My Virtual Canvas

Taken with a Nikon Coolpix P90

The Nikon Coolpix P90 is not the newest camera on the block, but it remains one of the most popular. Because of its designation as a “prosumer” camera, it comes with all the bells and whistles you might expect in a high-end model. Although there are many great features included with the P90, its major claim to fame is the unbelievable power of its optical zoom lens. Let’s take a quick look at this enduring winner from Nikon’s stable.

When you are ready to take your photography from point-and-shoot to the next level, a good choice for moving up is to purchase a “prosumer” camera. These cameras occupy the middle ground between professional models that cost thousands and the couple-hundred-dollar cameras that are found in the affordable range of digital camera-dom. Prosumer cameras are distinctive with their full feature sets but are priced within reach of most serious camera buffs. Although there are many prosumer models available, the Nikon Coolpix P90 has achieved almost legendary status.

One reason for this is the camera’s astounding 24x optical zoom. This “true zoom” specification equates to a traditional lens of 26-624mm. If you remember anything at all about traditional camera lenses, then you realize you’d probably have to have a lens tripod just to hold something like that up. But this camera is more than just a pretty lens. It also comes with 12.1 mega-pixel resolution and a 3-inch tilting LCD display. The camera is also equipped with a vibration reduction system. This arrangement is designed to reduce the effects of camera shake when taking photos with slow shutter speeds or at high levels of zoom. The P90 senses the camera moving and adjusts the image sensor to cancel out the movement.

The Nikon Coolpix has a lot going for it, not the least of which is its current availability at an excellent discount. New models can be found in the mid-$300 range at most camera shops. But if you’re looking for an even bigger discount, they’ve recently been selling just above $200 on eBay. So if you’re in the market for a trusted and tested prosumer digital camera, take a closer look at the Nikon Coolpix P90.

Taken with a Canon Powershot G9

The Canon name has long been associated with quality photography, and it is no different with their Powershot line of digital cameras. However, shopping for digital cameras from Canon could be a little confusing if you don’t fully understand how they name the various Powershot models. It’s not just a matter of marketing, the letters and numbers for each model actually mean something. If you know what the letters stand for, then shopping for the right Canon model will be much easier.

The low-end of the Powershot line starts with the A-series cameras. These are affordable digital cameras that are known for their ease of use. That doesn’t mean they are stripped down cameras, but the advanced features are tucked away so that most people can stick to simple, pre-programmed operation.

The next cameras in line are those in Canon’s E-series. Like the A-series cameras, these all tend to be quite affordable, but the emphasis is more on style. These are the cameras to look at if you want great design at a discount price.

D-series cameras from Canon are for the adventurer inside you. If you want to spend time taking pictures where the environment is wet, cold or on the edge, then you need to get a D-series camera, because it will be waterproof, freeze proof and shock proof.

Are you interested in style without sacrificing performance? That’s what Canon’s S/SD series is built on. You may have seen models like the IXY Digital, the ELPH or the Ixus. These advanced and ultra-compact cameras perform at a high level but maintain ease-of-use.

The S/SX-series cameras are equipped with long optical zoom lenses. That makes them great for both portrait and landscape photography applications. Closely related to these are the straight S-series prosumer models.

Finally, we reach the G-series, Canon’s top-of-the-line flagship cameras. Again, these are primarily prosumer cameras with advanced features and a fairly robust price tag as well.

As you can see, once you understand the naming conventions of Canon Powershot cameras, you can immediately zoom into the series that meets your needs and focus on the specifications based on how you intend to use your new camera.

Taken with a Coolpix S8000

If you’re in the market for a good digital camera, you should consider the Nikon Coolpix line of cameras. Coolpix cameras are compact, convenient and stylish. Their fast operation and standard settings won’t slow you down when you’re trying to catch a memory. Within the Coolpix line, you can choose from three different series: performance, style and life. The following article should help you decide which Nikon Coolpix camera is right for you.

One of the best things about the era of digital cameras is how convenient picture taking has become. There’s never a question about whether you should bring a camera along. Today’s models are so compact that you can easily include them with your gear for the day. Not only are they compact, they have actually become quite stylish. Their sleek looks and full range of available colors have made Nikon Coolpix cameras almost as much a fashion statement as a photography tool.

You know, there’s something about real life that doesn’t wait for you to get a camera ready. Luckily, with the various Nikon Coolpix camera models, you can be shooting photos in an instant. Their fast operation and default settings mean that you can be hitting the shutter button as soon as the fun starts and capture every precious moment. At the same time, most Coolpix models offer the versatility to change the settings if you want. But it’s great that you don’t have to.

When you’re looking at Coolpix cameras, you need to know what the different model numbers mean. Some Coolpix models start with the letter P, others start with the letter S or L. Cameras that start with the letter P are part of the “performance” series. These have the most performance-enhancing features. The letter S stands for “style.” Coolpix S-series cameras are ultra-slim and stylish, but still offer a full range of features for excellent digital photography. Finally, the letter L stands for “life.” If you’re looking for ease-of-use, then the L-series models were made just for you.

Digital camera technology continues to advance, making it easier to take stunning digital photographs. However, the downside to having extra functions and capabilities is an increased need for power. Battery tech is struggling to keep up. Unfortunately, it’s common to encounter a dead battery signal right in the middle of shooting an important event. The day may come when we don’t have to give batteries a second thought. But until that day, here are five tips you can use that will help your digital camera batteries last longer.

Turn off the LCD. Most cameras have a traditional optical viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen on the back. Even though the screen is quite small, it still consumes the lion’s share of battery power in the camera. If you find yourself taking pictures without any backup cameras at the ready, you can turn off the LCD screen and just look through the viewfinder.

Turn off the flash. Granted, you may be shooting in low-light conditions and turning off the flash is not an option. However, try to think of ways to use existing light more creatively. Not only will your pictures be more life-like, you will be able to shoot more pictures on a set of batteries.

Stop zooming in and out. Moving the optical elements in the lens takes lots of juice from the batteries. Try moving around physically with the camera if possible. If you need a tighter shot, you can always crop the photo later with editing software.

Keep your camera warm. Cold batteries die more quickly. If you are taking pictures out in the cold, try stuffing the camera inside your coat to keep it warm between shots. Keeping the batteries as warm as possible will help them last longer.

Review your photos after you download them. One of the advantages of digital photography is the ability to review your photos immediately. However, if you’re low on battery power, a better option is to wait and look at them after they’ve been downloaded to your computer or printer. Remember, the LCD screen requires a lot from the batteries and the less you use it, the more pictures you can take.

You can’t always choose the conditions in which you take pictures. There may be too much light or not enough. Your subjects might be surrounded by people or things you would rather not have in the picture. Every time you press the shutter button, you hope the picture will turn out good, but you never know for sure until you see it. In the days of film cameras, what you shot was pretty much what you were stuck with. But today’s digital world allows us to alter reality and improve on a less than perfect picture.

First of all, digital camera editing software can be used to change the lighting. If you’ve taken more than a few digital shots, you probably already know that perfect lighting is difficult to achieve. All too often, the faces of our friends and loved ones are washed out by too much flash, or they become unrecognizable because there’s not enough light. Both of these conditions can be easily improved by adjusting brightness and contrast values with software. Simple edit the settings until the lighting looks right, then save and print your new, improved photograph.

Digital camera editing software can also save the day when it comes to “red-eye.” Have you ever taken photos of someone only to have them show up on the print with other-worldly, glowing red eyes? That’s what happens when your camera flash is reflected back to the lens by their retinas. Fixing it in the real world means moving the flash farther away from the lens. But once you’ve downloaded the photo to a computer, most programs can remove red-eye with the click of a mouse.

Cropping is another easy function found in digital camera editing software. Cropping a photo in film days was a complicated process. But with software, cropping is as easy as drawing a box and clicking the “crop” button.

As you can see, today’s photo editing software makes it easy to vastly improve your digital photos. This means you can concentrate on capturing the moment and then fix any shortcomings of the shot later.