If we take a closer look at the super telephoto zoom options for the micro-four-thirds format we will find two lenses within the 35mm camera equivalent focal length of up to “600mm” there is one Olympus lens covering 75-300mm as well as our test candidate, the Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 100-300mm f/4-5.6 MEGA O.I.S.

The lens is available for around 500EUR which sounds expensive compared to conventional 300mm zoom lenses but the higher pixel density of four-thirds sensors requires a correspondingly higher quality on paper at least.

Panasonic does not claim any sort of weather resistance for this lens, and indeed you cannot see a rubber seal around the mount.

Specifications

Long zooms range of 100-300mm (35mm camera equivalent: 200-600mm)
MEGA O.I.S. – Panasonic’s advanced hand-shake correction technology
High-speed, silent Contrast AF for both photos and movies with inner focus drive system
Based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard
Circular aperture diaphragm
Multi-coated lens elements minimize ghosts and flare

In photography, panning refers to the rotation in a horizontal plane of a still or video camera. Panning a camera results in a motion similar to that of someone shaking their head “no” or of an aircraft performing a yaw rotation. Panning is a technique in photography that is used to capture a object in action. The subject of the photo is clearly caught on camera; however, the rest remains a blur in the background. Panning in photography is the act of capturing subjects on the move, like in action or sports photography, or just plain Old Street or other sorts of photography where your target is moving at the moment of exposure. There are a few secrets you should know if you intend to become a fan of this technique and here are some of them.

Manual or Shutter Priority Mode- When you’re panning you obviously need to control the shutter speed so that you set an exposure time that is appropriate to the speed your subject is going at, so you need to be shooting either in manual mode or in shutter priority mode.

Auto Focus-Activate your camera’s Auto focus function, half press the shutter button to lock on, aim and pan moving subject. Let panning continue after fully press the shutter, so smooth motion blur can be achieved from start to finish of your shot. If the auto focus of your camera is not fast enough, you may pre-focus it at the spot your subject will end up in frame.

Same level with Subject-Position your camera at the same level of the subject you are going to shoot. This can help in focusing as to obtain a clear subject in your image.

Slower Shutter Speed-Set your shutter speed slower than normal, but not too slow or it will be difficult to obtain a clear subject. For example, to pan a moving car, you may try speed of 1/60 second and play around till you get the best image. Start with 1/30 second for moving subject like people walking or cycling. The faster the shutter speed, the more clear the background will turn out, and the less motion blur there will be.

Leave Sufficient Space to Subject-Another important factor you should consider is leaving enough space between you and your subject. Insufficient space will constrain your pan.

Shoot in the Shade. If possible try to find a spot where there is very little or no direct sunlight. An area that has too much light will make it difficult to slow your shutter speed down enough for a panning shot. If you are unable to find an area with low enough light, you can always try using an ND filter to cut out some of the light coming into your lens.

Shoot when the subject is directly in front of you. If you shoot while the subject is angled toward or away from you, the perspective will change slightly during the exposure which will produce a less sharp subject.

Use Follow through to get the shot. Just like with kicking a ball or swinging a golf club you need to make sure that you follow the subject the entire way through the shot, and only stop once you are sure that your shutter is closed. This will help you get smooth lines in your background.

via

HP E337 is a photo smart digital camera. You can capture high quality 5 MP photos from this stylish camera. See your world a little closer capture just what you want with an HP precision lens, with 5x digital zoom. Do not miss a moment record moving images in video mode. The storage capacity of this camera, 16 MB internal memory, or add an SD memory card for extra storage.

Get all your 4 x 6 inch prints while you recharge your camera when you connect to an optional printer dock. Get 4 x 6 inch prints and much more without leaving home using Snapfish, an online service of HP. Edit, print, share, remove red eye and more with included HP Photosmart software.

Specifications

Body Type

Max resolution     2576 x 1920
Other resolutions     Unknown
Effective pixels     5.1 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors     5.2 megapixels
Sensor size     1/2.5″ (5.744 x 4.308 mm)
Sensor type     CCD

Image

ISO     Auto, 60, 100, 200, 400
White balance presets     5
Custom white balance     Yes
Image stabilization     No
Uncompressed format     No
JPEG quality levels     Unknown

Optics & Focus

Focal length 36 mm
Digital zoom     Yes (5 x)
Manual focus     Yes
Normal focus range     100 cm (39.37″)
Screen / viewfinder
Screen size     1.5″
Screen dots     61,600
Touch screen     No
Live view     Yes
Viewfinder type     Optical (tunnel)

Photography Features

Minimum shutter speed     2 sec
Maximum shutter speed     1/2000 sec
Aperture priority     No
Shutter priority     No
Built-in flash     Yes
External flash     No
Flash modes     Auto, On, Off, Auto red-eye, Slow Sync
Continuous drive     No
Self-timer     Yes (10 sec)
Exposure compensation     ±3 EV (at 1/3 EV steps)

Videography Features

Resolutions     320 x 240, 24 fps
Storage
Storage types     SD/MMC card    ?
Storage included     16 MB Internal    ?
Connectivity
USB     USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbit/sec)
HDMI     No
Remote control     No

Documentary photography usually refers to a popular form of photography used to chronicle significant and historical events. It is typically covered in professional photojournalism, or real life reportage, but it may also be an amateur, artistic, or academic pursuit. Career in documentary photography is for those who are keen towards creating a niche in the photographing industry and maybe not be among the over paid jobs in the fraternity. A comprehensive study in a photography school will focus the person’s creativity towards the documentation he or she aspires to pursue. Documentary is an evidence of an event or an incident that happened in a place or for a person which is captured aesthetically by a photographer. Being in the right place, at the right time is the key to success to become a successful documentary photographer. Here are some tips that I believe will make the process easier and help you create more compelling and powerful stories.

Making Contact-With documentary photography you will be visiting or staying at a location that you don’t know. This usually means you will need to contact the people that you are going to be visiting in advance to gain permission and discuss the dates and times that you want to undertake the work. It’s best to have at least two means of contact with them, such as an email address and a phone number in case you need to contact them closer to the time.

Research your Subject -The first thing you need to do, before even thinking about picking up a camera, is to get to grips with the subject matter that you’re going to be shoot. This will not only help you to anticipate what to expect while shooting, but will also prepare you in understanding how to represent the subject matter involved. Ensure that you have all the equipment required for the shoot, think particularly about whether you need to travel lightly in order to be mobile.

Social Skills-Make sure you are very sociable while going about your shoot. Speak to everyone and make them aware of your presence and what you are doing. People are often interested when a photographer is working, and a friendly, open approach will certainly help them relax in your presence. Your results will grow from the connection that you have made with your subjects.

Ask Permission. Talk with your subject/s and make sure they are okay and understand what you are doing. By being open with the people you plan to photograph or work with you will create a more comfortable environment. This will make your work easier and help you produce more authentic images.

Photojournalism -now this isn’t just press photography, though that is one aspect of it. It is also documentary photography as well; the latter doesn’t always need an event to occur right in front of you. Either way the purpose is to tell a story. Really good photojournalism shouldn’t need the text below it to tell you what is going on. It should be compelling and storytelling. Composition still plays a part, you can’t tell a story if the story can’t be seen. And while these photos can be beautiful in their technical aspects they aren’t necessarily beautiful images. The story telling is as important.

Be Prepared-Once you’ve decided on an approach and style you’ll need to ensure you have the right gear to capture your shot. You probably won’t need to take your entire kit bag with you, so just select the tools you need. Be sure you’ve got the right focal lengths covered, and ask yourself if you might need a tripod. Are your camera batteries fully charged? Have you got spare batteries for your flashgun and plenty of memory cards? Don’t let a lack of preparation ruin a shoot.

via

If you’re looking for an attractive, coat-pocket friendly camera that sacrifices nothing in terms of zoom reach and resolution, the Sony DSC-HX20V might be the camera for you. Sony’s latest long-zoom compact sports a 25mm wide-end, with a 20x optical zoom range in a chassis that looks quite stylish. This 18-megapixel snapper is capable of capturing full-HD movies in 1080p/ 50 and geotag images using its onboard GPS module. Those 18.2Mp just don’t work alone to provide you with stellar images, they have the help of High Speed AF – for clear photos, even in low-light – along with all the aforementioned features. The camera used was a pre-production model, and image quality may improve before the camera is released.

Sony Cyber HX20V features

• Manufactured with “SoRPlas” recycled plastic

• 20x optical zoom lens

• 18.2 Megapixel Sony Exmor R CMOS sensor

• Full HD Video Shooting capability

• Lightning-fast AF speed

• Dual-Record captures 13MP still pictures while shooting movies

• Optical SteadyShot Active Mode

• Nine Picture Effect options

• Photo Creativity interface

via

The arrival of the D5100 seems to signal the completion of Nikons refresh of its non-pro DSLR lineup. It has a very similar 16.2MP CMOS sensor to the excellent one seen in the D7000 but, it loses out on that camera’s high-end build and feature-set. So there’s no wireless flash control system for photography.

The D5100 is a member of the popular D5000 series. The D5000 was the first Nikon digital-SLR camera equipped with the vari-angle monitor that allows users to enjoy flexible shooting from a wide variety of angles. The vari-angle monitor adopted for the D5100 has been enlarged to three inches, and utilizes a side hinge that enables flexible use from more angles with hand-held shooting and when the camera is mounted on a tripod.

The camera is also featured with the D-Movie function that supports recording of full-HD (1920 X 1080p, 30p) movies, as well as a special effects mode with which a variety of special effects can be applied to still images and movies. The D5100 was designed to respond to the requirements of a broad range of users, from those using a digital-SLR camera for the first time, to those looking for a camera that allows them to describe their individual sense of creativity through still images and movie.

Specifications

16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor

High-speed continuous shooting at up to approximately 4 fps,and a very precise and durable shutter unit that has passed testing for 100,000 cycles

Equipped with Quiet shutter-release mode for shooting in situations in which quieter shutter operation is desired

In-camera effects filters in both stills and video modes

4 fps continuous shooting

Infrared receivers for remote control operation on the front and back of the camera enable wireless control over the shutter from both in front of and behind the camera

 Equipped with 16 scene modes that enable the simple capture of beautiful photos of the desired scene with automatic optimization of camera settings

IS0 100-6400 range (Up to 25,600 equivalent when expanded)

Built-in HDMI-CEC compatibility enables control over playback of still images and movies using the television’s remote control when the camera is connected to a high-definition TV via the HDMI connector.

]]> http://photoity.com/nikon-d5100-slr-camera-review/feed/ 0 http://photoity.com/30-dazzling-examples-of-hdr-sunset-photography/ http://photoity.com/30-dazzling-examples-of-hdr-sunset-photography/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 08:45:56 +0000 Nora http://photoity.com/?p=10477

Sunset or sundown is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon in the west as a result of Earth’s rotation. The time of sunset is defined in astronomy as the moment when the trailing edge of the Sun’s disk disappears below the horizon in the west. Sunsets are very beautiful and one of those subjects that anybody can take good photos of. In fact, a good sunset photo is often the reason many people become interested in nature photography. You don’t need to have a great camera or professional training; almost anyone with a camera can take great sunset photos. Great sunsets are characterized by the orange or red glow in the sky. This is actually caused by dust and pollution in the atmosphere. This means that the best place to find consistently good sunsets is out in the country, to the east of a large city or conurbation. The poor air rising from the city will make the sun and sky turn red. You have a very limited amount of time to shoot a sunset and the light changes on a constant basis. Because of this it can be hard to get that perfect sunset shot. However, if you want great photos of sunsets then this article is perfect for you. Have a look!

via

Taking a picture of an animal can be very challenging and it requires lots of tolerance, good understanding of animal’s behavior and willpower. Animal photography is probably one of the most dangerous types of photography. The outcome totally depends on the skills of photographer and the time when the shot is taken. Understanding of animal behavior really counts as it can help you in preparing for the good shot as you can predict well how likely an animal is going to react. Animal photographers have to be prepared and be ready for the unknown. They need to study action and language of animals to know every move. In this post, we have gathered some stunning animal photographs that demonstrated the best use of color, exposure; blur settings along with proper use of shutter speed and focusing technique to take perfect photographs. After seeing these photographs, you will definitely say that only an experienced and skillful photographer can take such shots!

 source

The optical performance is excellent at wide-open aperture. The closest focus distance is 0.7 m (27 in.) against 1m for the 90mm general-purpose lenses.

Specifications

Lens Type:    Prime
Compatibility:    Full Frame
Range:    Telephoto
Mount:    Leica
Auto Focus:    No
Full-Time Manual Focus Override:    No
Zoom:    No
Minimum Focal Length:    75 mm
Maximum Focal Length:    75 mm
Fastest Aperture:    f/2.0
Slowest Aperture:    f/16.0
Image Stabilization:    No
Elements:    7
Groups:    5
Filter Size:    49mm
Length:    2.6 inches
Weight:    15.2 ounces
Price:    $3395.00
Tripod Collar:    No
Included Case:    Yes

Landscape photography is a genre intended to show different spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. Landscape photographers usually attempt not only to convey the documentary aspect, but also an appreciation of the scenery that is being photographed. Landscape photography is photography that displays visual and emotional aspects of objects in portrait or captured.

Basic Equipment- There are whole books on cameras and lenses, but I’m going to keep it simple. Choose the best you can afford, but don’t be tempted to buy a really expensive camera and then fit it with a very average lens. I can personally recommend the Sigma 10-20mm and the Nikon 16-35mm. Both are brilliant wide angle landscape lenses.

Gear Suggestions-While no special equipment is really needed, a macro lens could be useful, depending on how much of a micro-landscape you are looking at, or a telephoto lens, to eliminate a bland and uninteresting sky. I would also recommend a tripod, both to aid accurate composition, but especially to eliminate camera shake on a dull day.

Look out for Clutter. In a landscape photograph, clutter could be something like an airplane or power line overhead or a pile of branches or rubbish cans on the ground. If you can’t get the shot you want without the clutter, use a decent photo editor like Photoshop to remove it.

Slow it Down-One of the most important things about taking landscape pictures is paying close attention to detail. The more detail you can capture from an environment, the better your end result is going to turn out. In order to get a maximum depth of field and be able to capture the smallest detail, close your F stop as much as possible and use a slower speed film or setting with a longer exposure.

Include a Foreground and background in your composition. Of course, there are no strict rules about composition, but as a guideline, you may want to consider three elements that are common in great landscape photos: a foreground, background, and great light.

Don’t Be Afraid of Weather-Some of the best images are made on cloudy, rainy, foggy or snowy days. Don’t be afraid to go shooting in the weather. Protect your gear and yourself, but go out and shoot.

Set a High Aperture.-Doing this can let you take pictures with a good focus and sharper details. Set it to the sharpest lens so that you can get a very sharp image. This can help you do away with image noise. You will surely get a great picture with this.

For example, take a look at the sky. Is it too dull? If the sky is too dull consider how you’re going to handle this problem. Maybe you can change the photos composition so very little of the sky is shown, or possibly leave it out altogether. Another suggestion could be to come back at a different time and day. Dawn or dusk are often considered the best times to photograph landscapes.

Lead the Eye-Compose your landscape photo so that a natural feature leads the viewer’s eye into the scene from the foreground. Perfect examples include a meandering stream or a line of trees moving into the distance.

Focal Point-Is there any element you can use in the picture as a focal point? For instance a road that swirls into the image, three rocks in the water or maybe a tree? If you create a focal point in the photograph it will be so much stronger than without one. Without it will simply just be flat. Always look for light, lines, symmetry and elements that stand out. An easy way to do this is to look at the landscape – what exactly captures your attention? Make that your focal point.via