Review Digital Camera World 08-04-2014

Digital Camera World

Eventbrite makes it happen Create an event and sell tickets online through Eventbrite. It's simple! Sign up and get started today. From our sponsors

What is image stabilisation? A simple layman's guide Aug 3rd 2014, 23:01, by jmeyer What is image stabilisation and why should you use it? If you're new to photography you might understandably have a few questions about some of the technology and equipment. In our latest layman's guide to fundamental gear we answer some of the most common questions photographers have about how to use image stabilisation. What is image stabilisation? Image stabilisation is a technology to help you take sharp handheld images at slower shutter speeds. Effectively, the technology enables the lens to compensate for any movement in the camera or lens that could result in an out-of-focus photo. Different manufacturers refer to the technology by different names. For example, Canon uses Image Stabilisation (IS), while Nikon calls it Vibration Reduction (VR). Some cameras come with image stabilisation built into the body itself, but it's more commonly found in lenses, where a small movement has a disproportionately greater effect than in a camera body. SEE MORE: A layman’s guide to depth of field – how to check and affect sharpness like a pro When should I use image stabilisation? You can use IS most of the time when hand-holding a camera, but it comes into its own when you are using longer lenses, which are difficult to hold steady. Or whenever light levels are low, which results in slower shutter speeds and hence more time for vibration to occur. You will find an on/off button for your lens' image stabilisation system on the lens barrel.. When shouldn't I use image stabilisation? You shouldn't need to use image stabilisation when your camera is on a tripod, so it is best to switch it off. (While some cameras sense that the camera is motionless and disable IS automatically, many don't, so control IS manually. ) The 'internal' movement of an image stabilisation system can potentially cause camera shake during a long exposure. It is also best to switch IS off when panning the camera for an action shot. How effective is image stabilisation? Image stabilisation is very effective. Depending on the system and conditions, it can help you get sharp shots at up to four stops slower than would normally be expected. But remember: image stabilisation is only helping you from preventing image blur caused by camera shake. You will still get a blurred image if your shutter speed is too slow. READ MORE 77 photography techniques, tips and tricks for taking pictures of anything Beginner photography tips: the most common mistakes and how to avoid them Camera shake: the ultimate cheat sheet for using tripods, monopods and shooting handheld 10 reasons why your photos aren’t sharp (and what you can do about it) This Week in Photography – news from 28 July to 3 August Aug 3rd 2014, 10:00, by jmeyer Welcome to our weekly photography news section, with the stories that matter to serious photographers. Two new Canon bridge cameras In a further sign of the ongoing (some would say surprising) resilience of the power compact market, Canon has announced two new 16Mp bridge cameras – bridge cameras being sophisticated compacts with long built-in lenses. First up is the PowerShot SX520 HS, featuring a 42x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 24-1,008mm) and a backlit sensor. The SX520IS will be onsale through a wide range of outlets and cost £299. The less powerful PowerShot SX400 IS has the same sensor, but gets by with a 30x optical zoom lens and will sell exclusively through Argos stores for £259. DxO’ hails the ‘new leader’ Even though the Nikon D810 SLR has only been out a couple of months, it’s already doing well in tests and reviews. DxO, a prominent maker of lens-testing and image editing software, recently announced that the full-frame, 36Mp behemoth has chalked up a class-leading DxOMark Sensor Score of 97. This is higher than the original Nikon D800 (95) and subsequent D800E (96). “It's an outstanding score with excellent colour depth and an extremely wide dynamic range at base ISO for the most subtle tonal gradations in highlights and shadows,” DxO Labs said. “The low-light score of 2853 ISO is also excellent, however it's somewhat behind the best in that category.” Click here for more information on the test, which saw the Nikon D810 proclaimed the "new leader" in the DxO database. SEE MORE: Nikon D810 review MacBook specs raised, prices lowered Apple’s MacBook Pros are popular laptops with photographers and the company recently announced it has upgraded the models with Retina displays. The entry level 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will include dual-core Intel Core i5 processors up to 2.8 GHz and 8GB of memory. Meanwhile, the 15-inch model will come with faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors and 16GB of memory. Prices have been cut too. The flagship 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will start from £1,999/$2,499. while the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro will be £100 cheaper at £899/$1,099. Food, animal-photo competitions announced Entry is now open to the latest Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition, won last year by DPR Lao-based Tessa Bunney. New categories include Food for the Family (families eating together) and the self-explanatory Bring Home the Harvest. Judges include well-known TV food pundit Jay Rayner, and David Loftus, Jamie Oliver’s photographer. Younger photographers are also being encouraged to enter the RSPCA Young Photographer of the Year award. "With school summer holidays stretching out ahead of us, the RSPCA’s Young Photographer Awards is the perfect boredom-buster for children," said well-known wildlife photographer and judge, Chris Packham. New diffuser for on-camera flash As part of the ongoing quest to make on-camera flash more palatable and adjustable, a "revolutionary"  light modifier called BounceLite has been announced. It’s described as a mini-softbox/bounce-card combination and features various filters and gels. READ MORE Canon vs Nikon: the DSLR system comparison you’ve been waiting for! 77 photography techniques, tips and tricks for taking pictures of anything 10 common exposure problems every photographer faces (and how to overcome them) 7 common focusing problems that plague all photographers (and how you can avoid them)

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions