Composition is the process of putting a frame around the elements that are important to include in a photograph. It is one of the cornerstones of great photography. Wonderful photographs are often made by the simplest of cameras.
Read moreLeica at Richmond Camera
We are excited to announce Richmond Camera is an authorized Leica dealer. As an introduction to the exceptional products made by Leica, we currently have the revolutionary Leica T camera system at our Carytown location.
The Leica T is truly like nothing else. Milled from a solid block of aluminum then polished by hand the Leica T Unibody design gives the Leica T perfectly balanced feel and superb strength. The 3.7” high resolution touch screen display connects the user directly with the process of capturing decisive moments. Images from the Leica T are something special too. Color reproduction is sharp and true which is perfect for digital photography.
If you are interested in Leica or simply have a passion for photography, visit our Carytown location and explore the possibilities with Leica. For more information call our Carytown store at 804-355-5793. Carytown Richmond Camera 3128 W Cary Street Richmond, VA 23221.
Your Camera & Phone Can Be Friends
More than ever people are using the camera in their smart phone as a substitute for a dedicated digital camera. The capabilities of the camera on a smart phone have, no doubt, improved; but so have even the least expensive point-and-shoot digital camera. The appeal of a smart phone over a dedicated digital camera is, of course, the convenience. We all like to share images we take as soon as possible and a smart phone keeps our images in a convenient location. However, as easy smart phone photography is, we make photographic sacrifices for the convenience.
So, how do we bridge the gap between the convenience of using our phone's camera and the superior image quality and photographic flexibility of a dedicated digital camera?
Lots of cameras today are WiFi enabled so you can easily transfer image from you camera to your phone. Some cameras even go as far as to use Android's operating system. For those camera without built-in WiFi there are WiFi adapters and even WiFi memory cards which allow image files (including video files) to be transferred from your camera to your phone.
Eye-Fi memory cards are a great place to start. These memory cards are compatible with a wide range of digital cameras and are fairly inexpensive. Eye-Fi cards have been around long enough to have some camera makers building cameras to work specifcally with Eye-Fi memory cards. You can see if your camera will work with an Eye-Fi card here.
Lastly, Richmond Camera has a new Promaster Multifunction WiFi Card Reader. This is a card reader and USB hub that allows you to access your images from your tablet, smart phone or computer.
Using a dedicated digital camera that will let you transfer images to your phone joins the best of both worlds. You will still have the quality and flexibility of a dedicated digital camera without losing the convenience of your smart phone. Plus, with higher quality images from a dedicated digital camera you will have the freedom to not only share and edit, but you can make prints. After all, making a print turns an image into a photograph. Don't worry, you can order prints using your phone too. Check out RC Prints.
A Rugged Comparison
Designed to be easy to navigate and use in almost any condition, these rugged compact digital cameras are perfect for the adventurous photographer. The Canon PowerShot D30, Nikon Coolpix AW120 and Fujifilm FinePix XP200 are not only rugged, but they are still made to have one important purpose- capturing amazing images.
Take a look at the snapshot of features and sample images laid out below and decide which camera is perfect for you. If you still need some help deciding stop by your local Richmond Camera.
Canon PowerShot D30
- Waterproof to 82ft.
- Shockproof to 6.5ft.
- Freezeproof to 14°F
- 12.1 MPl CMOS Sensor
- 5X Optical Zoom
- 1080 Full HD Video
- 3.0" Sunlight LCD
- Smart Auto-32 Scenes
- GPS Enabled
Nikon Coolpix AW120
- Waterproof to 52ft.
- Shockproof to 6.6ft.
- Freezeproof to 14°F
- 16 MP CMOS Sensor
- 5X Optical Zoom
- 1080p Full HD Video
- 3.0" OLED Display
- GPS Enabled
- Built-in WiFi
Fujifilm FinePix XP200
- Waterproof to 50ft
- Shockproof 6.6ft
- Freezeproof 14°F
- 16 MP CMOS sensor
- 5x Optical Zoom
- 1080i/60fps HD Video
- 3" Anti-Reflective LCD
- Built-in WiFi
- High Speed Burst Mode
Shooting in Low Light without Flash
Shooting in low light is one of the most challenging, and most common, obstacles in capturing that perfect moment. The obvious solution is to use a flash as it will not only add light but also stop action, but if what if you don’t want to interrupt an event with the abrupt intrusion of flash lighting?
This situation often occurs during evening wedding receptions or other nighttime celebrations. You want to capture the moment and the mood without the abrasiveness of bright light. There are a few ways to combat low-light conditions and create an incredible image without flash light.
1. Increase your ISO: Bumping up your ISO setting is the first line of defense against shooting in low-light conditions. The ISO refers to the sensitivity of light striking your camera’s sensor. Adjusting the ISO too much may result in ‘image noise,’ which are tiny flecks or ‘graininess’ in parts or on the entire image. There are several noise reduction filters you can run in post-processing to help combat this issue, but if possible, adjust your ISO to the largest increase without creating noise.
2. Shoot RAW Format: Keeping your Images in RAW format gives you far greater flexibility in the post-production process, particularly if you find you have an image that is underexposed. Since a RAW image file will give you the entire dynamic range of an image, which is about eight full stops, this provides greater options for adjustment than if you had shot in JPEG, which provides a couple stops less in dynamic range. And some of today’s models support JPEG+RAW, providing the best of both worlds.
3. Use a Fast Lens: A ‘fast lens’ is one that has a larger aperture opening so it is capable of capturing light at a faster shutter speed than a lens with a smaller aperture. The term ‘fast’ is sometimes debated as hobbyists might consider an f/2.8 lens to be fast whereas some professional photographers consider an f/1.4 lens to be fast. There is also a considerable expense when purchasing fast glass, so evaluating how often you will be in the position to need this extra benefit is important. Many people who shoot in the field and in varied conditions find the investment is far worth it because they capture countless moments that they might otherwise miss.