Cap Eye TV

michael mckee asked:


The advice often given to first time birding camera buyers is, “Get the best camera you can afford.” As with most simplistic answers, that one contains just enough truth to be dangerous. A more useful answer would be a return question like, “What do you intend to use the camera for?” Different situations benefit from different equipment. Birding covers so many diverse activities from sitting on a patio watching the backyard feeder to an Antarctic expedition observing penguins. What you intend to do with the camera will determine which is best for you. While cost is an indicator of quality, a more expensive camera might not be the most appropriate for a particular need.

 

Bird photography requirements

 

There are a couple of generic requirements that a good birding camera must fulfill. A birding camera needs a lens with strong magnification. Getting close to birds is difficult and you will need a lens capable of capturing a good image at a distance that won’t spook your subjects. Ignore the 3X or 5X rating on cameras. It is a relative measure that gives little objective basis for comparison. More useful is the focal length. On digital cameras that is normally stated as either effective focal length or 35 mm equivalent focal length. Those measurements compare the magnification to what a 35 mm camera would offer. As digital camera sensors essentially magnify the actual focal length of a camera anywhere from 1.5 yo 2 times, the effective or 35 mm focal length measurement gives a standard for comparison. Consumer camera lenses that offer 450 mm - 600 mm effective focal lengths are good choices.

 

Another feature that a birding camera needs is manual focus. Under normal conditions the automatic focus on digital cameras does a great job. Unfortunately, birds often hang out among branches and leaves. Your camera can’t know which of the many possible subjects to focus on. Therefor, you will sometime, or often, need to manually focus on the bird to get a good shot. If you primarily observe shore birds that many not be as important a consideration. Otherwise it’s essential.

 

Camera manufacturers often advertise the number of megapixels their cameras will capture. That’s mostly a marketing gimmick. For current consumer level cameras anything more than 10-12 megapixels, and perhaps less, provides no measurable advantage and some experts feel that larger megapixel sensors produce more image noise or graininess. 

 

All modern digital cameras that cost more than a couple hundred dollars are extremely capable and will produce excellent images under most conditions. A $300 camera that you have with you will do you more good than a $3000 one that got left behind because it was too heavy or complicated to take along. Yes, the more expensive camera will do a better job under difficult photo taking conditions. It will offer more controls. The photos it takes will provide more editing latitude. It will also, at a minimum, weigh and cost two to three times as much. For the casual or beginning photographer the disadvantages of cost, weight and complexity will often outweigh the technical advantages. For smaller or less fit individuals the weight alone can be the most important consideration.

 

Photography Intentions

 

That brings us to the question of intentions. If photography is the primary intent of for your birding outing then a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) offers more creative control and will give you better photos in poor light as well as more post processing options. Under average daytime lighting conditions the image quality advantage diminishes to minuscule for image printed around 11” X 17” or smaller. If you want to make posters, shoot in minimal very early morning or late evening light then get the DSLR camera.

 

If photography is a secondary goal to observation and identification then a point and shoot camera with a long zoom lens might be a better choice. These are classified as super zoom cameras and can take excellent images under adequate daytime lighting. The advantages of a super zoom are lighter weight, lower cost and lower complexity. Their single lens can can do the job of two or three DSLR lenses, meaning that you only need the camera not a whole bag or backpack full of equipment. Street prices run from $300 - $400 for models that offer manual zoom capability. They are a particularly good choice for people moving up from a pocket point and shoot camera. The provide enough manual controls to keep a dedicate learner busy for a couple of years and are not unreasonable to haul around along with a good pair of binoculars. Super zooms also include movie capture modes, which as of Jan 09, only two DSLR’s offer. While the movie mode isn’t a substitute for a good video camera, it is a nice bonus to grab an occasional movie clip.

 

A good super zoom camera can make a good bridge camera. If you think you want to get into photography but haven’t actually done a lot of it, then the lower cost is a big plus. If you later decide to upgrade to a DSLR you won’t have wasted your money. There will always be situations where the super-zoom’s lower weight and wide focal length capacity make it a good choice. It also makes a great camera to lend.

 

I you already have extensive photography experience then a DSLR would be the better choice. It is a more capable camera. It will give usable photos at a higher ISO setting (lower light). You won’t be intimidated by the extra controls and buttons. You may already own 35 mm camera lenses that will work with the camera. You’ll be used to dealing with multiple lenses. If you enjoy digital darkroom work then a DSLR shooting in raw mode will give you more information to work with. You will also be familiar with the high price tags that quality lenses carry and won’t suffer as much from sticker shock.

 

Joysmahal asked:


PowerShot A95 Digital Camera (5.0MP, 2592×1944, 3x Opt, 32MB CompactFlash Card) Strengths: High quality 5MP pictures, Camera feels great in hand, swivel LCD screen, best bang for the buck camera. Weaknesses: Included 32MB CF card is too small. Summary: This camera is awesome. I upgraded from a Canon A70 and it was well worth the money. The Canon A95 uses 4 AA bateries, but it eats through normal alkalines way too fast. I highly recommend getting rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and a quick charger.The swivel screen is a major plus, it’s 1.8″ compared to 1.5″ from the Canon A70. The screen is also higher resolution than the A70.I have used the camera for 3 weeks and printed about 50 pics so far. The pics look great and I even cropped to zoom in on some pictures and you couldn’t see any sign of pixelation. I love the manual flexibility with this camera, plus the automatic modes make it easy for anyone to use.The camera has a nice solid feel to it and fits well in the hand. I prefer the Canon A95’s size rather than the ultra compact cameras like Sony’s T1 because you can easily hold the camera in one hand and take pics. But if you have an ultra compact camera, you have to hold it awkward and it my easily fall from your hand.I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking into getting a 5MP camera that’s affordable, flexible, and normal size.

further info, visit; http://www.petrousdigitalcameraprices.blogspot.com

Cyber-shot DSC-W1 Silver Digital Camera (5.1MP, 2592×1944, 3x Opt, 32MB Memory Stick)

Strengths: Size, LCD, AA batteries, movie mode and black & white modes are GREAT - use ‘em all the time. Weaknesses: Flash is weak, zoom inadequate at times. Summary: I spent a LOT of time investigating digital cameras online -one would think I was buying a car or something. Anyway I am a novice camera user and remain very impressed with this little guy. I would certainly recommend it. The movie mode is great for ‘vignettes’ or small movie snapshots. I also use the black and white a lot. I also didn’t think the LCD would matter very much, but it does: I never use the viewfinder. I appreciate the large size of the LCD when passing the camera around to friends to view pictures and movies.Hint #1: Immediately jack up the megapixel resolution to 5 so that you can capture moments in the best resolution possible. Then, bypass Sony’s ridiculous profit margins- for memory cards buy SanDisk instead. The 512 MB is fantastic - you will get a lot of memory space. I saved $75.00 this way - $150 vs. $225. The 32 MB is inadequate for daily usage. I use it as ‘emergency’ memory when my 512 has filled up on me and I need an extra pinch of memory to get me through the moment.Hint #2: Do NOT buy the Sony camera case. They charge a ridiculous price for a shoddy version. Go for a Lowepro - I paid ten dollars and it is very sturdy - also has a nice inside pocket to keep memory cards.Hint #3: Buy a separate set of rechargeable batteries you can swap on the go. The AA battery format is a huge plus.Picture clarity is great for the size and price of the camera. The camera and case are small enough that I WILL take it anywhere, and have. In other words, it is a convenient model.I did find that for indoors the flash was inadequate at a distance. The zoom could also have been 4x or 5x.All in all I am quite happy with this model - but stay away from buying Sony brand ‘peripherals’ unless you like spending money.This camera fulfills my needs. The only reason it does not get five stars for the above drawbacks. Otherwise, a great job by Sony and their third-party peripheral competitors!

further info visit; http://www.petrousdigitalcameraprices.blogspot.com

FinePix E550 Digital Camera (6.3MP, 4048×3040, 4x Opt, 16MB xD-Picture Card)

Strengths: Well priced, 6+mp, all features including raw image Weaknesses: This camera uses 2 AA cells in a hurry Summary: As a professional digital camera lecturer, I must admit that the Fuji E-550 was a very pleasant surprise for me. Priced at about $340, this digital camera produced digital photos that were much sharper, more detailed, and more excellent than I, frankly expected.I found the digital camera very easy to use right out of the box. While this digital camera does have a 12mp interpolated image size available, I found the 6mp native image size to have more contrast, detail and resolution.As you might expect in a consumer digital camera, the digital camera’s flash is not very powerful. At 200 ISO it will produce excellent exposures out to 13 feet. By adding a supplementary slave flash such as the Sony HVL-FSL1B and a bit of flash compensation, I was able to extend the effective flash range out to 25 feet, making the Fuji E-550 useful for indoor photos of large groups.The Fuji E-550 does an equally amazing job with macro or close-up digital photos. It will focus quite close making it very effective for photos of small items and jewelery that might be photographed for sale on auction sites such as www.ebay.com.The strongest suit for the Fuji E-550 is it ability to record a great deal of detail with extreme sharpness and clarity while being handheld. The Fuji E-550 is also very capable of taking excellent night photos when it is placed on a tripod.All in all, I was extremely impressed with the Fuji E-550. I received a lot more digital camera than I expected for the samll price of $340. For those who like to use the raw image format, you will understand that you can essentially re-take the digital photo all over again right in your computer. This is a huge advantage.Of course, being a Fuji digital camera, the Fuji E-550 uses the somewhat more expensive XD electronic data chips. However, the Fuji E-550 is very speedy. From power on to being ready to take the first digital photo takes 1.4 seconds. This digital camera is equally as fast in writing your digital photo to the XD chip.The newer Fuji digital cameras are marketed to compete dollar for dollar with the Kodak line of digital cameras. Therefore, they tend to be very competitive with Kodak and offer in most cases, a lot more features.There is available for the Fuji E-550 an adaptor as well as both a wide angle and a telephoto (1.9X) supplementary lens. The supplementary lenses are very fairly priced and readily available through Fuji’s own website. This is a pleasant contrast to the accessories offered by Sony, through their own website, whose wide angle and telephoto supplementary lenses are unreasonably high in price.

Conclusion: The Fuji E-550 is a top quality digital camera. It more capable than most might expect. In addition, it is quite small and pocket sized, extending its appeal to many more digital camera users. It is worthy of your attention. The digital photos produced by this digital camera are amazing and compare most favorably with much more expensive consumer digital cameras. I would happily purchase this camera again.I will be very confident in introducing the Fuji E-550 to the attendees of my workshops all over the world. It is a digital camera that I can point to with a lot of pride, simply because it gives the digital camera user many features and excellent digital photos for a very resonable price.

further info please visit; http://www.petrousdigitalcameraprices.blogspot.com

Larry Zolna asked:


You are thinking about purchasing a wireless hidden camera but, like many people, are afraid of electronic products. You keep reading about words like “lux” and “camera resolution” and “line of sight” — do I really have to know what these mean? And, isn’t the wireless hidden camera hard to install?

The answer is NO and I’m going to tell you how easy it is to install and use your wireless hidden camera. I will also explain some of the “difficult” terms in plain, understandable English so you won’t be intimidated any more.

The best thing about a wireless hidden camera is just that — it’s WIRELESS! You won’t have to run any wires through your walls or under your rug.

These wireless cameras are called “hidden” because they are built into an existing everyday object that you see in your home or office. Most of these objects are functioning electrical appliances, e.g. clock radios, cordless phones, and even computer speakers.

Each object contains a wireless camera. The camera will function as long as the object is plugged into the wall outlet. For example, even when you turn your radio off, the camera is still working! These objects look natural when plugged into the wall, so your camera remains hidden and unsuspected.

Don’t forget — the object in which your camera is hidden is usually portable, e.g. clock radio. So even if you disconnect the plug from the wall — perhaps to move the object — you can still use your wireless camera with batteries. The batteries work for about 4-8 hours, so it’s best that you have another set handy or use a battery charger for a fresh supply.

You want to purchase a wireless surveillance camera system that is “Plug and Play.” This means just what it says — plug it in and begin using it! Your wireless hidden camera comes with 2 main components: 1) a camera and a transmitter connected inside an everyday object; and 2) a receiver which is attached to your VCR or TV. That’s all there is to it — you’re now ready to record!

Record what? There are unlimited uses for your wireless hidden camera.

How about as a hidden nanny camera — you can watch your children while they are being cared for by their nanny or baby sitter. What about your mother or father who is getting up in years and needs special care. Wouldn’t it be great to know who’s on your property all the time or even at the door? And how about your children — you can keep an eye on your tots with your hidden nanny camera to make sure they don’t leave the house or property. And, now with your small security camera, you will know the real time your teens return home at night!

By using wireless hidden cameras in the workplace, you will always be aware of what’s going on in your store, office and warehouse. Just set up a hidden camera to view your cash register, entrance and exit doors, loading dock, or just about anywhere.

All this and much more can be viewed from your VCR tape or live on your TV. And, with special software, you can watch what’s going on in your home or business on your computer screen, even when you’re away.

Should you choose a Black and White (B/W) or Color Camera? That is a personal choice that you should make. A Black and White camera does better as a low light wireless camera than a color camera because it has a lower lux. Color Cameras, however, would be more helpful to the police in identifying the burglar, shoplifter, assailant, etc. by giving a better description — for example, “the man with red hair in the green and yellow shirt.”

Finally, I promised to explain some technical camera terms. Here are some of the general questions you might ask about your wireless hidden camera:

• What is a Wireless Camera? A wireless camera consists of a camera with a transmitter attached to it and a receiver which connects to a VCR or a TV.

• What is “Plug and Play”? Plug and Play is the easy way to install your wireless surveillance camera system. Just connect the power supply (either AC for wall power or the battery pack) to your camera. Place the object containing the camera to show what you want to review. Connect the receiver to your TV or VCR using the red and yellow RCA cable from the receiver. You are now set up.

• What is a Transmitter? A transmitter is a device that converts video signals into radio frequency signals and transmits them as radio waves.

• What is a Receiver? A receiver is an electronic device that receives radio signals from a transmitter and decodes the signal for use as pictures on your VCR or TV.

• What is “Lux”? Lux is a method of measuring a camera’s sensitivity to light, i.e. it is the amount of light the camera needs to provide an image. The lower the number, the less light the camera needs to reproduce a clear image. A Black and White camera usually has a lower lux than a color camera. It will hold an image longer than a color camera. For example, a B/W camera with a .05 lux will be better in low light than a color camera with a .5 lux.

• What is the meaning of “camera resolution” for security cameras? Camera resolution is a measure of the clearness of a security camera. It’s determined by the number of horizontal video lines that the camera must have to reproduce the correct image. The higher the resolution number, the sharper the image.

• What is a Monitor? A monitor is what you use to view your camera image. The monitor could be a TV, CCTV (closed circuit TV) or even your computer screen.

• What is “Line of Sight”? Line of Sight means that the video signal travels from the transmitter in your camera to a dedicated receiver (e.g. VCR or TV) placed a certain distance away with no obstructions or interference between the two. The signal can go through walls and floors. Low Power Cameras usually have a line of sight of 700 feet. However, you can upgrade to a High Power Camera which has a line of sight of 3,500 feet.

So there you have it — you don’t have to be a camera buff to install or operate your wireless hidden camera. Just plug and play!

Don’t Become the Next Crime Statistic! A wireless hidden camera will show you

what’s REALLY happening in your home or business.

For more information on hidden cameras, please click on this link:

http://www.feelsafeandsecure.com/wireless_hidden_cameas.html

Feel Safe and Secure is a seller of home security products, self defense products and wireless hidden cameras. To view these amazing products, please visit our website: http://www.feelsafeandsecure.com  and Don’t Be the Next Victim!

Camera-battery.org asked:


Battery Conservation Tips

Are you always running out of battery power just before you take that perfect picture with your digital camera? Here are some

tips to conserve your batteries when you are out “snapping away”.

1) Turn off your digital camera when not in use. If you are in a situation where you must snap pictures quickly, this may not

apply as turning digital cameras on and off take a few seconds, and may cause you to miss a picture-taking opportunity.

However, if you are taking a leisurely stroll and can afford a couple of seconds before snapping a still subject, by all

means, conserve your digital camera’s energy!

2) Many digital cameras have a regular viewfinder and an LCD viewfinder. While the digital LCD viewfinder has its benefits,

it can drain battery power. Turn it off when applicable and use your regular viewfinder for taking pictures.

3) Don’t stop after taking every photo and look at the picture in your digital camera’s playback mode. Granted, you sometimes

need to look at photos immediately after shooting them in order to make sure your exposure is correct, the lighting is ok,

etc., but doing this does use up your digital camera’s battery power.

4) If you are using MicroDrive media, be forewarned that these miniature hard drives may take up quite more power than

Compact Flash cards.

Taking care of you new battery pack

Normally, a new battery pack comes in a very low charge condition and must be fully charged before use. Refer to the user

manual of your portable electronic equipment for charging instructions. A new battery pack needs to be fully charged and

fully discharged or “cycled” as much as five times to condition them into performing at full capacity. Your equipment may

report a fully charge condition in as short as 10 to 15 minutes when the new battery pack is being charged for the first

time. This is a normal phenomenon especially for Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) chemistries. When

this happens, remove the battery pack and let it cool

down for about fifteen minutes then repeat the charging procedure. “Conditioning” (fully discharging and then fully charging)

is necessary so as to maintain the optimum performance of a battery pack, and is recommended at least once a month

particularly for Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. Failure to do so could result in reduced charge capacity and can significantly

shorten the battery packs useful life. Lithium Ion batteries do not require conditioning. It is normal for a battery pack to

get warm when charging and during use. However, if the battery pack gets excessive hot, here may be a problem with the

portable electronic equipments charging circuit and should therefore be checked by a qualified technician. Rechargeable

batteries undergo self-discharging when left unused for long periods of time. This is normal particularly in the case of Ni-

MH and Li-ion chemistries. For best results, always store a battery pack fully charged. It should be removed from the

equipment and kept in a cool, dry and clean place. The amount of runtime a battery pack produces depends on the power

requirements of components in your electronic equipment.

Don’t let under-charged batteries keep you from taking great photos.

If you infrequently use your digital camera, you may think that you after you use your digital camera, recharge your NiMH

batteries, wait a few weeks or months, then use your digital camera again, that your batteries will be charged and you’ll be

ready to snap photos, right?

Oops… Do that and you’ll be stuck with a non-functioning digital camera or one that just blinks a picture showing a dead

battery.

Rechargeable batteries don’t stay charged forever. They tend to lose a little bit of their power every day. If you charge

your batteries and frequently use your digital camera, you will probably never notice this loss of power. However, after a

couple of weeks, the power loss may be noticeable, and after a couple of months or longer of non-use, those once ready-to-go

batteries may have lost enough power to make them unusable.

Don’t get caught in this trap. Always charge your batteries before every trip, and make sure to use a battery charger with a sensor that prevents over-charge.

more info: http://www.camera-battery.org