Camera Tripod Reviews

East Africa region  has the most beautiful geographical features,wild animals,birds,snakes and insect that you would love to see.

East Africa is comprised of  Kenya ,Tanzania,Uganda they  have both tented camps,lodges ,camping sites with 5 star,4 star,3 star hotels for accomodation in the National Parks and major cities respectively.

When visiting these countries you will be able to do scenic safaris, Sightseeing & Aerial Photography safaris,Mountain Climbing,Camel Riding, Boat Riding,Fishing Safaris,Golfing Safaris,Sporting Safaris among other activities and hence the need to famiralize yourselve probaly with your camera,Video to avoid dissappointment when on holiday.In Tanzania you will be able to sightsee Mt kilimanjaro and Mt Meru situated in Moshi as you fly in,then visit national parks as Serengeti,Ngorongoro Crater,Lake Manyara, Sasakwa,Maji Moto, Pemba Island, Mafia Island,Mahale,Kogatende,Lobo,Grumeti(Kirawira),Fort Ikoma,Ndutu,Seronera,among others.In Kenya you will visit  ,Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Shaba, Joys Camp, Wamba,Loisaba, Desert Rose, Solio, Lake Naivasha, Tsavo West, Tsavo East, Diani (Ukunda), Malindi, Lamu Island, Kiwayu,Chyulu Hills, Rusinga Island, Mfangano Island,Mt Kenya,Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Lake Rudolf,Wasini Island and Funzi Island at South Coast, Fort Jesus in North Coast,Kitich among others.In uganda you will visit the Murchisson Falls, Kabalega Falls,Karuma falls, Fort Portal,Lake Albert and there is the home of “Gorillas”.There are  scheduled flights especially to Masai Mara,Samburu, Amboseli, Tsavo East/West,Diani,Mombasa, Malindi,Serengeti,Grumeti,Lake Manyara,Ndutu,Lobo,Sasakwa,Kilimanjaro,Mafia Islandi,Entebbe,Kampala but the rest which we have not mentioned you have the option of private charters ranging from 1 to 37 seater and this will depend on your need.

Did you know there are photographic Techniques to enable you take quality photos for your archives which you will show to your grand and great grandchildren.

PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES

For the most part,the secret to successful photography lies in the photographers ability to master and contral several major factors-those of exposure,lightining depth of field,defination and composition.If all these factors are successfully mastered you will be producing many pleasing pictures.

EXPOSURE

The vast majority of modern cameras have built-in metering systems, which works to a high standard and greatly reduce the possibility of picture failure as a result of incorrect exposure.However , there are many occassions when an automatic metering system may let you down, for example when photographing white birds,or light coloured animals, against a dark background or, alternatively , dark birds or animals against a light sky or background.Under such lighting conditions knowledge in the use of +/- compensation is required. In the case of white/light subjects against dark backgrounds, the metering system may well be influenced to a great extend by the dark areas, thereby over exposing your main subject.This will require you to under  expose or retain  detail in the important white/light subject areas.Conversely in the case of dark subjects against light skies or backgrounds, the light areas may well over influence the metering, resulting in a silhoutte of the main subject. This problem will require you to over expose in order to obtain detail in the shadow or dark areas  of your subject.Many present day cameras have a +/- compensation facility to aid the pohotographer with these  awkward exposure situations.Alternatively the same result can be obtained by changing the ISO rating of the film being used ,although with the advent of DX coding this may not always be possible .Whichever way you choose to compensate , do remember to cancel any over or under exposure settings before moving on the next situation.

In cases where determining the correct exposure is in doubt , it is advisable to “bracket ” your exposures. If your metering system inddicates an exposure of 1/60th at f8, for example , teke one picture at this setting, then two further exposures either side of it,  so 1/60th at f5.6 and 1/60th at f11. One of the resulting exposures should produce what you require,but experience with your own equipment under these difficult conditions is the only real answer.

It should also be remembered that the exposure tolerance of transparency film is far,lower than that of negattive film.The LCD monitor on digital cameras will give an instant indication of what your pictures look like and badly exposed results can be deleted and retaken.

LIGHTING

During the course of a single day in East Africa , the lightining conditions experienced can vary tremendously . The conditions experienced in the early morning are often the most pleasing,the low angle of the sun producing wonderful saft lighting,with excellent modelling of the subject.These lightining conditions are often repeated in late afternoon with the addition of a warm glow towards sunset.From late morning to mid afternoon lighting conditions  can be very challenging, with the sunlight often directly overhead, resulting in rather flat lightining effects.

In most cases, standard portraits of East Africa birds and mammals are taken with the sunlight behind the photographer, thereby fully lighting the subject.It is always worth experimenting with other lighting arrangements, particularly side or back lighting.These lighting conditions often produce spectacular and usual pictures of even the most common bird and mammal species.

DEPTH OF FIELD.

The range of “f” stops available on each individual lens determines depth of field.In most landscape pictures, taken with wide-angle or standard lens, there is a neccessity for maximum depth of field, to render as much of the foreground, middle and far distance as sharp as possible.To achieve this results , it is necessary to select a small aperture (’f”stop) of f16 or f22. This will consequently result in a slow shutter speed, so ensure you use a tripod or some other means of support to reduce the risk of picture failure as a result of camera shake.

For individual images of birds or mammals, using longer lenses,it is often better  too select a large aperture of f5.6 or f4. This will result in  the background being thrown well out of focus, which in turn will help to isolate your main centre of interest be it bird or mammal. The use of a large aperture in these circumstances will also help to eliminate background distractions by rendering them out of focus.

Dont forget that you can check the depth of field created by any given “f” stop by using the depth of field button on your camera body.This button allows you to preview the finished image and to adjust it to your  own satisfaction prior to making any exposure.

DEFINITION

The success or fauilure of any photograph is dependent to a great extend of defination. On the whole, modern lenses are produced to a high standard and give excellent defination: any unsharp results are usually attributable to other causes.The most frequent cause is, doubtedly , due to camera shake during exposure . Another cause can be movement of the subject during exposure: this can be lessened to a great extend by the use of a fast shutter speed.

It is, however, worth remembering that in some instances movement of the subject during exposure can often result in a pleasing pictorial image, such as animals running or flocks of birds flying.

COMPOSITION

Unlike many elements of a photograph which are automatically undertaken by the camera itself , composition demands an active input from the photographer. It is therefore in your own interest to be fully conversant with the factors relating  to good composition.

Many newcomers to photography tend to produce all  of their images in a horizontal format .Cameras work equally well when turned through 90 degrees !Do remember to fully utilise the possibilities of   a vertical format.

Also remember to consider changing your viewpoint on occasions. Dont always photograph from a standing position, and explore the possibilities of photographing a subject by kneeeling or even lying on the ground. Dont always photograph from the open roof of the vechicle on game drives. Use the windows occassionally , as it can often add impact and provide better scale to the resulting pictures.

In the case of bird or mammal portraits , having decided on your format and viewpoint,you need to concentrate on the size and placement of your subject within the picture area.Generally speaking most subjects need room to move or look into the picture space, so avoid cropping your image too tightly ,unless of course it is your intention to show a close-up of the subjects head.

Try to avoid placing your subject in the centre of the picture space, instead consiously divide the space into “thirds” , both vertically and horizontally nd place your main point of interest where the lines cross.Do pay attention to the line of the horizon, particularly in landscapes.Keep it along the “thirds ” and, at all costs, keep it level.

When it comes to precise framing, zoom lenses are very usefully, allowing control over subject size and perspective. In some cases the size of the main subject can be quite small within the picture space,provided that the inclussion of more sorrounding adds information or pictorial interest of the finished image.

By utilising a range of lenses it is often possible to secure an interesting sequence of images of a bird or mammal,i.e 50mm showing the creature in its habitat, 200mm or 300mm producing portraits and 500mm to 600mm depicting the head only.  Sequences like these can often add variety to subsequent slide shows or print albums.

THE MOMENT OF EXPOSURE

Having located your subject and decided on the elements of exposure , lighting and composition, when do you press the shutter? This , of course , is very subjective , but any animal or bird potrait will be greatly improved and have a “sparkle of life” if you can make your exposure when a “highlight” is visible in the eye of your chosen subject.This is particularly important if the eye of the subject being photographed is dark and sorrounded by black fur or feather.

You should always attempt to maintain concentration when photographing any subject, remaining alert to the possibility of a yawn, scratch or wing-stretch , which may provive you with only a fleeting moment in which to capture the action.

MOVING SUBJECTS

Animals or birds ” on the move” present the photographer with some interesting problems.Supporting the camera is a major concern as the use of a tripod of monopod is usually too restricting for this type of work.Other than hand-holding the camera , a rifle stock or shoulder pod is probably the only option available . Either way you should endeavour to use the fastest shutter speed available,to minimise the risk of camera shake. Capturing any moving bird or mammal is best accomplished by “panning”.Thisn technique involves moving the camera in the same direction and at the same speed as the subject and taking the picture while the camera is still moving.Any resulting pictures will have a feeling of movement, showing the subject in sharp focus with  the background blurred due to the motion of the panning camera.

GETTING CLOSE TO BIRDS AND MAMMALS

whilst  on safari the vast majority of your photography will be undertaken from a vechicle during game drives. Many opportunities also exist for wildlife photography on foot, within the grounds of safari lodges and at specially designated areas wthin the National  Parks and Reserves.

At  many of the lodges getting close to birds is often quite easy,due to the tame nature of many species . Others, however, require some knowledge of basic ” stalking ” procedures to gain a close enough approach for worthwhile image size in the finished pictures.  A void walking straight towards your intended subject, as this is likely to cause it to fly away, whereas a slow angled approach is more likely to succed. Watch your subject during your approach and should it appear , the less likely you are to frighten your intended subject. It is also a good idea to make use of any natural cover that terrain may offer.

Many of the safari lodges in East Africa provide food and water for the local bird population and these feeding areas can offer good photographic opportunities. Even if the bird tables themselves are non-photogenic you can attempt to photograph  birds on natural perches as they make their way to and from the feeding areas.

You should ercise considerable caution when “stalking” mammal species , always keeping in mind that they are wild animals and can be extremely dangerous.Never try to atempt monkeys or baboons to come closer with food items -this is a sure way to get badly bitten.

CODE OF CONDUCT

The National Parks and Reserves of East Africa operate a strict  Code of Conduct for both drivers and visitors.A short, simple lists of dos and donts have been implemented to minimise disturbances to the birds and mammals, to lessen the impact of tourism on the enviroment and to ensure that all visitors experience safe and enjoyable safaris.You are advised to let the driver follow the Park and Reserves regulation other than pressurizing him which may result into jeopardizing his/her job and run the risk of being expelled from the Park.Also noise shouldd be at minimum, particularly when close to animals and never leave the vechicle , sit or stand on the roof, or hang precariously from the windows.Dont ddiscard any form of litter, apart from being unsightly it can cause serious injury or even kill animals if ingested.Cigarettes are best avoided during game drives, the careless or accident discarding of a match or cigarette stub can lead to uncontrollable fires, resulting in the deaths of many leaving creatures.

It is adviseable when visiting East Africa whenever you are ,please seek permission before you take the local people a photograph and be prepared for the possibility of paying for privilege.Dont even attempt to photograph Military Installations or personal it is prohibited.

With these Photographic Techinques are will be able to know how to get quality phots for both standing and moving subjects.You are also aware of the regulations for both photography when on foot, in the vechicle and what you need to do and not assume may be the Tour Quide is being unfriendly.

A private charter will give you the opportunity of scenic safaris, sightseeing & aerial photography,Helicopter Safaris of many of the East Africa geographical features as you head to your destination.There are aircrafts ranging from single engine and twin engine piston 1 to 8 seater,turbo prop 10 to 37 seater twin engine and the Citation Bravo Jet 7 seater which are availble and quotations are given instantly on request.

If you want Boat Riding Safaris, Camel Riding Safaris, Sporting Safaris , Filming Safaris,Birding Safaris, Golfing Safaris and Fishing Safaris it can be done depending with your requirements, what a deal?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you planning  for asafari?Do you know what are the problems you will face while on your safari?Then if not  hear we have A Travellers Quide  To Safari  Photography for you,

Preparing  For  A Departure.

When preparing you need to put to consideration very many aspects but we will only touch on the photography Tips as we dont want you to be dissappointed after spending alot of money on asafari and you are unable to get the right results.It is always unwise to commence a holiday with new untested equipment.With digital cameras,take some pictures on each of your memory cards and check that they download correctly onto your computer.For adigital multimedia storage device,check that your memory cards copy successfully and that you can then transfer the files onto your home computer.It is adviceable at least to put one roll of film through a new camera and carry out a full test on any newly purchased lenses.Before deaparture ,make yourself familiar with all the commonly used camera and lens fuctions.Ensure you understand all the functions of any digital storage systems you will be using.Researching might seem to be invaluable and having established the flora and fauna you are likely to encounter,will aid you in selecting the most appropriate equipment to satisfy your own photographic needs.Also ensure and it is for your own good and advantage to insure all your equipments incase of damage,theft in all the countries you will be visiting.It is paramount you keep a checklist of the cameras and lens serial numbers as this will be useful in an event you need to lodge aclaim.Should equipment be stolen,it is important you record a statement with the local police of that country andd get a document with rubber stamp as the insurance will only process compensation when they have this document.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU.

Cameras

These days there is avariety of cameras to choose from.For really successfully safari photographers a top brand  Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera,either digital or film,with an interchargeable lens facility is ideal.Almost all of the top models have an auto facility which is  a great asset to the wilddlife photographer.This systems can save a valuable seconds and consequently secure pictures that may have been missed with manual focus equipment.Due to the rigours and stresses that any safari places on equipment ,it is strongly adviceable you take at least two camera bodies -there will be little or no chance of getting any camera repairs undertaken outside major cities.Obviously it is beneficial to have two identical camera bodies,but if this is not feasible you should ensure that your “back up” camera accepts the same range of lenses and accessories as your principle camera body.

Compact cameras have either a fixed or zoom lens,are quick andd easy to operate and prove ideal for those visitors wanting just a photographic record.When visiting coastal area it is possible to obtain underwater compacts.This is a relatively cheap way of getting started in underwater photography.Since most of these underwater compacts are  unpressurised they are only operational to depths of just over ametre.

Most of the compact digital cameras are similar to their film equipment in size and operation but have the added advantage of instant replay,either through a small built in monitor or computer link.Images are recorded on a memory card,so pictures can be quickly sorted,saved or deleted,to make space for more photography.An increasing number of digital videos records have a stills option, and these have the added advantage of being able to record hours of action. As most digital cameras are powered by rechargeable batteries dont forget to pack chargers,leads,and plug adaptors and also a spare rechargeable battery and memory card are paramount.

Lenses

If your choice is the SLR option you will need to think about what interchangeable lenses to take with you.The wide variety of photographic opportunities that are presented to the nature photographer whilst on safari demand an equally wide range of lenses.These can be found  with the manufacturer of your camera system in an excellent range of lenses to choose from.In supplement,independent lens manufacturer will be able to offer competitive prices and maybe different focal lengths.Amedium zoom lens of between 70 and 300mm and a short zoom lens of around 28 to 135mm will cover most photographic opportunities.For the more wary mammals and the vast majority of the bird species ,longer telephoto lenses are required.These lenses are usually 400mm,500mm or 600mm and although often heavy and rather large,are essential for the more serious nature photographer and some camera manufactureres even offer image stabilizer lenses.These use a vibration gyro which detects shaking and then counter balances the movement with  amagnate and coil driven optical compensation system.These particular lenses are useful for handholding situations such as from boat or vechicle.This technology really comes into its own when using longer telephoto lenses where camera shake is greatly magnified,it makes using 500mm and 600mm lenses with teleconvertors a far more successful  option.Many of the new lenses will have auto-focus and this will offer three options.Firstly,by switching ift off,you can manually focus,secondly,using  single shot auto-focus the camera will lock on to whatever you are pointingat,but will need activating again should the subject move.Thirdly,servo-focus can be selected where the auto-focus will be constantly updating the focus point:this is ideal for moving subjects.

Macro Lenses

The inclussion of a macro lens in your equipment bag is essential if your photographic interests are in  recording close-ups of insects and flowers.The most useful macro lenses have a focal length of between 90mm and 180mm : these allow a reasonable working distance from most subjects.With experience macro lenses of around 50 mm have too short  a working distance, which can disturb some  subjects.This short working distance can also often cause lighting difficulties ,particularly when using flash.The macro facility offered by some zoom lenses can be useful, but it is rather restricted and in no way matches the quality of a true macro  lens.

Cheaper  alternatives to amacro lens include the use of extension tubes,placed between any lens andd the camera body,thereby reducing the minimum focusing distance,the use of reversing rings and the use of close-up lenses attached to the front of an existing lens.

Lens Accessories

Tele-converters increase th lens magnification by a factor of either 1.4x or 2x and some zoom lenses are designed specifically to work with them.Extension tubes and close-up filter attachments are another way of increasing magnification for macro photography.A UV or skylight filter on each lens offers  extra protection from accidental damage to the front lens element. a polarising filter is well worth taking, as it will help contral reflection and increase colour saturation. Many enhancements  that filters achieve on film can be added later to digital images through computer  programs such as photoshop.

Digital Storage

Many of the digital cameras use some form of removable storage memory cardd,such as XD, Smart Media (SD) or compact Flash (CF) .Storage capacity is measured in megabits (mb) or Gigabits (GB) .The higher the “mb” or “GB” the more images can be stored between downloads. Its a good idea to use a digital storage device to dowenload your memory cards each night.These are palm size hard  drives that vary in capacity from 20 to 100+ gigabits. Some have small colour screens for viewing.Travelling with  a laptop is another alternative where images can be viewed,stored,or even burnt onto CD or DVD .Small battery power CD and DVD writers are also available and offer probably the most secure form of backup.

RAW or JPEGy

Most digital cameras offer the option to shoot in RAW or Jpeg and this is the format that records your image, the digital equivalent of film.Jpeg is  a file format that stores digitsl photographs in a very  space efficient way.It uses compression to reduce file sizes at the expense of fine image details to do this.The level of the compression ( and thus the loss of quality) can be varied. Raw files contain all the data collected by the sensor,not  a sub-sample as is the case with Jpeg files.Raw  gives the most flexibility for post correction of the exposure and  colour and is the preffered shooting format of most professional photographers.

Noise and ISO

As in film photography,the noise level increases with higher ISO settings and shows itself in the form of pixels of the wrong colour appearing at random in dark areas. At ISO settings up to 400 very little noise is noticeable, so keep the ISO below 400 and save the higher ISO settings for when there is no alternative.

Film

There is avariety raging from negatives for prints or transparencies for projection,there is avast array of films to choose from.The speed or sensitivity to light is gauged by an ISO rating.The higher the ISO ,the more sensitive to light the film will be.However,the results will look more grainy.As light levels in East Africa are general very good,it should be possible to take advantage of the finer quality of the lower ISO films.The quality of film you require may be difficult to calculate.Try and work out a daily requirement and then double it! X-ray security checks at airports are standard procedure.However , those used for hand luggage checks should not cause any problems for film or digital. Hold luggage is aften checked with more powerful X-rays,so always take your film as hand luggage.

Camera Bags

For the protection of your camera equipment from damage,dust and rain is essential hence the need to buy a good quality camera bag.There are many  well-designed camera bags on the market  nowdays,with several more recent designs taking the form of rucksacks- these are excellent particularly if you expect to have to carry  your equipment any great distance.In selecting a suitable bag,resist the temptation to purchase one that is  too big- you will only feel obliged to fill it! with ever-tightening controls and  restrictions being imposed by airlines on the size  and weight of the cabin  baggage, the smaller the better.Waist – mounted camera and the lens pouches can help to spread the load.Stuff bags,sold in  most camping shops in varying sizes, offer an additional form of protection from dust and rain.

Camera Supports

The commonest cause of picture failure is undoubtedly lack of defination as aresult of camera shake.Ovecoming thi problem will increase your success rate enormously with the help of camera instructions manuals which give details of “How to hold your camera” and it is well worth developing a good technique in this area,with elbows locked tightly into the body.

Whenever possible we would recommend the use of a tripod. There are many lights, yet sturdy models on the market which will fit confortably into the average suitcase or roll bag.Monopods are also a good means of steadying the camera, but they do require a little practise. On most photographic safaris to East Africa the vast majority of filming will be undertaken from  a vechicle  during game drives, in most cases this precludes the use of  a tripod or monopod.The best alternative for photographing from a vechicle is to employ the use of a beabag, a very simple, but extremely effective method of camera support.Although beanbags are commercially available they are not difficult to make and all you need is  a section of cloth or canvas sewn to form a zippered bag of around 300mm by 150mm.This can be packed in your  luggage ,on arrival at your chosen destination,be filled with rice,beans or peas and then place it on the roof of the safari vechicle it quickly moulds around your camera and lens, forming a very efficient support.

Rifle stock and pistol grip supports allow freedom of movement when attempting to photograph moving subjects such as animals running or birds  in flight.if you have no option other than to hand hold your camera while shooting ,you should always ensure that your shutter speed is as great or greater than the focal lenghth of the lens in use, so for 500mm-1/60th:100mm-1?125th:200mm-1/250th:500mm-1/500th and so forth.

Once you have all as mentioned below you are set for your safari and ready for any evcentualities and are assured though we do have technical problems but you already know and have the backup.

Scenic Safari,sightseeing & aerial photography will only be enjoyable andd memorable when you get quality pictures orelse it is all awaste and hence the importance of giving you tips on what to do when perparing for a safari to avoid last minute dissappointments.

 

 

 

Modern technology allows us to do amazing things; a digital camera and the right software can make wonders. Panoramic photography started as a form of art but has quickly become a tool of marketing and advertising. Real estate agents often use 360 virtual tours to promote their listed houses. In fact, it seems that an interactive virtual tour is the most convincing method a realtor site can have.

New real estate agents wonder if the real estate company they work for normally provides virtual tour software for them to use. Some of them do, but in other companies it is completely up to the agent. In this case agents normally create their own interactive virtual tours (or they hire someone to do it), but the agency does not get involved in this process.

In the case where the company leaves it to the agent, the best bet is to go with a professional company to make the 360 virtual tour, as nothing beats quality. There are a lot of companies that do this; you can also try hiring a professional photographer or a student to do it – it may even cost you less. If you hire someone make they know exactly what you want.

There is another possibility – if you are good at it, or if you think you might like it, you can try designing your own interactive virtual tour. But how can you create a 360 virtual tour? Is it difficult? What camera should you use? And what software do you need?

For starters, a sequence of still photos will do. It is pretty easy and kind of basic, but it will do the job. All you need to do is work with a basic photo editor. Apart from this you can try uploading some videos. Making some video clips with a digital camera is pretty easy. Once again, you will need basic video editing software. If you do not have such software you can either buy it or download it from the internet.

But nothing will work quite like a 360 virtual tour. This basically consists of a number of photos that are stitched together in order to look like you are inside the room you are touring. In order to create such an interactive virtual tour you will need a camera, a tripod and stitching software. If you are new to this it will take some time, but if you can do it then it will definitely be worth it.

Have in mind there are a few things you need to consider when making an interactive virtual tour. You definitely need to use the tripod as it allows the camera to have stability (otherwise the photos could not be stitched together). You also have to make sure that you take every picture after moving the camera at an angle of about 50 degrees. As well as that remember that you may not be very good at first but if you are patient enough the results will be great.

360 virtual tours may seem like the type of things that require a lot of money but it is not actually so. If you cannot afford to pay for such a tour you can easily make it yourself. Digital cameras are not very expensive; as for the stitching application, you can download it for free from the internet. All you need to do is know exactly what you want and invest a little time in creating the virtual tour you want.

While more families own high-end camcorders than ever before, it doesn’t necessarily mean that more great home movies are actually being shot.  On the contrary, even though cameras have become easier to use and feature much higher resolutions than their predecessors, people still can’t seem to figure them out.

With our directorially-challenged friends in mind, we present the following list of essential tips for getting the most out of your camcorder.

Tips for Making Better Movies with your Camcorder:

1. Take off the lens cap.   Just kidding!  Our first tip is actually to use the Manual Focus option if it is offered on your camera.   Manual focus will allow you to get sharper images throughout your video without experiencing the blurriness that occurs when an auto-focus takes time to readjust itself.

2. Always keep the sun behind you.   When shooting outdoor video, always be sure that the sun is behind your back.  This will greatly reduce glare and “white-out” caused by the brightness of the natural light source.

3. Craft a plan.  Unless you’re capturing the most spur of the moment events, why not plan what you are going to shoot?  This will help you keep a steadier hand as you move from shot to shot, and you won’t forget to include anyone or anything that you intended to capture on film.

4. Don’t fall in love with the ZOOM.  Yes, we know that zoom is one of the most fun features on your camcorder, but that doesn’t give you right to create an amateur 3D movie every time you shoot something.   Choose a zoom length ONCE in your shot and stick with it.  You don’t want to be handing out Dramamine during your premiere.

5. Keep movement to a minimum.   Even the steadiest-of-hands will cause a disruption of the image when they begin to move the camera around.   We realize that some movements are unavoidable, but try and stick to the tri-pod as much as possible.

6. Always use a tripod.   See note above.  A tripod is truly a sound, “steady” investment for the amateur filmmaker.

7. Stop “rooting” around.   There are those among us who think that they are next Fellini (but trapped shooting families at Chuck E Cheese).  Consequently, they will stumble all over the place in search of the perfect angle from which to shoot.  Stick with the basics – shoot from the areas directly ahead of (or to the side of) your subject and you can’t go wrong.

8. Be natural.  Try and stay inconspicuous when shooting video of friends and family.  You want your subjects to act naturally, and waving your arms around like a madman and telling everyone to “smile and say something” is not going to create everlasting memories.

9. Keep a spare battery handy.  Nothing kills a shoot quicker than a camera with a dead battery.  Charge up a spare and keep it in your camera bag in case of emergencies.

10. Record in widescreen.   If your camera offers widescreen shooting, and you have a high-end TV at home, take advantage of both.  Shooting in widescreen allows you to capture your subject at its most majestic!

If you want to make the most informed decision possible when it comes to your next TV, digital camera or any important purchase, visit www.everyprice.com/. Everyprice.com is the leading online price comparison website where you are always just a couple of mouse clicks away from the absolute best deals on the web. At www.everyprice.com, we’re dedicated to providing you with the best, most unbiased product information on the web.

Panoramic tours are the new wonders of photography. The result may be one breath taking photo, but it takes more than that to make it. Panoramic photography is all about patience and choosing the right angle for more than one photo. But it sure pays off, for photographers and other people that use it alike. Panoramic tours look great, especially on realtors’ web sites or on photographers’ ones. Inexperienced photographers wish to be able to do that, while the rest of us wonder how they are made.

Truth be told, panoramic photography does not take that much. In the most basic terms, you only need a camera loaded with film, or a digital camera, a tripod that you can use to swivel 360degree (rotation) and to somehow stitch it. However, if you are looking for a more advanced explanation, you need to know the nodal point of your lens (the hole of which the light enters the lens and reflected upside down to your camera) and mount the center of the nodal point using special built camera mount. As well as that you should know there are some cameras that can capture a180degree or perhaps more angle in 1 single shutter click.

But how does panoramic photography work and what are the camera and film requirements? The things you have to do in order to make a panoramic tour are:

• First you need to put the camera on a tripod. This way you make sure it is steady and at the same height throughout the process. Next, you manually set the exposure; you have to average it out for the whole panorama but keep it fixed as you pan. If you are using a zoom lens, select a focal length with the least distortion (usually mid-way).

• Then, take a shot. Rotate the camera a few degrees, and repeat the process until you are all the way around. You have to leave a good margin of overlap on all your shots so you have wiggle room when you stitch them together with software.

But there used to be an easier way of making a panoramic tour – there used to be a 35mm camera that took panoramic 360 photos. It was attached to a tripod, had a slit lens and turned 360 degrees while advancing the film to give a panoramic picture. Although it has not been made lately used ones are still around. You could try and find it by using an Internet search. Another easier option is to use a digital camera in video mode; however, if you chose to do so it would have to be hand held.

There are several ways of stitching the photographs, most of them involving specialized software like adobe photoshop or picasa. These are just a couple out of dozens of programs that do the stitching in panoramic photography. Some of these soft wares can be downloaded for free; others come with your digital camera while others cost a lot of money. The software that a photographer chooses to use mainly depends on the budget and on how good a job he is supposed to do.

Panoramic photography poses one question: how can you print such photos? Some panoramic tour photos are about 60×20 cm, others more like 60×15. None of the standard shops usually does these types of formats. In such cases, photographers and realtors alike opt for specialized sites that print big or unusual sized photos. However, if you are looking for a commercial quality photo (rather than professional), try contacting your local photo processor lab, and if they do not do it, they will definitely know a local source to use.

Spotting Scopes Terminology

Spotting scopes are used when more magnification is needed or wanted than binoculars provide. Spotting scopes are used widely for birding, viewing wildlife and landscapes and other objects at a great distance. Much of the terminology and technical specifications specific to spotting scopes are similar to binoculars. For example, a 20-60×82 spotting scope has a zoom magnification range of 20-60x (20 to 60 times larger than the size of an image as would be seen by the naked eye) with a front lens diameter of 82mm.

The significant increased magnification of spotting scopes can take you well beyond the capabilities of conventional binoculars. That said, two factors, the atmosphere and the optical system of the spotting scope, should be kept in mind. Heavy air, dust, humidity, glare and wind and air currents during the day can all reduce image quality and the greater the magnification, the more drastic the reduction in image quality will be. Few locations allow you to use more than 60-80x during the day, so most spotting scopes stop at 60x. The optical system of a spotting scope will impact magnification also.  As magnification is increased, some decrease in image quality will result, no matter the model. In this key area, as the old saying goes…you get what you pay for.  So yes, if you want a spotting scope that is as clear and sharp at 60x magnification as it is at 20x, then expect to pay more. Keep in mind though that most spotting scopes are used at lower magnifications, usually around 30x-40x. This is more than enough for most applications and all but the least expensive and cheapest model will produce reasonable images in this magnification range.

Objective Diameter

Assuming that you are comparing two models of similar quality, the larger the objective lens, the more detail you can see and the better image quality your scope will deliver, especially at higher magnifications. However, a large lens of mediocre quality, no matter how large, will never equal the performance of a smaller, quality lens. If you aren’t sure, opt for quality, not size.

Close Focus

Although not an absolute necessity, a spotting scope with a close focus of 20 ft or less can be useful, especially if you plan to use a spotting scope with a camera.

Eye Relief

As with binoculars, this is the distance your eye can be from the eyepiece and still see the entire field of view. As a general rule, you will need at least 14mm of eye relief to see the entire field of view with eyeglasses and people with thick glass lenses in their eyeglasses will probably need more.

Waterproofing

While not a necessity, a waterproof scope is terrific to have. The seals in a waterproof model also prevent the infiltration of dust and dirt and therefore add to the lifespan of the spotting scope.

Tripods

Due to its high magnification, handholding a spotting scope and expecting to maintain a clear, non-blurry image is virtually impossible. A spotting scope requires that it be supported to keep it steady. You may be able to sneak by at lower magnifications with a monopod or shoulder stock, but above 40x, you must use a tripod. And the larger and heavier the scope, the larger and heavier the tripod should be. As all spotting scopes are threaded in the same fashion as a camera and therefore should fit on any standard camera or video tripod, unless you prefer, you will not need to purchase a special tripod for your spotting scope.

Best Spotting Scopes for Birding

Most agree that the best magnification range for birding with a spotting scope is 20-40x. Much higher than 40x and the field of view is too narrow to be practical, with the added drawback of a dimmer image. Keep in mind that problems such as heat waves will increase at higher magnifications. If you do a lot of dawn or twilight bird observation, or if your area is often overcast and dim, a wider objective lens will give you a better image.  So you will  want to choose a lens of 77-82mm. However, a larger objective lens also translates to increased size and weight. Birders who are out mostly during the day and don’t relish the thought of carrying a heavier instrument will want to consider an objective lens size of 60-65mm.

Support Staff – the Outdoor Nature Resource.com

Optics from theOutdoor Nature Resource.com

Taking videos during a sport can be tough. A sports action camera comes in very helpful at such times. As long as your skills are good, setting up one of these amazing cameras can be an easy task.

Limitations

With no basic knowledge of usage, a sports action camera can be limiting. Your camcorder works whichever way you like. Not for the sports action camera. It takes a lot of time to capture quality photos. You have to keep adjusting it for the best angles.

Your sports action camera is better at serving your need for videos in a sporting event. Compared to your normal camcorder, it is better. A sports action camera is a special type of camera. It is specifically made for taking video footage of any sporting event.

Features to look for include:

* Must be shock resistant
* Have a wider Field Of View
* An LCD screen for playback
* Still shots capability

If you are selling sports action cameras, these features help your marketing success. Remember, quality overrides everything in your camera. Note the fact not all shiny advertisements that sell these cameras are reliable.

This camera lets you enjoy sports as you take videos. Bike riders have helmets fitted with these special cameras in them. Your camcorder cannot take clear videos at high speeds. A sports action camera gives you quality video at all speeds.

Sports people prefer this camera. You can have one well. The camera is designed to take high quality point of view videos and photos. You can adjust the angle of footage to take photos or videos. To set up your camera for action, you need to do a few things:

How to set up your Camera

* You adjust the viewfinder and after which you can now set up the tripod stand for the camera
* Set your camera’s tripod height at a height that enables you look straight into the viewfinder at the same height as your eyes
* Adjust your camera’s pan control to limit drag as you shift viewpoints during footage so that you can get the best footage.
* Ensure that things like your bags, your camera’s power cord are out of your way as you take your videos to avoid tripping on them.

The sports action camera closely relates to the camcorder. Your camcorder can take sports footage as well, but at sports speed, the photos may not be of good quality. For videos of a sporting event of any kind, use a sports action camera. You get quality pictures and videos.

Get the latest Sports Action Cameras and other tech gadgets out there today. Visit Chinavasion.com or paste this link into your browser: http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cName/electronic-gadgets/

What does it take to be considered really “good” when it comes to online marketing? When do you know you have cracked the nut of your niche market and can have others call upon you to do their marketing for them? I have gone through this metamorphosis myself in the recent years. I stumbled along this journey somewhat reluctantly but along the way I discovered many secrets.

New York Dreams Reduced To Dust

After losing my career in 911, New York City, I found myself in a weird position in life. It appeared that in all my adventures I had acquired too much experience in the job market. Others deemed that I was too expensive and too experienced to stay in it. I had quite a roster of clients on my resume by this stage of my life. These included Capital Records, Oprah Winfrey, WWF, Coca Cola, Citibank, Arthur Andersen, and a whole plethora of dot com companies from Chicago to New York City.

911 had brought on a lot of change in my industry. I had some other reasons for leaving New York and I made the trek back to my home state of Michigan. When I got there I had a very strange welcome. Michigan had a very distinct answer to all of this great work experience and that message as clear. The job market gave me the finger and told me to “get lost”.

As an Art Director, who worked for many of the top advertising firms in the industry, I had two choices. I could either take Michigan’s advice and curl up in a ball and die. That is to say I could still do online marketing on the cheap and become a commodity with all the charm of your local street beggar or I could become brilliant. I decided to do the latter because I was never ever very good at being poor and I was always up for a great street fight.

Dusting myself off and laughing at the locals I decided to get as many mentors as I could afford. In fact, I blew a fortune on these types and I sought them out in the most unlikely places. I found amazing minds all across the globe and gladly shelled out thousands to keep them under my employ. I found astounding copywriters who brought in 4000% response rates. I found online marketers who were running 35% ROI campaigns with little or no effort. I had to seek high and low to find the most incredible minds around the world.

My Mentors Show Up On Time

There is an old saying that says, “When the student is ready – the teachers will appear” and that is precisely what happened. Course I had to do a bit of seeking out. In a few short months this had really paid off nicely. I had acquired the help of such amazing minds as Dan Kennedy, (Master Marketer and Millionaire Maker), Corey Rudl and Derek Ghel, (Internet Marketing Center), Mark Joyner, (New Zealand), Orange Beetle – Alan Forrest Smith, (London, England UK), Brett McFall, (Australia) and jumped in the front row seat to local mastermind groups which I actually found on the Internet.

I went through a lot of books during this time. In fact I was spending over $100 dollars a week just on business books. That may not sound like very much to you. But the difference is that I actually read these books they were not for show and tell. I absorbed them like a sponge. I read everything I could get my hands on starting with the classics like, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and this lead to modern day classics like, “The No BS Kick Ass Sales Guide” by Dan Kennedy which totally changed my life and how I looked at sales. I got all the sales writing books I could get by Maria Volossos, Bob Bly and John Caples. These books began to build every week and I had to put them in boxes. I didn’t let the clutter bother me too much as I needed more and more information to make things happen in my business.

Because the web was changing faster than I could speak I needed to be well rounded on everything. I got books on digital film making so I could keep up with the Web 2.0 innovations online. I needed equipment too so I ran out and got the best HD cameras I could afford. Along with this came lights, green screens, tripods and sound gear.

As you can imagine in a few months I had a ton of material. I actually had a tall industrial kitchen pot rack I purchased from, “Bath and Beyond” just to hold all of my books. The number of all these learning materials now numbered somewhere in the 700’s. Not only could I speak the language of marketing fluently I was using the techniques I had acquired to get new sales and customers.

I wrote my own sales offers and my own sales letters and mailed them out to clueless CEO’s and got work. In fact, I took my company from zero dollars to $340k on the average. I was amazed at the differences between the two cultures of Michigan and New York City and here is what I found.

New York Mindset Vs Michigan’s Collapsed Economy

Michigan prides itself on a work ethic where it exchanges time for money. They view this as “working hard” or “hard working”. I have another view on this where I say it’s, “hardly working”. The other thing I can tell you is that Michigan has a lot of traditional industry. It prides itself on things it can pull out of the ground and sell to the public. They are resistant to change and are incredibly stubborn when it comes to emerging technology.

New York on the other hand embraces technology and a great amount of businesses there are run on ideas. These are technology based companies that also move money from one place to another. They actually work their businesses online and interact with customer bases right online. This is a very powerful difference between the two states of economy. Since they are always moving forward they are able to attract a lot of international money and stay strong. It has a very powerful and different dynamic.

Now the question becomes what do I do with all of this? My company had spiraled out of control in a very good way. You see, now I was in California, Florida, Michigan, Canada, New York City, South Carolina, Connecticut in just a few months. I had actually become an International company in less than a year. There is a lot of powerful new energies flowing through my company which is something I never expected. I owe it all to being diligent and to seeking out mentors.

Tying It All Together

After I built this company from scratch I had a real problem on my hands. I had all of these books and materials that got me through a lot of rough times in my life. I still relied on them and wouldn’t dream of throwing them out or selling them. An opportunity came along where I could share them with the rest of my Dan Kennedy Coaching Group in Brighton, Michigan.

And today that is where they are – all 700+ of them. They take up the entire wall in a marketing resource library where they can be used to inspire and build up another potential budding entrepreneur. These books are an amazing testimony to what just one single person can do. With these books I was able to break down the barricades of corporate America and limited means of income. I have used theses assets to propel me levels upon levels of mediocrity and low minded thinking. These tools have enabled me to build a successful International company within a very short amount of time, (roughly 18 months).

My advice for anyone looking to become their own boss is to seek out mentors. It is the quickest way to achieve what you want out of life. You will need to find people who have already done the things that you want to do. I have found mentors in just about every area of my life where I needed help including financial, copywriting, marketing, online marketing, strategic business planning and spiritual help and guidance. They are out there and you can find them under many names including, life coaching, business coaching, spiritual guides and gurus.

How much do you love to shop? Are you enthusiastic about new products and promotions? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then perhaps you might be interested to hear about the Newegg promo code. You can now shop online and thanks to the Newegg code you have the most appealing discounts ever!

Perhaps you are looking to buy a new digital camera. Or maybe you are more interested in the latest accessories for your Apple iPod. The list of products presented online is quite long and frankly, they are all quite appealing, especially if you add the discount obtained with the Newegg promo code. Whether you want to purchase a cell phone or a desktop PC, the Newegg code can help you save a lot of money without any doubt.

Online shopping has become a pleasurable activity due to the obvious advantages. One has the opportunity to purchase a wide range of products from the comfort of his/her own home, benefitting from the discounts offered with the Newegg promo code. The current promo codes can be easily discovered on the website of the virtual store, along with their expiration date and discount information.

The Newegg code can provide you with a very interesting discount on digital cameras. What you have to do is go online, visit the virtual store and check out the Newegg promo code offers. Check out the expiry date as this is pretty important but other from that there are no complications. Some of the greatest offers are made for dual channel kit notebook memories and disk directors, which represent two amongst the most popular products.

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And how about electronics? Think about it. Look for the Newegg promo code and equip your car with the latest electronics on the market, all for a great price. Purchase a digital photo frame and display your vacation photos. Search through different electronic gadgets and treat yourself to a GPS. Given the fact that you have the Newegg code, you can extend the shopping list without worrying your wallet completely!

If you want to offer to someone a gift, then you can resort to the Newegg promo code offers. Maybe get an mp3 player for your son or a new LCD for the entire family. There are so many things that you can get, with unbelievable discounts of notebooks and useful accessories. The Newegg code may also include discounted Apple products, Mac games and software.

New products are being added on a regular basis, some of the most attractive prices being offered for camcorders, cellular phones and tripods. Newegg promo code offers are granted for modems, servers and wireless networking, specialists working for the virtual store making sure that the needs of all customers are met. So, whether you want a Wii game or a software license, you can find everything you want online and get it at a discounted price with the Newegg promo code!

Cine Ultima has a variety of useful products that aid any customer who is related to the film industry. A few potential products include Cine filters, Cine Follow focus, cine jibs, cine LED light, Cine Matte box, Cine Microphone, Cine shoulder support, DOF adapter, Dollies and Jibs, DSLR kit, DV/HDV rain covers, Flycam Stabilization, Gimbal Head, Proaim Pan and Tilt Head The Cine HD Ahcromat lens offered by Cine Ultima is a high definition lens designed for HD and HDV macro experience. These include extreme near images which include the DOF adapter. This lens can be used without any other attachment to get clear images of very close objects. This suits the camera and the light filters perfectly. Another option is a 4X4 neutral density filter that helps shoot in the open with minimal usage of depth especially when HD is being used.

A Cine 12″ Whip/ flexible shaft is an add on for great focus. This makes the shoot smooth with no drag what so ever. The dual focus is another product that is an ultimate cine camera for DV and high definition shoots. The height riser is an adapter that is used to adjust heights while using the focus arrangement using either the focus or the matte box. This works with sensitive adapters as small as 35 mm.

Cine Ultima also has a PROAIM follow focus that is used to work for both DV and HDV arrangements that is currently the most popular and most frequently used. This is flexible and efficient along with being extremely light weight. The other enhancement that is arranged in this is the XL1 and XL2 series. A costlier variety is the PROAIM follow focus V2 which works for camera resolutions of XL1, XL2, XM3, GL1, GL2, FX1, and FX2…etc.

LED lights, offered by Cine Ultima are the main requirements where the users ask for a luminous and soft directional lighting arrangement that offers great quality of cine experience. This is a part of television, broadcast and also motion picture technology. A battery holder is also essential since it is easy to use, compact and solidly constructed. This battery holder is for charging the battery and is promptly useful to carry the battery too.

Sun shade and filter holders have a non reflective rectangular shade that allows single filter applications. A matte box is that accessory that serves the purpose of a lens and also mounts in front of the lens. There are adjustable lens also called French Flags offered by Cine Ultima.