GeekSugar

What Is Aperture?

GeekSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:00:40 PST

Learning to be a better photographer when you're out of school, you usually just have to pick things up as you go along. Having someone guide you and learning by experimentation is awesome, but sometimes you can have an aha moment when you hear someone explain something from the ground up. In this video, it's aperture, and what it means - you'll also hear about F-stop, depth of field, and how they affect your photos.

Dress Your iPhone in a Rangefinder For Hot Shots on the Go

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:36:37 PST

Your iPhone aspires to be a DSLR, so make the dream a (pseudo) reality with the iPhone Rangefinder ($65). We've talked about similar cases before, but Photojojo is offering up a complete iPhoneography system - the Rangefinder and three lenses (macro/wide, fisheye, and telephoto) - for just $99. Unbelievable!

The Rangefinder isn't just a case though. It comes with extra bells and whistles like a shutter button, viewfinder, aperture numbers, two loops for a camera strap, and a tripod mount so you can take still photos and videos without blur. And the faux front lens? Well, that acts as a mirror so you can take perfectly centered (or off-center - remember the rule of thirds!) self-portraits every time.

Like what you see? Get a closer look at the Rangefinder in the gallery.

Nikon Introduces Retro-Chic Coolpix P310

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:59:20 PST

We know that looks aren't everything, but man - the new Nikon Coolpix P310 is quite a looker. Coming with a retro-styled bod and a 16MP sensor, it's the pocket cam for professionals, and a great investment for mobile photographers who want a little more power behind their pics.

The camera itself comes with a 3-inch LCD screen on the back, improved image stabilization, 19 scene modes, full 1080p video recording, Eye-Fi SD card support, and is pocketable and light at just 6.9 ounces. It shoots fabulously well in low light thanks to high ISO and a wide angle f/1.8 lens, which means all those concert and party pics you like to take will look even better. Plus, a smart backlight HDR mode will piece together multiple shots to get you better clarity and vibrancy. The P310's manual mode - that lets you adjust shutter speed, aperture, and other settings - will help you step out of your "auto" comfort zone.

You'll be able to get your hands on the P310 sometime in March for $330, but in the meantime, check out Nikon's sample images in the gallery to see what this camera can do.

Nokia Is Back: Lumia 900 Coming to AT&T Soon

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:16:36 PST

The wait is over, y'all; Nokia head Stephen Elop took the stage alongside Steve Ballmer and AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega earlier today to officially announce the 4G LTE Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone, slated to hit AT&T in the coming months. The phone is quite a stunner with a 4.3-inch AMOLED screen and your choice of cyan or black for an exterior hue. There are over 50,000 apps just waiting to be discovered in the Windows Marketplace, including those from partners like Sesame Street, CNN, and ESPN, and you can download plenty of apps, music, movies, and lots more with 16GB of storage space.

If you're a smartphone photographer, the 8MP camera will impress: it's stocked with a Carl Zeiss F2.2 aperture lens for the clearest and best possible pictures. There's even a 1MP F.2.4 forward-facing camera.

Stay tuned for pricing and release date details. This is one phone we've got our eye on.

Download of the Day: Master Your DSLR Camera

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:30:50 PST

The basics of photography are not so, well, basic. Between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO setting, capturing the perfect picture with a DSLR outside of the automatic setting is a challenge. Enter the Master Your DSLR Camera iPad app ($10).

It may cost a bit more than your typical tablet app, but think of your sense of accomplishment when you can actually wield that SLR camera like a pro. The slideshows, guided tours, and list of common photography scenarios ensure you'll retain the how-tos, unlike trying to follow complicated technical jargon. With this app by your side, you can count on finally using the correct light and shutter speed settings to warrant major compliments on your vacation photos.

How to Make Holiday-Themed Bokeh

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:13:24 PST

You probably know what bokeh is, just not what it's called. Bokeh is the photography effect that produces a blurred background. With an SLR, you get bokeh by setting your aperture value low and then focusing on a subject. It's a beautiful photography effect and in most snappers' bag of tricks.

The other side of bokeh is the gorgeous patterns you can create in your photographs. You can make dots, like in the picture, or you can get ambitious and make hearts or a holiday theme (like stars) with DIY Photography's bokeh instructions.

All you need is an aperture lens and a piece of black paperboard. Follow DIY Photography's instructions and get ready to produce mesmerizing photos!

iPhone 4S Buying Guide: Pros and Cons, and Who Should Buy

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:40:31 PDT

Still debating whether or not to spring for the new iPhone 4S tomorrow? While it does come with some shiny new hardware (and software) inside, not everyone will benefit from an upgrade. Debate no more - here, the pros and cons of the new smartphone, complete with a verdict on who should buy it and who should skip it.

Pros

New camera - The 8MP camera with simple editing features (crop, rotate, enhance, and red-eye reduction), a backside illumination sensor, and larger aperture (for better low-light and white balance correction) make the iPhone 4S's camera one that competes with regular point-and-shoots. It will also come with face detection and image stabilization and the ability to capture HD 1080p video.
Faster processor - The custom A5 chip in the iPhone 4S is the same one you'll find on the iPad 2, which means the iPhone 4S will be faster in processing speeds, games, and downloads.
More carriers - Since the iPhone 4S is compatible with CDMA and GSM cellular bands, you can use it in more places around the globe. Even on Sprint's network, if you're looking for a change.
Siri integration - Apple's new Assistant feature basically turns the iPhone 4S into a voice recognizing personal assistant. The demo during the keynote was impressive and highlighted some interesting uses for the blind, hands-free texting, and more.
Wireless syncing - Raise the roof for wireless sync! This will be an iOS 5 feature that will be compatible for the iPad and iPod Touch as well, but I couldn't help but mention the fact that you'll soon be able to set up your devices and get updates without connecting your iDevice to a Mac or PC.
Airplay - If you've got an Apple TV, the iPhone 4S will allow you to stream what's playing on your device to your HDTV with Airplay, which is built right into the new iPhone.
Fingerprint resistant - The iPhone 4S has an oleophobic coating on its glass exterior, making it resistant to fingerprints by repelling oils in your fingers.

Read through our iPhone 4S cons, who should buy, and tips for upgrading when you read more.

Apple's Amazing iPhone 4S Sample Images

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:21:14 PDT

The new 8MP iPhone 4S camera and all its accouterments - larger f2.4 aperture lens that lets in more light, zero shutter lag, face detection, editing features, and capable of 8-x-10 print sizes - may make you a one-stop camera photographer. The iPhone 4 is already the most used camera on Flickr, and after seeing these un-retouched pics of what the iPhone 4S can do, you might want to consider an upgrade yourself. Take a peek at the photos in the gallery.

7 Reasons to Get the iPhone 4S

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:31:52 PDT

The iPhone 4S was finally announced yesterday, and while some are disappointed that there wasn't a bigger, more shocking reveal, there are some reasons to pick up the new iPhone 4S, priced at $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB), and $399 (64GB).

New camera - The 8MP camera with simple editing features (crop, rotate, enhance, and red-eye reduction), a backside illumination sensor, and larger aperture (for better low-light and white balance correction) make the iPhone 4S's camera one that competes with regular point-and-shoots. It will also come with face detection and image stabilization and the ability to capture HD 1080p video.
Faster processor - The custom A5 chip in the iPhone 4S is the same one you'll find on the iPad 2, which means the iPhone 4S will be faster in processing speeds, games, and downloads.
More carriers - Since the iPhone 4S is compatible with CDMA and GSM cellular bands, you can use it in more places around the globe. Even on Sprint's network, if you're looking for a change.
Siri integration - Apple's new Assistant feature basically turns the iPhone 4S into a voice recognizing personal assistant. The demo during yesterday's keynote was impressive and highlighted some interesting uses for the blind, hands-free texting, and more.
Wireless syncing - Raise the roof for wireless sync! This will be an iOS 5 feature that will be compatible for the iPad and iPod Touch as well, but I couldn't help but mention the fact that you'll soon be able to set up your devices and get updates without connecting your iDevice to a Mac or PC.
Airplay - If you've got an Apple TV, the iPhone 4S will allow you to stream what's playing on your device to your HDTV with Airplay, which is built right into the new iPhone.
Fingerprint resistant - The iPhone 4S has an oleophobic coating on its glass exterior, making it resistant to fingerprints by repelling oils in your fingers.

iPhone Event Live Updates

GeekSugar — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:13:38 PDT

Since news of today's iPhone event was made official, we've been anxiously waiting for Apple's unveiling of an updated iPhone.

Here's the latest from the event: