As we all know, digital cameras have already replaced the old film-type cameras. After all, you can take as many shots as you want with a digicam and not worry about wasting film, you can print your own photos at home, and - more often than not - a digicam also doubles as a video camera and a portable USB flash drive, all in one package. Plus, digicams are very pretty.

However, with all the features that we want and all the convenience and hipness they promise, digicams are not cheap either. So if you're about to go out and pick yourself your own cam, you might first want to stop for a minute or two since there are certain things that you might want to know about before forking over your hard-earned cash.

Over at Camera2Photo.com, a guide of 25 essential tips have been compiled to help the casual (and maybe even the pro) photographer pick out the perfect digital camera. Tips that have been included range from how to gauge the price of your selection as compared to its features, warnings to not get wowed by the megapixels that a model supposedly sports, as well as why one should consider optical zoom over a camera's digital zoom capability.

This is one set of rules to follow since it may possibly save you or someone you know either lots of money or from the heartache that is caused by buyer's guilt. Check out the rules by checking out the link below.

Every photographer knows that even the tiniest speck in the camera lens can prove disastrous in any photograph. With this issue in mind, Canon produced their own version of a dust-shaking camera. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi SLR camera uses a Self Cleaning Sensor Unit to shake that dust away from the camera. It uses ultrasonic vibrations to shake dust off of the surface that keeps the low pass filter in front of the camera’s sensor clean. These ultrasonic vibrations can be activated for one second each time the camera is turned on or off, or via a command in the menu.

The dust that shakes loose from the camera is then captured into an adhesive strip so it won't float back onto the filter. Of course this technology doesn't guarantee a 100% dust-free camera lens, but in case that a speck or two remains, users can activate the Dust Delete Data function. This maps the size and place of any remaining dust, and the mapping information is attached as metadata to subsequent photos. Users can apply the dust delete function after they transfer the photos to a computer which subtracts the dust image from the photo.

The 10.1 megapixel EOS Digital Rebel XTi will be available in mid-September for the price of $899, which already includes a zoom lens kit. This model is Canon's latest offering right after releasing the EOS Kiss.

Fujifilm has developed the first D-SLR factory-produced yet specifically tailored camera for ultraviolet and infrared photography.

Known as the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR Digital SLR (whew!), it replaces the problematic UV and IR filters with a "specially formulated glass protective filter." More importantly, the said camera is able to take pictures of things we don't normally see under the naked eye, such as tattoos on a burnt body (pretty morbid, we know).

This proves to be quite a valuable tool in law enforcement and medical purposes, but it could also be used for art, just like photographers Minor White and Ansel Adams did. According to Mike Brooks, a law enforcement agency consultant, "The enhanced image quality is another great advantage of this camera – it has the ability to capture mid-tones, which is crucial with the contrasty subjects we commonly shoot and it provides a wider exposure latitude than other D-SLRs."

Moreover, it could also be used to detect differences in similar-looking signatures and inks, injuries below the skin, and even detect the presence of gunpowder. The FinePix S3 Pro UVIR Digital SLR camera will be available this September for $1800 USD.

This innovation opens up lots of possibilities in D-SLRs nowadays. Who knows what they'll come up with next?

Combine a visualist and a digital camera and you'd probably get loads of stop-motion videos. Jaymis from Create Digital Motion has come up with a functioning cable release that will sure come in handy for those who want to foray into the world of stop-motion video using their digital SLRs.

He admits that it's an "inelegant" setup, but nonetheless functional and produces reasonable results. All he needed was something that would allow variable-interval time lapse shooting, but not as costly as professional timer switch, or intervalometer. His prayer has been answered when he purchased a Countdown Timer project from Jaycar Electronics.

Check out the video and see how your DSLR cable release circuit will help with making your own stop-motion videos.

News about Panasonic's Lumix DMC-L1 (not the DMX-L1 as our source site says), touted as their 'first real dSLR', has been around for a little while now, but only now has the company decided to formally launch the unit. (We presume that's because they wanted the hype to reach some sort of crescendo before they did so; we're not sure at this point whether or not that's the case.)

We also have some detailed info about the camera that we didn't have earlier. The 145x86.9x80 L1 is a 7.5-megapixel dSLR that's got ISO values between 100 and 1600. It features a Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm lens with an OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer), a Dust Free Sensor that Panasonic says makes the camera a snap to keep clean (interesting - wonder how that works?), a nice bright 2.5-inch control screen, RAW/JPEG support and compatibility with SD/SDHC cards of up to 4GB capacity.

Not bad, eh? We sure think so, too. All that goodness isn't going to come cheap, though. It's to retail for a little less than 1800 EUR in Japan and 1500 EUR in the States (no clue why), which we hear is an eye-popping 700 EUR more than Canon's renowned 350D. Wonder if it'll be worth it? We'll keep you all posted.

Have a look at some more nice pictures of the Lumix DMC-L1, courtesy of the good folks from Akihabara News.

 

Here's a peek at the first new digital SLR product from Sony since its acquisition of Konica Minolta in 2005. Yup, that's the reason why it looks a lot like Konica dSLRs.

Sony's DSLR-A100 is based on the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D and 7D, including the CCD-based image stabilizer and the lens mount. But the similarities stop there as other features of this camera are Sony-specific.

The following are the features of this new dSLR:

• A 10.2-megapixel Sony CCD sensor with 10M/5M/2.5M image sizes
• Dual mode dust reduction system - dust resistant coating over sensor and a dust "shake-off" when powered on or off
• Dynamic Range Optimizer - this analyzes the captured image first to instantly determine the best color tonality and exposure of an image before JPEG compression
• Bionz LSI image processor - this will allow the user to capture pictures at lighting speed with high-speed burst shooting at three frames per second continuously
• Powered by Sony's Li-Ion battery
• A large 2.5-inch LCD display with high resolution
• CompactFlash I/II card slot, FAT32 and Microdrive compatible
  

Expect to see the Sony DSLR-A100 in stores this July with its 18-70mm zoom lens. The entire A100 kit is going to retail for about $999.

A lot of things happened at the International Photo & Imaging Industry Show 2006 at Seoul this month. Samsung showed off the first digital SLR it had created with Pentax, and there were a lot of new products showcased at the 550 stands during the event.

One camera though that caught on-lookers' eyes was the first digital SLR off the "istD series" of Pentax. Perhaps it's the manufacturer's name that caught the eye of the masses, but there were also reasons to glance at and admire Pentax' new offering. The new 10-megapixel DSLR of the "istD series" will hopefully be launched soon. There were still no model name, specs, date and price details about this camera.

When QJ learns more about this 10-MP DSLR from Pentax, we'll let you know.

As someone who's been wanting to upgrade to a digital SLR photography for quite sometime now, I find the latest DSLR from Pentax to be a somewhat ideal choice for a first DSLR camera. Pentax describes K100D as "a versatile all-around performer for all levels of photographers...."

Features of the K100D are as follows:

• 19 custom functions to personalize camera operations
• Secure Digital memory card compatibility
• Eight distinctive Scene modes to accommodate specific subjects/applications
• Choice of two preview functions (digital/optical)
• Storage of recorded images in day-by-day files on an Secure Digital memory card
• 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering
• Noise reduction mechanism to reduce digital noise during extended exposures
• Dual power source (two CR-V3 lithium batteries, or four AA-size batteries)
• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) compatibility for speedy data transfer to PC
• Choice of image format between JPEG (Best, Better or Good) and RAW
• PictBridge compatibility
• Five digital filters (Black-and-white, Sepia, Slim, Soft and Brightness) for easy editing of recorded images
  

The latest Pentax camera is also equipped with the Pentax-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system. The SR system reduces camera shake for sharp, blur-free images even under difficult shooting conditions. The SAFOX VIII auto focus system will also be very appealing to users of the K100D. It has 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors in the middle) to automatically focus on the subject with utmost precision.

A large 2.5 inch color LCD monitor is also incorporated in the camera's back panel. The monitor's wide-view design makes it possible for photographers to check the image 140 degrees vertically and horizontally. The 210,000 pixels (approx.) offers up to 12 times digital zooming of playback images.

With the large, high-performance 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD as image sensor, images will be printed as a faithful reproduction of the desired photographic intention. Also with the Pentax K100D package is a software that includes the Pentax Photo Laboratory 3 (featuring SILKYPIX image-processing engine) for RAW data processing and Pentax Photo Browser 3 for faster data processing speed.

At the Seoul International Photo & Imaging Industry Show 2006 in Korea, Samsung Techwin invited us to take a peek at its first digital SLR camera. Dubbed as the GX2, this 10-megapixel digital camera is the first product of Samsung's and Pentax's partnership.

The specs of this digital SLR has not been disclosed yet, but we can expect it to have almost the same features like those of Pentax's 10-megapixel camera showcased at the PMA 2006.

We'll keep you posted when Samsung and Pentax finally announce the release date and specs of the GX2. For the meantime, check out this photo of the Samsung GX2 from Kumio Yamada.

This should be good news to all photography aficionados! Breeze systems just came up with a DSLR Remote Pro v1.2. Photographers can now use this highly regarded software to control Canon's new EOS 30D as well as Canon EOS 5D, 350D/Rebel XT, 20D, EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II, 10D, 300D/Rebel, EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds models.

DSLR Remote Pro allows professionals to:

- See large high quality previews of shots on your PC within seconds
- Gain unrivalled control of settings for Canon cameras during tethered operation
- Operate the camera remotely
- Shoot images and store them directly onto the PC's hard disk
- Automatically add IPTC data to images as they are downloaded
- Enable customers to view pictures while you continue shooting
- Preview unprocessed, sharpened or color managed images on your PC
- Automatic exposure bracketing of up to 15 shots for HDR images and shots in tricky lighting
- Time lapse photography

The DSLR Remote Pro cost US$ 95, but Breeze Systems is giving out a free 15-day trial so that those who want to have one could have a feel of it before actually purchasing it.

Download: [DSLR Remote Pro v1.2 15-day Free Trial]