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In an era where what you are saying is considered untrue if there is no photo of you in that certain event, one can safely say that digital cameras has changed us.

People’s behavior towards taking photos has changed so much that in restaurants it is no longer uncommon for one to take a few excited clicks when the food has arrived. Whether one captures a bagel or a pizza for posterity’s sake or for one to have something to post in their social networks, it no longer matters as long as one can document one’s life.

The most pronounced changes, as observed by many, is of people taking photos of them in concerts or sporting events. The idea of “I was there” is truly alive in this decade and will always be as long as digital cameras exist.

At a football match for example, thousands will be clicking their digital cameras and if you go out with your friends you would have to pose for a lot of photos because everyone has a digital camera.

Decades ago, one can only tell someone of an event through memory but now, we can tell our stories through a range of photos. Those who are fond of taking photos say that their reason for taking photos is for them to remember where they were at a certain period of their lives. Since pictures paint a thousand words as the song goes, digital cameras are now the historians of our time –very accurate historians for that matter since they capture almost everything.

It’s not just photos really, video recording is also a part of this era. When we were kids, our parents would take videos of us –our first step, the first time we spoke or said Dada or Mama or whatever. Today, one can use a digital camera to record just about anything and then later on upload it to YouTube.

South Korean digital camera and smartphone maker Samsung revealed that around 2.5 billion people now has a digital camera but while Samsung and other camera manufacturers are enjoying their popularity in the world of cameras, photography film Kodak is struggling to compete with the market. Critics say that Kodak was not able to adapt to digital photography and won’t ever be as good as the likes of Nikon, Canon and other second tier camera brands such as Samsung and Sony.

About four decades ago however, the photography company was given credit for making the first digital camera ever –an innovation, according to the BBC, that changed the world.

Not everyone knows that Kodak took its very first image in 1975 nearly obliterating the market’s need for camera film. Later on of course, all of us got to go digital and can now even take decent photos on our phones.

It was Steven Sasson who invented the first digital camera for the company. It is unfortunate though that Kodak was not able to fully profit from the said invention as its share price went down last year.

There is very little prospect left for Kodak, experts say and now people are paying more attention to the company than ever before. Some are hoping that it will bounce back somehow.

Although the digital camera is revolutionary on its own, one of the greatest fruits of Kodak’s invention is the advent of the cameras on cell phones.

In 2011, while the international media had a hard time getting into Libya, the people captured the goings on on the ground through their camera phones. The looting that happened in England was also captured by camera phones making them a wonderful invention in terms of keeping the world updated with events that matter. It’s not just the news agencies that benefited from this though, families and individuals also got to capture special moments of their lives.

In 2001, Sony Ericsson showed off their new phone that had a clip-on camera. This kind of thing would sound ridiculous these days but back in 2001, it was something revolutionary. But like with everyone else, Financial Times technology writer Jonathan Margolis asked himself why anyone would want a cell phone with a camera.

Standalone digital cameras became popular four years later but what really made digital photos more popular are camera phones. In fact, it was the camera phone that brought the wonders of digital photography to the masses.

This impact has been quite dramatic not only to the masses but also to professional photographers. Before, the pros had to make sure that everything worked –the lighting, their equipment, etc but now, they can take as many shots as they like without having to worry about camera film.

Margolis, in his interview with the BBC added the story of a photographer who was in Berlin in the year 1939. The said photographer had in his possession eight photographic plates and he had to make sure that he took photos in the right angles. In the end of course, as Margolis says, out of the said number of plates, the photographer got four award-winning photographs.

Those were the good times, as an old person would say because people gave more importance to the shots they made due to the costs of taking photos. Today, with the digital cameras we have and with the camera phones we have, we can take photos at almost no cost or even consequence.

Armed with a digital camera, my father would take very nice photos but since his generation is that of an era where digital technology is something almost unbelievable, he makes every click count. This is something that many of us should take into consideration –that in every click, there should be a relevant photo that tells a story somehow but of course, not everyone is an artist.

As the year comes to an end, lots of people are still bent on doing some last-minute shopping before 2012. Since most of the malls are now selling items at real low prices to make way for new items for the coming year, those who like bargain shopping and those who would like to save some money are now hitting their nearest department stores.

For those who are thinking of buying a new digital camera before the year ends, here are a few of the best and the most affordable digital cameras one can find.

Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera

This digital camera from Canon features a 2.7 inch LCD screen that’s also scratch-resistant and has anti-reflective coating. More information

Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0 MP Digital Camera

With the Nikon Coolpix L22, taking sharp photos does not necessarily have to be expensive. With its advanced stabilizing features, this product from Nikon is definitely a good buy. The camera also has the capability to adjust shutter speed to suit the preferences of the user. Last time we checked, the camera is sold under $100. More information

Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12.2 MP Digital Camera

This is a professional-looking camera that many would mistake for one of those expensive DSLRs. It features 12.2 megapixels for crisp pictures as well as a lens with 18x wide angle optical zoom. More information

Kodak EasyShare Z981 14MP Digital Camera

Although Kodak does not really have a good reputation when it comes to cameras, this one offers high quality photos as well as precision. It boasts 16x optical zoom and can produce stunning prints. More information

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera

This model is a wonderful little gadget that includes 12.1 megapixels equipped with effective recording. Other product features of this Panasonic digital camera include built-in GPS making it easy for you to keep track of the photos you take depending of course on your location. More information

Photos via gadgetsee.com, pma-show.com, doubledroy.hubpages.com, nikon.com, photographyreview.com

Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12.2 MP Digital Camera

Featuring 12.2 megapixels, Fujifilm’s FinePix S1800 is dubbed as one of the best and most affordable digital camera for the year and for a few good reasons.

Reason #1 Apart from its rather large photo resolution, the Fujifilm digital camera has a ½.3 inch CCD that enables the user to print quality posters.

Reason #2 It is equipped with Fujinon’s 18x wide-angle optical zoom equal to 28mm – 504 mm telephoto.

Reason #3 It has dual image stabilization.

Reason #4 The camera can capture movies at 720p resolution, HD quality of course.

Reason #5 It has a high contrast LCD screen and electronic view finder. It’s a large display too i.e. 3 inches.

Apart from these 5 main reasons, there are a lot of other reasons why one should buy this digital camera from Fujifilm. The professional-looking camera is a wonderful buy because it is affordable and as beefy as cameras that cost more.

One of the highlights of this camera is its wide-angle optical zoom lens because it enables the gadget to produce crisp, sharp and high resolution images from 28mm to 504mm telephoto as mentioned above.

Kodak EasyShare Z981 14MP Digital Camera

If you are not a Fujifilm fan, you may want to take a look at Kodak’s EasyShare Z981. Much like the Fujifilm FinePix S1800, this is a professional-looking digital camera that offers 14 megapixels and 26x optical zoom. Its wide-angle lens is definitely a wonderful addition to the EasyShare Z981’s specifications.

Why should you buy this camera though? Well for one, it is affordable and secondly, it has a lot of features.

Reason #1 14 MP resolution that allows the user to print posters up to 30 x 40 inches

Reason #2 It is equipped with a one button upload that allows you to upload to social networking sites, photo sites and YouTube.

Reason #3 Vertical shutter release.

Reason #4 Can capture images to your memory card.

Reason #5 3 inch bright LCD.

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-ZS7 is a 12.1 MP digital camera that features 12X optical zoom, built in GPS function, and optical image stabilization. The digital camera also has built-in memory, an SD card, an SDHC memory card as well as an SDXC one. With these features alone, the Lumix DMC-ZS7 is truly a good choice if you want a beefier camera at a real affordable price.

One of the highlights of this digital camera is its 25mm ultra wide-angle lens but for those who do not have money for a DSLR, the Lumix is a good choice because it is one of the most affordable digital cameras to date.

Here are the basic specifications for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Resolution: 12.10 Megapixels

Shutter: 60-1/2000

ISO: 80-6400

LCD Size: 3.0 inch

Viewfinder: LCD

Lens: 12x zoom or 25-300mm eq.

Weight: 7.7 oz or 217 g

Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 inches or 103 x 60 x 33 mm

Max Aperture 3.3

Why is this digital camera a good buy?

Apart from the basic specifications mentioned above, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 is small enough to fit into one’s pocket. If you do not like bulky cameras, this product from Panasonic is definitely a wonderful choice.

It also has a wide-angle setting making it possible for users to zoom in with ease. This setting is equivalent to having a 25mm lens.

Its 3.0 inch LCD display has excellent resolution. The display also works as the camera’s viewfinder.

Another wonderful thing about this product is that it has built-in GPS making it possible for users to do geotagging with ease.

The camera also has red-eye reduction capability as well as Intelligent ISO, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Auto functions like its predecessors.

Other features include 29 scene modes, 6 white balance settings, shutter priority mode, fully manual mode and aperture mode depending on what types of controls the user desires.

Us regular mortals may find spending $1000 for a camera rather luxurious but for those who have lots of moolah in the bank, that’s nothing. As the year comes to a close, let us reminisce one of the most historic stories regarding cameras in general. Yes, the NASA photography article surely awed us one way or the other but this year’s most memorable story about cameras happened early this year.

Do you remember that old Leica that was sold for 1.3 million Euros? The Leica 0-Serie Nr.107 fetched this amount at an auction. The antique camera was made in the early 20s and is one of the 25 Leicas made that time.

Truly a beauty, the camera was bought by an Asian collector who decided that the Leica is worth more than its projected price.[1] The buyer had to make what one would cal a split second decision since the auction for this item only lasted for 2 minutes.

Many people think that Hasselblads are quite expensive but the Leica is definitely something else. According to reports, the very camera that was on auction was one of the very first Leicas to be exported to New York City in the year 1923 making it a very special camera because of its history.

The Leica brand is a German optics company that started as early as 1913. Although the cameras were not yet for sale at the time since Oskar Barnack only built the first prototypes for the very first Leicas in that year, many were awed at the technology that Barnack used. The camera was intended for landscape photography to be used for mountain trips.

The first prototypes went through several iterations of course by 1923, Barnack told his boss Ernst Leitz II to manufacture a pre-production series.

Photo via technabob.com

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[1] The auction house expected that they will be able to sell the antique camera between $500, 000 and $650, 000.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently visited Bangkok to extend America’s help to the flooded city. Bangkok, the capital of Thailand is a hub for manufacturing companies including those that make computer spare parts and other technology-related hardware.

While lots of manufacturing companies were affected with the floods, reports say that Nikon is trying its best to be right on schedule.

Rumors in September said that Nikon might be releasing the D800 by the end of October and the Nikon D4 will be launched first quarter of 2012. So far, there is still no announcement from Nikon.

According to the rumor mill, the Nikon D4 will sport an 18 Megapixel sensor while the D800 is rumored to have 36 MPs. What is more interesting is that some sources claim that Sony will be using the very same sensor from the Nikon D800 for its upcoming Fullframe camera called the Alpha99 or A99. This is not a shocking revelation though because the D800’s sensor is made by Sony. Compared to Nikon’s D800 however, the A99 will be sold at a lower price, sources say.

As the excitement for the new Nikon cameras mount, there is still no official announcement from the camera giant leaving photography enthusiasts to rely on the rumor mill for news. Just yesterday, photos of the D800 were leaked by an insider along with a few tidbits on the basic specifications of the camera.

The headline feature of the D800 according to sources is its video recording capability –a feature that its predecessor the Nikon D700 does not have. Rumor has it that the D800 will be able to shoot up to 1080 p and at 24fps, 30fps and 25fps too.

For those interested in the D4, as of date there is still no news regarding its specifications but one thing is for sure, you will hear more about these upcoming cameras soon.

It’s that time of the year again and the lot of us are now planning to go shopping for the upcoming holidays. Since Christmas bonuses may have already been given, more and more people are hitting the malls but those who are more careful with their money are probably listing the things they want to buy while wrestling with a war in their heads on the things they need and the things they want.

If you are looking for a good camera however, there is no more need for you to be confused as to which one you should buy because all you would have to do is to read reliable digital camera reviews.

For Canon fans, perhaps the best digital camera one can find is the PowerShot SD1300IS. The camera also costs below $200 making it a good buy for those who are trying to save some money.

Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera

The Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera features a 2.7 inch LCD screen with spectacular color thanks to Canon’s PureColor System.

Technical Details

Shoots in low light environments or dimly-lit places

PureColor System LCD 2.7 inch

12.1 MP resolution allowing sharp image detail and larger print sizes

Smart auto mode

28mm wide-angle lens equipped with an optical image stabilizer and 4x optical zoom

18 predefined settings

Another wonderful choice for digital camera enthusiasts is Nikon’s Coolpix L22.

Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0 MP Digital Camera

Sold lower than $100, this digital camera from Nikon fixes red-eye and detects faces too. According to other reviews, this digicam makes great portraits thanks to Nikon’s Smart Portrait System.

Technical Details

EXPEED Image processing i.e. Smart Portrait System

Stabilization system (3-way VR Image)

12.0 megapixel; prints up to 16 x 20 inches

Nikkor glass lens 3.6x zoom

Bright 3.0 inch LCD display

Auto mode

Captures 640 x 480 movies; 30fps sound

Nikon got an order from NASA last 2009 for a few D3S digital cameras along with the AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lenses. These digital cameras along with the lenses were later on whisked off to space to document well space.

Nikon had some sort of celebration about this order of course since it would eventually show the world how sturdy Nikon cameras are.

The photos has been released recently and the photos taken were rather spectacular. The images were taken by astronauts who were at the International Space Station at the time. NASA said that to date, the digital cameras from Nikon has captured over 700, 000 images. What is great about this is that it showed off D3S’s noise suppression features and how good it is in coping with low light environments such as outer space.

It is interesting to note that NASA’s relationship with the camera manufacturer started in 1971 when the Photomic FTN was commissioned by NASA to be used inside Apollo 15. In 2008, Nikon was contacted by NASA again got a shipment of DSLR cameras from the company. The bodies of these D2Xs cameras are still being used in space today. This is definitely wonderful news for many Nikon fans because this goes to show how cool Nikon is and how sturdy it is to be able to go through such a journey and still take wonderful and very sharp images.

When it comes to the cameras used by NASA in 2009, the ISO sensitivity of the said models is no doubt a good addition to what the camera can do especially when one is taking photos in orbit. The most awe-inspiring images were taken by these Nikon cameras.

To date, Nikon products that are kept aboard the International Space Station include 8 modified D2Xs DSLR cameras, 36 Nikkor lenses which also includes 3 teleconverters, 1 unmodified standard consumer D3S from Nikon used for capturing night time scenes and images on the earth’s surface, 7 SB-800 speedlights and 4 eyepieces for D2Xs made exclusively for the space station.