Photography Workshop Online

Canon has recently released EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi), a new compact digital SLR. Its design may look like EOS 400D, however there are a range of significant improvements especially when it comes to quality and performance. It has a whopping twelve megapixel CMOS sensor, 3.0″ LCD monitor, Live View with both AF modes (contrast-detect and passive), 14-bit processing and RAW, spot metering, improved AF, 3.5 fps continuous shooting, a larger viewfinder, SD/SDHC storage and a new higher capacity battery. All in all, a fairly impressive array of usage oriented improvements and refinements there innovated by one of the experts in digital photography, Canon.

Another compact camera from Sony, the Cybershot DSC-T2 amazes everyone with its beauty and unmatched features that live up to the expectations not just of the consumers but if every discerning photographer as well. The Sony Cybershot DSC-T2 is unlike regular compact camera. What separates it from the ordinary is the cool design available in 5 colors and its 2.7” LCD with touchscreen interface, and a whopping 4GB of internal memory.

Basic Features

* 8.1 megapixel Super HAD CCD
* 3x zoom (38-114mm 35mm equivalent)
* 6x digital zoom
* 2.7-inch LCD with 230,400 pixels
* ISO sensitivity from 80 to 3,200
* Shutter speeds from one second to 1/1,000 second
* Max Aperture: f/3.5
* MS Duo/MS PRO Duo memory card support
* Custom lithium-ion battery

Special Features

* 4GB internal memory
* Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization
* Smart Zoom (digital zoom for smaller image sizes)
* Flush lens cover
* USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
* 1080i HD component video with optional cable or dock
* Face detection technology for exposure and focus
* Smile Shutter mode for finding smiling faces
* Touch screen user interface
* Scene modes: Fireworks, High Sensitivity, High Speed Shutter, Landscape, Snow, Soft Snap, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Smile Shutter, Beach
* In-camera editing: Red-eye correction, soft edge filter, cross filter, partial color filter, fish-eye filter, retro, radiation, trimming

In the Box

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 ships with the following items in the box:

* Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 body
* NP-BD1 lithium-ion battery with case
* Compact battery charger BC-CSF with folding prongs
* Paint pen
* Wrist strap
* HD1-C adapter plate for Cyber-shot Station
* Long USB cable with proprietary camera connector
* Short USB cable with proprietary camera connector
* USB adapter for Multi connector
* Software CD
* Owners manual, registration materials

Nikon has surprised everyone with the introduction of D40. This DSLR camera not only gives consumers everything they need from its small and light body to high quality imaging, but also exceeded their expectations as it comes at a price that’s hard to resist.

• Nikon’s lightest and most compact digital SLR camera that features intuitive controls and an ergonomically designed operation especially ideal for first-time digital SLR users.
• Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor; 6.1 effective megapixels
• Has burst feature that shoots as fast as 2.5 frames per second up to 100 JPEG frames (FINE L-size or smaller)
• Its high-precision digital image processing algorithms produce natural-looking images with faithful color and tone reproduction
• It has 3D Color Matrix Metering II with 420-pixel RGB sensor that enables it to deliver consistent and dependable automatic exposure adequate for most lighting conditions, resulting to quality images.
• Advanced 3-area AF system and the refined algorithms inherited from the advanced Nikon digital SLR cameras deliver fast, efficient and precise autofocus, while an AF-assist illuminator helps ensure top performance in dark situations
• Automatic control over ISO-equivalent sensitivity from ISO 200 to 1600 plus HI 1 can also be set manually
• Eight automated Digital Vari-Programs [Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, and Night Portrait] optimize white balance, sharpening, tone, color, saturation and hue to match the scene
• Near-instant 0.18-second power-up lets photographers respond to every photographic opportunity
• Versatile shutter speed control with a range from 30 to 1/4000 s, plus bulb
• Creative in-camera effects and editing functions consolidated under the new Retouch menu, including D-Lighting, Red-eye correction, Trim, Monochrome settings (Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype), Filter Effects (Skylight, Warm filter, Color balance), Small Picture and Image Overlay
• Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with viewing angle of approx. 170 degrees in all directions
• Innovative information displays can be shown in Classic, Graphic or Wallpaper format
• “Assist Images” helps select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting
• Large, bright viewfinder with 0.8x magnification that ensures a clear view of image for quality and precision of composition
• Fast image data transfer and recording to SD memory cards of up to 4GB capacity (SDHC compliant)

Complete Specs:

Effective pixels
6.1 million

Image sensor
RGB CCD, 23.7 x 15.6 mm, 6.24 million total pixels: total pixels

Image size
L (3,008 x 2,000) / M (2,256 x 1,496) / S (1,504 x 1,000)

Sensitivity
200 to 1600 (ISO equivalent) in steps of 1 EV with additional setting one step over 1600

Storage media
SD memory card, SDHC compliant

LCD monitor
2.5-in., 230,000-dot, low-temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment

Exposure metering
3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted and Spot Metering

Exposure modes
Digital Vari-program (Auto, Auto [Flash Off], Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up, Night Portrait), Programmed Auto [P] with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto [S]; Aperture-Priority Auto [A]; Manual [M]

Interface
USB 2.0 (High-speed): Mass Storage and PTP selectable

Power source
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9, charging voltage (Quick Charger MH-23), 7.4V DC, AC Adapter EH-5 (available separately; requires optional AC Adapter Connector EP-5)

Dimensions
Approx. 126 x 94 x 64mm (5.0 x 3.7x 2.5 in.)

Weight
Approx. 475g (1lb. 1oz.) without battery, memory card or body cap. Long-life Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9 allows up to 470 images* in single-frame shooting mode on a single charge (*CIPA standard, with  Built-in Flash used for 50% of the shots.

SONY CYBERSHOT DSC T70

The T70 is an 8.1-megapixel sleek and compact digital camera that fits solidly into the “posh camera” type. It is very slim and handy and light, measuring only 90 x 56.4 x 20.7mm, and weighing 128g. Its physical features include an all-metal body, a slide -down cover over the lens and flash which also doubles as a power switch.

Other features:

* 8.1-megapixel effective recording
* Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar lens
* 3X optical zoom (2X digital/6X total zoom)
* 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 38-114mm
* Super SteadyShot® optical image stabilization
* 3″ color touchpanel LCD
* Bionz™ image processor for high-quality images and fast camera response
* Dynamic Range Optimizer for more photographic detail in dark or bright picture areas
* face detection technology for better people shots
* in-camera red-eye reduction
* in-camera photo retouching and special effects
* top JPEG resolution: 3264 x 2448
* 16:9 widescreen photo mode (1920 x 1080)
* MPEG Movie VX with audio (640 x 480 at 30 frames per second)
* in-camera slide show with music playback
* high-definition still picture output to compatible HDTVs (requires optional Sony VMC-MHC1 adapter)
* 31MB built-in flash memory (holds approximately 10 shots at highest resolution)
* 9 scene modes, including Beach, Fireworks, and Twilight
* High Sensitivity mode for low-light shooting without flash
* variable ISO (film speed equivalent) settings
* macro mode (focus as close as 3-1/8″ from subject) and Magnifying Glass mode (7/16″ from subject)
* high-speed USB interface
* PictBridge-compatible
* compatible with Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick® PRO Duo™
* audio/video output for connection to a TV
* 3-9/16″W x 2-1/4″H x 13/16″D
* weight (with battery): 4.5 ounces