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How to Choose a Camera: SLR vs DSLR
by David Burgess on 0

How to Choose a Camera: SLR vs DSLR

When choosing either a SLR or DSLR camera, it is important to know which one is better for the type of photographs you plan to take. This article will highlight which is best for certain endeavors. We’ll also show you some of the top rated cameras in each category.

Which is Better SLR or DSLR?

The SLR camera is called as such because it makes use of a mirror and prism, reflex pertaining to the reflection on the mirror (see some examples of an SLR camera here). The reflection allows the user to see the image about to be captured through the viewfinder before actually taking the photo. This is special and different compared to the viewfinder camera which shows a very different image in the frame as compared to what you can see through the viewfinder. When the user hits the shutter button, the mirror moves away and allows light to go past it and hit the film to capture the image.

The main difference between a traditional SLR camera and a DSLR or digital single lens reflex camera lies right in its name, the DSLR is digital and does not make use of film (see some examples of a DSLR camera here). And because it has no film, instead of the mirror moving away for the light to hit the film, the light would, instead, go to the CCD or CMOS imaging sensor. Each camera has its pros and cons and they cater to certain kinds of photographers.

When to buy a SLR Camera

SLR Camera Review Getting a traditional SLR is advised for the more advanced photographer just because your number of shots is limited to how much film you have. The SLR user does not have the luxury of having a nearly unlimited number of frames that the DSLR user enjoys. Some people really do prefer having an SLR over a DSLR because of the quality and texture of film prints.

SLR Camera Reviews

There are very subtle differences between a film and digital print that are visible to the trained eye. One print isn’t better than the other, so to speak. It’s really more a preference. It should be noted that while getting an SLR is cheaper than a DSLR, in the long run, you could save more money with a DSLR because you won’t have to keep buying film. And the ISO, or level of exposure, depends on what kind of film you can buy. You can’t change it until you change film rolls.

SLR Cameras Under $1000, $500 and $250 Dollars

When to buy a DSLR Camera

DSLR Camera Review DSLRs tend to be more expensive but it is highly advisable for beginners to try out an entry level DSLR for a multitude of reasons. First of all, since everything is digital, you don’t have to count how many frames you’ve used because everything goes into a memory card and they can hold and store a large number of photos. And you can just transfer your photos to your computer when you’ve filled up your card and you can start shooting again.

DSLR Camera Reviews

Another great advantage of the DSLR for beginners is the fact that you can see your photo right away. You don’t need to process it before you can check it out and judge it for yourself. There’s more flexibility with digital photographs too. For one, you can change the ISO on the camera itself.

Canon EOS Rebel 18MP T3i DSLR Camera

**Top Choice**

DSLR Cameras Under $1000, $500 and $250 Dollars

SLR vs DSLR Summary

It should be noted that film and film cameras are slowly being phased out. That shouldn’t discourage you from getting a film camera because there’s more to learn with SLRs. To capture a beautiful picture using a film camera, you need a certain level of understanding and knowledge of light, exposure, and film. Using an SLR will allow you to gain more experience, knowledge, and appreciation for photos. But it is more practical to get a DSLR. One isn’t really better than the other in this situation. Deciding which one to buy really depends on your personal preference.

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5 Reasons To Shoot On Film
by David Burgess on 0

5 Reasons To Shoot On Film

1. There’s something special about holding a film photograph in your hand.

2. Film photographs have a certain look that digital can’t replicate.

3. Film forces you to slow down and think about your composition.

4. Film is more forgiving than digital, making it a great choice for beginners.

5. Shooting on film is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

As a professional photographer, I often get asked why I still shoot on film. After all, digital has come a long way in recent years and many photographers have made the switch to shooting digital exclusively.

Here are 5 reasons why I think shooting on film is still a great choice for photographers:

1. There’s something special about holding a film photograph in your hand.

There’s just something about holding a physical photograph in your hand that is special. With digital photographs, it’s easy to forget that there is a real photograph behind all the 1s and 0s. But with film, you can hold the physical photograph in your hand and really appreciate the artistry that went into creating it.

2. Film photographs have a certain look that digital can’t replicate.

No matter how hard digital photographers try, they can’t quite replicate the look of a film photograph. Film has a certain graininess and depth of color that digital just can’t match. For many photographers, this is part of the appeal of shooting on film.

3. Film forces you to slow down and think about your composition.

With digital, it’s easy to take a million photographs and just delete the ones you don’t like. But with film, you have to be more thoughtful about your composition because each frame costs money. This forces you to slow down and think about your composition, which can only result in better photographs.

4. Film is more forgiving than digital, making it a great choice for beginners.

One of the great things about film is that it is more forgiving than digital. With digital, if you make a mistake, it can be very difficult to fix. But with film, you can often salvage a photograph even if it isn’t perfect. This makes film a great choice for beginners who are still learning the ropes.

5. Shooting on film is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

In the age of digital, it can be easy to blend in with the crowd. But if you shoot on film, you’ll instantly stand out. Film photography is still relatively rare, so shooting on film is a great way to make your work stand out from the rest.

Do you shoot on film? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below!

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Troubleshooting 3D Nail Art
by David Burgess on 0

Troubleshooting 3D Nail Art

3D nail art is a beautiful and unique way to decorate your nails, but it can also be tricky to get the hang of. If you’re having trouble creating beautiful 3D designs, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with this handy troubleshooting guide.

1. My designs keep falling off!

If your 3D designs are constantly falling off, it’s likely that your adhesive is to blame. Make sure you’re using a good quality glue or gel, and that you’re applying it correctly. If you’re still having trouble, try using a thinner layer of adhesive or curing it under a UV lamp for a few seconds.

2. My designs look lumpy and uneven!

If your designs look lumpy or uneven, it’s probably because you’re not using enough glue or gel. Make sure you’re applying a generous amount of adhesive, and that it’s evenly distributed across the entire design.

3. My designs look dull and lifeless!

If your designs look dull, it could be because you’re using too much glue or gel. Try using a thinner layer of adhesive, and make sure you’re not curing it under a UV lamp for too long.

4. I can’t get my designs to stick!

If your designs just won’t stick, it might be because the surface of your nails isn’t clean enough. Make sure you wipe your nails with nail polish remover before applying the adhesive, and that you’re not using an old or dried-out glue.

5. Help! My design is stuck to my nail!

If you accidentally get your design stuck to your nail, don’t panic! Gently peel the design off, being careful not to damage your nail. If the design is still stuck, soak your nails in warm water for a few minutes, then try peeling it off again.

We hope this troubleshooting guide has helped you to create beautiful 3D designs that last. If you’re still having trouble, don’t hesitate to ask a professional nail artist for help.

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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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by Leland Richardson on 0

How to Get Practical Craft Experience

Turning hobbies into full time jobs is the dream of many casual crafters. It takes time, creativity and persistence. Another key element is experience. Rudimentary knowledge of your art / craft isn’t good enough if you’re selling goods to paying customers.

You need to have the knowledge to put out a quality product at a price that your customer will pay while still making enough money to cover both your business and personal expenses. Just starting out and not sure how to get that knowledge? Here are my suggestions for getting good, practical experience in running a craft business.

Working for Another Craft Business

Years ago when I first started giving seminars on starting a new business, getting good practical experience working for another similar type business was my number one suggestion. It still is. This is the best and most ideal of situations.

Working for another crafter not only teaches you the specific skill, it exposes you to the complete picture of the business aspects of selling crafts. Definitely, having prior experience working for a business in the same craft discipline to the one you want to start will be one of your major keys to success.

However, I know that for many, unless you are a student looking for an internship, this isn’t an option. You’re working 40 hours plus at your day job and the last thing you want to do is get a part-time job working for someone else in your craft field. Honestly, fast forwarding to today, it would be a difficult option for me to achieve too. So, what to do if putting in hours working for another arts / crafts designer just can’t be done?

Practice, Practice, Practice

It’s trite but practice is a very necessary part of gaining design and fabrication experience. Do you ever watch Project Runway? What always happens at the start of each show? These are trained designers with years of experience in the field, yet after they are given an assignment, they don’t just get out a pair of shears and start hacking up fabric.

They think about their particular design, sketch it out, carefully consider the right fabric and use muslin to make patterns prior to cutting the actual garment fabric. Sometimes they have to halt operations mid-stream when they see their design just isn’t going to pan out. As an inexperienced crafter, these are the basic steps you should follow – sometimes over and over and over again until a design or technique is totally worked out.

Until you’ve had a lot of practice, it’s really hard to have a 100% grasp on whether the materials you want to use are adaptable to your design. Also, it can take numerous prototypes to breakdown design elements into logical construction steps. Remember, developing well-honed techniques from hours of experimentation is necessary prior to announcing yourself to the world as a serious craft businessperson.

Yikes, all that material – it can be expensive – that’s why the clothing designers use muslin first. If possible, use the equivalent of muslin for your design prototypes.

Take Craft Business Courses or Seminars Tailored to Your Field

While this is a necessary part of running a business for experienced craft business owners, it’s exponentially important for the inexperienced. You should already have subscribed to and be reading trade publications. There are numerous craft seminars given convention style each year, hi-lighted in these publications, providing great information on many different craft related business topics.

Usually spanning two to three days, a variety of topics are normally covered and you’ll be able to pick and choose between the seminars you want to attend. If the seminars aren’t within driving distance, you’ll have the additional burden of airfare and lodging. However, lacking the time to get on-the-job practical experience, this is the next best thing.

Joining Craft Professional Trade Associations

What happens when you go out to lunch with people you work with? Don’t you invariable end up talking about your jobs – maybe getting the inside scoop on pending events? Well, that’s exactly the sort of interaction you’ll get when you join a local trade association. Attending these meetings is a great way to get experience vicariously as you find out about new tools, techniques, suppliers and legalities specific to your craft.

Getting experience working in the field is invaluable. You’ll have the priceless opportunity to see how an established business maneuvers around problems beyond their control and deals with supply, labor and customer issues. Lacking that opportunity, put aside time to practice your craft. Pair this with keeping on top of developing issues in your business by joining trade organizations and attending craft related seminars.

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Canon EOS M10 Review
by Leland Richardson on 0

Canon EOS M10 Review

The Bottom Line

Canon has not chosen to make significant investments in the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (ILC) market, sticking with focusing on its very popular DSLR camera models. But Canon isn’t completely abandoning the mirrorless market either, as shown by its recent release of the Canon M10. It’s very much a beginner-level mirrorless camera, as shown in this Canon EOS M10 review, and, as such, it has some drawbacks.

But the M10 fits in pretty well against other cameras that have a similar price point, as well as against other entry-level mirrorless ILCs. It’s one of the least expensive mirrorless cameras on the market, even after you purchase a lens or two. (Keep in mind that you cannot use the same lenses for Canon DSLR cameras as you can for Canon mirrorless models.)

With some of this camera’s drawbacks, I’d almost be tempted to go with an entry-level Canon Rebel DSLR model over this one, as the basic DSLRs are only slightly more expensive than the M10.

Rebel DSLRs have been around for decades, and provide strong performance levels and image quality. The M10’s biggest benefit versus those entry-level Rebels is its thin size of just 1.38 inches without the lens attached. Otherwise, Canon’s Rebels will provide a better experience for most photographers over the M10.

Specifications

  • Resolution: 18 megapixels
  • Optical zoom: NA, uses interchangeable lenses
  • LCD: 3.0-inch, 1,040,000 pixels (touch and tilt enabled)
  • Maximum image size: 5184 x 3456 pixels
  • Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
  • Dimensions: 4.25 x 2.62 x 1.38 inches
  • Weight: 10.6 ounces (including battery and memory card)
  • Image sensor: APS-C (22.3×14.9 mm)
  • Movie mode: HD 1080p

Pros

  • Low price for a mirrorless camera
  • Image quality is a bit above average versus other cameras in this price range
  • LCD screen is sharp and offers tilt and touch capabilities
  • Camera is easier to use than most interchangeable lens models
  • Movie recording is easy and full HD movies look great

Cons

  • Viewfinder is not included
  • No hot shoe for adding components
  • Camera’s image quality at high ISO settings is poor
  • Battery life isn’t as good as it should be, especially if you choose to use camera’s Wi-Fi
  • Shutter lag is a problem in some shooting situations

Image Quality

The Canon EOS M10 does a nice job with image quality versus other entry-level mirrorless cameras and versus other models in its price range. The M10’s images aren’t significantly better than its competitors, but they are above average. Personally, I like the image quality of Rebel DSLRs a little better than what’s found with the M10, but there isn’t a huge difference.

The Canon M10 does a nice job with indoor photography, nearly equal to its performance with outdoor photography in sunlight. This isn’t always the case with mirrorless cameras. The M10’s 18 megapixels of resolution and its APS-C sized image sensor allow for the good performance indoors.

However, the good indoor performance doesn’t continue if you’re shooting at a high ISO setting. Once you hit the midpoint of the M10’s ISO range — say around ISO 1600 — you’ll start to notice significant noise in the images, High ISO settings are not really usable with this camera. I’d suggest using the built-in flash unit wherever possible, rather than increasing the ISO past 800.

Performance

The Canon M10’s performance levels are impressive, as Canon gave this camera its DIGIC 6 image processor, which leads to some fast operational aspects. You can shoot between four and five frames per second in burst mode, which is a solid performance for a mirrorless camera. 

But I was a bit disappointed in the M10’s shutter lag, which can approach half a second in some shooting conditions where you’re unable to prefocus by holding down the shutter button halfway. At some point, you will miss some spontaneous photos because of this shutter lag issue. It certainly isn’t the type of shutter lag problem you’d experience with a basic point and shoot camera, but it is more noticeable than what you’d find with a Rebel DSLR.

Battery performance with this model is a bit below average, which is a disappointment. However, this is a common problem with thin mirrorless ILCs, as they must have a thin battery to fit the overall design of the camera. Just understand that if you choose to use the M10’s built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, the poor battery lifespan problem will be magnified.

Design

The thin camera body found with the Canon M10 gives it an advantage over the Rebel DSLRs. No DSLR can match the EOS M10’s 1.38-inch thickness measurement. 

Although you can use the M10 one-handed, it’s a little difficult to hold this camera with one hand because it has no right-hand grip area. The front of the camera body is smooth, so you have to try to hold it more like a point and shoot camera with a pinching grip, which can be difficult because of the way the lens protrudes from the camera body. It’s just easier to hold the camera with two hands.

Canon gave the EOS M10 tiltable and touch screen capabilities, which is great to find on a camera that’s aimed at inexperienced photographers. The camera also has very few buttons and dials, meaning you’ll be using the screen the majority of time to make changes to the settings, so having touch capabilities makes this model easy to use.

The build quality for the EOS M10 is very solid. There’s no loose parts or flimsy aspects to this Canon model.

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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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Guide to Helmet Cams
by Leland Richardson on 0

Guide to Helmet Cams

If you’re the adventurous type – skateboarder, mountain biker, snow-boarder, etc. – a new breed of digital camcorder can help capture your epic moments (or epic fails). The helmet cam, or sports camcorder, is a durable video camera capable of being clipped to a helmet or handlebar to capture a first person view of your adventures.

What’s a Helmet Cam?

A helmet cam is essentially a small, rugged camcorder that’s sold with a variety of hooks and clamps that allow the user to attach the camcorder to several surfaces, typically bicycle helmets and handlebars but even skateboards and snowboards.

Thanks to flash memory, camcorders have been able to shrink in size and become much more durable – able to withstand bumps and vibrations without interrupting video recording. Helmet cams use the advantages of flash memory to deliver very small, lightweight yet very shock-resistant camcorders to sports enthusiasts.

Helmet Cam Features:

As you’d expect, helmet cams are not meant to be handled much by the user. After you strap it onto your head, you can’t be expected to fiddle with things like a zoom lens or other camcorder settings. So helmet cams have a very bare bones set of controls – usually an on/off switch and a large “record” button which can be pressed down even if you’re wearing gloves. That’s about it.

Helmet cams typically don’t offer built-in flash memory but record to removable memory card, either SDHC or the smaller microSD format. They come in both standard and high definition resolutions as well, and some allow you to adjust your resolution to preserve memory card space. The video quality itselfcan vary, but don’t expect the same performance as you would from a traditional camcorder.

The lenses and processors on a helmet camcorder can’t match the quality of those found on higher-end camcorders.

Aside from being durable (able to withstand some falls and bumps), they’re also weatherproof, so they can get splashed with water or snow. Note: this isn’t to say they’re all fully waterproof. Most helmet cams are not meant to be submerged underwater for extended periods of time.

While they’re pretty bare-bones as far as features go, helmet cams do have a few bells and whistles. Some models have incorporated GPS chips inside them so you can geo-tag your videos, plotting them out on a map when you’ve loaded them onto your computer. Others offer Bluetooth, so you can stream previews of your video to a smartphone (helmet cams usually don’t offer LCD displays to preview your scene before you film it).

Helmet Cams Not For Everyone

Obviously, if you’re not big into outdoor adventures or aren’t auditioning for the X-Games, a helmet cam isn’t a good choice. If you’re a sporting enthusiast but don’t need a first-person view of the action (or don’t need your hands for steering), consider a rugged, waterproof model instead as it will offer you more features for the money. Speaking of money, helmet cameras range from about $99 to $350, depending on the features and resolution.

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Kodak Playsport Zx5 Review
by Leland Richardson on 0

Kodak Playsport Zx5 Review

The Kodak Playsport Zx5 is a high definition pocket camcorder capable of recording 1920 x 1080p in the H.264 format. It is waterproof to a depth of 10 feet, can survive a drop of up to five feet and is sealed against dust and dirt.

It retails for $179.

Kodak Playsport Zx5 at a Glance

The Good: Slim, rugged design, good video quality.

The Bad:

Sticky center control, no built-in USB plug, mono mic.

Kodak Playsport Zx5 Video Quality

The Playsport Zx5 records 1920 x 1080 HD video at 30 frames per second (fps) in the H.264 video format via a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor. You also have the option to record 1280 x 720 video at 60fps for capturing faster moving action or at 720/30fps.

As with the previous Playsport, the video is quite appealing for a pocket camcorder. Occasionally, the colors would drift a bit but the effect is hard to notice unless you’re really parsing your footage. Compared with last year’s Zx3, the video appeared less noisy indoors, which is a plus.

In addition to video, the Playsport can also snap 5-megapixel still images. Unless you’re working with plenty of natural light and a very steady hand, the photo function mostly produces blurry pics.

Optics

The Playsport offers a fixed focal length lens with a 4x digital zoom. The zoom isn’t much help – it tends to simply ramp up the digital noise in your video, so it’s probably

best to avoid it all together. The Playsport offers digital image stabilization to help keep videos smooth during recordings. The video I shoot wasn’t particularly shake-prone, but it’s hard to tell if that’s the stabilization kicking in or the fact that the Playsport is so small that you can get a real nice grip on it.

One thing you’re likely to notice (and it’s reared its head on other pocket cams) is trouble with the auto-focus. Sometimes it’s slow to lock on, leaving you with a second or two of blurred video. It’s not unusual for a pocket camcorder lens, but it’s something to bear in mind.

Playsport Design

The Playsport isn’t the slimmest and trimmest pocket camcorder on the market, mostly because it’s designed to take a beating. Still, at 2.3 x 4.4 x .7-inches and 125g it’s still light and compact enough to slip into a pocket with hardly a notice. The corners of the Playsport are rounded off with a rubberized bumper which not only protects it from bumps but gives it a sturdier grip. While the camcorder seals away its memory card and connector ports to protect them from the elements, both click open easily so they’re quick to access.

The Playsport has seven external buttons – an on/off switch that sits rather flush on the top of the camcorder and is a bit difficult to engage. It’s backlit though, so you can notice when the Playsport is turned on (in case the live preview on the LCD display didn’t tip you off). On the back of the camcorder, you’ll find controls for switching between still and video, playback, trash, settings and a share button – which lets you tag videos for automatic emailing or uploading once the Playsport is connected to a PC. These controls are quite responsive. The record button sits at the center of a four-way controller, which is a bit less responsive than the other controls.

The Playsport comes in three color choices: red, blue and black. Aesthetically, it’s pretty sharp.

Playsport Zx5 Features

In addition to its rugged, waterproof design, the Playsport Zx5 has several video effects that can be applied to videos including vivid color, sepia, black and white, high saturation and “1970s film look” if you want a retro feel to your videos. There’s an underwater setting as well to optimize your exposure if you take the Playsport beneath the waves. You’ll also find face detection, and the aforementioned share button, which lets upload videos automatically to Facebook, Flickr, Kodak Gallery , Twitter, YouTube and several other sharing sites. The share function is definitely a plus, but the Playsport doesn’t have a built-in USB plug, so you’ll have to fish around for a cable when you’re ready to connect.

Menu & Display

Kodak has updated – and improved- the menu system from the Zx3 on the new Playsport Zx5. Good thing too, as the older menu was difficult to understand. The new menu trades vague icons for simple text. It’s not the most dynamic thing in the world, but it certainly gets the job done.

The Playsport’s 2-inch display features a glare-shield, which you can activate in the menu to compensate for bright sunlight. The display itself is bright but doesn’t have a great viewing angle, so you need to be holding it straight-on to get the sharpest preview of the video you’re recording.

Playsport Memory

The Kodak Playsport Zx5 comes with 128MB of internal memory so you’ll need to opt for an optional SD/SDHC card to record video of any length. The camcorder supports SDHC cards up to 32GB in capacity – enough to store about six hours of HD footage.

Kodak Playsport Zx5 Bottom Line

The Playsport Zx5 is a very versatile pocket camcorder – it not only takes sharp video but is designed to go underwater and take the odd fall off a table. Despite its sturdy build, the Playsport is sharply styled and not at all cumbersome to carry with you. The lack of a built-in USB plug and a lapse in autofocus top the very short list of quibbles with the Playsport Zx5, which continues Kodak’s tradition of leading pocket camcorders.

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How to Choose the Best Watercolor Paint Sets
by David Burgess on 0

How to Choose the Best Watercolor Paint Sets

How to Choose Watercolor Paint Sets

What are the best Watercolour Paint Sets for you to use? And why? If you are a Professional, Student or even a Kid there are great paint sets to suit you. Knowing which one can help your art.

Each one has it’s advantages and disadvantages in cost, quality and use.

Types of Watercolor Paint Sets

Watercolor paint comes in different levels and types.

1. Kids
2. Students
3. Pros

It also comes in

1. Pans &
2. Tubes
3. Pencils

Choosing Students Watercolor Paint Sets

Types of Watercolor Paints Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd0PgwA55gs

Students Watercolor Paint Sets

Choosing Students Watercolor Paint Sets can be a tough one. Do you go for students quality or artists quality colors? Students paints are best for students right? Not necessarily so here’s why.

Students range from complete beginner to advanced.
Paints vary in quality and price therefore a more advanced student may want a better quality paint.
Even newbies may not want their art affected by inferior paints.
Not everyone can afford the more expensive paints. (or brushes for that matter)
And everyone has an opinion and most of those are different!

So where do you go from here? Decide on where you fit in to the mix. Also decide what you can afford. Then buy the best watercolor paints you can afford, either a well known student paint or an artists one.

When starting out getting a set can be the easiest way as you have a good starting range to begin with, then you can add individual pans, pencils or tubes later. This lens will be covering the pros and cons of each type of set too.

Artists & Professional Watercolor Paint Sets

Artists & Professional Watercolor Paint Sets are the better quality paints and therefore carry a higher price, but they have better pigments and last longer than student ranges.

Kids Watercolor Paint Sets

Kids Watercolor Paint Sets quality has improved over the years, but they are still basic.

My niece used to paint sheet after sheet of pictures. Each one looking like a single colored ink blob. The paintings went on fridges and walls and doors and eventually when then next batch of blob paintings came along in the trash. At this stage it just isn’t worth spending out on fancy expensive paints. Kids art gear isn’t too expensive, some isn’t too bad a quality whilst others are rubbish.

Now my niece is 9 and my sister despairs of the large range of art stuff she has. Watercolor paints and pencils, normal pencils, pens etc. As you child grows the paint quality needs to improve. It is no good them having paints that don’t work well this will just ruin their interest. So stick to kid’s paint as they are safer but get something increasingly better quality.

7 reasons why watercolor paints are great for kids.

Here are 7 reasons why watercolor paints are great for kids.

1. Kids love them
2. They are cheap
3. Parents can get the off the walls and clothes easier than oil or acrylic.
4. They are designed for kids so aren’t toxic if they go on the fingers then in the mouth.
5. They are easy to use.
7. They encourage creativity in kids which stimulates the mind and improves thinking.

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