Tag: Format

A Guide To Using Fuji Instax Refills
by David Burgess on 0

A Guide To Using Fuji Instax Refills

Fuji Instax is a great way to get high quality instant photos. However, the film can be expensive. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your Fuji Instax refills.

Use the right type of film. There are two types of Fuji Instax film: wide format and mini format. Make sure you use the right type of film for your camera.

Store the film properly. Fuji Instax film is sensitive to light and should be stored in a cool, dark place.

Follow the expiration date. Fuji Instax film has a short shelf life and should be used before the expiration date.

Use a fresh battery. Fuji Instax cameras use a lot of power and the batteries can drain quickly. Be sure to use a fresh battery for best results.

Take your time. Fuji Instax cameras have a tendency to produce blurry photos if you don’t take your time to compose the shot.

By following these tips, you can get the most out of your Fuji Instax refills and take great instant photos.

Fuji Instax refills are a great way to keep your camera running smoothly and efficiently. Here are some tips on how to use them:

Choose the right Fuji Instax refill for your camera. There are different types of Instax refills, so be sure to select the one that is compatible with your camera model.

Follow the instructions on the packaging. This will ensure that you are using the refill correctly.

When inserting the refill into the camera, be careful not to damage the cartridge.

Once the refill is inserted, close the cartridge door and make sure it is locked.

Test the camera to see if it is working properly.

 If you have any problems, consult the Fuji Instax manual or contact customer service.

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The Heyday Of 35mm Photography
by David Burgess on 0

The Heyday Of 35mm Photography

35mm photography was once the standard format for film cameras. It was popular for many years because it offered a good balance between picture quality and portability. Many professional photographers still prefer to use 35mm cameras, even though digital cameras have become more popular in recent years.

35mm film is a strips of negatives that are 35mm wide. Each frame is 24mm x 36mm. Most 35mm cameras use 135 film, which is wound around a spool inside the camera. 135 film is also known as 35mm film.

When 35mm photography was first introduced, it was a big improvement over the larger format films that were being used at the time. The smaller size made it much easier to carry a camera around and to take pictures in tight spaces. The picture quality was also very good.

35mm photography remained popular for many years, but it has slowly been replaced by digital photography in recent years. Digital cameras offer many advantages over film cameras, such as the ability to take an infinite number of pictures, instant feedback, and easy editing and sharing of photos.

Despite the popularity of digital photography, many professional photographers still prefer to use 35mm cameras. This is because 35mm cameras often produce better quality pictures than digital cameras. The larger size of the negative also allows for more detail to be captured.

If you are interested in learning more about 35mm photography, there are many great resources available. There are also many websites that sell used 35mm cameras and film.

35mm photography was once the standard for taking high-quality photos. But as digital cameras have become more advanced, 35mm cameras have become less popular. Nevertheless, there are still many photographers who prefer to use 35mm cameras, and there are some good reasons for this.

One reason 35mm cameras are still popular is that they produce very high-quality images. Digital cameras have come a long way, but they still can’t match the image quality of 35mm film. If you want the absolute best image quality, 35mm is still the way to go.

Another reason to use a 35mm camera is that they’re very versatile. You can find 35mm cameras that are designed for all sorts of photography, from landscapes to portraits to action shots. No matter what kind of photos you want to take, there’s a 35mm camera that can do it.

Finally, 35mm cameras are just plain fun to use. They’re a lot more analog than digital cameras, and there’s something satisfying about loading a roll of film and taking photos the old-fashioned way. If you’re looking for a more hands-on photography experience, 35mm cameras are the way to go.

So if you’re a photographer who’s looking for the best image quality, versatility, or just a more fun photography experience, consider using a 35mm camera.

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JVC Everio GZ-HM1S Overview
by Leland Richardson on 0

JVC Everio GZ-HM1S Overview

The JVC Everio GZ-HM1S is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format. It is one of the most expensive models in JVC’s lineup, even though it was introduced in 2010.

The GZ-HM1S carries a suggested retail price of $1199. Full technical specifications for the GZ-HM1S can be found here.

JVC Everio GZ-HM1S Video Features

The Everio GZ-HM1S uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080 high definition recording. It supports 24Mbps recording, the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format. The HM1S features the same 10.6-megapixel 1/2.3-inch back-illuminatedCMOS image sensor found on most of the top-of-the-line 2011 Everios. Unlike JVC’s mid-range models, the HM1S cannot record in standard definition (not that you’d really miss it).

The camcorder uses JVC’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments.

You can snap 9-megapixel still photos with the HM1S, and it has a built-in flash to aid in low light photography.

While it’s not quite a replacement for a standalone digital camera, it will deliver sharper pictures than camcorders without a built-in flash.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 10x optical zoom Konica Minolta HD lens on the Everio GZ-HM1S. This optical zoom is joined by two digital zoom technologies: a dynamic zoom can boost magnification to 16x without sacrificing video quality. There’s also a standard digital zoom, which increases magnification to 200x. The lens uses JVC’s “Enhanced Advanced Image Stabilizer” for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. According to the company, the image stabilization technology can compensate for camera shake at wide-angles and is four times as effective in combating shake than the Advanced Stabilization found on less expensive models in the Everio line. In our experience, JVC has some of the best image stabilization technology in the camcorder market.

The HM1S’s lens is conveniently protected by an automatic lens cap.

Memory and Display

The GZ-HM1S offers 64GB of internal flash memory in addition to a single SDHC memory card slot.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t accept higher-capacity SDXC cards for additional storage capacity, although with 32GB on board, you probably will not find yourself running out of memory. The HM 550 uses JVC’s “seamless recording” system, which automatically switches memory formats when one is full. The camcorder is Eye-Fi ready, so it will automatically recognize when a wireless Eye-Fi memory card is in use.

You’ll frame your recordings on a large 3.5-inch Laser Touch LCD display. The Laser Touch display is something of hybrid – it’s not a touch screen but there are no tactile buttons either. Instead, you’ll find a serious of touch-sensitive controls on the edge of the display, including a swipe bar, for navigating around the HM1S’s menu items. In our experience, this Laser Touch display can be more responsive than small touch screens although it takes some getting used to.

Design

Design-wise, the HM1S cuts an angular (in our view attractive) appearance with nice ergonomics. Thanks to the use of flash memory you’ll still enjoy a light weight body though not as light as JVC’s less expensive HD models (.67 pounds with battery inside). The HM1S measures in at 2.1 x 2.4 x 4.8 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Everios, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV. There is a manual focus wheel adjacent to the lens.

Aesthetically, the HM1S is available in one color – silver, with black accents.

Shooting Features

The Everio GZ-HM1S is outfitted with face detection and a a face flow playback, which highlights faces in a frame in the playback menu so you can search your footage by the people you’ve recorded..

Among the other features you’ll find on the GZ-HM1S is a time-lapse recording function that lets you record one frame at a time for a selectable time interval (between one and 80 seconds). There are several fast frame rate options for recording in slow motion. The effect is very cool but the video files are lower quality, so they won’t look as good on the big screen as they will on your computer.

Finally, you can add basic animated effects to video in the camcorder as well as to still images. JVC’s Everio Media Browser software is built-in the camcorder as well for disc-free loading when you attach the camcorder to a computer via USB. The software supports basic video editing (color changing, clipping, etc.) as well as sharing via YouTube and Facebook.

Connectivity

The Everio GZ-HM1S offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable, which is included.

Impression

At $1,100, the HM1S is geared for video enthusiasts who want to exercise a high level of control over the look of their video. The HM1S has an attractive design and a solid feature set for the price but is getting old, in camcorder years, so you may want to wait to see what JVC replaces it with before purchasing (or wait until its replacement is named and the HM1S gets discounted further).

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JVC Everio GZ-HD500 Overview
by Leland Richardson on 0

JVC Everio GZ-HD500 Overview

The JVC Everio GZ-HD500 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format with a built-in hard disc drive.

The GZ-HD500 carries a suggested retail price of $549. Full technical specifications for the GZ-HD500 can be found here.

JVC Everio GZ-HD500 Video Features

The Everio GZ-HD500 uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080 high definition recording. It supports 24Mbps recording, the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format. The HD500 features a 1/5.8-inch, 1.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor. Unlike JVC’s mid-range models, the HD500 cannot record in standard definition (not that you’d really miss it, would you?).

You can snap still photos with the HD500, however there’s no built-in flash so unless you’re operating in plenty of sunlight and keep steady, you’re likely to get blurry pics from it.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 20x optical zoom lens on the Everio GZ-HD500. This optical zoom is joined by a digital zoom which increases magnification to 200x. The lens uses JVC’s “Enhanced Advanced Image Stabilizer” for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. According to the company, the image stabilization technology can compensate for camera shake at wide-angles and is four times as effective in combating shake than the Advanced Stabilization found on less expensive models in the Everio line. In our experience, JVC has some of the best image stabilization technology in the camcorder market.

The HD500’s lens is conveniently protected by an automatic lens cap.

Memory and Display

The GZ-HD500 offers an 80GB built-in hard drive plus a single microSD/SDHC memory card slot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t accept higher-capacity SDXC cards for additional storage capacity, although with 80GB on board, you probably will not find yourself running out of memory. There is no seamless recording on the HD500, so you will need to manually switch between hard drive and memory card recording.

You’ll frame your recordings on a large 2.7-inch Laser Touch LCD display. The Laser Touch display is something of hybrid – it’s not a touch screen but there are no tactile buttons either. Instead, you’ll find a serious of touch-sensitive controls on the edge of the display, including a swipe bar, for navigating around the HD500’s menu items. In our experience, this Laser Touch display can be more responsive than small touch screens although it takes some getting used to.

Design

Design-wise, the HD500 is bulkier than JVC’s flash memory camcorders and much heavier at 1.82lbs (by contrast, JVC’s flash camcorders usually weigh about half as much). The HD500 measures in at 2.1 x 2.4 x 4.8 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Everios, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

The camcorder uses JVC’s two-way grip, which is a dual-purpose strap lets you hold it aloft or dangle the camcorder securely from your wrist.

Aesthetically, the HD500 is available in black.

Shooting Features

The Everio GZ-HD500 is outfitted with face detection and a face flow playback, which highlights faces in a frame in the playback menu so you can search your footage by the people you’ve recorded. There’s also an Auto Record function which starts recording automatically whenever an object moves into the frame. The camcorder will automatically end recording if motion stops after five seconds, so the camcorder can double as a motion-activated video camera (the battery won’t last long enough for it to truly replace a security camera though).

Among the other features you’ll find on the GZ-HD500 is a time-lapse recording function that lets you record one frame at a time for a selectable time interval (between one and 80 seconds).

Finally, you can add basic animated effects to video in the camcorder as well as to still images. JVC’s Everio Media Browser software is built-in the camcorder as well for disc-free loading when you attach the camcorder to a computer via USB. The software supports basic video editing (color changing, clipping, etc.) as well as sharing via YouTube and Facebook.

Connectivity

The Everio GZ-HD500 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable. There is a built-in button for YouTube uploading as well so you can send videos to the online sharing service when you camcorder is connected to your PC.

Impression

Hard disc camcorders are not nearly as popular as they used to be but still serve a niche for those who value large amounts of on-board camcorder storage. In our view, flash camcorders are more attractive options because they’re lighter, more energy efficient and tend to be more responsive. Still, if you want hours upon hours of recording capacity without breaking the bank, a hard drive camcorder is the way to go.

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Panasonic HDC-TM41H Overview
by Leland Richardson on 0

Panasonic HDC-TM41H Overview

The Panasonic HDC-TM41H is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format. It represents the entry-level of Panasonic’s high definition camcorder line-up with a retail price of $399.

Panasonic HDC-TM41 Video Features

Video is recorded at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 at a bit-rate of 17Mbps in the AVCHD format. It uses a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. Video can also be recorded at lower bit-rates (13Mbps, 9Mbps, 5Mbps) or in the iFrame format of 960 x 540 at 28Mbps. Still photos are recorded at 2-megapixels, which is fairly low-resolution as far as images go. It’s enough to email, but not to print.

The HDC-TM41H features Panasonic’s “Intelligent Auto” (iAuto) mode for automatically matching scene modes to shooting environments.

You’ll also have a choice of several scene modes including sports, portrait, low light, spot light, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, scenery, night scenery and night portrait (for still images only) and a “soft skin” mode for minimizing blemishes when filming people.

Audio is recorded through a 2-channel stereo microphone in Dolby Digital. Audio can also be recorded in the ACC format when filming in the aforementioned iFrame video format.

TM 41 Optical Features

You’ll find a 16.8x optical zoom lens (42.9 x 721mm, 35mm equivalent) on the Panasonic HDC-TM41H. It uses Panasonic’s Power Optical Image Stabilization for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. In “active mode” the image stabilization can compensate at wide-angles.

You have the option for both automatic and manual focus on the TM41H. There’s also a digital zoom to boost magnification out to 1200x – though a digital zoom should be used sparingly, if at all.

Memory and Display

Video footage is recorded directly to 16GB of internal flash memory.

There is also a slot for SDXC memory cards for adding additional recording capacity.

You’ll frame your recordings on a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no viewfinder.

Design

Thanks to its use of flash memory, the TM41 is very light weight (indeed, it’s the lightest model in the company’s lineup as of this writing). Without the battery it weighs just .37 pounds and measures in at 2.03 x 2.26 x 4.27 inches. It’s a traditional, barrel-style form factor with a zoom lever and shutter button on the top of the camcorder. Pop open the display and you’ll find buttons for switching between iAuto and manual shooting and activating image stabilization, among others.

Aesthetically, the TM41 isn’t much of a head-turner. It’s only available in black.

Shooting Features

You will have some degree of control over your video when shooting with the HDC-TM41. You’ll be able to automatically white balance the camcorder, in addition to manually adjusting the iris. The shutter is automatic. There is a tele-macro mode available too for focusing on objects up to 50cm away. When the lights go down, you can avail yourself to the built-in LED video light to give you some additional illumination. There is no flash, however, for aiding in still photography. Overall a fairly scant feature-set, but that’s to be expected given the price.

Connectivity

The Panasonic HDC-TM41 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

For those looking for a low-cost camcorder that delivers better video quality than a pocket camcorder with a few extra controls (manual focus, manual iris control and white balance) with a much better zoom lens, the Panasonic HDC-TM41 is definitely worth a look. It’s small design and light weight build ensure it can be carried anywhere without being a burden. It won’t pack the same kind of feature-punch as higher-end models, but if you need a basic, no frills camcorder, give the TM41H a closer look.

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JVC Everio GZ-HM30 Overview
by Leland Richardson on 0

JVC Everio GZ-HM30 Overview

The JVC Everio GZ-HM30US is a high definition camcorder that records 1280 x 720 video in the AVCHD Lite format. It represents the entry-level of JVC’s Everio high definition camcorder line-up with a retail price of $199.

JVC Everio GZ-HM30US Video Features

The Everio GZ-HM30US uses a “lite” version of the AVCHD format for recording 1280 x 720p high definition video (the “full” version of the AVCHD format supports higher resolution 1920 x 1080p recording). The camcorder features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. Video can also be recorded in a widescreen, standard definition format (720 x 480) for viewing on older TVs and computers or for extending recording times.

The Everio GZ-HM30US can upconvert 720p video to 1080p when connected to an HDTV via an HDMI cable. It’s not on par with video captured natively at 1080, but it does provide an option for higher quality presentation. The camcorder uses JVC’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments.

Audio is recorded through a 2-channel stereo microphone.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 40x optical zoom Konica Minolta HD lens on the Everio GZ-HM30 – an excellent zoom range for the price. The optical zoom is joined by two digital zoom technologies: a dynamic zoom can boost magnification to 70x while a standard digital zoom increases magnification to 200x. The lens uses JVC’s “Advanced Image Stabilizer” for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. According to the company, the image stabilization technology can compensate for camera shake at wide-angles.

The lens is protected by a manual lens cap which is opened and closed via a tiny switch next to the lens barrel (far more convenient than the caps you need to clip on, although remembering to open and close the switch can be a challenge).

You do not have the option for manual focus on the GZ-HM30.

Memory and Display

Video footage is recorded directly to SDXC video cards. You can store up to 13 hours of the highest quality HD footage when using a 64GB SDXC card (not included). The camcorder is Eye-Fi ready, so it will automatically recognize when a wireless Eye-Fi memory card is in use.

You’ll frame your recordings on a 2.7-inch LCD display with a 230,000 pixel resolution. There is no viewfinder.

Design

Thanks to its use of flash memory, the GZ-HM30 is very light weight, weighing in at .48 pounds with battery. It and measures in at 2.1 x 2.3 x 4. inches. It’s a traditional, barrel-style form factor with a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Pop open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

The camcorder uses a two-way grip belt which lets you grip the camcorder or wear it around your wrist.

Aesthetically, the HM30 isn’t much of a head-turner, however it does come in four body colors: silver, black, blue and red.

Shooting Features

The Everio GZ-HM30 is geared to casual video takers, so the feature set isn’t all that robust. You will find face detection and a time-lapse recording function that lets you record one frame at a time for a selectable time interval (between one and 80 seconds). There’s also an Auto Record function which, when set, starts recording automatically whenever an object moves into the frame. The camcorder will also automatically end recording if motion stops after five seconds, so the camcorder can double as a motion-activated video camera (but the battery won’t last long enough for it to truly replace a security camera).

Connectivity

The Everio GZ-HM30 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

At $199, the competition in the camcorder market boils down to pocket camcorders and traditional models with a very limited feature set. One thing the GZ-HM30 has going for it is a very long optical zoom lens. While the AVCHD video quality is below what some other entry-level competitors from Panasonic and Sony offer, they’re not as inexpensive and don’t have the kind of lens that the HM30 delivers. It’s small design and light weight build ensure it can be carried anywhere without being a burden. It won’t pack the same kind of feature-punch as higher-end models, but if you need a basic, no frills camcorder, the Everio GZ-HM30 deserves a look.

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Top Camcorder Trends
by Leland Richardson on 0

Top Camcorder Trends

Camcorders may not spring to mind when you think of cutting edge technology, but just because they’ve been around a while doesn’t mean technology isn’t constantly shaping, and reshaping, the camcorder market. In fact, thanks to new technologies, recording formats and designs, today’s camcorders are a far cry from models just a few years old. Here’s a look at some of the major trends:

Pocket Parade

Pocket camcorders – those portable, easy-to-use video cameras popularized by the Flip – have become all the rage of the camcorder market. And what’s not to like: they’re easy, cheap, offer decent quality and make sharing videos online simple. By some estimates they’ll make up about 2/3 of all camcorders sold.

This year, thanks to the success of the Flip, there are literally over a dozen competitors. That means these models were begin to diversify, with features such as water-proofing, infrared and optical zooms emerging to help distinguish these video cameras from a very crowded field.

It’s a High Def World

HD camcorders have been on the market for several years now, but this year they’re expected to cross over into 50 percent of the market. They’re still pricier than standard definition models (at least when talking about traditional – not pocket – camcorders) but those prices continue to fall sharply. You’ll find several feature-rich HD models, capable of 1920 x 1080 recording, for under $500.

Flash in the Pan

Flash memory cards, the type found in digital cameras, are rapidly becoming the recording format of choice for digital camcorders. Camcorders that use flash memory are lighter, use less battery power and can store more video than any other format except for hard drives.

The popularity of flash camcorders has all but crowded out DVD and tape formats, leaving only hard disk drives as an alternative.

Ultra-Portable

Thanks in no small part to the use of flash memory, camcorders are getting tinier and more portable. That means you don’t have any excuse not to carry one around with you wherever you go.

Web Friendly

What good is your video if you can’t share it, or turn it into 15 seconds worth of Internet fame? While the higher-end HD camcorders are less computer-friendly, a number are using the H.264 video format for easier editing and viewing on a computer. Together with built-in upload buttons that send video off to YouTube whenever the camcorder is connected to a computer, today’s camcorders are more Web-friendly than ever before.

Back-lit CMOS

While it’s not front and center in many of the specs, the type of image sensor used in a camcorder is critically important. In 2010, a new version of the CMOS image sensor will be more popular with higher-end models. The so-called “back illuminated” CMOS technology offers improved video quality performance where it counts the most: low light environments.

Wireless

Connecting your camcorder to a computer or TV isn’t the hardest thing in the world, but it could still stand to be easier. At least two camcorder makers thus far have introduce products with a form of wireless networking. Samsung has added Wi-Fi to a trio of high-end HD camcorders while JVC has announced a camcorder with built-in Bluetooth. Given that camcorder video files are very large, it remains to be seen whether wireless offers a viable alternative to the tangle of cables, but this is the year we’ll find out.

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Vivitar DVR 690HD Waterproof Camcorder Review
by Leland Richardson on 0

Vivitar DVR 690HD Waterproof Camcorder Review

The Vivitar DVR 690HD is a high definition pocket camcorder capable of recording 1280 x 720p video in the AVI format to SD cards. It is waterproof to a depth of 10 feet and has a rugged housing to secure it against minor bumps and scrapes.

Vivitar DVR 690HD at a Glance

The Good: Low cost, large controls, easy to use.

The Bad: Mediocre video quality.

Vivitar DVR 690HD Video Quality

The Vivitar DVR 690HD records HD video in the AVI format at 1280 x 720p/30 frames per second. It’s not quite the 1080p video recording available on competitive models – but then again, those models don’t cost $60. Video recorded at 720p will serve in a pinch, but you shouldn’t consider the DVR 690HD a real memory keeper – the quality just isn’t there. As a second camcorder to toss in a backpack before you go white-water rafting, however, it should be serviceable. Just don’t bother with the DVR 690HD indoors as they’ll be ample noise in your video if you do.

Recording quality can be dropped to VGA or 320 x 240 – but really shouldn’t be. You can also snap 5-megapixel still photos. The quality here is lousy – but that’s no real knock on the Vivitar as very few pocket camcorders take decent stills.

Optics

The DVR 690HD has no optical zoom lens, but instead uses a 4x digital zoom. Best to avoid the digital zoom, however, as all it will do is ramp up some unsightly digital noise.

Vivitar DVR 690HD Design

The DVR 690HD is pretty bulky, even by the standards of rugged pocket camcorders. It’s a bit longer than a compact camera but as thin, if not thinner, than most point-and-shoots in the market. Keep in mind that it’s designed to go underwater (up to 1o feet) so the added bulk is for defensive purposes. That said, it’s aesthetically sharp with a 10 color choices and silver/metallic trim.

The controls on the back of the DVR690 are large and responsive. You’ll see buttons for power, mode, menu and trash surrounding a four-way controller with a shutter button sandwiched in the middle. The four-way controller feels a bit flimsy when you use it, but the rest of the controls are sturdier and easy to operate.The SD card and USB plug (no built-in USB arm here) are accessed via a latched compartment at the bottom of the camcorder. This compartment is very stubborn to open up, but it does keep the water out.

Features

When you spend $60 for a camcorder, you can’t expect to get a feature-packed model. That said, the DVR 690HD does offer face detection and digital image stabilization. You’ll also find several scene modes for optimizing exposure based on your shooting condition. There’s also an LED video light for low light shooting. Not a bad assortment, considering.

Menu and Display

You’ll frame your video via 2-inch LCD display. It’s not the crispest display on the market but served well enough underwater. The DVR 690HD’s menu is pretty basic but is straightforward enough that it’s easy to find what you need.

Vivitar DVR 690HD Memory

The 690HD has a scant 8MB of internal memory, so an SDHC card is a must. The camcorder supports cards up to 32GB in size so you’ll get a max of 3.2-hours of recording on a 32GB card.

Bottom Line

We’ll stipulate again that the Vivitar DVR 690HD should not be your camcorder of choice for preserving important family memories. Instead, think of it as a second camcorder that you don’t mind exposing to the elements to record your rugged thrills or day at the beach. It has competition on this front too – products like Kodak’s Playsport Zx5 offer superior video quality and feature set, but cost nearly two to three times what the DVR 690HD does. If budget and durability are top of mind, give the DVR 690HD a look.

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What Are Artists Trading Cards, An Introduction
by David Burgess on

What Are Artists Trading Cards, An Introduction

My Personal Introduction to Artist Trading Cards

I was introduced to Artist trading cards or their equivalent ACEO’s by Ebay. Not knowing about artist trading cards, I was browsing around in the art categories on Ebay and kept seeing reference to ACEO.

I had to find out what it was. It is actually an art format, sized the same as the ubiquitous Trading Cards so beloved by kids of all ages. That is 2.5 X 3.5 inches exactly. The acronym stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. It could be in any media at all and had been started on Ebay around 1996.

Anyway, I had always prepared for my painting by doing several small sketches to get right the composition / colour / etc and found that this size format was a natural for me. I tentatively put the first listing of an ACEO painting on Ebay and WOW it sold!!! Fantastic!!! I had soon sold around 50 of these little miniatures and felt great.

That first aceo painting was a scene from Portmeirion in Wales where the exterior scenes for the TV programme The Prisoner was filmed. Remember Patrick McGoohan, Prisoner Number 6. This was the rear of his circular house in the village. (see picture above).You can see more of my art on my blogs Painting With John and Artyfax, the trials and tribulations of a leisure artist.

I hope to give an account of the history and potential of these wonderful little works of art, they are a great way for anybody to start their very own art collection. They are fun, affordable and a real insight into the work of any artist that you like. Further to this I will talk about the making, collecting and selling of ACEO’s.My own personal collection of works by other artists is several hundred, but I think that this will grow substantially in the future. Why not try it out?

I originally wrote this lens specifically to cover art cards which were made for selling and so the term ACEO is used throughout the lens. However, I now recognise the similarity between these and art cards traded and indeed the only difference is that one is sold ( ACEO) and one is only ever traded (ATC). Therefore it should be taken as read, that whenever the term ACEO is mentioned in this page, it refers to either form of artist trading cards. I will gradually rewrite this anomaly out of the lens as it is modified.

please note the copyright of all images is the property of the original artist, unless otherwise stated all art and photographs are by Artyfax

What is an ACEO?

The ACEO format

abstract building the cityACEO (artist trading cards) are a particular art format which is defined by its size. The acronym stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals. This reflects the idea that they are sometimes made as part of a series or may be made as numbered editions, usually limited editions. These miniature works are only 2.5 X 3.5 inches. This incidentally, and not by accident, is the size of the ubiquitous Trading Cards beloved by kids of all ages and sizes. This means that there are many products available for storing and displaying the art work, from simple plastic wallets to A4 loose leaf pages with multiple pockets, and whole display books. The miniature aceo art works can of course be framed for display either singly or as multiples.

Collectors often come up with their own devices or simply use a favourite box ( of the right size of course) and I have even heard of them being used as dolls’ house art.

It is a format that started back in 1996, and soon grew into a very popular collectible area. A search on Ebay.com for ACEO can bring up 3-4000 items (rather less in the UK as you might imagine being a much smaller market, but we are getting there) with aceo’s available in so many different media it soon becomes confusing. Watercolor, oil, acrylic, pencil, collage, photographic images, computer generated images….. the list goes on.

ACEO’s are a really inexpensive and fun way of starting your own original art collection.

Alternatively, for those with an artistic bent, art cards can be traded with other artists, almost always as originals or “one-of-a-kind” (OOAK). This was thte original means of dispersal when the format was introduced, see a short history below. When traded they are called ATC’s , short for artist trading card.

My ACEO’s on You Tube

A Portfolio of ACEO paintings by myself on YouTube

This video to be found on YouTube was an experiment for me. A selection of some of my ACEO paintings, backed by my own soundtrack, hope you like it.

Some of my favourite artists’ sites on Ebay

I have at least one work by most of these guys in my own collection of ACEO’s

There are many, many really great artists selling ACEO’s on Ebay. Some are selling simply to attract attention to their larger works, others sell ACEO’s as their main line. If you are interested, then give them a quick once over. I did not intend this lens to be a commercial, but hey! we all need to make bread, so please forgive the intrusion.

I am not selling on Ebay at the moment, and have given up my Ebay shop, please watch this space for news of developments on Etsy.

ARENA-CREATIONS
Immortalising Dreams, Moments and Memories……….. Artist, Gaynor Lewis shows her endless inspiration and expression through her artwork. Bringing extra to your life through art – Original artwork, prints, greeting cards, gift tags and commissions.
Aartless ACEO Gallery
ACEO Originals, Limited Edition ACEO Prints, Postcard and other Small Format Art by JAN VALLANCE. Direct from the artist. Cats, Portraits, Landscapes, all in Jan’s instantly recognisable and individual style.
Naj – My Depictions
Internationally selling UK based artist. Sells promotional samples of small format art, undertakes commissions for art work such as portraits, pet portraits and other custom art commissions, including canal art.
Round the Cauldron
I was raised in California but I now call Scotland my home. My two biggest inspirations are my children and my love of nature. I have been an artist for as long as I’ve been able to hold a pencil, working mainly in Graphite and Watercolour.
Mareens Art Gallery
*Contemporary Art* This Gallery is all about the art created by Mareen Haschke. Purchase ACEOs (Art Trading Cards), Fine Art Prints, and Originals such as pastel drawings and acrylic paintings directly from the artist.

ACEO Links On The Web

just a small selection to wet your apetite…

Here I have tried to provide links to sites with articles about the subject rather than artist sites, I will be adding more regularly.

A painting a day
From Shanti’s world of watercolour, A painting a day seems like a wonderful target. A great way of building up a real expertise. Why don’t I do it?
all you need to know
Probably the first and last link about ACEO’s you should need.
Entry in Wiki
A highly debated offshoot of artist trading cards are the “art card, editions and originals” (ACEO). ACEOs originated when some artists began to create cards to sell on eBay, in addition to trading among themselves. The selling of these cards is a sore point with some ATC purists; however the practice is not unprecedented: trading cards in other areas such as sports have also been traded and sold.
Art in your pocket
Basics of ATC’s ( Art Trading Cards)which are the equivalent of ACEO’s but are traded rather than sold. And importantly, many different ways of making them. Materials and techniques.

More ACEO Artists on the web

another list of links to fantastic artists

It never ceases to amaze me how how much can be contained in one little 2.5 X 3.5 inch painting. Here are some more of my favourite artists aceo’s:-

Affordable art – Ken Gillam
Ken Gillam is a Marine and Landscape Artist based in the South of England working in Watercolour and Acrylic. This site features some of his Miniature Paintings.
Original ACEO art for sale
About the artist, Jim Read

As a scholar I was taken to The British Museum and there saw my first nude, a sculpture.

I was entranced by the perfection of the form and the ever changing lines as I moved around it. I never lost the sense of awe I felt then and it is only now in later life that I feel able to commit my fascination to paper.

ACEO’s from the ACEO UK, Ebay group

a small selection from some fine artists

The Ebay user group ACEO UK has recently started to take notice of ths exciting development and list art videos (aka showreels) on You Tube. This is a group endeavour.

Artist Trading Cards In The News

Artists are creative people and like to keep up with new ideas.

Who is writing about these new ideas and what do they have to say? Find out here:-
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History of ACEO’s

What and Why

jester aceo atcWe have seen above two variations of the artist trading card, ATC and ACEO. And how they only differ in that one is sold and the other is only ever traded. How did this come about?

Artists have always painted miniatures for patrons but in September 1996, Swiss artist M Vanci Stirnemann formally identified the concept and format of artist trading cards now known as ATC’s. I have also shown above that ATC’s are not limited to any particular media but can be created in almost any way that can be envisaged. I have listed and given examples in my lens Making Artist Trading Cards. The original idea was that ATC’s should be exchanged between artists and never sold or indeed should not involve the art establishments selling art. However the internet was taking off at this time and this helped to create a popular demand for this format. It very soon became established around the world particularly in the USA thanks to the involvement via the internet.

For more information see:-

Time line for ATC’s
ATC Quarterly

Collecting ACEO’s

As Opposed To Trading ATC’s

flower garden abstract atc aceoSome time after the introduction of the concept of the ATC an artist selling her work on Ebay (ID Bone-Diva, real name Lisa Luree) put some artwork in this format up for auction. This caused consternation amongst many supporters of the format and Lisa formed a breakaway group which came up with the name ACEO ( Art Cards Editions and Originals) as an acronym for art cards which were sold. This represents the fact that art cards are produced as originals, in series or as editions (open or limited edition prints). Ebay and other sites sell quite large numbers of ACEO’s to artists and collectors looking to start their own art collection at reasonable prices. Many are sold very cheaply by amateurs by auction but established artists with a strong following can command premium prices as you would imagine. Prices in the latter case can be relatively inexpensive but still command prices of $4-500.

For more information on the controversy see, ATC’s vs ACEO’s The Real Story

Selling Your ACEO’s On Ebay

A Quick Introduction

Collecting, selling and trading ACEO art (Art Cards Editions and Originals) is as easy as buying and selling anything on eBay — and it has the advantage of a specialized market. Here’s how to turn drawing miniature artworks the size of trading cards (2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″) into some added income to help you add to your collection!

This image is of one of my early watercolour ACEO’s sold on Ebay. A good price is difficult but they are fairly quick to complete and if it sells short it is no great loss. take it on the chin and try again with another. There are other on-line sites and I will add some of these very soon to the lens on Selling ACEO’s; the next in this series. For now check out the recommended links on the side bar.

read this lens for more detailed informationHow to sell ACEOs on Ebay

Some Featured Items From Google News

Sometimes the items discovered by the Google News module are the sort that you don’t want to lose. For example the first in the list below is about hhow a school is using trading cards to overcome the lack of an art tteacher and structured art lessons. How great that this hobby (or passion even) can be used to help school kids in this way. I decided to keep track of some of the more relevant and interesting items for reference.

Art Cards In School
How the use of art trading cards is helping school pupils
trading with a difference
A different take on the trading of artist trading cards

Reader Feedback
I look forward to hearing any feedback!

An artist always craves attention, we prefer to be told how great or original we are BUT I am a realist, let me know what you think and if you don’t like it … well I will just use the input to improve on my next piece – thanks

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Sweetheart, My Photography About Long Distance Relationship
by David Burgess on 0

Sweetheart, My Photography About Long Distance Relationship

My photography project

“Sweetheart” is one of my favorite photography project that I did about a year ago. The concept is simple but the result is very satisfying (at least, for me as the photographer). The process of the photo shoot itself is also very fun. It took about six to seven hours to complete the shoot, but I enjoyed every single second of the work. Not only a set of photos, I managed to create four photos with four different concepts.

In this article, I’d like to show some of my work in a photo set titled “Sweetheart”. This is a set of pictures about a girl who visits her long-distance boyfriend for a short time. I deliberately didn’t put the boyfriend figure in the photo, as I want the viewer to feel that he is the boyfriend. Please let me know your opinion about these pics.

Behind the scenes

Actually, I didn’t plan to create this set of photos. My real intention for this photo shoot is to work on my course assignment, which is about “a girl and an apple” (I also published a lens about it. Feel free to check). At that moment, the model just arrived in the location of the shoot. I tried to established a rapport with her, having small conversation, re-explaining the concept, when suddenly I realized that she wore perfect outfit with the interior in the room. Thus, I decided to take some photos of her when she just arrived at the location. I gave her no instruction, just asked her to continue what she was doing. Surprisingly, the photos turned to be very good.

As I explained in the intro, this set of photo is about a visit from a girlfriend. Thus, I tried to emphasize the romantic feelings by making the color tone to be softer and warmer. I took only about fifteen photos, and surprisingly all of them are very satisfying. From those fifteen, I decided to publish five of them in this Squidoo article.

Let me tell you a brief story about the model. She is one of my old friends in college and we have worked several times for a photoshoot. One day, she called me, asked for my help to do some shoot for her portofolio. Amazing timing. The moment she called me, I was just given an assignment from my course to submit a photo shoot work. Hence, we arranged a place and decided to do one full day work.

The atmosphere of meeting with an old friend and good weather really elevated our mood. We managed to create more than two hundreds photos on that day. I post processed about hundred of them, divided the pictures into four or five categories, and submitted the best for my course exhibition. Although these photos are probably not my best, they are definitely the most satisfying that I have ever created so far.

The photoshoot went very smoothly. I used my favorite Rebel T3i, a tripod, and two different lenses. I also experimented with newly bought lens filter which I used to create the warm, soft color tone. We went straight for three hours work, took an hour lunch break, then continued for the next for hours.

Some tips from me

They might be useful if you want to do a photo shoot

Play music
Good music could help you and the model to be more immersed to the photoshoot. It is also very useful to help you find the mood that you wanted for the photos. It works best, especially for amateur models who don’t know how to pose. Just play the right music, and it will help them a lot in posing in front of the camera.

Take your time
No need to be in a hurry. Make sure that you establish a good rapport with the model before proceeding to the real work. If you can talk to the model and make her to be more comfortable working with you, then it is better. However, if you feel that you are not a good talker, just greet her. You need to interact with her not only during the shoot, but also before it.

Be sure to enjoy your work too. Don’t hesitate to take a break whenever you or the model feel tired. No need to be in a hurry, as I believe that it is better to take ten good photos in a good mood rather than hundreds of photos under extreme pressure.

Take a photo in RAW format
Be sure to set your image quality in your camera in RAW format. It will help you a lot in post-processing stage. I had a very good photo shoot at my early period learning photography, where I was able to take more than fifty great photos. However, I forgot to set my camera in RAW format, which I regret it very much.

So, before starting a photography project, make sure that the image quality in your camera is in RAW. Be sure to bring more than one memory card, as this format will take a lot space in the memory storage.

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