Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera

Price  $899.95 +

If you want the ability to do more than just take pictures in Program Mode, Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera is perfect for you. The still image and HD quality is strong. Setting it up is so simple that you wouldn’t need to read the manual in details. This digital camera also feels great in my hands and the weight is not too heavy.

The only downside is its limited lens compatibility, and you may find that the HDR is not as significant as the manual suggests.

To check how to use Nikon D5100, download a copy of Nikon D5100 User Manual . This user manual is from Nikon USA support group and you must have Adobe Reader to read the full text.

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera Features

The NIKON D5100 offers a host of new photographic and video tools that deliver superior performance and exceptional image quality with surprising versatility. With 16.2 megapixels, a swivel Vari-Angle LCD monitor, full HD movie capabilities, new EFFECTS Mode and new HDR setting, you hold the power and performance to capture beautiful moments and the freedom to get creative.

Vari-angle LCD MonitorCreativity : You can take pictures or record movies from a unique viewpoint, the D5100's 3.0 inch, super sharp, 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD monitor allows for versatile high quality viewing and playback. Explore every angle, with overhead shots, waist level candids, ground level and fun self portraits and  you will never miss a shot. This Vari-angle monitor allows you to be creative from any point of view.

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera incorporates an amazing array of special effects for use when taking still pictures or recording D-Movie Full HD movies. Selective Color isolates any color within the scene; capture details in places too dark for your own eyes using Night Vision; create bright, glowing images filled with atmosphere with High Key; emphasize the mood of a scene using Low Key; Miniature Effect makes a scene look like a miniature scale model; and Color Sketch creates color outlines of the subject that are played back as a series of stills in a slide show.

Full HD 1080p D-Movie with Sound: Nikon  D5100 Digital SLR Camera delivers exceptionally high-quality movie performance due to its full HD capability while the latest in Full-time autofocus. It takes the guess work out of tracking your subjects while in motion. With D5100's ergonomically placed Live View and Movie start button,  D-Movies come to life with its sound recording capability.

HDR (High Dynamic Range)Exquisite detail in highlight and shadow : In scenes with extreme contrasts, such as bright, sunlit clouds and a foreground deep in shadow, it was once quite difficult to render the textures of both equally. Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera combines two exposures to create an image revealing an extremely wide dynamic range, but with less noise and richer color gradation than ever before

Incorporating the latest Nikon D-SLR technologies such as the 16.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 2 image processing engine, the D5100 delivers outstanding image quality. Its CMOS sensor offers a remarkably wide ISO range (ISO 100 to 6400) with reduced noise which enables you to shoot at faster shutter speeds and capture scenes and subjects with less blur. Handheld shooting and full HD movies come out looking great even in low light.

With high-speed continuous shooting at approx. 4 frames per second, you'll never miss a moment and with D5100's large optical viewfinder providing accurate and realistic composition, you'll get a precise view and focus in every situation.

Nikon D5100 Digital SLR Camera’s 11-point AF system provides flexibility to compose the shot you want ensuring your subject is captured sharply wherever it's located in the frame. Working together with the Scene Recognition System, the camera can keep your main subject in focus even if the composition changes using Nikon's exclusive 3D-tracking.

Vital for dark or backlit subjects, the D5100's built-in pop-up flash automatically brightens your subject even when shooting outdoors in bright sunlight. So you can expect natural looking results with this digital camera’s  intelligent flash control.

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Nikon D3S Digital SLR Camera

Price: $ 5,199.95 +

A must for every wedding photographer. This digital camera is perfect in low light. Although this is heavier, it would feel great in your hands. The burst mode can be  amazing as long as you have an appropriate CF card. The higher ISO settings makes it incredibly useful with  a fast lense, there are no issues shooting indoors and without a flash. Nikon D3S digital camera  has an ergo fix that the other pro bodies are missing. The live view function can be activated by a button on the rear of the body instead on the upper left control wheel.

One review cautioned would be buyer that this Nikon D3S digital camera can freeze at times when viewing photos and stops auto-focus on its own. Otherwise, it can produce great images.

• To check how to use Nikon D3s, download a copy of Nikon D3s User Manual. This user manual is from Nikon USA support group and you must have Adobe Reader to read the full text.

Nikon D3S Digital Camera Features:

Nikon-original FX-format CMOS Sensor

Newly engineered for striking image fidelity and low-noise, optimizing pixel size and count in a 12.1-megapixel sensor to produce extraordinarily rich files.

Continuous Shooting Up to 9 FPS

Secure exacting moments in time with an expanded buffer, allowing continuous capture of up to 82 JPEG (fine) or 36 14-bit NEF (RAW) images.

One-button Live View with Two Shooting Modes

Two modes for studio or remote shooting—Tripod Mode offers 27x magnification for precise focus confirmation.

Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System

Ultrasonic process combats the accumulation of dust on the optical low-pass filter, safeguarding image quality.

Fast, Accurate 51-Point AF System

4 Dynamic modes and 15 cross-type sensors deliver AF precision and razor sharpness.

Scene Recognition System

Referencing an onboard image database, teamed with RGB metering, SRS enhances exposure and white balance evaluation and improves AF speed and accuracy.

Nikon Picture Control

Four preset options and 9 customizable settings provide personalized style control.

Dual CF Card Slots with Overflow, Backup and Copy Options

Approx. 4,200 Images per Battery Charge

 Low Noise ISO Sensitivity from 200 to 12,800

Renowned low-noise performance at 12,800, plus expanded settings to an astounding ISO 102,400 (equivalent) and ISO 100 (equivalent).

HD Video Capture

Record smooth 24 fps HD video, leveraging low-noise D3S image quality along with high fidelity stereo sound capability.

3-Inch Super-density 921,000-dot VGA LCD Monitor

D3S monitors are individually calibrated during assembly to assure accuracy.

Nikon EXPEED Image Processing

Drives breathtakingly rich image fidelity, low-noise and fast image processing.

1,005-Pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II

Nikon-pioneered RGB metering includes color information to intelligently determine more accurate exposures.

Rugged and Precise Magnesium Alloy Construction

Effectively protected from invasive dust, moisture and electromagnetic interference with a self-diagnostic shutter mechanism tested to exceed 300,000 cycles.

100% Viewfinder Coverage

Virtual Horizon Graphic Indicator

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Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera

Estimated Price: US$ 4,999.00

Overall, Mark IV is perfect for speed and accuracy. Its autofocus in good light is very snappy. ISO is cleaner, and it's noise is of a variety that cleans up better. White balance and light metering was very accurate than 5D II. Although it is heavy and bulky, you will find that it actually helps those shaking hands to keep still while taking the shot. The battery lasts longer and ergonomically, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera is incredibly nice to hold.

This digital SLR camera would have been perfect for someone who wouldn’t mind having no full frame sensor.  To get the most out of this camera, remember to study its features and functions.

• To check how to use EOS 1D Mark IV, download a copy of Canon EOS 1D Mark IV User Manual here from Canon USA support group. You must have Adobe Reader to read the full text.

Features of Canon EOS 1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera

New 45-point Area AF sensor including 39 cross-type AF points with f/2.8 support plus new AI Servo II AF with improved algorithm.

ISO 100 - 12800 (expandable to L: 50, H1: 25600, H2: 51200, H3: 102400) for shooting from bright to dim light with low noise levels.

EOS HD movie with manual exposure control and multiple frame rates (1080: 30p (29.97) / 24p (23.976) / 25p, 720: 60p (59.94) / 50p, 480: 60p (59.94) / 50p).

This digital camera has 16.1 Megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors for high image quality and speed.

10.0 fps continuous shooting up to 121 Large JPEGS or 28 RAW using a UDMA CF card.

3.0-inch ClearView II LCD monitor, 160° viewing angle, 920,000-dot VGA, reflection resistance with multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing.

Magnesium alloy body with shutter durability up to 300,000 cycles and exclusive dust- and weather-resistance.

This digital camera is fully compatible with over 50 EF lenses and a wide range of EOS System accessories.

The price includes:

                EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR Body

                Eyecup Eg (not shown)

                Wide Neck Strap L6

                Stereo AV Cable AVC-DC400ST

                USB Interface Cable IFC-200U

                Cable Protector

                Battery Pack LP-E4

                Battery Charger LC-E4

                CR2025 Lithium Battery

                EOS Digital Solution Disk

                Instruction Manual (not shown)

                Software Instruction Manual

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KODAK EASYSHARE MAX DIGITAL CAMERA

Price : US$ 329.95

A digital camera that's easy to use with clear sharp images and easy to upload pictures straight to computers that comes with rechargeable battery.

However, this digital camera may be hard to focus on small objects. Its built in memory is not so good and it comes with  no carrying case.

Test Kodak Easyshare Max digital camera and you could focus in on words on a board from 20 feet away. The camera is solid, durable and the large 3 inch display screen is easy to see. The pre-set functions are great and the menus are easy to use.  Some reviews for this digital camera says the onboard memory in the camera is not good. You could take 11 pictures or 20 seconds of video before it is full.

Kodak Easyshare Max Digital Camera Features

• A  Share button that makes sharing pictures and videos as simple as 1, 2, 3.

This digital camera lets you simultaneously share to multiple social networks, e-mail and PULSE Digital Frame.

Automatically share when you connect to a PC.

It has the functionality of tagging to the largest number of social networks

• Capture the low-light ambience—fast and sharp

CMOS sensors deliver higher quality pixels—better pixels are better than more pixels

Kodak's first BSI CMOS sensor delivers stunning low-light picture quality with less noise and less blur—no flash needed

• Kodak Easyshare Max digital camera has a powerful 30X optical zoom lens

Fast f/2.8 28 mm wide-angle lens captures dramatic shots in tight quarters or in front of spectacular landscapes.

Optical image stabilization captures sharp, steady shots when shooting at long zoom ranges.

Image stabilization automatically minimizes camera shake to deliver crisp pictures and get in on the action without delay.

Capture that challenging action shot with fast, click-to-capture speed and auto focus.

High ISO mode (up to 6400) captures the details in low-light conditions and fast-action situations.

Faster shutter speeds makes easy to capture scenes in low light and fast action.

• Get creative with advanced digital camera features—PASM, RAW, creative modes, and film effects

Program auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes

• This digital camera has Face Recognition feature which is capable of finding, organizing and picture sharing easily.

• It automatically recognizes up to 20 pre-tagged faces so you can easily locate and share them later

• Recognizes up to five faces in a single image

• Name tags carry over to your favorite photo management software for easy searching

•  Record full 1080 HD video with stereo sound

• Edit your pictures and add creative borders

• Make a picture from video and create action prints

Kodak Easyshare Max digital camera has complete solution for transferring, online sharing, e-mailing, organizing, editing, and creative printing of your pictures.

• You can easily organize your pictures with your own tags, star ratings, and date and time stamps, then use the search feature to quickly find any picture in your collection

• Edit your pictures with ease—select from a variety of simple tools that reduce red-eye, improve lighting, remove wrinkles and blemishes, and add text

• Create photo projects online or at home—choose from hundreds of templates and designs to create album pages, cards, invitations and much more  

• This digital camera produces pictures for manual uploading to KODAK Gallery, YouTube, FACEBOOK, FLICKR, TWITTER, ORKUT, YANDEX, and KAIXIN001 sites, plus e-mail and KODAK PULSE Digital Frame.

Kodak Easyshare Max price in the Philippines ranges from Php 14,000 +

Nikon D3X Digital Camera

Price : $7,999.95

When you are looking for top notch gear for photography in the digital camera  world, the Nikon D3X digital camera may well be worthy of its price. This is perfect for studio work and also for general photography. The huge sensor makes a very large and very sharp prints without having to worry about cropping.

 Nikon D3X digital camera allows you to work with very high resolution on a true 35 mm format, with all the perks of a medium format and with the affordability of a SLR.

This is a professional camera, so its price tag is not for the occasional shooter, its for real high end productive photographers.

• To check how to use Nikon D3x, download a copy of Nikon D3x user manual. This user manual is from Nikon USA support group and you must have Adobe Reader to read the full text.

Nikon D3X Digital Camera Features

• Extreme resolution 24.5-megapixel FX-format (35.9 x 24.0mm) CMOS sensor

Nikon D3X digital camera captures astonishing detail and subtleties with outstanding dynamic range for demanding commercial applications.

• 138 MB1 Processed NEF (RAW) 12 or 14 bit image files

This digital camera  yields incredible image quality through a 16-bit processing pipeline, for smoother tonal gradations.

• Two Live View shooting modes

This feature adds flexibility, and up to 27x magnification in the Tripod Mode, acute focusing accuracy is easily confirmed.

• Fast, accurate 51-point AF system

AF system features 4 Dynamic AF modes, including 3D Focus Tracking, for autofocus precision and razor sharpness.

• 3-inch super-density 921,000-dot VGA LCD monitor

Individual factory calibration assures the color accuracy of each D3X monitor for critical image review.

• Nikon Picture Control

Nikon D3X digital camera has four preset options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, and 9 customizable settings provide advanced, personalized color control.

• Dual CF card slots with overflow, backup and copy options

• Up to 4,400 images per battery charge

• Nikon EXPEED image processing technologies

EXPEED extends and assures breathtakingly rich image fidelity and reduces noise, even at high ISOs.

• Low noise ISO sensitivity from 100 to 1600

Added ISO settings of Lo-1 (ISO 50 equivalent), Hi-1 (ISO 3200 equivalent) and Hi-2 (ISO 6400 equivalent) extend versatility.

• Continuous shooting at up to 5 fps at full FX-format resolution

Commercial image quality teams with speed and handling to create new shooting possibilities—in the studio or on location.

• 1,005-Pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System

Two Nikon-exclusive technologies provide intelligent auto exposure capabilities, along with refined auto white balance detection and faster, more accurate AF performance.

• 100% viewfinder coverage

• Rugged, durable and precise magnesium-alloy construction

Nikon D3X digital camera is effectively protected from invasive dust, moisture and electromagnetic interference with a self-diagnostic shutter mechanism tested to exceed 300,000 cycles.

• Virtual Horizon Graphic Indicator

Nikon D3X digital camera price in the Philippines ranges from Php 197,800 (body only to Php 322,600 (with accessories).

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Estimated Retail Price: $6,999.00†

The 1Ds Mark III digital camera has proven to be a superb camera. Image quality is remarkably good and the build quality is without peer. The large file sizes give more than enough information to maintain detail even after cropping.

• To check how to use 1Ds Mark III, download a copy of Canon 1Ds Mark III User Manual here from Canon USA support group. You must have Adobe Reader to read the full text.

If you are after extreme detail in large prints, you will find this digital camera awesomely ridiculous. However, the buttons in the back are subject to wear and accumulated dirt.

The controls are well placed and intuitive, which makes this digital camera much easier to use than its predecessor, although the AF point selector is a bit in an awkward position. Start up time is fast and processing time is reasonable, given the huge size of the files. The menu design is vastly improved and the battery life can be amazing. This digital camera also performs extremely well in different climate weather. Other than weight, cost and the AF selector, this digital camera would amaze any digital photographer.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Digital Camera Features


Superb image quality: entirely new 21.1 Megapixel Full-Frame Canon CMOS Sensor, Highlight Tone Priority, and 14-bit A/D conversions for outstanding color tones.
Dual "DIGIC III" Image Processor for excellent image quality and processing speed.
Live View Function capabilities, displayed on the large 3.0-inch LCD monitor.
Outstanding durability thanks to a shutter durability-tested to 300,000 cycles, dust- and water-resistant design, and EOS Integrated Cleaning System.
Up to 5 fps, burst rate up to 12 consecutive RAW images or 56 full-resolution JPEGs, and compatible with newest UDMA high-speed CF cards.
Fast and precise AF system, with 19 high-precision, cross-type AF points with f/2.8 or faster lenses and 26 additional "Assist Points."
Compatible with wireless file transmitter WFT-E2A, extensive remote control accessories, and 15 different interchangeable Ec-series focus screens.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III Digital Camera Functionality

• A New Full-Frame Performance Standard

The tremendous pixel count delivers high-resolution images of exacting precision, with Photoshop file sizes over 60MB for outstanding quality at large print sizes and post-processing cropping flexibility. Despite the higher pixel density, Canon CMOS sensor technology ensures exceptionally low noise and the widest usable ISO range* (from 50 to 3200, using ISO range extension).

• Highlight Tone Priority

This digital camera’s unique Highlight Tone Priority feature takes full advantage of the camera's 14-bit per channel digital conversion to provide smoother gradations from the grays to the highlights and preserve greater detail in image highlight areas which is a perennial problem for digital photographers, especially those who work in bright sunlight or contrasting studio lighting. Highlight Tone Priority expands the available range of capture in the highlights, yet it exacts no penalties in either shadow detail or other aspects of image capture.

• Advanced 14-bit A/D Conversion

Whereas most other digital cameras use 12-bit A/D (analog-to-digital) converters, the EOS-1Ds Mark III digital camera employs superior 14-bit per channel converters to process the output of the imaging sensor. In each color channel, this means there are 16,384 distinct brightness steps from the darkest to brightest tone (vs. 4,096 previously). This ensures smoother tonal transitions and more natural gradations. RAW images are recorded at the full 14 bit, and once processed will preserve the entire range of tones when opened in Photoshop's 16-bit color space.

• "Picture Style" settings

A unique feature where photographers can recreate characteristics of their favorite films. Color, saturation, sharpness and contrast settings create noticeable variation in the saved image. In addition to six preset Picture Style settings (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful and Monochrome), users can create three additional settings for their particular photographic style.
Picture Style settings are applied directly to JPEG images, giving tremendous flexibility to shooters who prefer the ease of JPEG files. If RAW images are processed in Canon's Digital Photo Professional software (v. 3.2 or higher) or RAW Image Task software, the versatile Picture Style settings can be modified or completely changed in the computer, without affecting the original file.

In the Philippines, Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III digital camera's price range from Php186,000 to Php 230,000 (body only).

What Is Digital Photography?

The answer to the question  What is Digital Photography? is simply explained as a form of photography where images are captured and stored electronically or as a digital file rather than light sensitive film. The image, captured thru Digital Photography, will then be ready for digital processing (corrections, sizing, cropping, etc), viewing and or printing.

Before Digital Photography, pictures were made by exposing light sensitive films. Chemicals were then added to make the image visible and printed on a photographic paper.

Digital Photography has been adopted by amateur photographers because of the convenience of sending images by emails and uploading to the Internet.

Some commercial photographers have been resistant to Digital Photography because they believe that the image quality available from a digital camera is inferior to what is available from a film camera.

In Digital Photography, the photographic film is replaced by a silicon chip which is often called a sensor. A  film is limited in the sense that every exposure results in a photograph and each barrel of film can only produce 36 images. Silicon chip sensor may produces hundreds of images which allows the convenience of  experimenting with the photos which was never possible with the film camera.

What is Digital Photography? Explained Technically

With Digital Photography, as explained earlier, the film is replaced with a light sensitive electronic device known as an image sensor. These sensors are made up of millions of photoelectric devices that convert light into an electrical signal. The strength of the electrical signal depends upon the intensity of the light that exposes the image sensor. These electrical signals are then processed through a series of complex electronic circuits and eventually stored in some type of internal or external flash memory in a standard image file format such as a JPEG file. (JPEG = Joint Photographic Experts Group). When processed by a computer these files reproduce an image which is able to be printed on photographic paper.

Understanding Digital Photography With Natural Light

I have always been fascinated by the natural light and have always wanted to capture the images it create as it brings out different moods.  Digital photography may sound futuristic with fine arts. But not for a great photographer like Scott Frances.

Scott Frances has made it simple to understand Digital Photography as fine Art. As quoted from the Epoch Times:

                Scott Frances: Understanding Digital Photography as Fine Art

                By Lori Harel

Frances feels his work has become “more about the quality of the light than anything else,” as he writes in his book.

When asked for a photo for this article, Frances stood by the window and opened the blinds to let natural daylight illuminate his face from the side.

Frances uses natural light and shies away from artificial lighting. “I am interested in capturing the atmosphere and the effects of nature. Whether it’s time passing or weather changing or seeing how light plays off of different surfaces, I think artificial lighting destroys that,” he said.

Similarly to layering different people from the same place, Frances layers images from the same place but with different light exposure into the final image: “In my case, my camera is on a tripod; it does not move. I am taking multiple images of the same scene.

“Because the contrast is so high, the sky is 50 times brighter than the shadow: One exposure for the sky, another for the shadow, another exposure for the mid-tones.”

While a fine arts painter creates the final image captured in his mind out of different aspects he has seen, the digital photographer takes images of his object with a multitude of light exposures and creates the final image through working with the software.

This photo was taken using natural light.  That’s my son in 2002. I used Minolta SLR and no editing software used.