Chris Pirillo » camera http://chris.pirillo.com News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:04:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © chris@pirillo.com () chris@pirillo.com() Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. chris@pirillo.com No no http://chris.pirillo.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Chris Pirillo http://chris.pirillo.com 144 144 Kodak Zi8 Review http://chris.pirillo.com/kodak-zi8-review/ http://chris.pirillo.com/kodak-zi8-review/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:24:39 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=14506 Kodak Zi8 Review is a post from Chris Pirillo


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You might remember my review of the Kodak Zi6 awhile back. The folks at Kodak recently sent me the new Zi8 to review – and I’m very thankful they have. I really like what they have done with it!

For one thing, this video was recorded using the Zi8, and no tripod. I wanted to show off the amazing Digital Image Stabilization on this little machine. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? The Zi8 also allows me to hook up an external microphone, to allow for better sound quality. That, my friends, makes this gadget priceless in my book. The frame-rate is perfect in low-light situations!

I recorded in 720p at 60fps! That may not be apparent if you’re watching on YouTube, but it will be if you use the download link below. Kodak also kept with the macro feature. You can see while looking at my Bamboo tree, the tree comes into focus and fades away the background. You can easily switch between focal points with just the flick of a button.

There is, of course, a built-in USB port, allowing you to connect to your computer and upload direct to YouTube and other sites if you wish. The Zi8 has a slot for additional storage of up to 32GB. That will hold more pictures and videos than you will likely ever take.

I highly recommend the Zi8. It’s a great recorder, with excellent quality video output. At less than $200.00, it’s an excellent buy, as well.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Kodak Zi8 Review is a post from Chris Pirillo


Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

You might remember my review of the Kodak Zi6 awhile back. The folks at Kodak recently sent me the new Zi8 to review – and I’m very thankful they have. I really like what they have done with it!

For one thing, this video was recorded using the Zi8, and no tripod. I wanted to show off the amazing Digital Image Stabilization on this little machine. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? The Zi8 also allows me to hook up an external microphone, to allow for better sound quality. That, my friends, makes this gadget priceless in my book. The frame-rate is perfect in low-light situations!

I recorded in 720p at 60fps! That may not be apparent if you’re watching on YouTube, but it will be if you use the download link below. Kodak also kept with the macro feature. You can see while looking at my Bamboo tree, the tree comes into focus and fades away the background. You can easily switch between focal points with just the flick of a button.

There is, of course, a built-in USB port, allowing you to connect to your computer and upload direct to YouTube and other sites if you wish. The Zi8 has a slot for additional storage of up to 32GB. That will hold more pictures and videos than you will likely ever take.

I highly recommend the Zi8. It’s a great recorder, with excellent quality video output. At less than $200.00, it’s an excellent buy, as well.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/kodak-zi8-review/feed/ 9 What’s the Best Video Recorder to Buy? http://chris.pirillo.com/whats-the-best-video-recorder-to-buy/ http://chris.pirillo.com/whats-the-best-video-recorder-to-buy/#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:04:38 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=13706 What’s the Best Video Recorder to Buy? is a post from Chris Pirillo

I received this email from Kieran “Zer0″ Hill the other day, and thought it was worth sharing with the rest of the community – since I seem to be asked this question every day…

We have never spoken before, so I hope that you don’t have a problem with assisting me. The general impression that I got from your youtube video on the comparison between the Flip Mino HD, Kodak Vi6, and Creative Vado HD, left me thinking that you would not mind being asked for assistance on the matter. You seem to be a very knowledgable person on the majority of genres, which you do reviews the products of, so I feel that it would be very appropriate for me to as you my question that I have on this matter.

Moving on, my name is Kieran Hill (online gamer tag [EVGA]A.Zer0pWnZ) and I recently qualified for the grand finals of the Command and Conquer: Red alert 3 Ladder Season Finals in Cologne, Germany. On this trip, I will be an exclusive member to the alfa testing team on the next game, and will therefore be partaking in the CnC4 community summit. My point – I want to buy an HD video camera to document the entire trip, and to use footage on the show, which I am the lead producer of, Red3TV (the main RA3 web show on the internet, and a product of gamereplays.org.) I will be using the camera mostly indoors; in lowly-lit rooms, with a large amount of monitors present. I will need to have good audio quality for my video, so that any developer interviews, which I conduct, will be flawless, and good enough quality to be included in the August episode of Red3tv, (which is displayed in a 720p HD flash player.)

After the LAN tournament, I will be using which ever camera I purchase, in order to record the news coverage segment of the show, ( which we greenscreen.) My question, is in your opinion, which HD video camera should I buy? I am only 17, and therefore naturally want to spend as least possible on the product; however, I am not saying that price is an issue, rather that it is important that I am not spending an extra $300 for a few extra features, which I will not need.

The main things, which I am looking for in the camera that I purchase will be: (in order from most important to least)

  • Video quality in low-lighting areas
  • Audio quality
  • Compact design (I will be bringing this wherever I go during the grand finals and community summit)
  • Accessories functions available (I have a very expensive USB M-Audio microphone, which I wouldn’t mind connecting, along with an optical wide lense, which I could attach if needed.)

I would really appreciate it if you can give me any feedback possible on this matter. I also saw your Kodak Zx1 unveiling, so if you would like to expand on your thoughs about that, then please do.

Honestly? My choice is still the Creative Vado HD. It’s not perfect (sound is a bit tinny, no external audio solution, etc.), but it certainly leads its class in terms of overall quality. I have high hopes for the next iteration of the Vado, and have given the Creative team direct feedback on what they need to improve upon. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but my opinion stands: the Vado HD rules. And remember, I purchased the Vado HD with my own money.

]]> What’s the Best Video Recorder to Buy? is a post from Chris Pirillo

I received this email from Kieran “Zer0″ Hill the other day, and thought it was worth sharing with the rest of the community – since I seem to be asked this question every day…

We have never spoken before, so I hope that you don’t have a problem with assisting me. The general impression that I got from your youtube video on the comparison between the Flip Mino HD, Kodak Vi6, and Creative Vado HD, left me thinking that you would not mind being asked for assistance on the matter. You seem to be a very knowledgable person on the majority of genres, which you do reviews the products of, so I feel that it would be very appropriate for me to as you my question that I have on this matter.

Moving on, my name is Kieran Hill (online gamer tag [EVGA]A.Zer0pWnZ) and I recently qualified for the grand finals of the Command and Conquer: Red alert 3 Ladder Season Finals in Cologne, Germany. On this trip, I will be an exclusive member to the alfa testing team on the next game, and will therefore be partaking in the CnC4 community summit. My point – I want to buy an HD video camera to document the entire trip, and to use footage on the show, which I am the lead producer of, Red3TV (the main RA3 web show on the internet, and a product of gamereplays.org.) I will be using the camera mostly indoors; in lowly-lit rooms, with a large amount of monitors present. I will need to have good audio quality for my video, so that any developer interviews, which I conduct, will be flawless, and good enough quality to be included in the August episode of Red3tv, (which is displayed in a 720p HD flash player.)

After the LAN tournament, I will be using which ever camera I purchase, in order to record the news coverage segment of the show, ( which we greenscreen.) My question, is in your opinion, which HD video camera should I buy? I am only 17, and therefore naturally want to spend as least possible on the product; however, I am not saying that price is an issue, rather that it is important that I am not spending an extra $300 for a few extra features, which I will not need.

The main things, which I am looking for in the camera that I purchase will be: (in order from most important to least)

  • Video quality in low-lighting areas
  • Audio quality
  • Compact design (I will be bringing this wherever I go during the grand finals and community summit)
  • Accessories functions available (I have a very expensive USB M-Audio microphone, which I wouldn’t mind connecting, along with an optical wide lense, which I could attach if needed.)

I would really appreciate it if you can give me any feedback possible on this matter. I also saw your Kodak Zx1 unveiling, so if you would like to expand on your thoughs about that, then please do.

Honestly? My choice is still the Creative Vado HD. It’s not perfect (sound is a bit tinny, no external audio solution, etc.), but it certainly leads its class in terms of overall quality. I have high hopes for the next iteration of the Vado, and have given the Creative team direct feedback on what they need to improve upon. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but my opinion stands: the Vado HD rules. And remember, I purchased the Vado HD with my own money.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/whats-the-best-video-recorder-to-buy/feed/ 1 Camera Glow Stick Trick http://chris.pirillo.com/camera-glow-stick-trick/ http://chris.pirillo.com/camera-glow-stick-trick/#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2009 06:05:59 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/camera-glow-stick-trick/ Camera Glow Stick Trick is a post from Chris Pirillo

Camera Glow Stick Trick

The last time I did something like this, I had a far less powerful camera (and was still living in San Francisco). I thought it was about time I made a new version.

I used the Panasonic Lumix G1 to snap this photo – and the quality is astounding. If you haven’t done so already, click through and view the original size of this photo.

As I outlined in an earlier post, you need a digital camera that allows you to set a shutter priority. The rest is fairly simple. I’m not going to rehash the instructions as they’re already here.

]]> Camera Glow Stick Trick is a post from Chris Pirillo

Camera Glow Stick Trick

The last time I did something like this, I had a far less powerful camera (and was still living in San Francisco). I thought it was about time I made a new version.

I used the Panasonic Lumix G1 to snap this photo – and the quality is astounding. If you haven’t done so already, click through and view the original size of this photo.

As I outlined in an earlier post, you need a digital camera that allows you to set a shutter priority. The rest is fairly simple. I’m not going to rehash the instructions as they’re already here.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/camera-glow-stick-trick/feed/ 22 Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado! http://chris.pirillo.com/video-camera-comparison-test-mino-zi6-vado/ http://chris.pirillo.com/video-camera-comparison-test-mino-zi6-vado/#comments Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:21:14 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=11685 Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I kept the camera(s) as steady as possible as I panned across the landscape from the vantage point of my bedroom window this evening. Watch the full HD version on YouTube, or scroll down to watch the high-quality embedded version.

Each series of clips were taken back-to-back – the first series, earlier when the sunset was striking the clouds in a dramatic fashion; the second series, when it was a bit more overcast (and there were both pink and blue hues on the horizon).

In each set, the cameras were used in this order: Flip Mino HD, Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD. You’ll see annotations lead off each scene (then quickly disappear).

I removed the audio from this video to alleviate volume level discrepancies, as well as to provide further concentration on the video quality at hand. Obviously, viewing in HD is required for fairest judgment.

Processing was NOT done to any of these videos; these recordings were sewn together in a seamless fashion and uploaded to YouTube in their near-original condition.

  • The Flip Mino HD pretty much washed out the sky’s vibrant colors in the first set, and effectively made a drab mountain view appear even more drab in the second set.
  • The Kodak Zi6 did a good job with the colors, but couldn’t strike a good balance between the bright sky and the dark landscape in either set.
  • My verdict still favors the Creative Vado HD – not only with its wide-angle lens capability, but its truer-to-life colors and exposure balance (between dark and light in the same shot).

]]> Video Camera Comparison Test: Mino, Zi6, Vado! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I kept the camera(s) as steady as possible as I panned across the landscape from the vantage point of my bedroom window this evening. Watch the full HD version on YouTube, or scroll down to watch the high-quality embedded version.

Each series of clips were taken back-to-back – the first series, earlier when the sunset was striking the clouds in a dramatic fashion; the second series, when it was a bit more overcast (and there were both pink and blue hues on the horizon).

In each set, the cameras were used in this order: Flip Mino HD, Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD. You’ll see annotations lead off each scene (then quickly disappear).

I removed the audio from this video to alleviate volume level discrepancies, as well as to provide further concentration on the video quality at hand. Obviously, viewing in HD is required for fairest judgment.

Processing was NOT done to any of these videos; these recordings were sewn together in a seamless fashion and uploaded to YouTube in their near-original condition.

  • The Flip Mino HD pretty much washed out the sky’s vibrant colors in the first set, and effectively made a drab mountain view appear even more drab in the second set.
  • The Kodak Zi6 did a good job with the colors, but couldn’t strike a good balance between the bright sky and the dark landscape in either set.
  • My verdict still favors the Creative Vado HD – not only with its wide-angle lens capability, but its truer-to-life colors and exposure balance (between dark and light in the same shot).

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/video-camera-comparison-test-mino-zi6-vado/feed/ 9 Are All Camera Tripods Built Alike? http://chris.pirillo.com/are-all-camera-tripods-built-alike/ http://chris.pirillo.com/are-all-camera-tripods-built-alike/#comments Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:29:45 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=8318 Are All Camera Tripods Built Alike? is a post from Chris Pirillo


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You’d think that all tripods are the same. They all have three legs, right? But saying that is tantamount to saying that all cars are the same, because they have four wheels. A few weeks ago, I broke yet another tripod. I’ve owned several, and they just never last. So now that I had no more tripod, I asked some friends what they recommended. One good friend, Usrbingeek, recommended the Manfrotto Pro 055XPROB.

The 055XPROB makes the Manfrotto-patented horizontal center column feature even easier to use. By extending the column to its highest vertical position, it can be swung round to horizontal without removing the head or disassembling the column itself, so switching between framing and positioning setups is more convenient than ever. The ergonomics of the leg angle release mechanism and the quick action leg locks themselves have also been greatly improved. 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head With Quick Lock The 804RC2 is a 3-way photo head constructed of an ultra-durable and lightweight technical polymer that easily withstands the daily rigors of the professional photographer. A unique spring feature has been added to the 804RC2 to assist in the tilt motion of the head to compensate for heavier, off-center loads. The ergonomically designed handles fit comfortably in the hands, while the standard quick release plate fits snugly in the low-profile receiver.

I was impressed as soon as I took it out of the box. It’s extremely sturdy. Of course, there are plastic parts to it, but not where it matters most. This particular series has been recommended to me by several photographers. When they saw the box for this sitting on my desktop, they were all impressed. I didn’t realize I would need an adapter, but that’s ok. I’ll get one, and it’s easy to get.

I spent about $150 on this. Before you freak out… keep in mind I’ve spent far more than that in total on ones that subsequently broke. To me, it’s worth it to spend more for a product, in order to know that I’m getting a quality piece of merchandise. My chair, for example, was expensive. However, instead of buying a cheap one that wouldn’t last and wouldn’t be comfortable, I chose to just buy ONE chair. It hasn’t let me down yet. So, I went with my gut and bought the more expensive tripod, as well.

The nice thing about this tripod, is that once I mount the camera, it can turn the camera essentially 90 degrees. The stand itself is capable of holding up to 15 pounds, which is nice.

Don’t buy this without checking with me first. Just like with any product, I can probably save you some money with a coupon.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Are All Camera Tripods Built Alike? is a post from Chris Pirillo


Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

You’d think that all tripods are the same. They all have three legs, right? But saying that is tantamount to saying that all cars are the same, because they have four wheels. A few weeks ago, I broke yet another tripod. I’ve owned several, and they just never last. So now that I had no more tripod, I asked some friends what they recommended. One good friend, Usrbingeek, recommended the Manfrotto Pro 055XPROB.

The 055XPROB makes the Manfrotto-patented horizontal center column feature even easier to use. By extending the column to its highest vertical position, it can be swung round to horizontal without removing the head or disassembling the column itself, so switching between framing and positioning setups is more convenient than ever. The ergonomics of the leg angle release mechanism and the quick action leg locks themselves have also been greatly improved. 804RC2 Pan Tilt Head With Quick Lock The 804RC2 is a 3-way photo head constructed of an ultra-durable and lightweight technical polymer that easily withstands the daily rigors of the professional photographer. A unique spring feature has been added to the 804RC2 to assist in the tilt motion of the head to compensate for heavier, off-center loads. The ergonomically designed handles fit comfortably in the hands, while the standard quick release plate fits snugly in the low-profile receiver.

I was impressed as soon as I took it out of the box. It’s extremely sturdy. Of course, there are plastic parts to it, but not where it matters most. This particular series has been recommended to me by several photographers. When they saw the box for this sitting on my desktop, they were all impressed. I didn’t realize I would need an adapter, but that’s ok. I’ll get one, and it’s easy to get.

I spent about $150 on this. Before you freak out… keep in mind I’ve spent far more than that in total on ones that subsequently broke. To me, it’s worth it to spend more for a product, in order to know that I’m getting a quality piece of merchandise. My chair, for example, was expensive. However, instead of buying a cheap one that wouldn’t last and wouldn’t be comfortable, I chose to just buy ONE chair. It hasn’t let me down yet. So, I went with my gut and bought the more expensive tripod, as well.

The nice thing about this tripod, is that once I mount the camera, it can turn the camera essentially 90 degrees. The stand itself is capable of holding up to 15 pounds, which is nice.

Don’t buy this without checking with me first. Just like with any product, I can probably save you some money with a coupon.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/are-all-camera-tripods-built-alike/feed/ 6 Are You an Amateur Photographer? http://chris.pirillo.com/are-you-an-amateur-photographer/ http://chris.pirillo.com/are-you-an-amateur-photographer/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:13:42 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=7847 Are You an Amateur Photographer? is a post from Chris Pirillo

I love to dabble in photography. I’m not that great at it, and I know my limits. But I always like to get new tips, and learn new things. One of our chatters, DellMan94, sent in the following tips to give all of us an extra bit of a boost when practicing our photography skills.

  • Find the right camera. First, make sure when you buy your camera that you find the one that fits you. The camera should not be too small or too big, the menu should be clean and easy to use, and the camera should be comfortable. Second, when you get your camera, do not be confused about the marketing hype about megapixels. The number of megapixels just determines how big you can print your photos, not image quality. For example, a four-megapixel image will print an 8×10 while a ten-megapixel image would print at 24×36 at that same resolution. Finding the right camera can your photographic experience much more enjoyable and fun.
  • Use the rule of thirds. Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid over the photo you are about to take. Place your subject where these lines intersect and your photo will be much more visually interesting. This is because the eye scans around the image. You will notice your images will start to look much better when you apply this rule.
  • Take numerous photos. Do not be afraid to take many photos in just one day. Your odds of getting a great photo will increase if you take more pictures. One person who has 200 images is more likely to have “the shot” than a person with 80 or 100 photos is.
  • Be careful when shooting RAW. If you are taking pictures in RAW format than you have to be careful not to take too many. If you do, you can corrupt your memory card. This is because the camera calculates space available on the card based on average image size, not actual image size. RAW is a photo format that uses no compression on the photos like JPEG does. While the image quality is slightly higher than JPEG, RAW files can be very large (around 9-10 MB for a 10-megapixel image). A JPEG will delete one third or more of the data that is captured when the photo is taken. Not all cameras can take raw images. For the most part the cameras that can take RAW photos are the higher end point-and-shoots and most dSLRs. For the most part this is unnoticeable. For the most part shooting in JPEG is the way to go, unless you plan on heavily modifying your photos in your image editor.
  • Keep the original photos. Keeping the original photos is very important when you edit your images. This way, if you change your mind and decide that you do not like a change you made to a photo, you have not destroyed the original. A good option is to save all your edited photos in one specific folder. Always keeping your original photos will save a lot of time and headaches when it comes to photo editing.
  • Watch the background. Be careful that the background of you photo does not have a telephone pole, wires, etc. This is especially true during outdoor portraits. Nobody wants to see some object appearing to come out of his or her head. Make sure the background is clean, is not distracting, and does not have unwanted objects in it.
  • Take as little gear as possible when traveling. When you are doing travel photography, do not take all of your gear with you. If you do, it will become cumbersome and will only get heavier as the day goes on. This is especially true if you own a dSLR. Point and Shoot cameras are very handy here, as they are small and most can fit in your pocket. Make sure to take the least amount of gear possible when traveling.
  • Have fun! There is no point in taking up photography if it is not fun. Having fun will increase your odds of good photos and will stir up your curiosity and will cause you to learn more. There is nothing like doing something you love to do.
]]> Are You an Amateur Photographer? is a post from Chris Pirillo

I love to dabble in photography. I’m not that great at it, and I know my limits. But I always like to get new tips, and learn new things. One of our chatters, DellMan94, sent in the following tips to give all of us an extra bit of a boost when practicing our photography skills.

  • Find the right camera. First, make sure when you buy your camera that you find the one that fits you. The camera should not be too small or too big, the menu should be clean and easy to use, and the camera should be comfortable. Second, when you get your camera, do not be confused about the marketing hype about megapixels. The number of megapixels just determines how big you can print your photos, not image quality. For example, a four-megapixel image will print an 8×10 while a ten-megapixel image would print at 24×36 at that same resolution. Finding the right camera can your photographic experience much more enjoyable and fun.
  • Use the rule of thirds. Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid over the photo you are about to take. Place your subject where these lines intersect and your photo will be much more visually interesting. This is because the eye scans around the image. You will notice your images will start to look much better when you apply this rule.
  • Take numerous photos. Do not be afraid to take many photos in just one day. Your odds of getting a great photo will increase if you take more pictures. One person who has 200 images is more likely to have “the shot” than a person with 80 or 100 photos is.
  • Be careful when shooting RAW. If you are taking pictures in RAW format than you have to be careful not to take too many. If you do, you can corrupt your memory card. This is because the camera calculates space available on the card based on average image size, not actual image size. RAW is a photo format that uses no compression on the photos like JPEG does. While the image quality is slightly higher than JPEG, RAW files can be very large (around 9-10 MB for a 10-megapixel image). A JPEG will delete one third or more of the data that is captured when the photo is taken. Not all cameras can take raw images. For the most part the cameras that can take RAW photos are the higher end point-and-shoots and most dSLRs. For the most part this is unnoticeable. For the most part shooting in JPEG is the way to go, unless you plan on heavily modifying your photos in your image editor.
  • Keep the original photos. Keeping the original photos is very important when you edit your images. This way, if you change your mind and decide that you do not like a change you made to a photo, you have not destroyed the original. A good option is to save all your edited photos in one specific folder. Always keeping your original photos will save a lot of time and headaches when it comes to photo editing.
  • Watch the background. Be careful that the background of you photo does not have a telephone pole, wires, etc. This is especially true during outdoor portraits. Nobody wants to see some object appearing to come out of his or her head. Make sure the background is clean, is not distracting, and does not have unwanted objects in it.
  • Take as little gear as possible when traveling. When you are doing travel photography, do not take all of your gear with you. If you do, it will become cumbersome and will only get heavier as the day goes on. This is especially true if you own a dSLR. Point and Shoot cameras are very handy here, as they are small and most can fit in your pocket. Make sure to take the least amount of gear possible when traveling.
  • Have fun! There is no point in taking up photography if it is not fun. Having fun will increase your odds of good photos and will stir up your curiosity and will cause you to learn more. There is nothing like doing something you love to do.
]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/are-you-an-amateur-photographer/feed/ 19 Has a Wrist Strap Ever Saved Your Camera? http://chris.pirillo.com/has-a-wrist-strap-ever-saved-your-camera/ http://chris.pirillo.com/has-a-wrist-strap-ever-saved-your-camera/#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:58:23 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=7824 Has a Wrist Strap Ever Saved Your Camera? is a post from Chris Pirillo


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Picture this: you’re out and about and take the picture of a lifetime. Then, you need to transfer that picture to a computer. The problem is, you left your USB cord at home, so there’s no easy way to get that photo off of your camera. You could wait until you get home, or you could use this cool wrist strap. Not only is it a wrist strap, it also is a USB cable that will connect your camera to a computer (or anything else, like a photo printer). The USB Camera Lanyard and Wrist Strap is only $7.99 on Amazon, so why not pick one up?

You’ll always have your USB transfer cable right with your digital camera with this unique wrist strap. The strap has a small sliding compartment that hides compact USB type ‘A’ and USB mini type ‘B’ (5-pin) connectors and the cable is easily long enough to connect to a USB port on your PC. No more searching in your camera bag for a cable or memory card reader. Camera not included.

Make sure that your camera connects via USB, of course, and not some proprietary cable like mine does. For that reason, I’m planning to switch cameras. What point-and-shoot camera (that connects via USB) do you recommend?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Has a Wrist Strap Ever Saved Your Camera? is a post from Chris Pirillo


Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Picture this: you’re out and about and take the picture of a lifetime. Then, you need to transfer that picture to a computer. The problem is, you left your USB cord at home, so there’s no easy way to get that photo off of your camera. You could wait until you get home, or you could use this cool wrist strap. Not only is it a wrist strap, it also is a USB cable that will connect your camera to a computer (or anything else, like a photo printer). The USB Camera Lanyard and Wrist Strap is only $7.99 on Amazon, so why not pick one up?

You’ll always have your USB transfer cable right with your digital camera with this unique wrist strap. The strap has a small sliding compartment that hides compact USB type ‘A’ and USB mini type ‘B’ (5-pin) connectors and the cable is easily long enough to connect to a USB port on your PC. No more searching in your camera bag for a cable or memory card reader. Camera not included.

Make sure that your camera connects via USB, of course, and not some proprietary cable like mine does. For that reason, I’m planning to switch cameras. What point-and-shoot camera (that connects via USB) do you recommend?

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]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/has-a-wrist-strap-ever-saved-your-camera/feed/ 10 Camcorder Buying Tips http://chris.pirillo.com/camcorder-buying-tips/ http://chris.pirillo.com/camcorder-buying-tips/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:45:44 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/11/camcorder-buying-tips/ Camcorder Buying Tips is a post from Chris Pirillo

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There are a LOT of choices out there when it comes to buying a new Camcorder. How many MegaPixels do you need… or do they even matter? Here are some excellent tips sent in by a community member, to help you in choosing your next Camcorder.

  • Megapixels do not increase video quality Everywhere you go, you read about Megapixels. However, this is really just marketing from the manufacturers. While the megapixel count has a big impact on the quality of the still photos that your camcorder takes, it has very little impact on the video quality. What impacts the video quality is the size of the chip inside the camcorder (called the CCD). A CCD is simply the chip that recognizes light. It takes the light in as input and breaks it down into the basic Reds, Blues, and Greens. Naturally you want 3 CCD’s to capture anything nice and pretty. Many people rely on the auto features for still video when in reality you want to be able to white balance your picture, as well as set the focus to your face.
  • Figure out where and when you are going to use your camcorder Some camcorders do better indoors, while others do better outdoors. Some camcorders are more compact… while others are easier to handle. Before you start shopping for a camcorder, write down 5 or 10 different situations you see yourself using your camcorder in.
  • Low light performance matters – a lot! You’ll read people talking a lot about the low light performance of a camcorder. Now, when we talk about low light performance, we’re not just talking about a bar or a dark basement. We’re talking about the inside of your typical house! Low light to you and me is much different than low light to a camcorder. Typical room lighting is low light for a camcorder, so you should pay extra careful attention to the low light performance before you buy.
  • There are features, and then there are features that matter A lot of camcorder makers have put features on their models that might seem to be important and helpful, but in reality they are just gimmicks. While we mentioned megapixels, another one to look out for is an on-camera video light. These never have enough power to really improve your video quality. However, the biggest gimmick is digital zooms. Camcorder makers will advertise 500x, 600x or 700x digital zooms. The problem with a digital zoom is that it highly distorts the picture, and you should never use it. When shopping for a camcorder you should totally ignore the digital zoom.
  • Hybrids still and video is not always a good thing While a lot of people like the convenience factor of being able to combine your digital camera and your camcorder in one package, it’s not the most frugal choice. Unless you’re spending upwards of $1,000, you’re not going to get the same still performance out of a camcorder that you would out of a digital camera priced under $200. The best deal is to buy them separately. You will save money and also get better quality.
  • Play before you buy With a camcorder, it is critical that you’re able to hold it steady to shoot good video. While some of you may be thinking, “hey, I have image stabilization so I can shoot while I’m in an earthquake”… image stabilization’s capabilities are limited on all models. It is really important that you’re able to hold the camcorder still and stable and comfortably. Even when buying online, go into a store and play with the models before you click buy.
  • Buy a warranty, bag and tripod Although you might be a bit wary of salespeople’s techniques to up-sell you to buy more, you should always buy a warranty with your new camcorder. Considering that this is a portable device that you’ll be taking outside and on adventures, the likelihood of it breaking is pretty high. As for a bag, it’s important to protect your camcorder from damage and a dedicated bag is the best solution. You might balk at the idea of lugging around a tripod to events you want to shoot, but it’s the best way to ensure that your video isn’t shaky and that people will want to watch it and not get sick!
  • If it’s too good to be true, it probably is When buying online, remember the old adage “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” If you find a price that is drastically lower than most of the competition, it is very likely that you’ll get a camcorder from a country other than the one you are buying in, a camcorder with it’s accessories missing, or not get your camcorder at all. You also should be careful to make sure you’re buying a NEW product, and not a re manufactured one.
  • All camcorders are not made equal While most of the models on the market will suit your needs, there are huge differences in the different camcorders on the market today. Don’t just buy any old camcorder, research and understand the models before you actually make a decision.
  • Use your camcorder! While this isn’t strictly a buying tip, it’s important nonetheless. Don’t just buy your camcorder, put it in a closet and take it out only for a wedding or graduation. Think of new interesting events and things that you can tape. You may capture some amazing memories.

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]]> Camcorder Buying Tips is a post from Chris Pirillo

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There are a LOT of choices out there when it comes to buying a new Camcorder. How many MegaPixels do you need… or do they even matter? Here are some excellent tips sent in by a community member, to help you in choosing your next Camcorder.

  • Megapixels do not increase video quality Everywhere you go, you read about Megapixels. However, this is really just marketing from the manufacturers. While the megapixel count has a big impact on the quality of the still photos that your camcorder takes, it has very little impact on the video quality. What impacts the video quality is the size of the chip inside the camcorder (called the CCD). A CCD is simply the chip that recognizes light. It takes the light in as input and breaks it down into the basic Reds, Blues, and Greens. Naturally you want 3 CCD’s to capture anything nice and pretty. Many people rely on the auto features for still video when in reality you want to be able to white balance your picture, as well as set the focus to your face.
  • Figure out where and when you are going to use your camcorder Some camcorders do better indoors, while others do better outdoors. Some camcorders are more compact… while others are easier to handle. Before you start shopping for a camcorder, write down 5 or 10 different situations you see yourself using your camcorder in.
  • Low light performance matters – a lot! You’ll read people talking a lot about the low light performance of a camcorder. Now, when we talk about low light performance, we’re not just talking about a bar or a dark basement. We’re talking about the inside of your typical house! Low light to you and me is much different than low light to a camcorder. Typical room lighting is low light for a camcorder, so you should pay extra careful attention to the low light performance before you buy.
  • There are features, and then there are features that matter A lot of camcorder makers have put features on their models that might seem to be important and helpful, but in reality they are just gimmicks. While we mentioned megapixels, another one to look out for is an on-camera video light. These never have enough power to really improve your video quality. However, the biggest gimmick is digital zooms. Camcorder makers will advertise 500x, 600x or 700x digital zooms. The problem with a digital zoom is that it highly distorts the picture, and you should never use it. When shopping for a camcorder you should totally ignore the digital zoom.
  • Hybrids still and video is not always a good thing While a lot of people like the convenience factor of being able to combine your digital camera and your camcorder in one package, it’s not the most frugal choice. Unless you’re spending upwards of $1,000, you’re not going to get the same still performance out of a camcorder that you would out of a digital camera priced under $200. The best deal is to buy them separately. You will save money and also get better quality.
  • Play before you buy With a camcorder, it is critical that you’re able to hold it steady to shoot good video. While some of you may be thinking, “hey, I have image stabilization so I can shoot while I’m in an earthquake”… image stabilization’s capabilities are limited on all models. It is really important that you’re able to hold the camcorder still and stable and comfortably. Even when buying online, go into a store and play with the models before you click buy.
  • Buy a warranty, bag and tripod Although you might be a bit wary of salespeople’s techniques to up-sell you to buy more, you should always buy a warranty with your new camcorder. Considering that this is a portable device that you’ll be taking outside and on adventures, the likelihood of it breaking is pretty high. As for a bag, it’s important to protect your camcorder from damage and a dedicated bag is the best solution. You might balk at the idea of lugging around a tripod to events you want to shoot, but it’s the best way to ensure that your video isn’t shaky and that people will want to watch it and not get sick!
  • If it’s too good to be true, it probably is When buying online, remember the old adage “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” If you find a price that is drastically lower than most of the competition, it is very likely that you’ll get a camcorder from a country other than the one you are buying in, a camcorder with it’s accessories missing, or not get your camcorder at all. You also should be careful to make sure you’re buying a NEW product, and not a re manufactured one.
  • All camcorders are not made equal While most of the models on the market will suit your needs, there are huge differences in the different camcorders on the market today. Don’t just buy any old camcorder, research and understand the models before you actually make a decision.
  • Use your camcorder! While this isn’t strictly a buying tip, it’s important nonetheless. Don’t just buy your camcorder, put it in a closet and take it out only for a wedding or graduation. Think of new interesting events and things that you can tape. You may capture some amazing memories.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/camcorder-buying-tips/feed/ 23 Wireless Camera http://chris.pirillo.com/wireless-camera/ http://chris.pirillo.com/wireless-camera/#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:02:39 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/04/wireless-camera/ Wireless Camera is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Many of you have asked what I like to watch on tv. Right now, I’m watching oranges, using a wireless camera. The oranges are on the other side of my house, and the camera is tethered to a nine volt battery. The receiver is plugged into the wall, near my tv. Half of the receiver is plugged into the tv, and the other half into the wall.

All of this is possible, because of what came in the little box you see me holding. It’s only about $100.00. The signal, when close to the receiver, is really pretty good! It’s a little more secure than if you were broadcasting with a 900MHz connection. I’m not sure what I’m going to use this for yet, though.

The issue I have with it so far, is that I can’t seem to change the channel on the camera. Also, the wireless camera literally kills any kind of internet connectivity I may have in my home office. The focus can be adjusted, which is nice. It also has a little stand that it comes with, as well. You probably couldn’t use this as a full-on security camera. Whoa, wait! We could put it inside a teddy bear, and use it as a nanny cam! Or maybe… I could scare Ponzi!

Since I’m a geek, I think this is cool as heck. Some people may disagree, and that’s ok.

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]]> Wireless Camera is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Many of you have asked what I like to watch on tv. Right now, I’m watching oranges, using a wireless camera. The oranges are on the other side of my house, and the camera is tethered to a nine volt battery. The receiver is plugged into the wall, near my tv. Half of the receiver is plugged into the tv, and the other half into the wall.

All of this is possible, because of what came in the little box you see me holding. It’s only about $100.00. The signal, when close to the receiver, is really pretty good! It’s a little more secure than if you were broadcasting with a 900MHz connection. I’m not sure what I’m going to use this for yet, though.

The issue I have with it so far, is that I can’t seem to change the channel on the camera. Also, the wireless camera literally kills any kind of internet connectivity I may have in my home office. The focus can be adjusted, which is nice. It also has a little stand that it comes with, as well. You probably couldn’t use this as a full-on security camera. Whoa, wait! We could put it inside a teddy bear, and use it as a nanny cam! Or maybe… I could scare Ponzi!

Since I’m a geek, I think this is cool as heck. Some people may disagree, and that’s ok.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/wireless-camera/feed/ 31 More Help with Your Digital Camera (SLR) http://chris.pirillo.com/more-help-with-your-digital-camera-slr/ http://chris.pirillo.com/more-help-with-your-digital-camera-slr/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:40:42 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/04/more-help-with-your-digital-camera-slr/ More Help with Your Digital Camera (SLR) is a post from Chris Pirillo

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As you know, I bought a new Canon(SLR) camera for Christmas. One of our readers sent in ten tips to help me (and all of you!) along the way when using and/or buying one.

  • Megapixels are not everything. People tend to think, the more megapixels the better my photos turn out. That is true to a small degree but there are so many other factors that come into consideration like sensor size, Lens, Mirror etc. I could go on for days. For example you can have a 10 megapixel point and shoot and have a very small or very bad sensor thus your pictures will probably turn out well, not too good.
  • Some people say it’s alright to change lenses while the camera is on but over time you can cause damage to your camera because the sensor is electricity charged dust particles and such are attracted to it. It does not take long to flip the off switch and change the lenses.
  • If you live in the cold like I do chances are you’ve left your camera in the cold. First things first, Condensation, if you take the camera/lens inside after being in sub-zero temperatures the camera will condensate reason being is because it comes from something cold and is probably going into a house that’s around 65-75 degrees. Instead of taking it inside that moment if you have a camera bag (I hope you do) then take the camera bag outside DO NOT PUT THE CAMERA IN IT RIGHT AWAY. Let the camera bag cool down to the outside temp. Then put the camera inside the bag. Take the bag inside the house and let them gradually warm up hopefully preventing any damage to your camera and lenses.
  • This does not apply to SLR cameras Do not get non-name brand CF cards. It’s a bad idea to risk 200-300 photos. Sure their cheaper but they break a lot and in the long run you’d have to keep replacing them so stick with the name brands and save yourself the headache.
  • Treat the camera well. You probably paid 400$+ for this camera, treat it well. It’s not disposable you know. Put the camera strap on the camera, it’s saved me a lot when it slips out of my hand.
  • Does not apply to dSLR cameras Don’t leave film in your camera for extended periods of time. It wastes the life of the film.
  • When you’re changing lenses you can’t help but to inside the camera, It’s a good idea to look inside for dust and such on a regular basis but if you ever notice something like a screw out of place, don’t try and put it back in place or tighten it. It’s just not worth it. Keep shooting with the camera and if you notice anything wrong consult your manual or your camera company.
  • If your camera has a problem that you think you can fix. Don’t try it, chances are you’re only going to make it worse and probably break the camera because there are so many small parts.
  • Something I see happen quite a lot, is people with their damn flashes open, Yeah they are useful with you need them. Not when you’re in broad daylight and don’t even need it. So when the flash is not in use make sure it is not up.
  • Before even buying the camera. Go to a place that sells camera’s, whether it be Best Buy, Joes Camera, Ritz Camera, any shop that has camera on display so that you can test the camera out before you buy it, Test to make sure it does what YOU want it to do, Make sure it fits your hands they way YOU want it to. Make sure you like it before you drop over 400 dollars for it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to someone that hates their camera because it does not work for them.

  • Digital Photography Secrets. - Tricks And Techniques For Better Images With Your Digital Camera. Everything The Professionals Know, But Dont Want You To Know About Using Your Digital Camera To Take Stunning Photos!
  • Digital Photography Success. - These Fantastic Ebooks, Will Transforms Your Digital Photos Into Beautiful, Professional Quality Pictures Even If Youve Never Used A Digital Camera Before.
  • Learn Digital Photography Now. - Learn How To Quickly And Easily Start Taking Awesome Photos With Your Digital Camera, Even If You Are A Complete Newbie (*Very High Conversion Rate.
  • Get Paid To Submit Photos To The Internet! - CameraDollars.com - Discover How To Get Paid With Your Digital Camera! Converts Better Than Survey Sites And Data Entry Sites. Check It Out! Also Check Out EasyWritingBiz.com And ToiletTrainMyCat.com - Affiliates Goto www.cameradollars.com/affiliates.
  • Sell Your Digital Photos - Freelance Photography - CameraCareer.com. - Our Freelance Photography Guide Explains Exactly How To Sell Your Photos And Make Money With Your Digital Camera. The Freelance Photography Industry Is Booming. A Genuine Home-based Business. Converting Very Well.
  • Rich Photographer - Make Money With Online Photos! - Rich Photographer Reveals Exactly How To Make Money Taking Photos With Your Digital Camera. Insane Conversion Rate, Incredibly Cheap And Targeted Keywords, Make Great Affiliate Commissions With Rich Photographer Today!
  • Easy Photography Business - Digital Camera - Make Money! - Genuine Home Business Opportunity Lets You Earn $200+ Per Day Taking Simple Digital Photos Of Real Estate, Cars, Trucks, Boats, Etc. In Your Local Area! Computer, Internet Access And Digital Camera Required. Huge, Virtually Unknown Nationwide Industry!
  • Make Money With Your Digital Camera. - Sell Photos, Images, Screensavers And More Ways To Profit.
  • Pro Tips For Profitable Photography. - Learn Digital Photography Tips From A Professional Whether Using A Dslr Or Compact Digital Camera!
  • Digital Photography Beginners Guides. - Photography 101 Beginner Guides. Learn The Secrets That The Pros Know When Buying And Using A Digital Camera! Aimed At Beginner To Intermediate Photographers.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> More Help with Your Digital Camera (SLR) is a post from Chris Pirillo

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As you know, I bought a new Canon(SLR) camera for Christmas. One of our readers sent in ten tips to help me (and all of you!) along the way when using and/or buying one.

  • Megapixels are not everything. People tend to think, the more megapixels the better my photos turn out. That is true to a small degree but there are so many other factors that come into consideration like sensor size, Lens, Mirror etc. I could go on for days. For example you can have a 10 megapixel point and shoot and have a very small or very bad sensor thus your pictures will probably turn out well, not too good.
  • Some people say it’s alright to change lenses while the camera is on but over time you can cause damage to your camera because the sensor is electricity charged dust particles and such are attracted to it. It does not take long to flip the off switch and change the lenses.
  • If you live in the cold like I do chances are you’ve left your camera in the cold. First things first, Condensation, if you take the camera/lens inside after being in sub-zero temperatures the camera will condensate reason being is because it comes from something cold and is probably going into a house that’s around 65-75 degrees. Instead of taking it inside that moment if you have a camera bag (I hope you do) then take the camera bag outside DO NOT PUT THE CAMERA IN IT RIGHT AWAY. Let the camera bag cool down to the outside temp. Then put the camera inside the bag. Take the bag inside the house and let them gradually warm up hopefully preventing any damage to your camera and lenses.
  • This does not apply to SLR cameras Do not get non-name brand CF cards. It’s a bad idea to risk 200-300 photos. Sure their cheaper but they break a lot and in the long run you’d have to keep replacing them so stick with the name brands and save yourself the headache.
  • Treat the camera well. You probably paid 400$+ for this camera, treat it well. It’s not disposable you know. Put the camera strap on the camera, it’s saved me a lot when it slips out of my hand.
  • Does not apply to dSLR cameras Don’t leave film in your camera for extended periods of time. It wastes the life of the film.
  • When you’re changing lenses you can’t help but to inside the camera, It’s a good idea to look inside for dust and such on a regular basis but if you ever notice something like a screw out of place, don’t try and put it back in place or tighten it. It’s just not worth it. Keep shooting with the camera and if you notice anything wrong consult your manual or your camera company.
  • If your camera has a problem that you think you can fix. Don’t try it, chances are you’re only going to make it worse and probably break the camera because there are so many small parts.
  • Something I see happen quite a lot, is people with their damn flashes open, Yeah they are useful with you need them. Not when you’re in broad daylight and don’t even need it. So when the flash is not in use make sure it is not up.
  • Before even buying the camera. Go to a place that sells camera’s, whether it be Best Buy, Joes Camera, Ritz Camera, any shop that has camera on display so that you can test the camera out before you buy it, Test to make sure it does what YOU want it to do, Make sure it fits your hands they way YOU want it to. Make sure you like it before you drop over 400 dollars for it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to someone that hates their camera because it does not work for them.

  • Digital Photography Secrets. - Tricks And Techniques For Better Images With Your Digital Camera. Everything The Professionals Know, But Dont Want You To Know About Using Your Digital Camera To Take Stunning Photos!
  • Digital Photography Success. - These Fantastic Ebooks, Will Transforms Your Digital Photos Into Beautiful, Professional Quality Pictures Even If Youve Never Used A Digital Camera Before.
  • Learn Digital Photography Now. - Learn How To Quickly And Easily Start Taking Awesome Photos With Your Digital Camera, Even If You Are A Complete Newbie (*Very High Conversion Rate.
  • Get Paid To Submit Photos To The Internet! - CameraDollars.com - Discover How To Get Paid With Your Digital Camera! Converts Better Than Survey Sites And Data Entry Sites. Check It Out! Also Check Out EasyWritingBiz.com And ToiletTrainMyCat.com - Affiliates Goto www.cameradollars.com/affiliates.
  • Sell Your Digital Photos - Freelance Photography - CameraCareer.com. - Our Freelance Photography Guide Explains Exactly How To Sell Your Photos And Make Money With Your Digital Camera. The Freelance Photography Industry Is Booming. A Genuine Home-based Business. Converting Very Well.
  • Rich Photographer - Make Money With Online Photos! - Rich Photographer Reveals Exactly How To Make Money Taking Photos With Your Digital Camera. Insane Conversion Rate, Incredibly Cheap And Targeted Keywords, Make Great Affiliate Commissions With Rich Photographer Today!
  • Easy Photography Business - Digital Camera - Make Money! - Genuine Home Business Opportunity Lets You Earn $200+ Per Day Taking Simple Digital Photos Of Real Estate, Cars, Trucks, Boats, Etc. In Your Local Area! Computer, Internet Access And Digital Camera Required. Huge, Virtually Unknown Nationwide Industry!
  • Make Money With Your Digital Camera. - Sell Photos, Images, Screensavers And More Ways To Profit.
  • Pro Tips For Profitable Photography. - Learn Digital Photography Tips From A Professional Whether Using A Dslr Or Compact Digital Camera!
  • Digital Photography Beginners Guides. - Photography 101 Beginner Guides. Learn The Secrets That The Pros Know When Buying And Using A Digital Camera! Aimed At Beginner To Intermediate Photographers.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/more-help-with-your-digital-camera-slr/feed/ 11 Buy a Digital Camera http://chris.pirillo.com/buy-a-digital-camera/ http://chris.pirillo.com/buy-a-digital-camera/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:25:43 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/04/buy-a-digital-camera/ Buy a Digital Camera is a post from Chris Pirillo

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You’re buying a camera, but you have absolutely no idea what is best suited to your needs. Even for a seasoned photographer, it can be tough. Try to keep these tips in mind next time you’re shopping for a new camera.

  • Read the reviews. This is especially important if you don’t know much about photography or cameras. Camera reviewers tend to be really knowledgeable and passionate people. There are many sites that have extremely thorough reviews that bring up very specific things that you probably wouldn’t have bothered to check out, like whether or not the camera has manual focus controls.
  • Make sure you see sample shots/footage Do some web searches for sample shots from the camera you’re looking at. Don’t go the companies website, because their pictures are usually done professionally in optimum lighting situations. Search on Flickr for the camera to see samples or on video sites like Vimeo, Youtube and Blip.tv. These will be from regular camera owners and users playing around with their cameras and it’ll give you a good idea of what you can do with the camera.
  • Go see the camera. So, you see the camera of your dreams, and it looks great, however just because it looks great on paper doesn’t mean you’ll love it in real life. For example, if the camera is too large or small for your hands, it doesn’t really matter how great it’s specs are, your are never going to be comfortable with it.
  • Watch out for scams Cameras are popular bait in online scams. If you see a deal that looks too good to be true, well, it probably is. Do a search for the seller and see what comes up. Last time I was looking at a camera I saw 3 retailers selling it at an unbelievable price, but when I search for their names I found multiple blog and forum posts for each saying how their were a scam, so even had pictures of taken from the addresses listed on their sites where they found boarded up or abandoned buildings. Just because the site lists a phone number, it may not be enough. Also make sure you know where the camera is from. Not where it’s shipped from, the camera’s origin. The camera might end up being from Japan in which case there will be no warranty.
  • Pay attention to the small details When buying a camera there are a lot of tiny things that you might not notice when researching a camera. Here are some of the most important ones:
    • Media types Remember to check out what type of digital media the camera takes, like SD, SDHC, Compact flash. Digital SLR do better with Compact Flash and SD and SDHD are more common in smaller point-and- shoots.
    • File Format Look to make sure that the file formats are something you can actually work with for example see if the camcorder requires AVCHD support, because many video editing programs have trouble with it and it is slightly lower quality than tape.
    • Viewfinder It’s a very handy thing to have on your camera, if you don’t care, you can ignore this, but if you do, make sure you check that out because while most cameras will have one, many will just be a little nubby thing that won’t do much for you.
    • Battery type Look for rechargeable Lithium Ion battery cameras as the camera will go longer than one with standard batteries.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Buy a Digital Camera is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

You’re buying a camera, but you have absolutely no idea what is best suited to your needs. Even for a seasoned photographer, it can be tough. Try to keep these tips in mind next time you’re shopping for a new camera.

  • Read the reviews. This is especially important if you don’t know much about photography or cameras. Camera reviewers tend to be really knowledgeable and passionate people. There are many sites that have extremely thorough reviews that bring up very specific things that you probably wouldn’t have bothered to check out, like whether or not the camera has manual focus controls.
  • Make sure you see sample shots/footage Do some web searches for sample shots from the camera you’re looking at. Don’t go the companies website, because their pictures are usually done professionally in optimum lighting situations. Search on Flickr for the camera to see samples or on video sites like Vimeo, Youtube and Blip.tv. These will be from regular camera owners and users playing around with their cameras and it’ll give you a good idea of what you can do with the camera.
  • Go see the camera. So, you see the camera of your dreams, and it looks great, however just because it looks great on paper doesn’t mean you’ll love it in real life. For example, if the camera is too large or small for your hands, it doesn’t really matter how great it’s specs are, your are never going to be comfortable with it.
  • Watch out for scams Cameras are popular bait in online scams. If you see a deal that looks too good to be true, well, it probably is. Do a search for the seller and see what comes up. Last time I was looking at a camera I saw 3 retailers selling it at an unbelievable price, but when I search for their names I found multiple blog and forum posts for each saying how their were a scam, so even had pictures of taken from the addresses listed on their sites where they found boarded up or abandoned buildings. Just because the site lists a phone number, it may not be enough. Also make sure you know where the camera is from. Not where it’s shipped from, the camera’s origin. The camera might end up being from Japan in which case there will be no warranty.
  • Pay attention to the small details When buying a camera there are a lot of tiny things that you might not notice when researching a camera. Here are some of the most important ones:
    • Media types Remember to check out what type of digital media the camera takes, like SD, SDHC, Compact flash. Digital SLR do better with Compact Flash and SD and SDHD are more common in smaller point-and- shoots.
    • File Format Look to make sure that the file formats are something you can actually work with for example see if the camcorder requires AVCHD support, because many video editing programs have trouble with it and it is slightly lower quality than tape.
    • Viewfinder It’s a very handy thing to have on your camera, if you don’t care, you can ignore this, but if you do, make sure you check that out because while most cameras will have one, many will just be a little nubby thing that won’t do much for you.
    • Battery type Look for rechargeable Lithium Ion battery cameras as the camera will go longer than one with standard batteries.

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]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/buy-a-digital-camera/feed/ 24 SLR Accessories to Buy http://chris.pirillo.com/slr-accessories-to-buy/ http://chris.pirillo.com/slr-accessories-to-buy/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:55:46 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/02/slr-accessories-to-buy/ SLR Accessories to Buy is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Calvin writes: “Just watched you video on your new Rebel XTi. Congrats! I remember when I made the jump and it was great. As a hobby photograph,I used point and shoot cameras for a while. I thought I’d suggest 5 things that I found helpful as a DSLR owner.”

  • Additional lenses I’m not being specific here, because every “eye” is different. I like landscape shots, so my wide angle lens hogs my Canon body a lot. It always helps to carry more than one lens at a time, you never know when you need that Telephoto moment or that wide angle when you just can’t step back any further. Assuming you’re gonna stick with Canon lenses, be mindful of the difference between EF and EF-S lenses. EF-S is for the cropped sensor models e.g. Rebel XTi, whereas EF are usually for the full frame sensor models e.g. 5D. You can fit EF lenses on an EF-S body, but you can’t fit EF-S lenses on a full frame body. So if further down the line you trade that Rebel XTi in for a full frame model those EF-S lenses won’t work! Also, Canon don’t ship lens hoods with their lenses that aren’t part of the L range (argh!) so you’re gonna have to buy a separate lens hood for that lens if it’s not an L “Luxury” model. IS (Image Stabilization) is another feature to look out on lenses for if you find out you have more shaky hands then you realize. Since the body doesn’t have this technology and any IS you get will be from the lenses, the benefit of this that you can see the IS effects through the viewfinder.
  • Battery Grip Picture the scene, your baby is in Ponzi’s arms and is about to yawn for the first time. You reach out for your camera in attempt to snap this amazing moment…. only to find out the battery is dead. Not that this has happened to me, but you can imagine you’d be pretty livid if this were to happen, regardless of how organized you are with batteries. Which is why I recommend a battery grip for your Rebel XTi. Not only can you store 2 batteries worth of power within the grip, but it also allows you to hold your camera vertically much easier and has additional controls when holding it in that position. The official Canon model is the BG-E3, but if you find that too pricey, there are some other ones out there which are basically the same but don’t sport the Canon name.
  • Flashgun + diffuser Whilst the flash is acceptable on the camera itself, it can never fully compare to a proper flashgun. With one, you can adjust its angle so you can bounce the flash off walls or ceiling for a less direct flash. Or even better, use an off-shoe camera cord and manually control the direction of the flash with your hand off-camera. Take a look at the offerings from Canon’s Speedlite range, they’re sure to get you going a bit. I also recommend getting a flash diffuser. Basically its a small device which softens the flash from the flash gun, which is especially useful if you need that direct flash but don’t want the harsh shadows that go with it.
  • Tripods/Monopods Tripods are fantastic if you want to take shots which just aren’t possible handheld. I have a bit of a soft spot for long exposure shots, but that’s just me! I recommend something from the Giottos and Velbon range. Again, I won’t name specifics because everyone has their own tastes so I suggest you get down to the store and have a feel, tug at its joints and play around with it. A monopod isn’t a must, but if you feel the need to reduce the camera shake in those moments but don’t have the time to setup the full Tripod, it may come in handy.
  • Camera bag You’ve got the equipment, now you need a container. I have several camera bags, namely a backpack if I want to carry a tripod, laptop and a few lenses for a long trip or a small messenger bag for just the camera and another lens. Unfortunately, I find most camera bags look too much like camera bags and are begging to be swiped. I recommend Crumpler. It’s not cheap, but they do make attractive bags. And whilst now thieves have caught on that Crumpler bags are what more and more photographers are using, for the most part they disguise themselves pretty well as being passed off as just “a bag”. They make a large range of backpacks and messenger bags for photographers so do check them out. If you don’t mind that obvious camera bag look, check out bags made by Lowepro. Their sling bags are a favorite for photographers, and their range is very respectable.

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]]> SLR Accessories to Buy is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Calvin writes: “Just watched you video on your new Rebel XTi. Congrats! I remember when I made the jump and it was great. As a hobby photograph,I used point and shoot cameras for a while. I thought I’d suggest 5 things that I found helpful as a DSLR owner.”

  • Additional lenses I’m not being specific here, because every “eye” is different. I like landscape shots, so my wide angle lens hogs my Canon body a lot. It always helps to carry more than one lens at a time, you never know when you need that Telephoto moment or that wide angle when you just can’t step back any further. Assuming you’re gonna stick with Canon lenses, be mindful of the difference between EF and EF-S lenses. EF-S is for the cropped sensor models e.g. Rebel XTi, whereas EF are usually for the full frame sensor models e.g. 5D. You can fit EF lenses on an EF-S body, but you can’t fit EF-S lenses on a full frame body. So if further down the line you trade that Rebel XTi in for a full frame model those EF-S lenses won’t work! Also, Canon don’t ship lens hoods with their lenses that aren’t part of the L range (argh!) so you’re gonna have to buy a separate lens hood for that lens if it’s not an L “Luxury” model. IS (Image Stabilization) is another feature to look out on lenses for if you find out you have more shaky hands then you realize. Since the body doesn’t have this technology and any IS you get will be from the lenses, the benefit of this that you can see the IS effects through the viewfinder.
  • Battery Grip Picture the scene, your baby is in Ponzi’s arms and is about to yawn for the first time. You reach out for your camera in attempt to snap this amazing moment…. only to find out the battery is dead. Not that this has happened to me, but you can imagine you’d be pretty livid if this were to happen, regardless of how organized you are with batteries. Which is why I recommend a battery grip for your Rebel XTi. Not only can you store 2 batteries worth of power within the grip, but it also allows you to hold your camera vertically much easier and has additional controls when holding it in that position. The official Canon model is the BG-E3, but if you find that too pricey, there are some other ones out there which are basically the same but don’t sport the Canon name.
  • Flashgun + diffuser Whilst the flash is acceptable on the camera itself, it can never fully compare to a proper flashgun. With one, you can adjust its angle so you can bounce the flash off walls or ceiling for a less direct flash. Or even better, use an off-shoe camera cord and manually control the direction of the flash with your hand off-camera. Take a look at the offerings from Canon’s Speedlite range, they’re sure to get you going a bit. I also recommend getting a flash diffuser. Basically its a small device which softens the flash from the flash gun, which is especially useful if you need that direct flash but don’t want the harsh shadows that go with it.
  • Tripods/Monopods Tripods are fantastic if you want to take shots which just aren’t possible handheld. I have a bit of a soft spot for long exposure shots, but that’s just me! I recommend something from the Giottos and Velbon range. Again, I won’t name specifics because everyone has their own tastes so I suggest you get down to the store and have a feel, tug at its joints and play around with it. A monopod isn’t a must, but if you feel the need to reduce the camera shake in those moments but don’t have the time to setup the full Tripod, it may come in handy.
  • Camera bag You’ve got the equipment, now you need a container. I have several camera bags, namely a backpack if I want to carry a tripod, laptop and a few lenses for a long trip or a small messenger bag for just the camera and another lens. Unfortunately, I find most camera bags look too much like camera bags and are begging to be swiped. I recommend Crumpler. It’s not cheap, but they do make attractive bags. And whilst now thieves have caught on that Crumpler bags are what more and more photographers are using, for the most part they disguise themselves pretty well as being passed off as just “a bag”. They make a large range of backpacks and messenger bags for photographers so do check them out. If you don’t mind that obvious camera bag look, check out bags made by Lowepro. Their sling bags are a favorite for photographers, and their range is very respectable.

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]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/slr-accessories-to-buy/feed/ 27 Digital Camera Tips http://chris.pirillo.com/digital-camera-tips/ http://chris.pirillo.com/digital-camera-tips/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:25:42 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/02/digital-camera-tips/ Digital Camera Tips is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Most people never open their camera’s manual because they are huge, and starting guides only tell you how to turn the cam on and off. You don’t have to read the whole manual. Here are some things that are well worth finding in the manual.

  • Focus then Shoot- How many functions does the picture Taker Button has? #1 Taking a Photo, #2 Focus Activate, and #3 Enter/Select Button (Share that with your friends!). So before jamming on the button, press the button half way the camera will take a second and show you if it is in focus, most cameras will even show you where it is focusing on; and then press the button further down to take a picture.
  • Learn to set your white balance - White Balancing helps your camera capture true life colors OR Capture Creative colors. It must be set Manually in every Location that has more than one light source (Like Shooting in the house with lights on in the room and the sun light from a window). Manual W/B is a must when shooting without a flash! You-Tube the Camera White Balance to get a better understanding on how your camera sees the world. After taking pictures with Manual W/B Don’t forget to set you W/B to Auto. Some people forget that they are in manual, so a day later, take a few pictures and then they realize that something does not look right. Also if you will ever have to pull the Cam out to take a quick shot it will be already in auto and you won’t have to waist time switching and missing the shot.
  • Learn to set your Light Meter position – Ever taken a picture and it was to bright or to dark? By default the camera is set to Multi Meter mode So…If taking a picture of a person wearing lots of white or standing by something bright the picture will turn out dark, or if a person wearing lots of black or standing in a dark area the face may be too bright. Most cameras can switch to a center point meter. When Switched to Center point, point the center mark at the person’s face press the button half way, the camera will set the brightness and focus, then move the camera into a position you want a person to be in the picture. Don’t make a mistake of Pointing the center point on to a person’s face ant taking a picture, those photos look bad, but remember when you press the button half way the camera locks all the settings so you can move the frame around.
  • Lock your ISO – ISO is the camera sensitivity. This is a process that takes place after the picture is taken (digitally brightening of the pixels), so the higher the number (sensitivity) the worse quality you get. Although you can get a brighter picture with higher sensitivity (ISO) The picture will come out grainy, so by locking the ISO lower the camera will have to use all other options to get the picture brighter. Experiment with it and learn more about ISO, it will really help you out.
  • Use Force Flash Outside – Some cameras fire the flash no matter what, and others only when it gets darker. I don’t think there is a camera that does not have a force flash setting. Usually represented by a lightening symbol without an A by it. Force flash really helps to get rid of dark faces or shadows in a beautiful day light – it’s called Fill-Flash. Play around with it, sometimes you need it some times you don’t, but knowing that can improve your photos.
  • Learn to set Flash strength – Rule of thumb: At night shoot with lower setting and in the day time crank it up. Sound weird right, but if the flash is set too high in low light, not only your will blind you subject but the camera will have to compensate for the strong flash and the picture will come out darker. During the day it is already bright so small flash will not help to get rid of shadows on the face.
  • Use Less Flash – Ever tried to take a picture but it never comes out looking like it supposed to? It is amazing what you can get without a flash ironically in lower light. Sometimes the flash is too bright for the situation or will only light up the closest object, or will make the picture loose the feel desired. Like shooting a Christmas Tree, Picture taken with a flash will loose the beauty of the Lights on the tree or candle lit dinner will look like a plain dinner with a candle in the middle. So experiment without a flash but remember to hold your camera extra steady.
  • Set Up Closer – When shooting in low light get closer to your subject rather than zoom in. Because of a small size lens, more zoom = less light entering into the lens, so walking up closer to the subject will help with getting a better quality photo.
  • Get A Tripod – Shooting in low light requires a steady hand, even slight vibration of a hand can make a blurry photo. Instead of razing ISO use a tripod. Most Pros use it always. Tripod can also help when taking a picture of a baby: simply mount the camera on the tripod position the frame and concentrate on entertaining the baby, when the baby smiles hit the button and you got the shot. Tripod is very handy in many situations so have one around.
  • Balance the Quality – Shoot at Highest Quality Setting But Not the Highest Pixel Rate. Setting a camera to use less megapixels while setting to superfine quality can improve low light shots. Most cameras when set to lower pixel rates combine pixels to create a larger one instead of downsizing the photo which helps in low light. Also when using digital zoom some cams take advantage of unused pixels to help-out in sharpness and quality. Check to see in the menus for different digital zoom settings to see if your camera can do that. You may get less zoom than a default mode but the quality will be much better.
  • Use Digital Zoom sparingly – Despite of all the advertisements, digital zoom should only be used in emergencies. More digital zoom = Less quality photo. Also if the camera does not have a smart digital zoom function talked above than consider shooting in highest quality and Highest Pixel Count and then cropping the photo on the computer. Some pros will argue that it is the best way to digitally zoom in a photo and get the best quality out of it. And Trust me 3 optical zoom is not “zoom” and will not help you get closer of your son’s soccer game as advertised, anything less than 5 optical zoom is basically a cropping tool that will help you cut things out of the shot when you can’t move. So if you need zoom Consider a camera with more optical zoom function. Those cameras may be a bit slower and bigger.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Digital Camera Tips is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Most people never open their camera’s manual because they are huge, and starting guides only tell you how to turn the cam on and off. You don’t have to read the whole manual. Here are some things that are well worth finding in the manual.

  • Focus then Shoot- How many functions does the picture Taker Button has? #1 Taking a Photo, #2 Focus Activate, and #3 Enter/Select Button (Share that with your friends!). So before jamming on the button, press the button half way the camera will take a second and show you if it is in focus, most cameras will even show you where it is focusing on; and then press the button further down to take a picture.
  • Learn to set your white balance - White Balancing helps your camera capture true life colors OR Capture Creative colors. It must be set Manually in every Location that has more than one light source (Like Shooting in the house with lights on in the room and the sun light from a window). Manual W/B is a must when shooting without a flash! You-Tube the Camera White Balance to get a better understanding on how your camera sees the world. After taking pictures with Manual W/B Don’t forget to set you W/B to Auto. Some people forget that they are in manual, so a day later, take a few pictures and then they realize that something does not look right. Also if you will ever have to pull the Cam out to take a quick shot it will be already in auto and you won’t have to waist time switching and missing the shot.
  • Learn to set your Light Meter position – Ever taken a picture and it was to bright or to dark? By default the camera is set to Multi Meter mode So…If taking a picture of a person wearing lots of white or standing by something bright the picture will turn out dark, or if a person wearing lots of black or standing in a dark area the face may be too bright. Most cameras can switch to a center point meter. When Switched to Center point, point the center mark at the person’s face press the button half way, the camera will set the brightness and focus, then move the camera into a position you want a person to be in the picture. Don’t make a mistake of Pointing the center point on to a person’s face ant taking a picture, those photos look bad, but remember when you press the button half way the camera locks all the settings so you can move the frame around.
  • Lock your ISO – ISO is the camera sensitivity. This is a process that takes place after the picture is taken (digitally brightening of the pixels), so the higher the number (sensitivity) the worse quality you get. Although you can get a brighter picture with higher sensitivity (ISO) The picture will come out grainy, so by locking the ISO lower the camera will have to use all other options to get the picture brighter. Experiment with it and learn more about ISO, it will really help you out.
  • Use Force Flash Outside – Some cameras fire the flash no matter what, and others only when it gets darker. I don’t think there is a camera that does not have a force flash setting. Usually represented by a lightening symbol without an A by it. Force flash really helps to get rid of dark faces or shadows in a beautiful day light – it’s called Fill-Flash. Play around with it, sometimes you need it some times you don’t, but knowing that can improve your photos.
  • Learn to set Flash strength – Rule of thumb: At night shoot with lower setting and in the day time crank it up. Sound weird right, but if the flash is set too high in low light, not only your will blind you subject but the camera will have to compensate for the strong flash and the picture will come out darker. During the day it is already bright so small flash will not help to get rid of shadows on the face.
  • Use Less Flash – Ever tried to take a picture but it never comes out looking like it supposed to? It is amazing what you can get without a flash ironically in lower light. Sometimes the flash is too bright for the situation or will only light up the closest object, or will make the picture loose the feel desired. Like shooting a Christmas Tree, Picture taken with a flash will loose the beauty of the Lights on the tree or candle lit dinner will look like a plain dinner with a candle in the middle. So experiment without a flash but remember to hold your camera extra steady.
  • Set Up Closer – When shooting in low light get closer to your subject rather than zoom in. Because of a small size lens, more zoom = less light entering into the lens, so walking up closer to the subject will help with getting a better quality photo.
  • Get A Tripod – Shooting in low light requires a steady hand, even slight vibration of a hand can make a blurry photo. Instead of razing ISO use a tripod. Most Pros use it always. Tripod can also help when taking a picture of a baby: simply mount the camera on the tripod position the frame and concentrate on entertaining the baby, when the baby smiles hit the button and you got the shot. Tripod is very handy in many situations so have one around.
  • Balance the Quality – Shoot at Highest Quality Setting But Not the Highest Pixel Rate. Setting a camera to use less megapixels while setting to superfine quality can improve low light shots. Most cameras when set to lower pixel rates combine pixels to create a larger one instead of downsizing the photo which helps in low light. Also when using digital zoom some cams take advantage of unused pixels to help-out in sharpness and quality. Check to see in the menus for different digital zoom settings to see if your camera can do that. You may get less zoom than a default mode but the quality will be much better.
  • Use Digital Zoom sparingly – Despite of all the advertisements, digital zoom should only be used in emergencies. More digital zoom = Less quality photo. Also if the camera does not have a smart digital zoom function talked above than consider shooting in highest quality and Highest Pixel Count and then cropping the photo on the computer. Some pros will argue that it is the best way to digitally zoom in a photo and get the best quality out of it. And Trust me 3 optical zoom is not “zoom” and will not help you get closer of your son’s soccer game as advertised, anything less than 5 optical zoom is basically a cropping tool that will help you cut things out of the shot when you can’t move. So if you need zoom Consider a camera with more optical zoom function. Those cameras may be a bit slower and bigger.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/digital-camera-tips/feed/ 24 Buying a Digital SLR Camera http://chris.pirillo.com/buying-a-digital-slr-camera/ http://chris.pirillo.com/buying-a-digital-slr-camera/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:10:41 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/02/buying-a-digital-slr-camera/ Buying a Digital SLR Camera is a post from Chris Pirillo

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A community member at large sent these tips in after watching my video about the new Canon camera we bought for Christmas. These are excellent tips to keep in mind when buying your next camera.

  • When considering a new SLR camera, ask your self do you really need the SLR Camera? Most people want a better camera for better quality pictures, but as Chris said it is only a tool set that can guide you to a better quality picture. Are you up to spending lots of time for learning the skills of photography. If not you are almost not getting the item worth your money. Most Point&Shoot Cams can do a better job in auto than SLRs, Great Brains and Engineers worked hard to make these cameras to be as simple as possible for the user while bringing out the best quality: like best combinations of ISO and Shutter and IRIS positions to get a great picture. SLR camera can be considered as dumber than Point&Shoots, but if used right can out shoot any point and shoot simply because of the expensive lens and larger image sensor.
  • Don’t go for the highest pixel count. Normally 5 megapixel is enough for everyday shooting, but when camera has more pixel count the smaller each Pixel on the sensor, so it needs more light. For an average user the higher pixel count will only result in larger file size.
  • Invest in image stabilizing function – Digital or Optical ? both have +/-. Digital is a bit stronger because it is a before and after shot process, while optical only stabilizes before capture. Digital looses some quality while Optical does not. So try it out and choose one that fits you.
  • Consider semi-SLR – there are many cameras that work like SLR cameras but have all the features of a simple Point&Shoot. Although larger in size and heavier they offer many more features than a pocket size cameras and can be used in full auto as well as full manual mode.
  • Many stores talk down users from getting cameras that have AA Batteries. Use your brain on this one. Lithium batteries are faster and may hold more charge but you can get stuck without power easily. Buying a good set of rechargeable batteries will give you almost the performance of the Lithium’s but whenever you are on the road and don’t have a way to recharge you are stuck, AAs are available in the stores everywhere, while Lithium’s are not. So judge this one your self which one is better for you.
  • Bonus Tip! If you Chose SLR than Don’t fight about Canon or Nikon or Sony…. Go to the store Pickup a camera feel it, Press buttons, play with it. Which one feels better to you? They all have and do basically the same things. Instead Figure out your budget and spend half on the camera and half or more on the lens. Get a good lens with at least 2.8 aperture capability you will not regret it. Just remember you will change your camera 3 or more times before you will change your lens.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Buying a Digital SLR Camera is a post from Chris Pirillo

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A community member at large sent these tips in after watching my video about the new Canon camera we bought for Christmas. These are excellent tips to keep in mind when buying your next camera.

  • When considering a new SLR camera, ask your self do you really need the SLR Camera? Most people want a better camera for better quality pictures, but as Chris said it is only a tool set that can guide you to a better quality picture. Are you up to spending lots of time for learning the skills of photography. If not you are almost not getting the item worth your money. Most Point&Shoot Cams can do a better job in auto than SLRs, Great Brains and Engineers worked hard to make these cameras to be as simple as possible for the user while bringing out the best quality: like best combinations of ISO and Shutter and IRIS positions to get a great picture. SLR camera can be considered as dumber than Point&Shoots, but if used right can out shoot any point and shoot simply because of the expensive lens and larger image sensor.
  • Don’t go for the highest pixel count. Normally 5 megapixel is enough for everyday shooting, but when camera has more pixel count the smaller each Pixel on the sensor, so it needs more light. For an average user the higher pixel count will only result in larger file size.
  • Invest in image stabilizing function – Digital or Optical ? both have +/-. Digital is a bit stronger because it is a before and after shot process, while optical only stabilizes before capture. Digital looses some quality while Optical does not. So try it out and choose one that fits you.
  • Consider semi-SLR – there are many cameras that work like SLR cameras but have all the features of a simple Point&Shoot. Although larger in size and heavier they offer many more features than a pocket size cameras and can be used in full auto as well as full manual mode.
  • Many stores talk down users from getting cameras that have AA Batteries. Use your brain on this one. Lithium batteries are faster and may hold more charge but you can get stuck without power easily. Buying a good set of rechargeable batteries will give you almost the performance of the Lithium’s but whenever you are on the road and don’t have a way to recharge you are stuck, AAs are available in the stores everywhere, while Lithium’s are not. So judge this one your self which one is better for you.
  • Bonus Tip! If you Chose SLR than Don’t fight about Canon or Nikon or Sony…. Go to the store Pickup a camera feel it, Press buttons, play with it. Which one feels better to you? They all have and do basically the same things. Instead Figure out your budget and spend half on the camera and half or more on the lens. Get a good lens with at least 2.8 aperture capability you will not regret it. Just remember you will change your camera 3 or more times before you will change your lens.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/buying-a-digital-slr-camera/feed/ 16 Canon Digital Camera (SLR): Rebel XTi http://chris.pirillo.com/canon-digital-camera-slr-rebel-xti/ http://chris.pirillo.com/canon-digital-camera-slr-rebel-xti/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:57:20 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2007/12/31/canon-digital-camera-slr-rebel-xti/ Canon Digital Camera (SLR): Rebel XTi is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Back in the seventh grade, I won a prize of being able to take a few classes at the local Arts center. Back then, we didn’t have Digital Cameras. We learned with an actual film (SLR) camera. I fell in love with taking pictures that day, and that is one love that has never waned.

I upgraded our family to the new Canon Rebel XTi. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers an unbeatable combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It has a newly designed 10.1 MP Canon CMOS sensor plus a host of new features including a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, the exclusive EOS Integrated Cleaning System featuring a Self Cleaning Sensor and Canon’s Picture Style technology, all in a lightweight, ergonomic body. The Digital Rebel XTi is proof positive that Canon continues to lead the way with their phenomenal digital SLRs.

Canon’s large-area CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range, and offers the most pixels in its class. This APS-C size sensor (22.2 x 14.8mm) has the same 3:2 ratio as film cameras, enabling an effective angle of view that is 1.6x the normal EF Lens focal length. With an effective pixel resolution of 3,904 x 2,598, the EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers superb detail and clarity, even in large prints, and generates finished files that open at approximately 30MB in your image-editing software. On Canon’s CMOS sensor, each pixel is captured with fine detail to create images of tremendous depth and resolution, ensuring enough information for even poster-sized prints.

The EOS Digital Rebel XTi is the product of Canon’s extensive in-house development: The DIGIC II Image Processor was designed specifically for Canon digital SLR cameras and enhances every aspect of image capture. Information captured by the CMOS sensor is processed and assembled into images of exceptional quality. With the DIGIC II Image Processor on board, photographers can expect natural color reproduction, precise white balance in any number of lighting situations and unparalleled clarity. The DIGIC II Image Processor employs sophisticated signal processing algorithms and works at greater speeds, all while consuming less energy.

Color or black and white… it doesn’t matter. I just love photography. This thing takes amazing photos with unqualified outcome. Ponzi and I are going to take some photography classes together. However, I’ve learned a lot over the years. If you’re taking pictures of people, keep in mind the “rule of thirds”. People tend to take pictures of people and things from a “centered” position. However, you can set better harmony in the picture by having your subject just a tiny bit off-center. It is just a dramatic change. It’s not “palpable”, it’s just there and very noticeable.

All in all, I’m ridiculously happy with this camera. Once again… Canon FTW.

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]]> Canon Digital Camera (SLR): Rebel XTi is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Back in the seventh grade, I won a prize of being able to take a few classes at the local Arts center. Back then, we didn’t have Digital Cameras. We learned with an actual film (SLR) camera. I fell in love with taking pictures that day, and that is one love that has never waned.

I upgraded our family to the new Canon Rebel XTi. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers an unbeatable combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It has a newly designed 10.1 MP Canon CMOS sensor plus a host of new features including a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, the exclusive EOS Integrated Cleaning System featuring a Self Cleaning Sensor and Canon’s Picture Style technology, all in a lightweight, ergonomic body. The Digital Rebel XTi is proof positive that Canon continues to lead the way with their phenomenal digital SLRs.

Canon’s large-area CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range, and offers the most pixels in its class. This APS-C size sensor (22.2 x 14.8mm) has the same 3:2 ratio as film cameras, enabling an effective angle of view that is 1.6x the normal EF Lens focal length. With an effective pixel resolution of 3,904 x 2,598, the EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers superb detail and clarity, even in large prints, and generates finished files that open at approximately 30MB in your image-editing software. On Canon’s CMOS sensor, each pixel is captured with fine detail to create images of tremendous depth and resolution, ensuring enough information for even poster-sized prints.

The EOS Digital Rebel XTi is the product of Canon’s extensive in-house development: The DIGIC II Image Processor was designed specifically for Canon digital SLR cameras and enhances every aspect of image capture. Information captured by the CMOS sensor is processed and assembled into images of exceptional quality. With the DIGIC II Image Processor on board, photographers can expect natural color reproduction, precise white balance in any number of lighting situations and unparalleled clarity. The DIGIC II Image Processor employs sophisticated signal processing algorithms and works at greater speeds, all while consuming less energy.

Color or black and white… it doesn’t matter. I just love photography. This thing takes amazing photos with unqualified outcome. Ponzi and I are going to take some photography classes together. However, I’ve learned a lot over the years. If you’re taking pictures of people, keep in mind the “rule of thirds”. People tend to take pictures of people and things from a “centered” position. However, you can set better harmony in the picture by having your subject just a tiny bit off-center. It is just a dramatic change. It’s not “palpable”, it’s just there and very noticeable.

All in all, I’m ridiculously happy with this camera. Once again… Canon FTW.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

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