Digital Camera Technology

Some of the most famous and affordable digital SLR’s are from the company Nikon.  With the success of the Nikon D40, the popularity of Nikon has risen to heights never before seen in the camera industry.  The fact is that the D40 is still in the market and is still selling because of demand for the affordable camera.  But there are other cameras that do the job as well and with added features to boot.  One of them is known as the Nikon D80.  It’s been more than 2 years since the announcement of the D70 and finally the successor, Nikon D80, is taking the stand. 

Changes

The Nikon D80 is now a 10 mega pixel monster of a DSLR and it fits nicely in between the market for amateur and professional photographers.  This basically means that the Nikon D80 can be used and understood by just about anybody who comes across it.  Its design is clearly based on the D70 but there are some significant differences.  First of all, the CCD is now a 10.2 mega pixel, whereas the D70 packed a 6.1 mega pixel camera.  The Nikon D80 body is even more compact than its predecessor’s which makes it a little lighter as well.  The Nikon D80 also sports a much larger viewfinder with x0.94 magnification and it has a mechanical shutter only which makes for slower performance; this has proven to be one of the gripes of many consumers of the Nikon D80.  Most believe it would have been better off with an electronic shutter.  Another feature that is new in the Nikon D80 is its image processing engine.  It was designed based on another earlier model, the D200.  The D70 did not have this technology.  On-camera retouching features are also available on the Nikon D80 including red-eye reduction, trimming, overlay and D-lighting.

Familiar

Although there are significant changes in the Nikon D80, consumers of the Nikon D-series will grow quite comfortably with it.  It is slightly smaller than the D70, but most of the controls are the same if not even better or more improved.  The Nikon D80 placement of buttons is more or less the same and there are a few added buttons dedicated to particular commonly-used functions.  For the most part, previous Nikon D70 users will be happy to know that the Nikon D80 interface is just about the same.  It is still straightforward and about the only new menu is the Retouch tab which allows one to take advantage of the new retouch features in the Nikon D80.

The Nikon D80 will definitely take over as its predecessors better.  With all the added features plus more power and image control / editing functions, the Nikon D80 is definitely worth the price that still doesn’t seem to break the $1000 mark.  After all, Nikon is known to give quality products at a very affordable rate.  For starting and professional photographers, the Nikon D80 will be a welcome change, despite its major flaw in mechanical shutter speed.

Top Ultra Compact Digital Cameras

Not everybody is a professional photographer.  But everybody would like to take a professional shot of something that is dear to them.  This is made possible with the ever-advancing technologies in digital cameras.  Improvements to smaller cameras are being made so that people who like to pack light can also avail of smaller cameras that take high quality snapshots.  Here are some top ultra compact digital cameras that are available on the market under different brands.

Canon

When it comes to small, lightweight, and solid designs, the average consumer will tell you that the Canon camera is the way to go.  Canon develops some of the world’s top ultra compact digital cameras.  One of those is the Canon Powershot SD750.  This slim camera has a form factor that will allow you to slip it in a shirt pocket.  It packs a whopping 7.1 mega pixels and sports a large 3.0-inch LCD screen that you can use to review your snapshots comfortably.  Inside resides the DIGIC III chip that helps to sharpen images, reduce blur, and reduce power consumption.  Like most Canon products, this camera has a metal finish that makes for a stylish addition to anybody’s lifestyle.

Nikon

Although Nikon has in more recent years been concentrating on their DSLR series of cameras, they do have a line of top ultra compact digital cameras in the market.  One of their more surprising products is the Nikon Coolpix S50c.  This thin package packs a bursting 7.1 mega pixel sensor, and a vivid 3.0-inch LCD screen for better picture review.  The one thing that makes this digital camera stand out from many on the market is the fact that it has WIFI capabilities so you can actually send your pictures out to site on the Internet or to your email as soon as you snap them.  This is probably one of the better selling points of the camera that most other companies have yet to emulate into their products.

Sony

Nothing presents style much like Sony’s top ultra compact digital cameras.  The Sony W90 is a sleek and small camera that packs 8.1 mega pixels, has a Super Steady Shot stabilization system that promises blur-free shots, and auto and manual focus.  The number of mega pixels is amazing for such a small package and for just a little over $250, this is definitely a bargain for the consumer on the go.

Panasonic

Never has the world seen so much packed into such a compact product in such a way that it seems impossible.  Enter Panasonic and the Lumix DMC-LX2.  This camera almost has it all.  With a 10.2 mega pixel sensor, this camera is also capable of high definition video at a 16:9 ratio; for those who don’t know what it means, think widescreen which is all the rage in today’s camera products.  This is actually one of the first cameras on the market to offer the widescreen aspect ratio feature.  The camera sports a built in microphone and speaker just for that special movie mode feature, a balanced 4x optical and 4x digital zoom, and a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen for high quality panoramic shots.  The ratio can also be easily switched to 4:3 or 3:2 aspects.  This is definitely the epitome of small yet powerful products out in the market of top ultra compact digital cameras today.

Nikon is a Japanese company that specializes in optics and imaging. Over the years that they have been in business, they have brought out products to the market which include binoculars and microscopes so you can see why their brand is trusted especially in the areas of lenses. Nikon is still up to the game when it comes to competing with some of the best in the industry. This year, the latest Nikon offerings did nothing but wow their consumers.

The Nikon Coolpix S50

Bound to become an easy favorite, the Coolpix S50 is one of the latest Nikon offerings that is dressed to impress. Sleek and tiny, this 7.1 mega pixel digital camera sports a huge 3.0-inch LCD screen and integrated image stabilization. For a few extra bucks, consumers might also want to take a look at the Coolpix5c that has WIFI capabilities. With or without it, though, Nikon has come out with yet another winner in the ultra compact digital camera category.

The Nikon L12

A casual camera that has captured the hearts of everyday users, this compact is one of latest Nikon offerings that is more than just affordable; it’s a digital camera that does the job. The Nikon L127.1 mega pixel sensor includes face detection technology to help focus portraits so that you can capture the expressions of people’s faces precisely and correctly. Nikon has gone out of their way to make sure that their consumers will have evidence of all the smiles and moments that they want to remember. Nikon has also packed the L12 with D-lighting and RedEye Fix to help make the pictures taken look more accurate even if you are not a professional photographer. With a , 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, the L12 is a great startup, easy-to-use digital camera and is one of the best of the latest Nikon offerings of 2007.

The Nikon Coolpix P5000

The latest Nikon offerings also includes on that is one of many contending to be the best digital camera in the 10 mega pixel category; after all, it seems that 10 mega pixels is fast becoming the new standard. As a point and shoot camera, the Coolpix P5000 is no doubt after the crown that the Canon A640 currently holds. They look physically similar and this looks like a challenge for Canon to upgrade their winning product. The camera does have a few tricks up its own sleeves that may attract some of Canon’s market though. For example, it has a lens-shift vibration reduction system that offers stabilization that the A640 cannot. The camera itself is bound to push customers into thinking about what there other choices are aside from the Canon A460.

The Nikon D40

Known for their budget DSLR’s, Nikon likes to simplify the technology so that aspiring photographers will also get a chance at understanding the concepts behind the DSLR and its capabilities. The new Nikon D40 is a high-performance DSLR with a 6.1 mega pixel sensor. It is not as large as most DSLR’s tend to be and this is certainly one of its high points. Nikon has hit it right with their DSLR line and the latest Nikon offerings like the D40 are bound to be a huge success with many beginner and serious photographers.