Malcolm Smith Expert Guru

I'm a Florida-based writer and photographer... a graduate of the NY Institute of Photography... and a life member of the International Freelance Photographers Organization (IFPO). Over the years, I've had scores of feature articles - and literally hundreds of photos - published in newspapers. My photos have also appeared in Today's Photographer magazine and on a number of websites. I also spent eight years in the photofinishing industry at Qualex, Inc., working as a supervisor in both production and customer service. In spite of my film background, I was an early convert to digital imaging. I've owned digital cameras from a variety of manufacturers, including Nikon, Olympus, Agfa, Kodak, Pentax, Sanyo and Panasonic. I trace my fascination with photography back to the days of Kodak Brownie box cameras, but now shoot primarily with a Panasonic FZ50 "superzoom."

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Should You Buy a Laser Photo Printer?

For many years, the common wisdom was that laser printers were cheaper than inkjets in the long run, because the price-per-page was lower. But that began back in the days of black and white printers. The question is now, “Are laser photo printers less expensive than inkjets?�

And the answer is, “Yes.� In fact, a relatively inexpensive laser photo printer can print a color page for about half the cost of an inkjet print. Part of the equation is that quality laser photo printers themselves have come down in price. A decent color laser printer can cost as little as $300 - $400.

A color laser printer requires four toner cartridges, and prices for these are usually $50 and above. But a toner cartridge lasts much longer than an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer.

Laser photo printers also beat inkjets in the speed department. A full-color letter-size page that might take an inkjet several minutes to produce will be done in mere seconds on a typical laser printer.

But there’s one area in which laser photo printers can’t compete with inkjets: print quality. A good inkjet will yield a better print than a laser photo printer every time. However, if decent quality is good enough, and cost and speed are important, you may want to consider a laser photo printer.

Photo Editing Options

The digital revolution hasn’t just changed the way we take our pictures; it’s turned us all into digital darkroom technicians.

Most camera makers provide free photo editing software with their cameras. With this software, you perform a few basic editing functions, like rotating and cropping images, “erasing� redeye and adjusting brightness and contrast. This software more than meets the needs of many casual snapshooters.

For some, though, the ability to edit and enhance their images opens up new creative horizons. They want more tools than what’s provided with most free photo editing software. If you’re one of these photographers, there are many options at reasonable prices. Corel Paintshop Pro, Ulead PhotoImpact, Nova’s Photo Explosion and Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 are among a number of photo software products priced under $100.

Apple Macintosh owners can use iPhoto, part of Apple’s iLife 6 software suite. The latest version of iPhoto has enhanced and new tools, giving it a pretty good feature set. Considering that it comes bundled with apple’s iMovie (video editing), iDVD (DVD creation), iWeb (Web authoring) and Garage Band (music creation).

Secure Digital – Tiny Champ

The Secure Digital memory card is the preferred memory device for compact digital cameras. They’re small (about the size of a postage stamp), high capacity (up to 8 GB) and offer special security features.

At about the size of the average man’s thumbnail, Secure Digital (SD) cards are a natural for ultra-compact cameras, where every millimeter counts. But it’s the security features built into the SD card that make it so versatile.

SD cards can be “partitioned,� and copyrighted material can be safely stored on the protected section of the card, while the balance of the card can be used as flash memory.

Another security feature – one that will mean more to consumers – is that SD cards have a “write-protect� switch. This tiny lever slides into position to prevent data from being erased or over-written on a card. If you’ve ever taken multiple memory cards on vacation, you can imagine how useful this feature can be. Just slide the lever when a card is full, and you’ll know it’s off-limits until you get home and download the contents.

Another popular memory card, the MMC (MultiMedia Card) can be used interchangably with SD cards in many cameras. The two types of card are very similar, except that MMC cards lack SD cards’ security features.

How Digital Cameras Capture Images

The key piece of digital camera technology is the image sensor. Nearly all digital cameras employ either a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) as their image sensor, and each technology has its pros and cons.

The CMOS has the advantage in cost and power consumption, while the CCD has an edge in image quality. However, advances in the manufacture of each are narrowing the gaps to varying degrees.

Both sensors have similarities. Within a digital camera both are set up in “sensor arrays� with many individual cells each picking up one little bit of light. The cells in an array are set up almost like a checkerboard, and each picks up only one color of light - either red, blue or green.

Fifty percent of the cells are attuned to green light, while 25% detect blue and 25% detect red. The light hitting each cell is converted to a digital signal and that information is interpreted by the camera’s processor and stored in memory (usually a removable flash memory card).

Image sensors are like the film in a traditional camera. They’re sensitive to light, and the image is recorded there when the shutter opens.

Three Questions to Ask Before Buying “Discount�

Sometimes a deal is a deal, and sometimes it’s not. Mail order and online retailers often have details hidden in the “fine print� that can make a seeming bargain not much of one. However, you’ll almost always get a true deal if you ask the following three questions before you buy a discount digital camera:

1. Does it come with the manufacturer’s full US warranty?

If the answer to this first question is “no,� consider the added cost should something go wrong. Without the manufacturer’s US warranty, you’re not covered for repairs – even if the camera is defective.

2. Does it come exactly as packaged from the manufacturer?

Don’t laugh. Some “discounters� actually sell the battery, strap, memory card and other items the manufacturer includes in the box as “extras.�

3. What is your return policy?

Return policies vary widely, but a 15% “restocking fee� is not uncommon. Be sure you understand the true cost, should you decide to return the item for any reason.

If the camera comes with the full US warranty, exactly as packaged by the manufacturer and there’s no restocking fee for returns, you’ve probably found a genuine bargain. But ask to see it in writing.

A Quick-Release Head Takes the Hassle Out of Tripod Use

Owners of digital SLR’s (Single Lens Reflex) and advanced super-zoom cameras will especially appreciate one little-known camera accessory: the tripod quick release.

One reason many photographers don’t use a tripod when they know they probably should (such as with macro shots) is that it’s such a bother to screw the camera on and off the tripod. A quick release solves this problem easily.

A quick-release tripod head comes with a special camera mount that snaps into and out of the head with the flip of a lever. You can even leave the mount screwed into the base of your camera all the time; it’s small and light.

More expensive tripods sometimes come with one, but you can buy a decent quick-release head for under $20.00. In most cases, you can simply replace the existing head on your tripod. For a few dollars more, some manufacturers offer spare camera mounts – so you can buy one for every camera in the family.

Award-winning Panasonic Camera Offers a Full Slate of Features

Recently, the Lumix line of Panasonic digital cameras has gotten a lot of attention from viewers. One – the Lumix DMC-FZ7 – was recently named an American Photo “Best Buy� and a 2006 “Editor’s Choice� by both American Photo and PC magazines.

The DMC-FZ7 features a Leica 12x (36 – 432mm in 35mm terms) zoom lens, a 6 MP image sensor, Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilization, the option of full manual exposure control and the ability to save shots as either JPEG or TIFF files.

MEGA OIS enables hand-held shots at up to three full stops slower than without stabilization. A second feature, High Sensitivity mode, helps reduce blur from subject movement at slow shutter speeds by moving the effective ISO to 1600. Combined, the two features give the DMC-FZ7 a low-light advantage over most super-zooms.

One other feature that photo buffs will appreciate is manual focus capability with Manual Focus Assist. MFA enlarges the central portion of the viewfinder image, to ease accurate focusing.

An Affordable Mid-level d-SLR Loaded with Pro Camera Features

For those seeking pro SLR features – without the pro price – digital camera options have been few. Nikon’s D100, which bridged that gap four years ago, has aged. The features that once made it cutting edge are now commonplace on entry-level digital SLR’s.

The new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 more than fits the bill for those seeking an affordable near-pro-level d-SLR. The D200 shares many features with Nikon’s flagship D2x, but is priced thousands less. (And several hundred less than the D100 when it was first introduced.)

Unlike most mid-level dSLR’s, the D200 has a magnesium alloy body. It captures 5 frames per second for up to 22 (RAW) or 37 (JPEG- fine) frames. The D200’s AF sensor module is also brand new. And, of course, the D200 is compatible with virtually all of Nikon’s AF lenses.

Industry response to the D200 has been very strong. Japan’s Camera Press Club has awarded this model their top honor: the 2006 Camera Grand Prix award. The Technical Image Press Association named it the 2006 Best Expert dSLR. And American Photo magazine named the D200 it’s Camera of the Year in the “Advanced D-SLR� category.

Digital vs. Analog Video – No Contest

Sometimes, the advantages of one technology over a competitor aren’t clear-cut – such as with VHS vs. Beta. But in other situations, one technology is the clear winner. When it comes to digital vs. analog video, there is simply no contest.

Digital camcorders use the binary language of computers. The signal is made up of 0’s and 1’s… yes or no… on or off. This type of signal is clearer and less corruptible than analog. Digital video signals can carry more information than analog, too. This means the resulting images are richer, clearer and sharper than analog video could ever hope to be. Finally, digital camcorders are “plug and play� – all you need is the software.

Buy.com Tip: One less obvious advantage of digital camcorders over their analog cousins is copy quality. Copying digital files doesn’t result in a loss of image quality. A copy of an analog video (such as VHS) won’t be as good as the original it was made from. But digital signals don’t show this loss in quality. Digital information – including recordings from digital camcorders – transfers from generation to generation with the same quality as the original.

Choosing a d-SLR Means Extra Considerations

When you’re in the market for a digital SLR, there are a few extra features you may want to consider before making a purchase. Because d-SLR’s are usually part of a system, what the system – and third-party manufacturers – offer for lenses and accessories may play into your decision.

Here are just a few items you may want to consider:

Lenses – Most of the major manufacturers offer a pretty full line of lenses. But some d-SLR’s have access to fewer lenses than others. The Olympus Evolt E-330, for example, has some great features that make it a very appealing choice. But it also has fewer lens options than either Nikon’s or Canon’s entry-level d-SLR’s.

Focal Length Multiplier – Most d-SLR’s – but not all - have image sensors that are smaller than a 35mm frame. And most lenses were designed for use with 35mm film cameras. The result is that the stated focal length of these lenses has to be adjusted for the smaller image area of the d-SLR’s. The most common focal length multiplier is 1.5x. In that case, a 200mm lens would effectively function as a 300mm lens.

Vibration Reduction – If you shoot action, in low light or with long lenses, a VR feature can come in handy. Some manufacturers build VR technology into their cameras, while others build it into their lenses. If you want the feature, it’s generally less expensive to go with in-camera VR technology.

Interface – SLR users tend to shoot a lot. And most d-SLR’s create pretty big files – especially if you’re saving images as RAW or TIFF files. For that reason, a fast computer connection is important. Most d-SLR’s offer a USB 2.0 connection. But a few – like the Nikon D70 – still use the older (and slower) USB 1.1. A handful – such as Canon’s EOS-1Ds Mark II - provide IEEE 1394 (Firewire). Fuji’s Finepix S3 Pro actually has both USB and Firewire connections.

Remote Control – The remote is the modern version of the old cable release. They’re anywhere from handy to essential for macro, low light and nature photography. Various d-SLR’s offer wireless or tethered remotes. For some models, the remote control is an optional accessory. And for a few – mostly low-end – cameras like the Pentax K110D, no remote control is available.

Shutter Speeds, ISO Sensitivity – Depending on the type of shooting you do, very fast or very slow shutter speeds and higher ISO sensitivities (like ISO3200) may be important considerations.