Camera Tips

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When to Buy a Fisheye Lens

To fisheye or not to fisheye? After purchasing 2 or 3 lenses, amateur photographers will eventually ask

How Achieve Critical Focus

What are the best ways to achieve critical focus. There are those who will argue that the best way to achieve critical focus is

The Pros and Cons of a Monopod

Many believe that the only way to get a truly sharp image is to use a monopod (aka unipod). Unfortunately this is not true

Understanding Chromatic Aberrations

Chromatic aberrations: what is it and what causes it? For a scientific answer we asked Dr. Rebecca Theilmann at the University of California San Diego.

Camera Tip: Reformat Your Memory Card!

For many using a memory card is simply putting the card in your camera and then shooting away. If you

Manual Mode Can Really SUCK!

Auto has always and continues to receive a lot of bad press but it's high time Manual got the same treatment.

2 Ways To Keep Your Lenses Condensation Free

There are those who recommend that you must only operate your camera in comfortable climates. In other words if you

Why Infinity Focus isn't Infinity Focus

Where is infinity on the barrel of your lens focus ring? If you look at the little window

WTF? Don't Use Flash Indoors?

One of the worst photo tips floating around the internet is regarding the use of flash.

3 Reasons Tripods Fail

So you finally splurged and bought yourself a really nice $200 tripod. But your pictures are still not as sharp as you hoped. Here are the three main reasons why...

Choosing Between a Polarizing & Neutral Density Filters

Many people are investing lots of money into polarizing and Neutral Density filters without understanding the differences.

How to Deal w/ Touchscreens in the Cold

When temperatures drop below freezing out it's hard to handle your camera as it is. Although touchscreens

2 Battery Saving Tricks in Cold Weather

Are you about to visit a cold place with your camera? Or do you like just like being outdoors in sub

Camera Tip: Choosing a Sling Strap

Now that we have established that it's probably a good idea to get a sling strap, it's time to discuss

Camera Tip: Don't forget the Hand Strap

In the previous post we discussed sling straps as good alternatives to the traditional neck strap. This post is about

Camera Tip: Get Into the Sling of it - Sling Straps

Before Black Rapid revolutionized photography with the invention of the R Strap, one would have thought

Camera Tip: A Clear Picture of Filters

One of the most common questions asked on a safari is regarding the use of a protective filter.

Camera Tip: Graduated Neutral Density Filters Uses & Cav…

What is the difference between a neutral density filter (aka ND) and a graduated neutral density filter (aka GND or Grad ND)?

Camera Tip: Keep your Lens Hoods On

Although most lenses come with lens hoods it's amazing to see how few amateur photographers actually use their lens hood. Many think

Camera Tip: Putting the Focus on Zoom Lenses

Many people believe that if you have a zoom lens the best way to focus is to zoom into the subject, focus manually and

Camera Tip: Compounding Filters or Problems?

With the advent of digital photography, many photographers are venturing into long shutter speed photography. They are finding that

Camera Tip: Making a Point About Star Filters

width="375px" /> As discussed in a previous post, one of the easiest ways to achieve a starburst is to close down your

Camera Tip: Pro lenses - Worth the Price?

There are distinct differences between professional lenses and amateur lenses. First is obviously the price. Aside from the price,

Camera Tip: Shining a Light on Stops

One of the most confusing photography terms is the word "stop". What is it?

Camera Tip: Are Waterproof Filters All Wet?
/> Everyone knows that not all lenses are created equal. It's therefore
Camera Tip: Lens Wide, Filter Thin
With the advent of ultra wide angle lenses it has become rather important to
Deleting Another Urban Myth
There is a common belief floating around that it is a bad idea to

Dust in your eyes, or your sensor, or lens
Now that the digital sensor has fully replaced film, there is something all photographers need to be
Power save - Battery Management Tips
Recently I ran into a common camera battery issue. I was out taking photographs and
Working Temperature
/> Another bad piece of advice we recently found: Never leave your camera equipment in your

Belts: Holding Up More Than Your Pants
We have previously discussed the pros and cons of a photo vest and now it's time to debate the merits of
Keep it Clean: Lenses
It is amazing how often the cause of a low quality image is nothing more than
Shining a Light on Exposure & White Balance
Very often people ask about "getting bad light", but this can mean any one of three things.

Light Stands Are Dim Tripod Stand-ins
In a previous post (Choosing a Tripod) you will find information about shopping for tripods. Now we'll discuss
Camera Tip #59: A point of View
Another common misconception often heard from safari participants is that using your camera's LCD display is
Camera Tip: Don't hack your tripod
Do not cut off the center column of your tripod! Many members of amateur camera clubs for many years have been advocating

Camera Tip #57: Reviewing Reviews
In the age of the Internet, review sites are seemingly everywhere. But how do you know who to trust and
Camera Tip Hot Swapping
What is hot swapping? Hot swapping is when you engage or disengage your lens or memory card without first powering down your camera. The question is
Camera Tip #54: DX or Full Frame - the Whole Picture
There is a widely held belief that a full frame camera is "better" than a DX (also known as APS-C) one. To put it plainly, it isn't generally. …

Camera Tip #53: What is 35mm equivalent?
Very often when a camera manufacturer gives a focal length specification for a lens they also indicate the "35mm equivalent". But many consumers have
Camera Tip #52: Repair or Replace a Broken Camera?
In the past the decision was pretty simple, you repaired your camera. Buying a new one didn't gain you much, but today the question
Camera Tip #51: The Good & Bad w/ Carbon Fiber Tripods
If you have started shopping for a monopod or a tripod you’re probably feeling a little bit dazed and confused aren’t you? If you are, you

Camera Tip #50: Quality Antiques or just Antiquated - Old Lenses
In the days of film, the most important equipment investment you could make was in your optics. Good clear lenses meant clearer images with better
Camera Tip #49: Monochrome Cameras - Missing the Rainbow connection
Recently, several camera manufacturers have produced b/w only cameras; meaning they are only capable of producing black and white images ,even in the raw format. Yes you
Camera Tip #48: Nifty Fifty - Revisited
One of the reasons why so many people buy a 50mm lens is its light gathering capabilities. 50mm lens are known to be able

Camera Tip #47: New vs. Used Cameras, Save a Few Bucks or Save the Hassle?
Is it OK to buy used equipment? In the days of film the answer was fundamentally yes; but with digital it's not so clear anymore. The main problem with buying…
Camera Tip #46: A Pinch of Salt & Truth
It feels like this myth has been around since the beginning of photography: if you drop your equipment in salt water, you just have to
Camera Tip #45: The Nifty Fifty - 50mm Lens
The 50mm prime lens has certainly enjoyed a Renaissance over the past several years. Thirty years ago, the kit lens for an SLR was a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Over the…

Camera Equipment Buying Guide
The holidays are here and it's time to look for that perfect gift. If you are shopping for your favorite photo bug, here are some hints on what to look…
Camera Tip #44: What to Look for When Buying a Flash
Although your small built-in flash works great (and if you think it doesn't join for NYC After Dark and we'll show you how great it really is!), sometimes you just…
Camera Tip #43: Justification for a New Lens
One of the most common questions during a Photo Safari is “what lens should I buy next?” . The problem is this: if you own more than one lens

Camera Tip #42: Flash IS a Good Tool
There is a fundamental misunderstanding among photographers who lack experience, that flash is somehow bad. But among professionals, flash (aka strobe units) is usually the single biggest
Camera Tip #41: Mirror Lock Up
In DSLR cameras, the D stands for digital and the SLR stands for "single lens reflex". Most 35mm film cameras with the ability to changes lenses were SLRs. …
Camera Tip - How to Use the Tripod Head
Even if you have properly set up your tripod as we explained in our previous post and correctly mounted your camera, you aren't quite done. We have one more important…

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