Pocket or DSLR?

Pocket or DSLR - There are two major groups of different types of digital cameras: Pocket and DSLR.

1. Compact camera (commonly called pocket camera), is a compact system and has integrated, has a whole section full of a digital camera.
2. DSLR camera, is a camera system that consists of two major subsystems, namely:

• mechanical-electronic subsystems (body), and
• mechanical-optical subsystem (lens)

Main Difference

The most obvious difference between the two categories is the ability of DSLR camera to replace the lens that will be used in accordance with the needs of photographers. In addition the issue of this lens, there are significant differences, but not visible, the difference in sensor size:

• Compact digital cameras usually have a smaller sensor size 1/2.5 inch to 1/1.6 inches.

• DSLR cameras have the larger sensor size, which is 22.2 x 14.8 mm (APS-C) or 35x24 mm (full frame).

• The development of sensor technology enables Olympus to develop smaller size (4/3 inch) than the APS-C DSLR cameras for her which was followed by Panasonic cameras with micro-4/3.

The difference in sensor size has an impact on the ability of a camera captures the light. The most obvious differences in results due to the influence of the size of the sensor can be seen from the level of noise in the photos using a high ISO (> ISO 200). The camera with a small sensor size would produce more noise at high ISO.

Though somehow, there are still advantages of pocket camera with small sensor, namely:

• Its compact size
• Light weight
• ease of use
• A more affordable price

What about picture quality and sharpness?

Apparently, the shooting conditions in the outdoor and sunny weather, it is almost impossible to distinguish the results from a compact camera or DSLR. More surprising yet, the images that we see on camera affected barely used. Ken Rockwell article below can serve as a reference:Your Camera Doesn't Matter and A $25 vs. a $5,000 Camera

In fact, production and market demand for compact camera / pocket remains larger than a DSLR camera.

White Balance in Photography

White balance in Photography - is a crucial aspect in the world of photography and the effect on the final image. The camera is actually not really recognize colors. Displayed by the camera is how different frequencies of light reflected from an object to a different frequency of light that becomes the standard of comparison. An understanding of the process of color reproduction is very important in photography that require a high level of color accuracy, for example in product photos, fabric color, light graphics, etc..

Auto White Balance

Color 'white' was chosen as the standard comparator because it is a neutral color. In the full-frequency lighting conditions, the white color will reflect all light frequencies, so the white object is an object that reflects light with the highest intensity. But because it is a neutral, white would be red when illuminated by a red light, it looks blue in the light blue, and so on. Under these conditions, the Auto White Balance on the camera set up to recognize 'the reflection of the object with the highest intensity' and use it as a standard color 'white' to do color correction.

As a result, in certain conditions, the camera can reproduce wrong colors because there is no white object on the object captured. In this condition the required precision of the photographer to help the camera do color correction, but not in sunset/sunrise photography for example.

(Photo source: www.hootphotography.com)

White Balance Setting

Each camera has a different way of setting, so you should refer to the manual if it has not so far found a way. If you are still confused, use the auto white balance mode. The camera may not always be right, but at least more true.

Here are presets that are normally available on any compact cameras:

• Auto - the camera will guess the color temperature based program planted by the camera manufacturer. You can use it in most situations, but not in every situation. So try to explore to the more tricky lights.
• Daylight / Sunny - usually with the symbol of the sun, use while in the sun. Not all cameras have this white balance preset, because it is almost the same as the normal White Balance.
• Cloudy - symbolized by the cloud, use when shooting in cloudy weather. Usually this presets will generally give a touch more 'warm' than Daylight preset.
• Shade - usually a house or a tree symbol, use when shooting indoors (during the day) or you are in the shadows - not direct sunlight. The light is in shadow (shade) is generally cooler (blue) compared to shooting under direct sunlight, so the settings are a little warm.
• Tungsten/Incadescent - symbolized by the icon of the bulb. Because it is suitable for use when you are shooting indoors with tungsten light sources / incadescent like bulb. In general, these presets will cool color photos.
• Fluorescent - symbolized by the iconic neon lights, use when shooting indoors with fluorescent lighting. In general, these presets will warm color photos.
• Flash - symbols flash, if you use the flash (strobe), use this preset. The light generated by a camera flash can be quite 'cool', so this arrangement will warm colors on the photo.
• Custom - This will be discussed in the next post.

A summary of the description you can see above table.

Kelvin White Balance

Kelvin White Balance usually found on professional DSLR cameras. Basically, preset white balance are based on a temperature difference of each color of light. At Kelvin White Balance presets determined from an understanding of physics that objects with a certain temperature will emit light with a certain frequency as well. Solar light emitted by an object with a temperature of 5500K. Fluorescent light has a temperature of 4000K, 3000K incandescent lamp.
 

(Photo source: www.berkelphoto.com)

Error in degrees Kelvin settings will produce the wrong color. The benchmarks are:

• If the images produced bluer mean temperature setting is too low.
• If the images produced yellowish, then setting the temperature too high.

How To Maximize Your Pocket Camera

How To Maximize Pocket Camera - is useful article to pocket camera users. If you want to change shutter speed and aperture setting to your pocket camera, how to do that? There are only two answers to do that:

1. Upgrade your camera
This is the most ideal answer, i.e buying a digital SLR camera, or at least an advance pocket camera called as prosumer camera. The two kind of cameras give you free manually setting of aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance, moreover DSLR camera could be changed its lens according to your requirement. If you have much money this answer is suitable for you. If you have no much money or you don't want to buy DSLR camera at the present time, you should try the next answer.

2. Maximize your pocket camera
Pocket camera is designed for daily photograph. It can give you information about photographic situation and kind of picture you need. Each mode of photography apply special setting to the camera.

Several pocket camera settings to maximize your pocket camera: 

• Adjust White Balance with available light. Improper white balance will produce tonal colors that do not match and sometimes bizarre. 

• Use the appropriate Scene mode. In each pocket cameras usually reserved several scenes to meet your shooting according to lighting situations and motion of an object being photographed.

• Use the Macro mode on an object that is close, without this mode, the object a short distance (less than 50 cm) will blur.

• Make sure the object gets enough light. The role of light is very important because you use low ISO. So get a light as bright as possible, if necessary use a flash or studio mini box.

• If you want to get shallow depth of field (blur background), apply 'spot focus metering' and 'Portrait mode'. The camera will set wide aperture.

• If you want to get deep depth of field (all focused), apply 'Landscape mode', and set 'multi focus metering' the camera will automatically set narrow aperture.

• If you want fast shutter speed, apply 'Sports mode'. The camera assumed that you want to freeze object movement. Its also applied to photograph children activity.

• If you want slow shutter speed, apply 'night mode'. Camera will automatically turn on flash and set high ISO that can make noise to the picture. Turn off flash and set ISO to 100 or 200. You should use tripod or other camera fixation to get sharp and clear pictures, and apply timer to reduce shake effect.

Resume of above settings shows in table below:

And additional tips is to avoid using digital zoom as it will add noise to your photos.

Tips for Beginner Photographer

Tips for Beginner Photographer - This post is suitable for novices in the world of photography
 

1. Do not be hurried buy expensive photography equipments
My experience says, it's very possible you can make good photographs by pocket camera. More and more you make photographs, you increasingly understand photography technique. So not always during learning photography, you must apply expensive camera and its accessories.

2. Consider buy tripod
Cheap tripod but competent steady should you consider, especially if your hands have tremor habit. Your photographs would more glorious if you apply timer feature or shutter release when you use tripod.

3. Bring your camera every where you go
Good moments could suddenly come every where you are, if you always bring your camera and hurry up taking the moment, nothing to loose, more than anything else when you volunteer bring tripod. If you have a camera-phone, you can take some photographs as notes of the moment you recorded by your camera.

4. Make a list moments would you record
If you can not bring your camera, at least you are carrying notebook or cellular phone to record the place you want to take the photographs. Do not forget to record important thing of photography, such as lighting etc., so you can come back there at the good time.

5. Do not overlook "normal" object in photography
You may not see anything interesting and worth photographed in the living room or backyard, but at least try to look around with a new perspective. You might be able to find the  light spectrum or some wildflowers in your backyard, it is often a simple object can create a good photograph.

6. Enjoy the process of learning photography
The most interesting thing to learn a hobby like photography, there is not enough words to learn it. A lot of inspiration could be found around you. Look at all of this using the eye of a photographer and you will find photo opportunities that you did not realize before.

7. Take advantage of a free online resource to learn photography
Learn photographs produced by professional photographers through sites such as flickr, or websites that share information on photographic techniques, where can you find inspiration and tips on photography. If you are interested in learning about post-processing and still no budget to buy software like Adobe Photoshop, try using free software like GIMP.

8. Continue to test the camera settings
Your pocket camera has a feature that can be far more flexible than you know now. Read the user guide or manual to help interpret the symbols contained in the camera settings. Try photographing a subject using different settings, see and learn, and choose which one best results you like. When to re-review the photos on the computer, look at EXIF data of each photo to see the back camera settings do you use when shooting.

9. Learn the basic rules
As we know, a lot of information about the world of photography spread over the Internet. Start reading a couple articles about the photographic composition. Be open to opinions from more experienced photographers about photography techniques they use. You certainly need to know and understand the basic rules before breaking them, don't you?

10. Take photographs routinely
Try to photograph something every day, if you can not do that, then make sure you practice on a regular basis so you do not forget what you have learned before. The best way to do this is to give yourself a photographic challenge each week.

11. Do not be afraid to experiment
If you use a digital camera, perform continuous testing and most likely you'll find something you like, and of course you will learn a lot through this learning process.

Good luck!

Canon PowerShot N

Canon PowerShot N - Along with Fuji will launch new products at the Consumer Electronic Show Las Vegas, January 2013, Canon also launched its new product. Fuji launch its mirrorless cameras, Fujifilm X100s, while Canon launch pocket cameras, PowerShot N.

This time Canon introduced a super tiny pocket cameras with approximately 7x6x3 cm dimensions making it easy to pocket in shirt or pants i.e. easy to carry wherever you go. Because of its small size Canon gives the tagline "capture every moment in your life".

PowerShot N bears a CMOSplus sensor with resolution of 12 megapixels and has ISO capabilities up to 6400. With a 2.8-inch capacitive LCD display of precision and its swivel allows us when shooting from difficult angles. PowerShot N equipped with 28mm f/3-5.9 lens that has an optical zoom up to 8x.

With a pocket camera sales trend down due to attacked by advanced smartphone camera, Canon just back to basics by making the camera simple and small, but can meet the needs of everyday moments photographed.

Another advantage is the PowerShot N equipped with wi-fi, so we can directly upload the photos to wherever we want. Reported PowerShot N will begin to circulate on the market in April 2013 with prices ranging from US$ 300.