Photo Club

Nikon today have announced a range of 7 new digital cameras. They range from the budget through to more expensive and feature rich models.

• Nikon Coolpix P90 – a super-zoom camera with a 24x optical zoom.
• Nikon Coolpix L100 (another super-zoom camera).
• Nikon Coolpix S630 – 12MP with a 7x optical zoom.
• Nikon Coolpix S620 – 12MP, 4x optical zoom.
• Nikon Coolpix S230 – 10MP with a 3x optical zoom lens.
• Nikon Coolpix S220 – 10MP with 3x optical zoom.
• Nikon Coolpix L19 and Nikon Coolpix L20 – 8 and 10MP respectively – both with 3.6x optical zoom – budget cameras.

All of these Nikon Coolpix cameras come with a range of scene modes and features including smile and blink detection and Motion detection.
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High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) can be both challenging and rewarding for the photographer. It can also be frustrating for the novice because it involves expertise in both the field as well as on the computer. This is because to do HDRI, you need to capture multiple shots of the same scene with some subtle differences in your exposure, then you have to put those images back together again on the computer to get the proper look.

The goal of Practical HDRI is to help you develop your eye with regard to this technology. While technically there is a lot of math potentially involved with HDRI, the author purposely stays away from it so that you will not be intimidated. Practical HDRI is 170 pages in length and covers eight chapters.

Chapter 1, "Cameras and Gear for High Dynamic Range Imaging," begins by talking about the kind of equipment that is needed for creating HDR images. Obviously, things like a DSLR camera and a tripod are recommended, as well as a large and fast memory card for recording the images. But also examined are the additional items such as the cable releases, lenses, and software that will help in image creation. Chapter 2, "Composition, Framing, and Exposure Basics," explains that HDRI is not a magic bullet that just fixes all problems. You still need to follow the basic rules of photography. Here you will learn about the basics of composition, framing and the rule of thirds.

Chapter 3, "Popular Breeds of Lenses for High Dynamic Range," now looks at the types of lenses that lend themselves to HDRI. Here you will see some of the breed specific tips for making the most of your lenses. Chapter 4, "Capturing Images for High Dynamic Range Imaging," now gets to the heart of HDRI; the exposure. In traditional photography, you would try to get the single best exposure, but now you will bracket your images to try to find a series of best exposures. In this chapter you will learn how to recognize the best opportunities for HDRI.

Chapter 5, "HDR Generation from your Bracketed Photos," takes on the challenge of, having bracketed your images, combining them into a HDRI image with the tonality and luminance range that is much greater than a traditional low-bit low, dynamic range image. Chapter 6, "Advance HDR Merging Techniques," will show you additional techniques to adjust to problems that you may encounter when working with HDRI. One of these problems is ghosting: where something gets into one of the bracketed images that should not have.

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Samsung has announced the L310W (Known as the SL310W in the US), a 13.6 megapixel camera with a 28mm equivalent wide angle lens. The camera includes all sorts of features to help take photographs of friends and family, and an Auto Contrast Balance feature to boost dark area of back-lit scenes.

Press release:

Samsung Widens its successful L series range

16 July 2008 – Samsung, leaders in innovation and digital imaging, today launches the L310W.  Following the success of Samsung’s L series cameras, the stylish L310W features a 13.6 megapixel image sensor, 28mm 3.6x wide optical zoom lens and intelligent 2.7” LCD screen to give clear detailed information. The L310W is a fully featured digital compact camera that delivers the image quality and optical performance demanded by camera users today.

For portrait and group shots, the L310W includes Samsung’s Perfect Portrait System which contains a range of features; “Face Detection”, locates the subject’s face within the frame and automatically adjusts auto focus and auto exposure to ensure better composition and image quality for portraits; in “Blink Detection Mode” the camera will take a series of shots when closed eyes are detected, to ensure subjects are captured with their eyes open; in “Smile Mode” a picture is automatically taken when smiles are detected in "Beauty Shot" mode facial skin is retouched for a brighter and smoother skin tone.

The L310W is a stylish, 13.6 megapixel compact camera which boasts Samsung’s improved processing technology and features such as Digital Image Stabilisation, which helps compensate for unwanted camera movement and subject blur – so pictures are always in sharp focus. The camera also features the Auto Contrast Balance (ACB) which will correct shadows under back-lit conditions, ensuring a perfect picture in challenging lighting.

Also included in the comprehensive range of features:

• MPEG-4 Movie recording mode with SVGA resolution at 20fps, users can also edit and zoom during filming
• A highly sensitive ISO 3200 (3M) for better pictures in low light
• In camera rechargeable battery system
• Various scene modes, continuous shooting and exposure bracketing to help photographers of all levels of ability get the best shots

The L310W is priced at £199 and will be available from leading high street and online retailers from September 2008. All Samsung Cameras include a two year warranty. Customers requiring further information should call 0845 726 7864 or visit samsungcamera.co.uk

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Pentax today announced its 18-250mm 14x superzoom covering an equivalent focal range of 27.5 – 383 mm. Alongside the hulking zoom range it also boasts internal focus and a closest focus distance of 45 cm (17.7 in) throughout the zoom range – giving a reproduction ratio of around 1:3. One ED (Extra-low Dispersion) and two AL (Aspherical) elements in its design help to minimize optical aberrations. The lens will be available from October 2007 with a recommended price of US $499.95. More info and specifications after the jump.

Jump to:
Press release
Specifications
Pricing and availability

Press release:

smc PENTAX-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3ED AL [IF]

A high-performance zoom lens offering a versatile approximately 14X zoom ratio, designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the marketing of the smc PENTAX-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3ED AL [IF] interchangeable zoom lens, designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. With its approximately 14-times zoom ratio covering from wide-angle to super-telephoto ranges, this versatile lens handles a great variety of applications without the need for lens changes.

Main Features:

1. High zoom ratio
   When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this zoom lens offers an approximately 14-times zoom ratio that covers the range from 27.5mm wide angle to 383mm super-telephoto in the 35mm format. Without the need for lens changes, it can be used for a wide variety of applications — ranging from such standard applications as landscape photography, snapshots and portrait at frequently used focal lengths, to specialized applications like sports and wildlife photography at the super-telephoto range.
2. Superb image description assured by extra-low dispersion (ED) and aspherical optical (AL) elements
   Incorporating one extra-low dispersion (ED) and two aspherical (AL) optical elements in its optics, this lens effectively compensates for the adverse effects of various aberrations, assuring outstanding image description.
3. Digital SLR-exclusive design
   This lens is exclusively designed for use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras, with its image circle perfectly proportioned to their image sensor size (23.5mm x 15.7mm). Since the coating, curvature and position of all optical elements are optimized for the characteristics of digital images, it effectively minimizes annoying flare and ghost images in the resulting images.
4. Others
   1. An extra-short minimum focusing distance of 0.45 meters over the entire zoom range
   2. Inner-focus (IF) mechanism to avoid lens extension during focusing

Main Specifications

Lens mount	Pentax KAF mount
Lens construction	16 elements in 13 groups
Angle of view	76° ~ 6.5° (when mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body)
Number of diaphragm blades	7
Minimum aperture	F22 ~ F45
Minimum focus distance	45cm (1.48 ft)
Filter size	62mm
Maximum magnification	0.28x
Dimensions	75mm (maximum diameter) x 85.5mm (length) (3.0 inch x 3.4 inch)
Weight (no hood)	455 g (16 oz)

Pricing and availability

The smc PENTAX-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3ED AL [IF] will be available from October 2007 with a recommended price of US $499.95.

 

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