Learn the basics of using a digital camera in thisfree photography video. Expert: Chris C. Conklin Bio: Chris Conklin has three college degrees and is a world traveler. He has retired from the USAF and is following his entertainment and photography passions full time. Filmmaker: Chris Conklin

Photographers are a picky lot, and many have a favorite camera case they won’t part with for love or money. But talk to a few of these picture fanatics and you’ll soon discover that although they all have a favorite style, very few of them can agree on which style of camera case is best. They will endlessly argue about the advantages of a backpack style over a shoulder holster, whether you want a hand-held camera case or a rolling camera bag and which kind of interior layout is best. One of the main points of contention, however, is whether a hard shell case or a soft side camera bag is best.

The differences between the two are very similar to the differences between traditional hard shell luggage and soft shell luggage. Hard shell camera cases are made from injection molded hard plastic, while soft camera cases are usually made from high denier nylon. You can also get leather camera cases, but these are quickly losing favor in response to the versatility, stain resistance and strength of nylon.

Some photographers favor hard shell cases because they’re virtually indestructible. If you’re traveling around the globe and have to check your camera bag, you’ll probably feel better using a hard shell case. If you’re boating down the Nile River and there’s a danger of your camera case falling overboard, a good hard shell camera case will float, which can save you thousands of dollars. Who wants to see their camera and gear at the bottom of the river?

That being said, most hard shell camera cases are heavy, cumbersome and can be difficult to pack. There’s usually not much versatility built into the interior, so you’ll have to stick with the default packing method the manufacturer has designed, even if it doesn’t seem practical or intuitive to you. If you want to carry your gear around in a backpack style case, a hard shell camera case won’t win points for comfort. It will tend to dig in at the shoulders and isn’t going to conform to the body at all.

Soft shell camera cases made from high quality nylon, canvas or leather, with nylon being the overwhelming favorite because it’s water resistant but breathable, almost impossible to tear, and comes in a variety of strengths and colors. Far more photographers use soft shell camera cases than hard shell cases.

Soft side camera cases are easier to pack and extremely versatile. Most have movable dividers that can be rearranged to suit your needs or removed to give you some extra space. They’re also great for traveling with as carry-on luggage. They will conform more easily to the overhead compartment shape without banging up your gear and are easy to stow almost anywhere.

A soft backpack camera case will naturally be more comfortable than a hard shell. It will conform to the shape of your back and will have some give to it as you’re moving around. The lightweight material is a bonus when you’ll be hiking long distances with a backpack camera case.

The versatility of soft shell camera cases extends to their interiors. In addition to movable dividers, most will also have mesh pockets for smaller items such as memory cards and microfiber lens cloths. Some soft camera cases are expandable, so you can fill them to capacity when needed, or partially collapse the bag to make it a smaller, more manageable size if you’re only carrying the essentials. Many of today’s soft side camera cases are also modular – you can order two different cases that work separately, but can be fastened together to make one larger bag when needed.

The versatility and lightweight of soft camera cases place them squarely at the top of the list for most photographers. Once you’ve decided a soft camera case is right for you, visit some websites that specialize in camera cases to find the perfect one for your photography needs.

Many people looking to buy a second lens for their digital SLR camera are baffled by the number of lenses available. There are so many to choose from, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the choices. Check out these 5 top SLR camera lenses and discover why people love them so much.

1. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens

The key to this lens is the image stabilization. The stabilization allows more photo ops without having to use a tripod. This makes for more crystal clear photos at Johnny’s soccer game, or capturing a flock of birds at take-off. Image stabilization is an absolute must on a hand-held zoom telephoto lens.

2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

For people looking for a fixed focal length, this lens is lightweight and affordable. The images are sharp with great color balance. It’s great for portraits and it focuses as close as 18 inches, so you gardeners will find this lens very useful. Most people who use this lens can’t stop talking about the picture quality.

3. Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens

This Nikkor telephoto zoom len also has image stabilization which they call Vibration Reduction. It’s the Nikon version of the Canon listed above. The lens is ideal for sports, action, wildlife, and travel when you want a telephoto lens. The fans of this lens love it for capturing sports and action.

4. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens

Like the 50mm Canon lens above, this lens has a fixed focal length. But the quality of the pictures outweighs the fact that you need to move your feet around alot to get the shot. It’s really versatile and should be in everyone’s camera bag. Fans of this lens say it works great in low light situations both indoors and out.

5. Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens

This Nikkor telephoto zoom lens is great for professional or advanced amateur photographers. It helps you capture close-up sports shots and national park wildlife without standing right next to your subject. The Vibration Reductions extends the use of the camera to capture more shots while hand held. Like the telephoto lenses above, the lens is slower than a professional zoom, so it’s not a good choice for action photography in lower light conditions (like indoor sports without flash or outside sports at dusk).

Now obviously, these SLR camera lenses are only suitable for Canon and Nikon camera fans. But take this information and find a lens that works with your camera. You’ll explore an exciting new area of photography and take your hobby or profession to a whole new level.

For more information about camera lenses, check out Best SLR Camera.org

You’ve got a great new camera – congratulations! It may have a basic camera bag with it, or you may have purchased or received a camera that doesn’t have a bag at all. Before you tell yourself you don’t really need a camera bag, stop and consider the ramifications of lugging your camera around or wearing it on a strap around your neck all the time.

- If you have a camera of any decent size, you can carry it on a strap around your neck, but that can get old pretty quick. It’s fine when you’re quickly moving around and snapping pictures, but if you have a long break between sessions or are done for the day, that camera is going to get in your way. Tucking it into a camera bag gets it out of your way so you can move freely. Carrying a camera bag is more comfortable than hanging your equipment around your neck.

- If you’ve been using a photographer’s vest, you may be realizing the shortcomings of carrying gear this way. Fumbling around with small pockets is the least of your problems. Vests that will hold enough gear for a serious photographer tend to be cumbersome and hot. When you’re working in a warm environment or want to be able to move around freely, you’ll quickly shed the vest, leaving your equipment and camera in a heap on the floor with the vest. Wouldn’t a camera bag be a better idea? You can take out only what you need instead of having every possible lens, flash and piece of gear hanging off your body. Setting down your camera bag so you can quickly dig through it is also a plus – much easier than groping all over your vest while you’re wearing it. Another bonus – your gear isn’t likely to fall out of your bag, but if you’ve stowed multiple items in your photographer’s vest, it’s inevitable that something will fall out while you’re moving around.

- Some people don’t get a camera bag for their compact digital camera because it’s small enough to tuck into a pocket or purse. It’s a huge mistake; the lens of the camera will quickly be scratched up from shoving it into a denim pocket or letting it rattle around inside a purse where it will get banged up against who knows what. Using a small camera bag will protect your camera even if you tuck it into a pocket or handbag, giving you years more use and a much clearer shot when taking pictures.

- A small camera case protects your camera from the elements when it’s not in use. If you set it down on a table while you’re at an event, a spilled drink, crumbs from food and a number of other mishaps can gum up your camera or seriously damage it. Every time you set your compact digital camera down, tuck it into a small camera bag to protect it from accidents.

- Any time you get new camera equipment, you may discover your old bag isn’t working well for you anymore. Although it costs a bit extra, getting a new, roomier bag increases your versatility. You’ll be tempted to leave some gear or a lens behind if your old bag doesn’t hold everything, but wouldn’t you hate to see the perfect sunset or find the perfect action spot, only to realize the one lens you really need is at home because it didn’t fit into your camera bag? Do yourself a favor and get a larger bag for those times when you just can’t predict what you might need.

The price of a good quality camera bag is worth it every time. If you find yourself wondering whether you need a new camera bag, the answer is probably yes.

The Kodak EasyShare M1063 is a powerful 10.3 mega pixel digital camera for consumers who are style-conscious. It consists of features such as face detection technology and HD Picture capture. This camera is available in stylish colors and is simple to use. Its small design is suited for both your pocket and your budget.

The features of this camera are rather basic and simple. The 3x optical zoom lens is above average at a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 32–96mm. It consists of an orientation sensor and a CCD sensor that will flip pictures automatically if the camera is held sideways. The battery life on the camera was satisfactory as about 150 pictures can be taken before the battery dies.
The face detection technology captures pictures with highlights and shadows with greater clarity through its touch technology. The scene models within the camera are nothing new and consist of the usual landscape, sports and portrait suspects along with candlelit scenes and blacklit subject settings.

Online reviews have praised the camera’s clever two-part plug that enables the battery to be charged by USB, either by plugging it onto your computer or the mains. The camera’s red share button also enables users to mark pictures to be emailed or printed.

The camera menus are simple and easy to use. The horizontal tabs make it easy to navigate from different sections. It is also a plus that the menus are transparent so you are able to see your picture through the menu.

Videos can be recorded at 15 frames per second in VGA 640×480-pixel resolution. This is sufficient for online video sharing sites such as You Tube. Certain video editing options are available on the camera.

The Kodak EasyShare M1063 cannot be started up quickly as the welcome screen logo cannot be switched off. The Burst mode is fast as it only takes two seconds to capture four images. However, many reviewers have criticized the fact that the screen turns black whilst taking an image. This makes it difficult to capture subjects such as a child or a pet which are likely to be moving.

The pictures taken by this camera are decent without any signs of distortion. Although purple fringing affects skylines and other high-contrast shots, it does not reduce the clarity of the picture. The flash on the camera can’t be adjusted and this makes it more difficult to take pictures in dimly lit areas.

Some reviewers state that they like the Kodak EasyShare M1063 because of its large screen and reasonable price of about $180. It is also generally preferred from the Kodak M1073. The camera is criticized for its lack of manual control and features.

It concerns me as a photographer when I see the numerous articles and ebooks about making cash from your camera. 8 Easy steps or 10 ways to turn those snapshots into cash. And, “Hi shutterbug here’s a foolproof way to turn those photos into dollars”. Or, earn $200-$400 per day from your camera. With all the resource boxes pointing to, you guessed it, books and cds that will help you make money from your camera or rather the authors make money from your purchase.

All of us who are photographers would love to make a regular income from the hobby or profession we love. None of us want to be told that it is difficult, it takes time and not many people make it. These dubious dealers give the impression that anyone can make money from their photos. Rubbish! If you take a look at the stock sites and see the quality of images for sale, you’ll realise that unless you are really talented you will never produce the quality that the buyers are looking for. Do yourself a favour. Do a search on the name of the ebook author who makes all of these claims using Google and then go to the major stock sites and do the same. Where are these authors making their money? From you! If it was so easy why don’t they have thousands of images on the stock sites? I rest my case.

Take a look at the guidelines for submission on the stock sites. Every last one of them requires a camera that takes a high resolution image. Some even state that they’ll only accept images taken on certain mid-range to high-end digital SLRs. Don’t even think that you will be able to compete with your compact camera. You stand no chance. Your images are just not big enough.

I have been on seminars given by successful stock photographers from the microstock sites and all them state that it is tough, demands long hours of work and takes a long time to make a reasonable income. Some never make it despite quality, dedication and a lot of effort. It is not a part-time money making machine as claimed by the ebook authors.

So what does it really take to make money from your camera, if it is at all possible for the amateur? You have to make a decision to dedicate yourself to your photography even if it is part-time. Carefully consider the following points:

1. Dedication to the art of photography

If you are not a dedicated photographer striving for excellence in your art there is no real money to be made. Sorry that’s the bottom line. There are so many talented artists producing high quality images that you do not stand a chance if you cannot compete in this field. You need to up your standards and create images that are very high quality.

2. Dedication to detail

Every detail in your image needs to be perfect. This is what the buyer is looking for. He doesn’t come along and say, “now which poor point-and-shooter can I help make money today”? When a buyer is planning to put a photo on a billboard every detail must be perfect. Examine your images and ask yourself, “Would I see this image in a magazine?”

3. Dedication to quality

99.9% of snapshots won’t make it past the stock site evaluators. Their standards are very high. Sharpness, great colours and perfect composition are just some of the factors you must take into consideration when planning to sell your images. You have to be a photographer, either a pro or dedicated amateur regularly looking at the quality of your images and pushing the limits. Look at the books and magazines and compare your photos. Do they compete? If the answer is yes then you are getting close. The ebooks say that there are millions of people looking for photos for the school and class assignments or projects who will buy your images. Get real! If they have the opportunity to buy an ordinary snapshot or a high quality image shot by a top photographer both selling for a dollar, which would they choose?

4. Dedication to discipline

Discipline is key to any hobby or vocation and especially so with photography. You need to be disciplined in your learning and improving your skills constantly. You need to be disciplined in your shooting and editing your images. And, you need to be disciplined in your submission of quality images to the stock libraries and photo sites. It’s a numbers game. The more quality content you have out in the market the more chance you have of buyers selecting your images. You cannot do it on a whim or when you feel motivated to do it. It is essential to have a commitment to the task and a disciplined overall process.

5. Dedicated to achieving results

If at first you don’t succeed try and try again. If at first you don’t get the results you desire don’t give up or try something else. Keep at it until you see results. It’s like the little green shoot popping its head above the soil or the tip of the iceberg. You are building the roots that will support the later growth of your business. If you don’t have a results driven motivation to see it to the end you will not achieve the success you set out to attain.

It’s a hard uphill road to success with photography. The photo world is competitive and saturated with good quality images. If you are to succeed you must break through the barrier from great to outstanding. You must stand head and shoulders above the rest in your quality and excellence.

Everyone likes a great deal. But one type of deal often overlooked by Internet shoppers is the savings you can get on refurbished products. The Internet has made it easy to buy a wide range of reconditioned goods, from refurbished digital cameras to reconditioned exercise equipment, sporting gear and kitchen appliances. But what, exactly, does refurbished mean?

Digital cameras like Canon Digital Camera deals are available everywhere today. Whether your budget is limited to $30 or it is as high as $300, the choice is large and varied. But if you are looking for a camera with good features at a cheap price, then the best choice for you would be a refurbished digital camera.

Refurbished goods are items that meet the same factory standards as new products, but due to law, cannot be sold as new. They are returned to the manufacturer for a variety of reasons. For instance, it may be an item that was returned by a customer for any reason within the return period, even if the product is in perfect shape, or it could be an item that was used as a store demo or display. It may also be an item that was leased out for a short period or returned because it obtained minor cosmetic flaws, such as scratches or small dents during transit or delivery.

These products which can no longer be sold as new are then returned to the manufacturer, who inspects them and makes any necessary changes to restore them to their original factory specifications. They are tested again to ensure they meet all the specifications and standards of a new product. Then they are offered for sale again as factory refurbished products, and generally they are priced less than the same new product. Refurbished items are also called as “refurbs” for short, or “factory reconditioned,” or “remanufactured” products.

The advantage in purchasing refurbished digital cameras is that these products generally are so well tested before being put up for sale again that they have a very low return rate, which means you can feel confident when buying refurbished goods. In addition, because they can’t be offered as new, these items are usually priced less than their new counterparts, so you’ll save money. And because reconditioned goods are restored to factory conditions, they usually come with a manufacturer’s warranty. This may be for the same time period as a new product, or may be less, so be sure to read the warranty before making your purchase.

There is no limit to the variety of reconditioned products for sale. You can shop online for refurbished digital cameras, printers, laptop computers and other electronic goods, as well as a range of other reconditioned items such as refurbished paintball guns, exercise equipment, golf clubs, small appliances and much more. The internet has made the availability of these items much easier.

Thousands of people buy refurbished digital cameras and other factory reconditioned goods every year, and most have no problems. So if you’re looking to save money on a pricey item, check the manufacturer’s website to see if you can find a refurbished model for less. You could end up saving a lot of money. Just like its brand new counterpart, you can view a wide array of refurbished digital camera in the internet. Prices can be compared, as well as, product descriptions and reviews. For your convenience.

Happy shopping!

The type of digital camera you buy is going to depend on the reason you are purchasing one in the first place which could be because you are a individual with picture taking as a hobby, or you’re trying to start up your own photography business, or other reasons. Regardless of what your reason is for buying a camera, you’ll find that there is a camera for just about every purpose. A few of the important factors for determining which camera is going to be right for you include your budget, the functionality and features that you would like, and your brand preference.

One of the most important factors that you will have to take into consideration is your budget. This will directly affect which camera or cameras you are going to be able to purchase. Some cameras are more expensive than others, and some cameras are more affordable. In most cases you’ll find that the point and shoot cameras are less expensive than the SLR and DSLR cameras which cost anywhere from $450 and up. If you’re only working with a budget of $200, then you may be required to stick with the point and shoot cameras. As with just about anything you purchase, you are going to get more features and capabilities if you spend more on your camera. If you’re starting a photography business, then you’ll most likely be considering your camera purchase as an investment and hopefully you’ll quickly recoup the price you pay for the more expensive camera.

One of the other important factors that you will need to keep in mind is the functionality that you are looking for. If you simply want to do some family portraits, you may be able to accomplish what you need to accomplish with a point and shoot camera. These types of cameras are becoming more and more advanced and are able to produce high quality pictures. Taking professional pictures with increased definition and detail is going to require a little more camera power so you’ll want to consider purchasing a SLR or digital SLR camera, which more advanced capabilities when it comes to zoom, resolution, lighting, lenses, and more.

Finally, if you have a preference when it comes to the brand of the camera, you’ll probably want to start there in order to find out if there are any good deals on the brand that you like. Chances are you’ll be able to find a great camera that is suitable for your needs and will cover all of the requirements that you have when it comes to features and functionality.

Whether you’re starting your own photography business, or simply love taking high quality pictures, you’ll be certain to find the perfect digital camera for you photography needs. Just make sure you keep these few factors in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect camera.

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