GeekSugar

The LOMO Colorsplash Camera

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:00:57 -0700

Most of you loved the Lomolitos Colored Cameras, so I figured I'd share this updated version with not one, but a whopping thirteen colored filters! Featured on GeekAlerts, the Lomography Colorsplash 35MM Camera uses tinted flash filters and long exposure settings to create dreamy-streaked retro style images that are rich in color! For $50 you will get the camera, a battery, film, poster, extra color filters, and a skin camera bag. Although the possibilities are endless with digital cameras, I truly appreciate the simplicity of point-and-click cameras-especially when they are as fun as this one. Want to see some more unique cams by Lomo? Check out the Eight Lens and the Fisheye Lens Camera.

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The Cat's Meow Camera

GeekSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:05:53 -0700

What's white, makes cat sounds and is used to draw the attention of other felines? You got it, this white Holga K202 Cat Camera.

A unique Korean creation, this camera produces digitized meows to lure in unsuspecting cats for a quick snap-shot. I guess the included metal can, which resembles a treat container, is used as another enticement trick to draw you to the camera. Technabob has noted that those of you who can't wait for a US debut, can find a few of these cat cams on eBay.

What I want to know is what is with all these abusive pet gadgets? First the boombox dog jacket and now this?! I say stick to what works - sneaking up to your cat and taking a quick picture.

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Lomography Camera With Fisheye Lens

GeekSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 03:14:06 -0700

Whenever I try to take a picture of my parents' dog, he comes right up to the camera to sniff the lens, which gives him a magnified nose in the picture. I find it to be utterly endearing, so when I saw the Lomography Fisheye 35mm camera, which intentionally creates "fisheye" effect I was sold. This camera has a 170 degree view and compacts everything around you into a circular, distorted image. If you have a look at the picture samples after the jump, you'll see what I mean. The colored ones are hilarious while the black and white are really artsy and creative. Each camera uses old school 35mm film and comes with a built-in electronic flash. Price is $35. To see more pics, including sample shots, read more

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Hands On With the Canon T1i (Now With More Photo Tips!)

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:45:23 -0700

I finally got some time over the weekend to play around with the Canon T1i and the verdict stands: it's amazing! Not only are the pictures crisp and clear, but overall, the camera is a joy to use. I bought an inexpensive camera bag from Best Buy last week to protect it while en route to various places in the city, and quickly realized how light the T1i really is - a few times I panicked because I wasn't sure the camera was actually in the bag! Needless to say, my heart got a few good workouts in.

I even tagged along with PetSugar to the Ugliest Dog Contest to put the T1i through some trials, and I'd have to say the pictures turned out really well, even if the dogs were really ugly! While out and about over the weekend, I also remembered a few tips that I forgot since getting my first DSLR. Find out what they are and check out the rest of the photos from my weekend with the T1i when you read more.

Read the manual: Although I'm familiar with SLR settings, it's always good to really get to know your camera from the inside out. That way, you'll never miss an opportunity to use a cool feature.
Pick up a UV filter: You're going to be spending a lot of money on your camera, and even more when you start buying extra lenses. Pick up a UV filter to protect your lens from sun damage. Think of it as sunscreen for your expensive camera parts!
Brace yourself: This rule doesn't only apply to SLR photography - use your arms and brace them up against your body for steadier shots. Don't point your elbows out to the sides (as demonstrated in this photo), as this may create movement and thus blurry photos if you aren't super steady on your own.
Assume the position: When you're done snapping your photo and are carrying your camera over your shoulder, make sure you always point your lens inward and toward your body. This protects the lens from bumping into any objects and saves you tons of money in repairs or replacement lenses.

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Happy Polaroid Camera Day!

GeekSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:00:28 -0800

Say cheese! Did you know that the retro-chic Polaroid Camera has its very own annual holiday? In 1937, American inventor Edwin Herbert Land became interested in polarized light and established the Polaroid Corp. which manufactured camera filters, sunglasses, and headlights. Land later introduced the first Polaroid Camera, which delivered black and white pictures in a matter of seconds. Not only was he the inventor of Polaroid Cameras, but he also invented the process of creating instant color photographs in 1963.

Although most of us have traded in Polaroid Cameras and manual point-and-shoot cameras with high-tech digital cams, there are fun new cameras like Zink's Digital Camera/Printer Combo, that boasts the same point and print technology that a Polaroid has.

Do you know what year the Polaroid was invented?

To find out, read more

The Polaroid Camera was invented in 1947.

Source

Perfecting Your Evening Photo Skills

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 00:06:48 -0800

From work gatherings to holiday celebrations and dinner parties, December can be a busy time of the year for social functions. If you are like me and take your digital camera with you to every event, there are some tips to make sure all your nighttime shots are crystal clear and in tip top quality. Check out the suggestions below, so you'll be picture ready just in time for New Years!

Using the Nighttime Setting or Scene Mode
On most digital cameras there is a specific setting to help you take great night pics. Check your manual to find out the mode for your camera. This one-touch setting will adjust to your camera settings, tuning it to low-light conditions and possibly allowing you to take.

For three more tips, just read more

Avoiding Optical Zoom
Try to avoid using your digital camera's optical zoom when taking night photos, because the higher the optical zoom magnification, the longer the lens has to extend to shoot a photo. This also causes the digital camera to become sensitive to movement. With an extended lens, even on sunny days, the results of 'camera-shake' may be evident in blurry photos, while at night, this effect is magnified even more.
A Flash Isn't Always the Answer
While a flash may be helpful in taking photos in low light conditions, there comes a point at night when the flash isn't much help anymore. Flash requires light to bounce off a subject. If your subject is a long way away, your small flash unit will never reach your subject effectively. An expensive external flash may help some in these instances, but consider using other digital camera features when taking night photos, such as decreasing the shutter speed, increasing the ISO settings, or using a preprogrammed night scene mode.
Gotta Love Self-Timers
A digital camera's self-timer mode can reduce some camera shake when taking night photos. Most night photos, especially in situations where you cannot depend on a flash, require a shutter speed of half a second or longer or else the subject will be too dark. This is to compensate for the lack of available light. Unfortunately these situations can result in camera shake. However, if you use the self-timer mode, you might be able to get some acceptable shots just holding your camera very steady. Any shake caused by pressing the shutter button will be eliminated, as the camera will not take photos until several seconds after the button has been pressed.

Take Great Photos In An Aquarium

GeekSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 10:00:59 -0800

Taking photos in an aquarium can be challenging at best. On one hand, the lighting is really beautiful and striking - what with the blue glow and all - but on the other hand, things are prone to be too blurry, dark, and unrecognizable if you don't take the right steps. Lilangelfish e-mailed me asking for some quick tips for her upcoming trip to an aquarium and I thought you might all be interested in what I learned.

The first issue with aquarium photos is that you are usually shooting photos through glass, and if it isn't clean, the spots will show up in your photos. Also, spots on the glass will throw off the auto focus mechanism of many AF cameras. Problem number two is you're shooting through water, which bends light in funky ways. To deal with this, all photos should be taken with the lens directly perpendicular to the side of the tank. If you shoot at an angle, the view will become distorted and your fish will look either elongated or compress. Third problem is that you are shooting moving targets, which means it's hard to get a focus lock on them. For solutions to these problems, just read more

Shooting moving objects
You can change the aperture of your lens to the smallest setting you can get away with (this takes some experimentation) to increase the depth of field. Another solution is to manually prefocus the lens to a point inside the aquarium and wait until a fish swims into that plane of focus. Both of the above will only work on those cameras that allow you to change those settings. Most point-and-shoot cameras will not allow you to change either setting, and will not be a good camera in general because of the flash issues.

Use the right camera
If possible, do not use a built-in or on-camera flash. The best thing to use is an off-camera flash.

Work with your flash - avoid it if you can
If you must use the built-in flash, or a flash that sits on the camera (almost all point-and-shoot and SLRs), you may have a problem of the flash reflecting off the front glass and into your lens, ruining all photos. Option 1: Turn off the flash if you can, or put some black gaffer tape across the flash if you can't turn it off. This means that the flash won't illuminate the tank. Problem is, this might bring you back to the lighting issue. Option 2: most cameras today use something called TTL (through-the-lens) technology to shut off the flash output when it reaches the proper level for exposure. Problem is that the flash reflecting off the back of the tank will influence TTL and you will not get good illumination of the subject you are shooting.

Do You Ever Experiment With Funky Fun Cameras?

GeekSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:07:13 -0700

Lately I've been seeing quite the array of unique manual cameras. Remember the colored Lomolitos cameras and the hilarious fisheye lens camera? And check out this one below - the Lomo Oktomat 35mm camera with eight built-in lenses. By taking one shot, this camera will produce eight sequential images on a single 35mm negative. Usually I just take pictures with my digital cam and play around with photoshop for cool effects, but I'm curious to know if you ever use any artsy cameras like these ones? Leave your comments below!

The Underwater Vivitar ViviCam 6200

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:00:28 -0700

Here's a digital camera that's a step up from the $43 manual Blue Jazz camera, but more affordable than the $300 Pentax digital camera. The Vivitar ViviCam 6200w is bold, beautiful and best of all- waterproof.

Featured on Chip Chick, the ViviCam comes with a built-in flash so you're not stuck with dark, blurry pics and with 6-megapixels, you're guaranteed clear crisp images. Wrapped in rubber, this waterproof camera can go as far as 30ft underwater and supports 1GB SD Cards so you can snap snap snap away! Priced at $180.

Check out some other great waterproof items I've featured.

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Do You Use A Digital or Film Camera?

GeekSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:05:49 -0700

When I came across this older (as in 2002) picture of Donatella Versace, Madonna, and Gwyneth Paltrow having some fun with Gwyneth's 35mm film camera, it brought me back to the days when I religiously carried my huge film cam to every party and function. Now with digital cameras we have the freedom to take all the shots we want, view them, and delete the ones we don't like on the spot. I'm curious to know how many of you still use 35mm film cameras (hey, I'm not giving mine away any time soon)! And how many of you have completely switched over to the digital. Better yet, you might use a really expensive manual camera packed full of amazing features and functions! Either or, let me know below! Image Source