Archive for October, 2009

Great Deals on Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Great Point and Shoot Digital Cameras
Ideal for people who value simplicity, the top cameras in the point and shoot category produce high quality pictures with an absolute minimum of effort. My 2 favorites of the bunch are the Canon PowerShot A630 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3.
The A630′s great physical controls and easy-to-use features will appeal to those who appreciate a variety of settings to capture their photos.
I really like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 When looking for a darn nice for a little more money don’t settle for less. The TZ3 has a powerful (high quality glass) zoom lens with a nice wide viewing angle, and it takes awesome pictures. You will love this camera even if photography has become a serious hobby or your thinking about it as a career.
If so then you should add a few hundred more and get yourself a Canon Digital Rebel T1i (aka EOS 500D). This camera is a fantastic consumer DSLR and is full featured, yet within a very reasonable price range for camera enthusiasts. Go take a look at the quality of this camera and feel it in your hands. Think about that vacation and all the picture you will take and have more fun than a box of puppies.
Hint, you can get these cameras at Costco for less or you can click through to my website and pay a little more, I don’t mind. www.walterminton.com
Walter

A Phone Call with Ansel Adams

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

The first time I knew anything about digital cameras was many years ago while talking on the phone with Ansel Adams. It was around 1981, not sure of the date.

I called him and didn’t expect him to answer the phone but thought it would be someone in his office. He answered the phone and said “hello”. I said “is this Ansel Adams?” and he said “yes, who is calling?”

I was star struck at first and told him so. He said “that’s OK.”

Anyway he was really nice and we talked for a while about the Zone System and the problems with photo contests I was having at the time. He didn’t like most of them and didn’t care much for photography schools either.

One thing that I remember that will interest lots of people is that he knew a lot about the future of digital photography and what was going to happen. Amazing isn’t it, remember this was 1981, no computers to speak of, no cell phones, no internet, but he knew digital photography was coming.

He said “I hope I’m around to see it!” Then he said “good luck” and we said goodbye.

My wife came in as I hung up and said “what’s wrong with you?”

I said, “I just talked to Ansel Adams!”

she said, “that’s nice, I have to fix dinner, and the cat’s in the highest tree on the mountain.”

I said, “you don’t understand, I called Ansel Adams and I know the future!.

She said, “OK, what’s happening in the future? Are you making any money?”

I said, “I’m taking you out tonight”

She said, “Wow, maybe you could talk to this guy more often.”

Pint-Sized Pro Cameras in People Photography

Friday, October 9th, 2009

People photography of all kinds is in demand but good photographs of people are natural and unposed. Most people are not actors or models and if they sense the presence of a camera they react in all kinds of ways. Some people feel awkward or shy or even overly proud.

Even movie stars don’t like a giant lens pointing at them unless it’s someone they trust and of course they should be PAID in some way. At least report something good along with the clothing malfunction.

Cameras like the Leica’s and Nikons are worth the money if you can afford them and you have the photographic skill to use them. Digital cameras like the new but old school looking Leica M9 and X1 are small and cost around five grand with extra lens.

If you don’t want to spend quite so much money the Nikon 8000 or Canon G11 will get you in the ballpark, well maybe the same city but anyway they take great pictures and are small enough to hide in a large pocket.

Very interesting and not only because of price, is Leica’s new X1. It’s kinda like a miniature SLR camera, only with a single, fixed lens. To me the great thing is it’s a high quality camera you can hide in your hands and photograph everyday life without interfering with it. Later after you get the photos you want then pretend you are shooting and ask for a release. If they say no then you’ve lost nothing so keep moving.

The Leica’s have almost every feature you would ever want in any camera. The Leica M9 Full Frame 35mm is a huge 18 Megapixels and will sell for around $ 5000 and like all Leica Cameras is worth it if you can afford it.

In my opinion if you are rich and don’t even take pictures the Leica is still worth the five grand just to hold it in your hands and feel it’s quality and history. Just be sure not to use it because it’s too expensive for that. Oh, and don’t walk around at night with it either. It’s small so you can probably hide it from the wife unlike that old car you bought; )