Shooting Rainbows With Your Digital Camera

rainbow_01-5193490 For an ordinary act of nature, rainbows seem to have an almost supernatural hold over us. A rainbow is really just a giant prism; water vapor in the air splits sunlight into its individual component colors. Yet seeing those colors arcing overhead is always an event; people never seem to tire of rainbows. If you've already tried your hand at flowers, silhouettes, fireworks, and night photography, perhaps you'd like to capture some rainbows. If so, keep reading--this week is all about freezing nature's prism.

Finding a Rainbow

No matter how much digital photography advice or photographic theory you get about rainbows, the first--and likely biggest--problem you'll encounter is simply finding one. If you're in rainbow hunting mode, it's not a bad idea to keep a camera in the car or otherwise carry one around with you.

That said, you can learn to anticipate prime rainbow conditions. To see one, you'll need both water in the air and bright sunlight. Rainbows commonly appear right before or after a storm hits your location, when it's raining nearby but the clouds have parted, allowing the sun to peek through. Rainbows always appear in the sky opposite the sun--so if the sun is in the west, look east for your rainbow.

Rainbows also have a very specific geometry. The top of the arch is always about 42 degrees above a line formed by the intersection of the sun and your head. That means you'll see more rainbows when the sun is relatively low in the sky; in fact, if the sun is higher than 42 degrees in the sky, the rainbow would be below the horizon entirely, and therefore impossible to see. Exception: If you're at a high elevation, such as on a mountain or on a cliff overlooking a valley, the rainbow might have enough room to form even when the sun is high overhead.

Make Your Own

I should point out that if Mother Nature isn't cooperating, you can create your own rainbow. Since a rainbow is just the right combination of bright sunlight and airborne water, you can generate your own with a sprinkler or garden hose from your backyard on a sunny day. Put the sun at your back and then spray water into the air in front of you. You'll want a fine mist or small droplets of water rather than a stream, so if you have a hose, plug it with your thumb to create a thin wall of high-pressure water. If you're lucky, you'll see a rainbow materialize. To photograph it, delegate hose duty to someone else.

Shooting Rainbows

rainbow_03-5193498 Now that you know how to hunt rainbows (or generate your own), let's talk about how to capture one with your camera.

This might be obvious, but I should point out that a rainbow is not a real physical thing; it is an optical illusion that is unique to your particular relationship to the sun and where you are actually standing at any given moment. You can't move closer to it; it will always appear to keep a constant distance from you. So while you can photograph a rainbow, remember that you can't lock your camera's focus on it, nor does the appearance of the rainbow affect the exposure setting.

That said, you can take advantage of the optical illusion to make a more interesting composition. If you move parallel to the rainbow (rather than getting closer or further away), the rainbow's relative position will change with respect to the background. That means you can make a rainbow photo more interesting by walking around until the rainbow's ends--where it intersects the ground--line up with something interesting. At the very least, by moving around you might be able to position the rainbow against a more interesting backdrop. In the photo on the right, for example, you can see a rainbow that's been expertly positioned to frame a tree.

Another element of the composition you can control is the zoom level. You'll need a fairly wide-angle zoom setting to capture the entire rainbow in a single photo, but by zooming in, you can focus the scene on just one part of the arc, as in the photo on the left.

Finally, you don't need to worry much about tweaking the exposure. You can shoot the scene normally with your camera set on its Program mode, but photographers will commonly underexpose the shot a little (you can set the exposure compensation dial to -1) to saturate the colors a little. Another way to saturate the colors: Use a polarizing filter. Experiment with your polarizer's setting, since using the polarizer at full strength can make the rainbow disappear from the photo.

PC World

5 Lomography Cameras for Retro, Dreamy Photography

Digital photography has come a long way. It has removed the barrier of expensive film and development, led to decent smartphone cameras that let anyone to snap a photo anywhere, and bumped the maximum resolution up to a ridiculous 59,783-by-24,658-pixel image. At the same time, high-end digital cameras and lenses can get very expensive, and that fact holds back some from experimenting. Some groups still stand by the analog format, and lomography is perhaps one of the most interesting results.

Lomography is an artistic experimental photography movement that revolves around quirky, plastic cameras that use film. The cameras take heavily vignetted and saturated pictures for a low-fi look that makes them comparable to their digital camera counterparts, some of which cost 100 times more money. Some of these cameras are also designed to do something I’ve never imagined with my DSLR.

Holga 35mm

There’s nothing like a reliable classic. My first film camera was a 35mm, and this is probably the case for anyone who has wound his or her film by hand. The Holga 35mm comes with a plastic 47mm lens (which is a good focal distance for any kind of photography), and the minimum aperture limit set at f/8 ensures that nothing in your shot will be out of focus. The camera also has a decoupled film advance and shutter, which means you can shoot double exposures on the same frame.

Holga 120-3D Stereo Camera

holga_35mm-5203505 3D photography is still a very expensive niche in the digital space. But the Holga 120-3D Stereo Camera is an inexpensive analog alternative that takes two simultaneous shots with twin lenses. However, you'll need to buy a special slide viewer to see the images in 3D, and the 120mm film is a bit more costly than standard film.

Spinner 360°

Taking a regular panoramic shot usually entails shooting a set of vertical photos while moving your camera around an axis. It takes a decent amount of time to set up, and you don’t get any results until you are done with post processing, cropping, and cleaning it up. The Spinner 360° simplifies everything with a ripcord. Just pull the cord, and the camera starts spinning to take a full 360-degree image.

Fisheye One

fisheye_one-5203501 Specialty lenses that provide a particular look to your photos can be really expensive, so a fisheye camera for under $60 is a real bargain. This particular fisheye camera takes photos in an ultra-wide 170 degrees and a near-circular view thanks to the lens's extreme distortion effect.


A quick-burst shooting mode is one of my favorite things about using a DSLR, but it’s a feature that's almost completely absent on affordable point-and-shoots. The SuperSampler is quick-snapper that takes four consecutive exposures on the same frame of film. The four separate lenses take a sequence of four exposures in 2 seconds on a single photo.


Sony Alpha A77 review
















PC Advisor

11 Tips to Ensure Great Smartphone Photography

You probably don't carry your fancy-pants DSLR camera with you all the time, but your smartphone--along with its built-in camera--is in your pocket everywhere you go. That's why these days the most popular camera used to upload photos to Flickr isn't a camera at all, but the iPhone.

The challenge, of course, is getting great-looking photos from a gadget primarily designed for chatting. If you keep a few tips in mind, you can take some pretty sharp pictures with either an iPhone or an Android phone. Here is what you need to know (click all photos to enlarge).

1. Let the sun shine in: Your phone can handle a lot of situations with aplomb, but it can't shoot every scene you encounter. The teeny image sensor craves light, and does best outdoors, in daylight. For the best exposures, follow the same advice that photographers have kept in mind for decades:

Try to put the sun behind you or over one of your shoulders. Avoid shooting directly into the sun, or you'll radically underexpose your subject. If you're shooting indoors, put your back to the window and turn on the lights.

2. Compose your photos: Capturing a good photo isn't merely about knowing the right settings. Compose your photos as the pros do. Divide the frame into thirds--imagine a tic-tac-toe board--and put your subject on one of those lines, rather than in the middle of the screen.

Be careful to keep the camera level, too; nothing ruins a photo like a tilted horizon. Keep an eye on the background to be sure that nothing is "growing" out of the top of someone's head.

3. Start the camera faster: Some phones make it so hard to get to the camera that you might think they're, well, camera-shy--which could mean losing out on many a great photo opportunity. If you have a smartphone and the operating system allows it, move the camera app to a more convenient location.

On the iPhone, for example, ensure that the camera app is on the first screen, or put it in the quick-access area at the bottom of the screen. Some phones even let you reassign buttons to launch the camera.

4. Keep the phone steady: One reason you tend to get blurry photos with your phone is that it's light and thin, and awkward to hold compared with a full-size camera. Grip the phone as still as you can, with both hands, and keep your elbows tucked in to your sides for support. Take a deep breath and then let out a slow, steady exhale as you gently trigger the phone's shutter release.

5. Know when the shutter clicks: If the shutter lags, you'll need to account for that. Some phones have a surprising delay after you press the shutter release. And if the shutter release is on a touchscreen (as it is on the Apple iPhone), the shutter probably trips after you lift your finger, not when you press down. Either way, hold the camera steady while the picture is being exposed. And don't jab at the screen, or the shake will blur your photo.

6. Optimize the settings: If your camera has a white balance control, you'll often get the best results leaving it on automatic. But if the colors come out wrong, try setting the balance to reflect the ambient light, such as fluorescent, daylight, or sunset. Just be sure to reset it to automatic when you're done, or future photos will look weird.

If the camera offers an ISO setting (usually under Settings or Camera on an Android device, and under the gear icon on Windows Phone), take that off Auto. When you're outdoors in daylight, set the ISO to its lowest value to minimize the digital noise in your picture. In low-light situations, bump the ISO up as high as it will go.

7. Widen the dynamic range: Some phones (such as the iPhone 4 and Windows Phone 7 handsets, to name a few), provide a High Dynamic Range mode that captures an impressive amount of detail and a range of tones and colors in a single exposure.

The effect is similar to the way HDR software can combine multiple photos to create one rich, dynamic photo. If you have an HDR option (it might also be called Wide Dynamic Range, or some similar variation), try it instead of the flash when faced with tricky lighting.

8. Turn your camera into a photo lab: Most phones offer relatively few options for enhancing photos. That's what Photoshop and other editing apps are for. But some cameras include a veritable treasure trove of ways to tweak your shots, so check the camera settings for adjustments such as contrast, saturation, and image effects. You can use most of these controls as if you were adding spices to a soup: Experiment and apply the ones you like to taste. The saturation control, for example, adjusts the intensity of colors in your photos.

It's usually best to stick with low or medium, since high saturation levels tend to make everyone look like an overcooked turkey. Image effects like negative, sepia, and black and white can help you take charming photos. But remember that if you shoot a photo in sepia, for instance, it will be tinted that way forever--there's no going back to the real colors. You might be better off ignoring such controls and adding a similar effect on your PC with a free program like Windows Live Photo Gallery, so you can always revert to the original color if you prefer.

9. Use the flash to reveal daytime details: It's counterintuitive, but in daylight, a fill flash can be your secret weapon. It provides a burst to reduce the shadows that bright sunlight causes. Although the flash won't be powerful enough to fill every shadow, if you're close enough to your subject, it can provide pleasant, even lighting on your subject's face. Of course, the tiny flash on most cameras works only at very close range, so don't expect it to help unless you're within a few feet of your subject.

10. Don't use digital zoom: Your camera phone can't magnify the image by moving its lens. Instead, it has a digital zoom, which merely makes the pixels big and blocky, obliterating fine detail. Want to fill the frame? Walk closer to your subject. If you really need to zoom, you can always produce the same effect on your PC with an image editor later.

11. Stock up on software: One of the best reasons to carry a smartphone is for the scores of apps you can install to enhance every aspect of the phone, and photography is no different. Check out your phone's app store for programs that can improve the way the camera works, as well for apps that can enhance the photos you take.

PC World

Olympus Sets PEN E-PM1 Price, Availability

Olympus-PEN-E-PM1 Olympus has announced that its smallest Micro Four Thirds camera, the E-PM1 PEN Mini, will be available for purchase in September for $499.99.

The camera is bundled with the same MSC M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm II R f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens that is included with its other PEN cameras, including the E-P3 and E-PL3. The 12.3-megapixel E-PM1 will be available in black, silver, pink, purple, brown, and white.

The camera's large, 3-inch LCD is packed with 460,000 dots of resolution and in-body image stabilization helps you capture sharp images in dim lighting. An accessory port and standard hot shoe are available, making it possible to use an external EVF or flash. The camera doesn't have a built-in flash, but an accessory pop-up flash is included.

Olympus has designed the camera's menu system to use on-screen graphics. A pop-up guide is available to explain settings to users moving up from a point-and-shoot. Popular features, including Art Filters, iAuto, Scene Modes, and Movie recording, are very easy to activate. A 3D photo mode rounds out the camera's feature set.

Late last month, Olympus also set a September release date for the PEN E-PL3 Micro Four Thirds camera and announced a VF-3 viewfinder accessory and SP-810UZ ultrazoom digital camera. The 12-megapixel E-PL3, the successor to the E-PL2, uses a tilting 16:9 LCD display, a departure from the fixed 4:3 OLED display of its predecessor, and eliminates the built-in flash that was found on the E-PL2. The camera will be available as a kit with either the M. Zuiko 14-42mm zoom lens or M. Zuiko 17mm pancake prime lens. Both kits are set to retail at $699.99 in black, white, red, and silver.

PC Magazine

Samsung PL210 review


Feature and Specs






However, you have to be content with slightly slower performance.

Design, Interface And Usability





PC Advisor

How to Clean Your Camera

If you're not satisfied with the camera in your cell phone and you prefer to keep something better around, that device needs its own special care, too. First, you'll want to start by cleaning the LCD view screen:

  1. As a safety measure, remove your camera's battery. If the battery cannot be removed, turning off the device will suffice.

How to Clean Your Camera However, in a camera, cleaning the LCD is the secondary cleaning job. Your photos don't really depend on a clean menu screen, but they certainly rely on a clean lens:

  4. Cameras can get pretty badly banged up as you carry them around, so investing in a carrying case will help keep it protected. The best cases for pocket cameras aren't much bigger than the camera itself, and have loops to attach to your belt. Serious SLR photographers will want a padded shoulder bag with room for extra lenses as well as the camera. No matter the size of your camera, you'll want a case with a few small pockets for extra batteries and memory cards.
  5. If you need to swap out batteries or memory cards, be sure to turn your camera off before opening it up to remove or replace any inside component.


Sony Announces New D-SLR and NEX Cameras






The A65


The NEX-7



The NEX-5N





PC Magazine

Nikon Updates Its Coolpix Line

nikon-Coolpix-Line Nikon added six new cameras to its Coolpix point-and-shoot line today, including the P7100, an update to its enthusiast-targeted P7000.







PC Magazine


No matter where you go on vacation this summer, you undoubtedly plan to take a camera along, too. Perhaps you have your sights set on capturing panoramic landscapes, or waterfalls, or scenic nightscapes in a foreign city. Vacations are a perfect times to try all sorts of photos. But no matter whether you pack a convenient point-and-shoot camera or a bulky-but-trusty digital SLR, here are five important things you'll want to take with you on your trip.

1. Spare Batteries and a Charger


If your camera takes ordinary AA batteries, you can find replacements almost anywhere. But these days, most cameras use Li-Ion rechargeable batteries, so you should have a backup battery packed for your trip--and don't forget the charger. If you're going to another country, you'll need to have an international power adapter.

2. Extra Memory Card




3. Photo Backup



4. Neutral Density Filter


5. Tripod or Monopod



Contour+ video camera review


Contour+: Design and specifications





PC Advisor

Motion FX uses Lion to add video effects in real time

Motion FX uses Autodesk’s Maya animation software to offer 80 visual effect filters—including smoke, fire, and “rainbow plasma”—all designed to react in real time to your on-camera movements. Users can set the application to apply the effects using motion, face, or color detection. Animated thumbnails allow you to preview effects before using them. (See the video below for a demonstration.)

The app includes a “cycle mode” that can automatically shift between effects during an on-camera performance. It includes support for switching between multiple cameras, and can be viewed using multiple displays—letting operators control the effects from one screen, say, while the performance is projected for an audience.

Motion FX is free, and compatible with computers running OS X 10.7 Lion.

PC Advisor

Canon's New Pocket Megazooms Are More Pocketable Than Ever





















Canon Announces Three New PowerShot Cameras

Canon-PowerShot-SX150-IS Canon has bolstered its point-and-shoot camera lineup with three new PowerShot cameras and a small flash unit designed for use with compact cameras. The PowerShot SX150 IS will be available in September, and the PowerShot Elph 310 HS and 510 HS will be available in October. A wireless flash unit, the HF-DC2 High-Power Flash, will be available in December.

The SX150 IS is a 14.1-megapixel superzoom with a 12x optical zoom lens. Covering a field of view equivalent to 28-336mm in 35mm terms, the camera features a large 3-inch, rear LCD and a built-in pop-up flash. It supports manual shooting modes, aperture priority, and shutter priority for enthusiasts, as well as automatic operation for those who opt to simply point and shoot. Its CCD sensor is also capable of 720p video capture. The SX150 IS is set to retail for $249.99 and will be available in red and black finishes.

For those who would like the same 12x zoom range in a smaller camera, Canon also announced the PowerShot Elph 510 HS. It uses a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, which supports 1080p video recording. Its 3-inch LCD is a touch screen for fast navigation through menus and Touch Shutter capability. Available in red, silver, and black, it will retail for $349.99.

The PowerShot Elph 310 HS offers a lesser 8x (28-224mm equivalent) zoom range and lacks the touch-screen capabilities of the 510 HS. Otherwise, it is a very similar camera, sharing the same form factor, sensor, and video-recording capability. It will be available in a rainbow of colors, including pink, blue, purple, green, and silver, and is set to retail for $259.99.

Rounding out the announcements is the HF-DC2 High-Power Flash. This compact, wireless strobe is designed for use with PowerShot cameras. It can cover a 24mm angle of view with an illumination range of about 30 feet. It includes a mounting bracket to attach it to your camera, but can also be hand-held or attached to a tripod. It is set to retail for $149.99.

PC Magazine

Sony Unveils a Pair of Digital Binoculars

SONY DSC Sony has entered the binocular market with a splash, announcing two digital optics early this morning. The DEV-3 and DEV-5 are similar in form and function, each featuring a pair of f/1.8-3.4 lenses, 1080p60 2D and 3D video recording and still capture, and a pair of high-resolution electronic viewfinders (EVFs).

The DEV-3 features a 10X optical zoom range, an autofocus system, optical image stabilization, and a battery rated for 3.5 hours of life. The binoculars support Memory Stick PRO Duo, Secure Digital, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards, and feature an HDMI output, a standard cold shoe, and a tripod thread. It will be available in November for $1,399.

The DEV-5 looks identical to the lesser model on the outside, but offers a few added bells and whistles. A digital zoom is available to supplement the 10x optical zoom, delivering a 20x maximum zoom range. Integrated GPS automatically adds your location to photos and videos. It also includes a case, strap, and eyecups, none of which ship with the DEV-3. It will also be available in November, for a suggested retail price of $1,999.

PC Magazine

Canon Pixma MG5320 review

canon-pixma-mg5320 The Canon Pixma MG5320 encourages families, work groups, and individuals to print creative photos with the help of new software features like HD Movie Print, fun photo filters, and Pixma Cloud Link. Still, we have a few complaints. The printer doesn't have an Ethernet port so you have to connect to Wi-Fi for network printing, and with no high-yield ink cartridge option, the cost of replacing all five standard-size inks can get out of hand. Despite those caveats, the MG5320 earns our recommendation for competent performance in our speed and quality tests, and the extras you get for $150 offset its connectivity shortcomings.


The Pixma MG5320 has a thinner silhouette than we're used to seeing from Canon, incorporating a unique design with folding trays to reduce its overall footprint. The printer measures 17.8 inches wide, 14.5 inches deep, and just under 7 inches tall with the paper trays folded up. At 18.3 pounds it weighs less than its beefier linemate, the Pixma MG6120, due to the rear-mounted, 150-sheet autodocument feeder (ADF) and the five internal ink tanks. With those specs, it should be relatively easy to transport around the home or office.

The MG5320 also costs $50 less than the MG6120 because it doesn't feature a touch-screen panel. We actually prefer the additional hard buttons on the control panel, as they make it easier to rapidly locate the necessary buttons to access a job. The top of the printer is home to the one-touch copy, scan, and print buttons, but you also get a tactile home button and a circular dial that clicks as you scroll through menus on the 3-inch LCD screen. You can adjust the brightness level of the display by navigating to the settings menu, and the screen can be tilted forward and backward to achieve your desired viewing angle.

The 150-sheet paper trays that fold out of the top and bottom of the MG5320 allow horizontal and vertical movement to accept a range of paper sizes from 4x6-inch snapshots all the way up to legal-size sheets. The 300-sheet overall capacity means you can store standard paper in the bottom tray and photo paper in the ADF, and a paper sensor inside automatically knows which one to grab depending on your job. The trays themselves are made of a light plastic that feels easy to break; we worry about their durability.

Setting up the printer is simple no matter how you choose to connect it to a computer, and the installation disc provides onscreen instructions guiding you through two options: 802.11 b/g/n wireless, or a simple USB cord. Most printers in this range also include an Ethernet port for wired networking in small offices, but Canon omits this key feature from the MG5320 so it can pull an extra $50 from your wallet if you opt instead for the $200 MG6120. Regardless, this won't be an issue if you're planning to use the printer at home or with a single computer.

USB setup is standard for printers and the instructions are easy to follow, and the same is true of Wi-Fi installation. If you have a wireless router with a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button, all you have to do is press the button and it'll automatically connect the Pixma MG5320 to your network without your needing to input your username and password. Otherwise, make sure you have that information handy.

From here, you can select either Easy Install for straightforward help, or Custom Install if you want to sort through which extra features you want--these include Easy-PhotoPrint EX for managing digital photos, MP Navigator EX to guide you through the scanning process, and Pixma Cloud Link, which lets you print directly from the Canon Image Gateway portal or a Picasa account. Keep in mind that you'll need more free storage space on your hard drive if you go with the comprehensive Easy Install.

Once installation is complete, Windows users will notice several new buttons displayed above the taskbar on the lower right side of the screen. These shortcuts are designed to give you quick access to five of the most commonly used printer functions: Scan a Document, Layout Print, Photo Print, Show Main Screen, and Hide Toolbar.

The MG5320 also includes Canon's HD Movie Print feature, which lets you pull still snapshots out of videos shot with compatible Canon HD video cameras. We tested the printer with a top-flight Canon PowerShot S95 handheld camera and were impressed with the Canon Solution Menu EX software's step-by-step instructions.

With the software you can also edit video images and prepare a moving clip for grabbing still shots from the video. It's as simple as selecting a video snippet and either capturing a group of 10 frames or hitting the "capture" button to select single images. After that, you can edit an image to reduce noise and sharpen it, and although the SD95 is only capable of 720p video resolution, the software supports true 1080p digital SLR cameras like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. When that's finished, you can even print custom disc and jewel-case labels using the multipurpose tray installed just above the paper input tray, and you can personalize them using templates accessible through the software suite.


JVC Everio GZ-HM650 First Look






PC Advisor

Olympus PEN E-P3 review













PC Advisor

Panasonic HDC-SD90 first look









PC Advisor

Samsung E1182

Samsung-E1182 Samsung E1182 Specifications :

General 2G Network GSM 900 / 1800
  Announced 2011, April
  Release 2011, Q3
Size Dimensions 106.9 x 44.4 x 13.9 mm
  Weight 68 g
Display Type CSTN, 65K colors
  Size 128 x 128 pixels, 1.52 inches
Sound Alert Type Vibration, MP3 ringtones
  Loud Speaker Yes
Memory Phonebook Yes, up to 500 entries
  Call Records Yes
  Card Slot No
Data GPRS No
  3G No
  Bluetooth No
  Infrared port No
  USB No
Camera   No
Features Messaging SMS
  Radio FM radio
  Browser No
  Colors Black
  GPS No
    - Dual SIM (dual stand-by)
- Organizer
- Voice memo
- Predictive text input
Battery   Standard battery, Li-Ion 1000 mAh
  Stand-by Up to 620 h
  Talk time Up to 11 h
  Music Play  

Olympus TOUGH TG-310 rugged digital camera






PC World

Olympus XZ-1 compact digital camera












PC World