Wize Blog

14.6 MP Point-and-Shoot Reviewed

Pocket-lint came out with a review of the 14.6MP Sigma DP1 today. The camera uses Foveon X3 CMOS sensor technology, which is a sensor that can record 3 colors--red, green and blue--at each pixel location.

The sensors as described by the Sigma site use "three silicon embedded layers of photo sensors stacked to take advantage of silicon’s ability to absorb red, green and blue light at different respective depths. The size of image sensor used in DP1 camera is approximately 10 times larger than those used in an ordinary point and shoot digital camera."

The camera promises to take pictures as good as a dSLR camera. The incredible thing about this camera is the sensor is as big as that found in some lower-level dSLR cameras. It's 20.7x13.8mm!

The DP1 can also shoot in Raw format. The lens is a wide angle but with no zoom of 28mm (35mm equiv).

The camera also has a hot shoe for external flash units, shutter speeds of 1/4000sec. to    15sec, and the following manual shooting modes: Auto Mode, (P) Program AE, (S) Shutter Priority AE, (A) Aperture Priority AE, (M) Manual.

Nikon D60 with 2 Lenses a Deal

Ritz camera has a deal on its D60. You get two lenses with the 10MP camera, a 18-55 VR (Vibration Reduction) and a 55-200. Both those lenses are excellent for a hobbyist who wants to become professional. You also get a gadget bag and DVDs, not to mention free shipping.

Most reviewers at wize.com give this camera a 5/5 rating.

Here's one of the reviews for the camera as seen on wize.com:
"Out of the box, just point and shoot. It's that easy. Whether you're a beginner or an avid pro, you can't go wrong with the D60. Make sure to use an ultra high speed SD card to maximize the features in the camera. The 18-55mm AF-S VR lense included with this kit further demonstrate the potential that this camera has. Battery life was longer than expected considering the 2.5 inch LCD screen. I took over 400 pictures over a period of 3 days before having to recharge the battery. Built in flash is good for up to 15 feet but would recommend a speed light. If you're having second thoughts about this camera, don't. You will not regret it."

Full Frame Lens Makes the Mark

Popphoto.com recently reviewed the Canon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM AF, coming to the conclusion that it's a good lens with less bulk with a sharp, stabilized tele zoom.

It found the lens to be comparable to the 105-450mm for the Canon EOS Digital Rebel models.

The lens is expensive ($1,143) because it has both refractive and diffractive glass.

They tested the lens and it rating ranged from very good to excellent.

The lens has been around for awhile and there are other reviews at BobAtkins.com and at dpreview.com.

How to Chose a Digital SLR Camera Video

Videojug.com has a video that tells you how to chose a dSLR camera (rate and buy at wize.com). They go over what features you should look out for when buying a dSLR--

1. Definition of dSLR
2. Camera use
3. Camera size
4. Sensor size
5. LCD monitor
6. Raw and JPEG format
7. Memory cards
8. Lenses
9. Compatibility
10. Light Balance
11. Shutter speed
12. Burst Mode
13. Megapixels
14. Other features

ISO Settings Explained

Here's a great video about ISO settings. Remember when you used to have to buy film according to ISO speeds--800 for low light to 100 for daylight.

Today, digital cameras have settings for ISO speed, so no need to change your roll of film as the light lessens during the day.

Here's a great video that explains the ins and outs of ISO.

10 Questions to Ask When Digital Camera Shopping

Computerworld named the 10 best compact cameras today in an article on their Web site.

What I want to know is what they looked for in a camera to name it as one of the best. By reading between the lines, you can find out a lot about shopping for the right camera for your needs.

Here are some questions to ask (with commentary) while you're shopping for a digital camera:

1. Does the camera start up fast? You don't want to wait forever for your camera to turn on.
2. Is the image quality good? You don't want a camera that always takes a blurry image.
3. Is the lens wide enough?  You want to be able to include your whole family in the frame.
4. Does the camera take correct exposures? In other words, are the images too light or too dark?
5. Does the camera have Av, Tv and P modes (manual exposure modes)? If you want to take cool night shots by controlling the amount of time the shutter stays open, then get a camera that lets you control it.
6. Does the camera zoom in adequately? If you've tried 10X optical zoom, you'll probably want it.
7. Does the camera have IS (Image Stabilization)? If it does you'll be able to take clearer pictures more of the time.
8. Does the camera take video? Video is always a nice feature to have in a camera.
9. Does the camera have a view finder? If you're old-fashioned and like the camera near your eye, then you'll want a view finder to use instead or in addition to a LCD screen.
10. Does the camera have enough megapixels? If they're aren't enough megapixels, you'll get a picture that looks like it came from a computer made 15 years ago.

Intro to Macro Video

Macro photography makes the viewer aware of texture and color. In this video, the narrator uses professional techniques in obtaining images using a macro lens. He goes over depth of field as it has to do with micro photography. He also uses a white, silver, then gold reflector to add light to the subject. Last, he uses two reflectors at once to get rid of white-out and add warm light to the subject.

Shutter Speed, Aperture, Depth of Field

Shutter speed, aperture and depth of field are not all that hard to understand. I've found a video that does so in fairly simple terms. This video gives the formulas for preventing blur at various focal lengths. Please view below--

Pricey Point-and-Shoot Emulates dSLR

The Fujifilm Finepix S100fs is a point-and-shoot digital camera that emulates a dSLR (digital Single Lens Reflex) camera.

In the video below, a narrator explains the following facts about the camera--

Camera is for film simulation.
Camera gets 11 MP resolution. 
Camera has manual, automatic, program and priority modes.
Camera has face detection software.
Camera has 2.5 inch screen for playback.

Check out the video about the $800 camera.

The Canon 40D/450D Comparison Video

With the Canon 450D kit you get something new--a 18-55mm lens with an image stabilization feature. That's one of the things you learn about that camera and the 40D in the video below.

The LCD screen on the 450D is now 3 inches and the buttons are on the top (since the 400D).

With the Canon 40D, you get live view, which means you can see your image to frame it in the LCD screen. It's a more professional camera with a magnesium alloy casing (it's tougher than the plastic of the 450D). The 450D also go up to 3200 ISO.

For more (including a comparison of images from the two cameras), take a look at the video below (stick with the video all the way though as there are a few short commercial interruptions throughout the video.