camera-talk.net

The Sony World Photography Awards recently published its shortlist last February 2. The photos were taken with Sony cameras of course and turned out to be quite good –depicting life in general. Ahh..there’s really nothing as good as photojournalism. Often , we take advantage of taking too many photos for certain events but what is sad is that we do not capture “life” in our photos. This is what makes photojournalism wonderful because the photographers have a certain touch of showing us that a picture clearly paints a thousand words.

This first photo was taken by Maja Daniels from the UK.

While others are simple, photographers like Pawel Kopcynski from Germany went out of their way to show movement and color.

Palani Mohan from India took this photo and made it to the shortlist under the Nature and Wildlife category. Doesn’t this remind you of a feature story in TIME magazine or NEWSWEEK?

Anastasia Taylor-Lind from the UK on the other hand took a beautiful shot of women in their underwear. This photo was submitted for the Arts and Culture category.

Another interesting photo was in the shortlist and this involves current events. This photo of a man being taken by rebels was taken by Remi Ochlik from France.

Capturing life in a photo is difficult and we must admit that no matter how advanced your camera is, it will never be a substitute for talent.

Andrew McConnell from Ireland took this photo for the Sport section of Sony’s photography contest. Much like the one taken by Pawel Kopcynski, McConnell was able to capture movement and of course, life.

Donald Weber from Canada took a snapshot of a town after a disaster. This is probably in Japan and this just tells quite a story. Weber’s photo was shortlisted for the Current Affairs category.

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.

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.

Photo Via BBC.co.uk

The flooding in Thailand has caused many a Sony camera fans to be sad. Sony announced that it will delay the launch of the NEX-7 camera and the Sony Reflex Alpha 65 indefinitely.

This decision was made by the electronics maker when it had to shutdown production at 2 of its units in Thailand.

Sony is not the only one affected though because two of the biggest hard drive makers Seagate and Western Digital also announced possible delays.

The disaster was of course unprecedented and Toshiba also suspended manufacturing of hard disks due to the flooding.

Tim Cook said in an interview on Tuesday that there will possibly be an industry shortage of hard drives and disk drives –affecting Apple’s production as well.

Sony camera fans should not worry though because George Boyd, spokesman for the electronics giant told the BBC that Sony is working very hard towards restoring production.

In the meantime, Boyd said, the company is dealing with this delay by routing production to other production facilities including one in Thailand that was not affected by the floods and is fully operational.

Flood In Thailand Not Receding

The news of the flooding in Thailand has preoccupied the business world due to the delays in production for certain essential products for gadgets. Sony, Toshiba and Apple are all affected by the flooding in the area.

On the ground, the Thai navy are rather busy ferrying people and supplies to those who are cut off due to the flooding. According to reports, this is by far the worst flood experienced in Thailand for decades.

The Thai navy announced recently that the water has not receded in the past week and it may take time for the area to be operational again. The Asia Highway for example is still fully submerged.

Meanwhile, as the Thai government are working towards evacuating affected residents, some inhabitants of the area do not wish to leave their homes for fear that their possessions will get stolen.

Sony’s been producing a range of cameras in the past few years that the brand, although new in the camera market, eventually became one of the most trusted camera manufacturers in the world. Upon its introduction of the NEX series, Sony were able to sell more units. The Sony Alpha SLT-A55V is one of these models. This black-bodied camera has Translucent Mirror Technology and of course, the ability to take sharp, clear photos. Read more below for more information about the Sony Alpha SLT-A55V.

What’s Great About It

16.2MP megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor

10 fps shooting capability

Translucent mirror/fast focus

Built-in GPS

Full high definition video

Terrific EVF

Accurate focusing

921KDot3” Tiltable LCD screen

3D Sweep Panorama Mode

Up to ISO 12800 Sensitivity

What’s Bad About It

Lenses are expensive

Grip too small

What’s In The Hood

This is a 16 megapixel camera that does not feature the usual bulky bodies of DSLRs. According to different reviews of this Sony camera, this one is great for those who like to live on the edge. Sony made sure that this baby has the leading technology when it comes to resolution, accurate phase detection autofocus and other technical aspects that those who love to take photos give importance to.

But these are not the only things that the A55 offers because it also has image stabilization and boasts a hand-held night shot mode.

It also has multi-frame NR mode which enables the Sony Alpha SLT A55 to take photos in rapid succession but still has the capability to produce stunning pictures.

When it comes to making a decision on whether this camera is worth it or not, it would be best to take a look at other reviews of this Sony product. We however believe that this DSLR is a good buy.

Canon PowerShot G12

Price Range: $484-$641

Date of Release: September 2010

Specifications:

Standard Point and Shoot

5.0x Optical Zoom

10.4 Megapixel

LCD Screen Size of 2.8 inches

720p HDTV Recording


The Good

The great thing about Canon’s PowerShot G12 is that it takes good photos. All photos taken with this digital camera is of high quality. There are many ways for you to tweak your photos with this camera too. Its HDR is also a wonderful addition for those who like taking photos of still subjects.

The Bad

If the ISOs are elevated, this camera has too much noise. To top it off, there is no dedicated button for video recording. This Canon is quite expensive too.

Nikon D700 Digital Camera

Price Range: $1099-$2450

Date of Release: September 2010

Specifications:

SLR/Professional

5.8x Optical Zoom

16.9 Megapizel

CMOS Image Sensor

3.0 inches LCD Screen

1080p HDTV, 720p HDTV

The Good

The great thing about this SLR camera is that it takes terrific photos. At 6 fps, this camera is very responsive. It also focuses faster than other cameras.

The Bad

This camera is not the number 1 in the market because of its price tag but if you are serious about taking photos, this is definitely the camera to buy. Another technical issue that you need to take into consideration is its problematic HD video features.

Sony SLT-A55VL Digital Camera with 18-55mm Lens

Price Range: $698-$950

Date of Release: August 2010

Specifications:

SLR/Professional

3.0x Optical Zoom

16.7 Megapixel

Dust proof

CMOS Image Sensor

3.0   inches LCD Screen

The Good

This Sony digital camera takes very good photos. It is the company’s first digicam that uses translucent mirror. This makes it possible for it to autofocus continuously without interruption. It even has an amazing burst mode giving it a high capture speed as compared to other digital SLRs.

The Bad

This camera overheats easily especially if you are overworking it. If you are planning to use it with the 18-250 lens, it is going to be a bit heavier than your previous digital SLRs.

Finally, Sony spills the beans on their new addition to their entry-level DSLRs and it is official news! Following the rumors and information leaks about Sony’s new babies, it has recently debuted their upgrade to their existing line of entry-level cameras. One such camera is the new Sony Alpha A290.

For the people who want more control over how they take photos and want to move up from simple point-and-shoot, the Sony Alpha A290 could just be what you need.

With full manual capability and the ability to change lenses like a DSLR, but still retain the simplicity of operation as that of a point-and-shoot is one of the winning features that the A290 has. And as an update to the older A230, the A290 has been slightly beefed up with other features and hardware changes.

From the A230’s 10 mega-pixel censor, the A290 is loaded with a significantly-larger 14.2 mega-pixels CCD sensor. Button layout has been simplified, along with a new grip design for better handling and aesthetics.

With these upgrades in the internals and the externals, the A290 also comes with new connectivity functions. The A290 allows you to directly sync it with a Sony Bravia TV for a full, high definition playback. The A290 also boasts an Eye-Start feature which activates the auto focus function when it senses the user’s eye on the viewfinder.

If you are totally new to the DSLR world, the transition is made easier with the A290 with its graphical display to assist you in identifying the camera’s functions and features.

So far, the prices for the new A290 has not yet been officially released by Sony, but the buzz is saying it would be selling around the 500-dollar mark. Not such a bad price for an entry-level DSLR.

Photo Courtesy of DigitalCameraTracker

CyberShot is a line of state-of-the-art Sony digital still cameras (DSC) that all have trademark Carl Zeiss lenses, modern design and proprietary Memory Sticks. They’ve a wide diversity, from low-end cameras with cheaper prices up to high-end professional ones i.e. DSLRs and slim cameras. Here are the most notable models:

D series: For professional and serious photographers; these are high-end cameras created in 1998.

H series: For photography enthusiasts who like the idea of shooting professionally but just can’t afford buying gear at the moment. It could also be used by beginners since this is Sony’s line of Bridge Digital Cameras, or the cameras between DSLRs and point-and-shoot types – it has manual controls for setting customization and is usually the size of a small DSLR, but has the user-friendliness of most entry-level cameras.

S series: For students of the art; low-end, low-level and low-maintenance cameras at even lower prices, but these produce startlingly high quality shots. It’s proof that Sony would never compromise quality with price rates. They’re designed to look more stylish too, so you’d never guess that they’re really affordable. S series cameras are also the first 4 MP (Megapixel) consumer-level DSC, and the series has rapidly evolved since its first release in 2000.

T series: For people who like taking photos as a hobby while they travel around the globe; its sleek and compact design makes it the ultimate adventurer’s camera. It’s the most portable type of camera in the CyberShot series – it was designed with a camera fitting in one’s pocket in mind. This is perfect for people on the go who love taking random shots of random things, people with the “just in case” mentality. The digital imagery is decent enough for general shooting, plus its userability make it the best choice for those with a hectic schedule and a tight budget.

V series: For “prosumers” or professional consumers; cameras from this series are mostly for the experienced and hardcore photo-buffs. They’re definitely high-end cameras with great versatility; top-notch Bridge DSCs of the highest quality. Of course, they cost a small fortune, but the pictures you’ll make with these babies would surely atone for everything.

W series: For the devout, fervent and extreme adventurers who’d go hike a mountain just to breathe in fresh air; cameras from this line have wide angle lenses that are just the thing for scenic pictures. The new models also excel in low-light shots, like most of CyberShot’s new products that are hot off the assembly line.

Good news for Sony Alpha lovers, Sony recently released the latest of its Image Data Converter software (version 3.2). The new version of the software features noise reduction and image processing algorithms making taking photos with your digital SLR more fun.

According to Sony’s press release this new software will allow Digital SLR users to have more control on their photos. No more image noise when converting data to JPEG files –great news for those who want to take stunning photos.

If you are a registered Alpha consumer, you can download the Image Data Converter software from Sony’s website.

Sony is world renown for electronics they make everything from LCD t.v.s to digital cameras.  This largeness is only a problem when you need a quick and affordable repair of a small and delicate camera like most of the Sony point and shot digital cameras.

We have found that when you need a quick and reliable repair of your Sony camera you should turn to a world wide leader in camera repair. In the USA there are a couple of options. The leading camera repair ship is known to be very good and very fast with the repair work. We have test them and they really do a great job. The only draw back with biggest repair company is the price. They do a flat rate price for all repairs. So we promote #2 camera repair company, Teleplan Camera Repair. (they are working to become #1)

Teleplan quick and reliable Sony Camera Repair and they are less expensive (by a lot) for most repairs. So if you want a fast, affordable repair of your Sony camera, we recommend are friends at Teleplan Camera Repair.

In Full disclosure, Teleplan is a client of our parent company.