that you can print with solid results. Still, if you intend to print a lot, or especially if you intend to print larger sized prints or something for a more special occasion or purpose – something suitable for framing perhaps – you should invest in a camera that gets you the as much detail as possible. There is a fairly significant difference in the details of pictures printed that were taken on a 5MP camera vs. those taken on a 9 MP camera. Conversely, if all you are going to do is store these photos or e-mail them to friends and family who are also unlikely to print them, you could find that the ultra-large size photos taken by a 9MP camera may appear as an inconvenience because of how much space they take up on memory cards, hard drives or e-mail attachments – not to mention that higher resolution cameras are more expensive, and why pay extra for something you’re not going to get any value from.
8. What is the user's current level of photography experience?
If the person using the camera is a barely-into-technology beginner, it is not wise to get them a digital SLR or other digital camera that has lots of manual creative control capability. For starters that will drive the price up and you will be paying for features that the user may never understand, let alone use. Further, the camera will tend to be bigger and more bulky, the user manual more difficult to get through. Some of these advanced cameras will also contain features that appear during even the most basic of tasks and that can frustrate a novice user. Conversely, it does little good to purchase an inexpensive, entry-level camera for someone who wants to do a lot more than leave the thing in automatic mode and shoot.
9. Does the user want to increase their photography knowledge and be able to do more with cameras in the future?
This question may get an answer that trumps that of the previous question. If the user of this camera is looking to grow with the camera, maybe it makes sense to spend a little extra to get some creative control so that the user is then ready for a bigger step at a later time. Or, maybe the user won't want to get into another camera for a while and so needs this one to give them a lot of room to grow. It's a fact that most users power on their cameras out of the box to use them and never take them off of the automatic mode in subsequent events. Some users go a step further, using the pre-programmed shooting modes the cameras come with (night shot, sports, scenery, etc) or learn how to turn the flash off and on and then stop there. But if the user of the camera wants to learn how to change the exposure settings, shoot in RAW or TIFF format, or just otherwise shoot more advanced photography, it might be best to get that user a camera that gets them started well and gives them room to grow.
10. What technology does the intended user of the camera already own?
The last important thing to consider is if the user of the camera already owns technology that they want to use with the camera, or that would help save some money during the purchase. On a simple level, if someone already owns a digital camera that uses Secure Digital memory cards, you should think twice before purchasing a camera that takes xD memory cards. Why purchase new memory cards unless you have to? But on a more complex level, if a user wants to connect the camera to a device or wants to transfer the photos in a certain manner the camera must be able to provide for this. You can also save yourself some money if you have the connectivity figured out as well.
Examples of this: Say the user of a digital camera just wants to take the memory card out of the digital camera and use a reader that is built into their laptop to transfer the pictures they've taken. This is a pretty easy concept and something all cameras can do. At the same time, it would not make much sense to purchase a camera that has Wi-Fi capability if a user wishes to only transfer photos in this manner. Of course, if a user wants to use a Wi-Fi network to transfer photos to their PC or laptop, you better make sure that the camera purchased can handle the task.
Also, find out what printer(s) will be used. Some printers have convenient dock-type connectors built into them that allow users of cameras made by the same company to do some common tasks a bit more intuitively (such as Kodak's offerings). If a printer like this is already owned it would make a lot of sense to consider working within that same brand. If the printer doesn't have an interface like that, then this considerations doesn't apply - A person does not get a lot of extra value when using a Canon camera with a Canon printer, for example.
So there you have it. A solid list of questions to ask that will allow you to identify some options that will help lead towards a more satisfying digital camera purchase. After going through these questions you should not have a difficult time drilling down from hundreds of camera options to 3-6 that really make a lot of sense for you or the person you are shopping for.
Check back later for more digital camera shopping tips to learn how to pick that perfect camera.
Cheers!
So, you may know... Millions of digital cameras have been purchased over the years ranging from $30 to well over $10,000. Most people only suggest that some of these purchases led to satisfied consumers while others led to frustrated users. How can you be sure to be a satisfied digital camera consumer and avoid the frustrations felt by many?
Start by asking yourself these important questions before you go into a store or start shopping at your favorite website. Doing so will provide you with a confident starting point and help you to more quickly identify products that best suit your needs or desires.
1. Who is going to use this camera?
2. What kind(s) of photographs are going to be taken?
3. Where will the photographs be taken?
4. Where will the user be in relation to the subject of the photograph?
5. Is the size of the camera important to the user and, if it is, HOW important is it?
6. What is your maximum budget and target budget for this purchase?
7. What will the pictures be used for after they are taken?
8. What is the user's current level of photography experience?
9. Does the user want to increase their photography knowledge and be able to do more with cameras in the future?
10. What technology does the intended user of the camera already own?
1. Who is going to use this camera?
It's a straight forward question, but important to answer as a starting point. Is this camera going to be given to a child as a gift? Is this a camera for a grandfather who is still catching onto the concept of email? Is this a camera that will be used by a student in college who is taking classes in photography or photojournalism? Is this going to be used by ... YOU? Answering this simple question is a surprisingly easy way to get you started on the right path.
2. What kind(s) of photographs are going to be taken?
A critical question to answer that will likely determine a significant portion of the outcome of your buying decision - what kinds of pictures are going to be taken most often with the camera? Will you be taking a lot of action shots of kids participating in school sports or that new pet you've adopted? Will you be taking shots of scenic vacation vistas? What about low-light shots or night shots? Portraits? Close-up photography for appraisals of collectibles? It’s important to identify this because no all cameras, even when advertising similar sounding features, perform at the same level. Some cameras have a very fast shutter and are great for action shots, while others do not have a great shutter speed and try to mask it by offering a similar sounding 'action' or 'sports' mode that artificially enhances the cameras performance while you are shooting. That difference can be quite obvious when you are looking at the pictures you've taken. Further, while most cameras offer a 'macro' mode or a 'close-up' mode, few cameras truly deliver here. So this question and answer is critical to pointing you to the right options.
3. Where will the photographs be taken?
Here's a question that most people think about at least at some level - where will I be using this camera when I am taking my pictures? If you have a pool outside your house and find that the pool is where you end up taking the majority of your pictures, you are going to want to make sure your camera is at least water resistant (if not water-proof) and/or shock resistant - trust me. If you never take your camera outside, you can probably buy anything you want without much fear of it finding moisture, sand or concrete - three of the most deadly substances known to digital camera bodies. With everything available, from completely waterproof cameras that you can go diving with in the Caribbean to very sensitive equipment you would never want to allow a rain drop to find, this is just another question that helps you refine down your options.
4. Where will the user be in relation to the subject of the photograph?
We're talking zoom and image stabilization, here. How much zoom a user needs in a camera is extremely important. And, to be clear here, we're talking optical zoom only. Do not take any value in "digital zoom" - digital zoom is simply a software enabled enhancement where pixels are enlarged to make it appear that you are closer to the subject than you really are. You lose resolution and clarity when you use digital zoom, so don't even think about it.
If the user is going to be shooting sports scenes of their kids playing school sports, you must remember that you will consistently be a fair distance away from the action and so the need for zoom is high. If the user will be taking mostly macro photography of collectibles for appraisal, you can safely assume that the macro feature is the most important and so getting a bigger optical zoom doesn't have much importance. Generally speaking, everyone could use all the optical zoom they can find, but some need it even more so than others.
Secondly, is the subject being photographed moving? Or is the user taking the picture moving while shooting? If the answer to either of those questions is 'yes' you should consider the value in a camera having image stabilization and if you answer the question in a manner such as "always", you should consider it nearly mandatory. Also, on another level, if the user of this camera has unsteady hands you should definitely consider this feature. It will greatly enhance the number of clear shots taken.
5. Is the size of the camera important and, if it is, HOW important is it?
For some people, a digital camera must be able to fit in a purse or a pocket. Some people even have a specific pocket that they want their camera to be able to fit into. For others, the size of the camera does not matter at all; they simply want the Digital SLR because it allows them to use a specific lens that they own which gets them zoomed into the action. Nobody can tell you or recommend to you a camera that suits this need best - only the user can define this. From experience, I can tell you that for years people wanted the smaller camera. Small cameras sold like hotcakes and people looked down upon cameras in the showcase that looked bulky compared to the small, slim, sleek model. In the last year or so, I've noticed more people looking for a camera that they have an easier time holding onto, while still respectably small and modern looking. You'll find that if it is very important for the user to have a small camera, this feature will tend to override most other features available. Simply put, if a user wants a smaller camera they will focus on the size aspect at the obvious expense of both features and price.
6. What is your maximum budget and target budget for this purchase?
I always suggest people make two budgets for this type of purchase. Come up with your maximum budget for the camera purchase and stick to it. If you don't want to spend over $300, fine. If you aren't sure, but know you definitely don't want to spend over $1,000, okay. Identify this, and I encourage you to stick with it. Find a target budget, too. Identify that level where you really want to be in. Maybe you want to be in the $400 range but you are willing to go up to $550 as your max. That's good as it will give you a little flexibility and probably prevent you from getting stuck on just one or two models. If you can get yourself to be able to identify 3 or 4 cameras in two typical "retail" sounding price brackets (e.g. the $399.99 and $499.99 levels) you will find you have good options to choose from.
Last piece on budget: I recommend that your budget include roughly 15% - 25% worth of extras - it's these extras that enable you to use the camera either properly or to it's fullest. These extras will include memory cards, cases, tripods, batteries... or maybe portable external storage for those of you taking a high volume of pictures. So if your max budget is $500 keep in mind that really means you're looking at a $400 - $450 camera and $50 - $100 worth of accessories. Going without these accessories is not like going without window dressings or the perfect tool to add to your toolbox - these are accessories you will use and will enable to you be satisfied with your purchase. In some cases, accessories like a tripod or a big enough memory card could make the difference in being able to take the picture you want to take or not being able to do so.
7. What will happen to the pictures after they are taken?
This used to be a much more important question in the buying process and one that every salesperson should have asked their potential customer back when cameras were 1, 2, and 3 megapixels maximum. Now that almost every camera produced is capturing 5 megapixel shots and up, you can pretty much rest assured that anything you buy now will be capable of taking photographs that you can print with solid results. Still, if you intend to print a lot, or especially if you intend to print larger sized prints or something for a more special occasion or purpose – something suitable for framing perhaps – you should invest in a camera that gets you the as much detail as possible. There is a fairly significant difference in the details of pictures printed that were taken on a 5MP camera vs. those taken on a 9 MP camera. Conversely, if all you are going to do is store these photos or e-mail them to friends and family who are also unlikely to print them, you could find that the ultra-large size photos taken by a 9MP camera may appear as an inconvenience because of how much space they take up on memory cards, hard drives or e-mail attachments – not to mention that higher resolution cameras are more expensive, and why pay extra for something you’re not going to get any value from.
8. What is the user's current level of photography experience?
If the person using the camera is a barely-into-technology beginner, it is not wise to get them a digital SLR or other digital camera that has lots of manual creative control capability. For starters that will drive the price up and you will be paying for features that the user may never understand, let alone use. Further, the camera will tend to be bigger and more bulky, the user manual more difficult to get through. Some of these advanced cameras will also contain features that appear during even the most basic of tasks and that can frustrate a novice user. Conversely, it does little good to purchase an inexpensive, entry-level camera for someone who wants to do a lot more than leave the thing in automatic mode and shoot.
9. Does the user want to increase their photography knowledge and be able to do more with cameras in the future?
This question may get an answer that trumps that of the previous question. If the user of this camera is looking to grow with the camera, maybe it makes sense to spend a little extra to get some creative control so that the user is then ready for a bigger step at a later time. Or, maybe the user won't want to get into another camera for a while and so needs this one to give them a lot of room to grow. It's a fact that most users power on their cameras out of the box to use them and never take them off of the automatic mode in subsequent events. Some users go a step further, using the pre-programmed shooting modes the cameras come with (night shot, sports, scenery, etc) or learn how to turn the flash off and on and then stop there. But if the user of the camera wants to learn how to change the exposure settings, shoot in RAW or TIFF format, or just otherwise shoot more advanced photography, it might be best to get that user a camera that gets them started well and gives them room to grow.
10. What technology does the intended user of the camera already own?
The last important thing to consider is if the user of the camera already owns technology that they want to use with the camera, or that would help save some money during the purchase. On a simple level, if someone already owns a digital camera that uses Secure Digital memory cards, you should think twice before purchasing a camera that takes xD memory cards. Why purchase new memory cards unless you have to? But on a more complex level, if a user wants to connect the camera to a device or wants to transfer the photos in a certain manner the camera must be able to provide for this. You can also save yourself some money if you have the connectivity figured out as well.
Examples of this: Say the user of a digital camera just wants to take the memory card out of the digital camera and use a reader that is built into their laptop to transfer the pictures they've taken. This is a pretty easy concept and something all cameras can do. At the same time, it would not make much sense to purchase a camera that has Wi-Fi capability if a user wishes to only transfer photos in this manner. Of course, if a user wants to use a Wi-Fi network to transfer photos to their PC or laptop, you better make sure that the camera purchased can handle the task.
Also, find out what printer(s) will be used. Some printers have convenient dock-type connectors built into them that allow users of cameras made by the same company to do some common tasks a bit more intuitively (such as Kodak's offerings). If a printer like this is already owned it would make a lot of sense to consider working within that same brand. If the printer doesn't have an interface like that, then this considerations doesn't apply - A person does not get a lot of extra value when using a Canon camera with a Canon printer, for example.
So there you have it. A solid list of questions to ask that will allow you to identify some options that will help lead towards a more satisfying digital camera purchase. After going through these questions you should not have a difficult time drilling down from hundreds of camera options to 3-6 that really make a lot of sense for you or the person you are shopping for.
Check back later for more digital camera shopping tips to learn how to pick that perfect camera.
Cheers!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Garmin Introduces Its First Pedestrian Portable Navigation Devices
Garmin International announced its first portable GPS devices with navigation for use by both pedestrians and drivers.The 1200 and 1300 series are lighter and thinner than current nuvi models so they are easily carried in a pocket.
They may also be used with optional CityXplorer maps that are available for tourist destinations in North America and Europe. These maps may be downloaded to a PC and then to the nuvi via USB cable at prices ranging from $10 to $15, depending on the city.
In addition, the devices allow not only pedestrian directions but they include bus, train, subway and other public transportation information.
“The personal navigation device (PND) is no longer just for the car,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin VP worldwide sales claiming that the devices may now be taken “wherever you go.”
Read the full article, here.
Transcend Reveals Eye-catching StoreJet 25M-R Shock-Resistant Portable Hard Drive
Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend®), an international leader in storage products, today announced a stylish new addition to its exciting line of StoreJet™ portable hard drives. The StoreJet 25M-R portable hard drive is an innovative combination of anti-shock construction with an attractive design that masks the drive’s true rugged nature in a tantalizing blend of crimson red and jet black.Award-Winning Design
Winner of Japan’s coveted G-Mark design award, the StoreJet 25M-R features an attractive two-tone contrast color scheme that sets it apart from the crowd. The StoreJet 25M-R is a perfect example of Transcend’s commitment to creating high-tech products specifically tailored for consumers who not only value technological innovation, but also style and fashion. Gently rounded edges and a smooth exterior finish also provide a pleasant tactile feel that makes the drive comfortable as well as easy to grip.
Military-Grade Shock Protection
Hidden inside the StoreJet 25M-R’s alluring exterior is a sophisticated dual-stage shock protection system that incorporates a rugged hard casing and vibration-absorbing anti-slip silicone outer shell that evenly distributes the force of an impact, along with a complete array of internal hard drive suspension dampers as a last line of defense. This innovative combination not only offers excellent protection against both vibration and impact damage, but also helps prevent the drive from slipping or falling in the first place.
Read the full Transcend press release, here.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sony Unveils New BDP-S560 Wi-Fi Blu-Ray Player
Standalone Blu-ray players have finally started catching up to the Sony PlayStation 3 for Blu-ray playback, but Sony's game console is still the only Blu-ray player with built-in Wi-Fi.
Luckily, that appears to be changing in 2009, with both Samsung and LG announcing wireless Blu-ray players at CES 2009. And Monday Sony announced its own wireless Blu-ray player, the BDP-S560. The BDP-S560 includes 802.11N Wi-Fi, which means you'll be able to access BD-Live features without dragging an Ethernet cord into your living room.
Read the full cnet article, here.
Luckily, that appears to be changing in 2009, with both Samsung and LG announcing wireless Blu-ray players at CES 2009. And Monday Sony announced its own wireless Blu-ray player, the BDP-S560. The BDP-S560 includes 802.11N Wi-Fi, which means you'll be able to access BD-Live features without dragging an Ethernet cord into your living room.
Read the full cnet article, here.
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