During the summer months, the temperature is not the only thing on the rise. So too is the use of digital cameras, specifically for trips to the beach, picnics, barbeques, vacations and sporting events.
With so many flashbulbs popping, here are a few ways to make your summer digital photos sparkle.
Summer Can be a Blur, Your Photos Shouldn’t Be – All of us have taken a shot that we thought was focused perfectly only to have it turn out blurry, usually due to excessive movement or hand shaking. To solve that, manufacturers offer cameras with image stabilizers, which drastically cut down on blurry photos. Among them, Panasonic offers its MEGA Optimal Image Stabilization though out its entire line of digital cameras.
Slideshows Have Never Been Cooler – Most digital cameras utilize SD cards that allow you to store a few hundred photos at a time. Once you are finished snapping away, there is no better way to showcase your photos than through a slideshow. All you need to do is remove the “stick of gum-like” storage device from your digital camera and slide it into the slot on your notebook computer, projector, photo printer, DVD player or Plasma television for a memorable 21st century slideshow. Certain slideshow applications will even allow you to add music or captions to your photos.
Know Your Modes – Cameras today offer a variety of different modes, which can automatically maximize your photo-taking ability by varying features, such as shutter speed, light, flash, etc. Most digital cameras offer a sports mode, ideal for the family picnic softball game; party and food mode, for summer barbeques; scenery mode, for those memorable vacation landscape shots; and fireworks mode, optimal for 4th of July and Labor Day celebrations. Some more advanced cameras like the TZ-1 from Panasonic even offer a beach mode to cut down on the number of washed out, sun-heavy photos.
No More Disposable Water Cameras – If beach mode isn’t enough, the TZ-1 and FX-01 from Panasonic also come with optional underwater cases for an additional $199, as well as an underwater mode, which allows you to better protect your digital camera on the beach and take underwater shots that would make any scuba diver or snorkeler proud.
Some Moments Warrant Video – Have you ever been somewhere snapping away and you say to yourself, “I wish I had my video camera?” Well with most digital still cameras today, you do. While not as high quality as your video camera, most digital still cameras will do the trick in video mode. Some digital cameras will even allow you to playback the mini movies you just shot, right on your LCD screen.
Battery Life is Important – Even the most hi-tech camera will not work on a dead battery. So if your camera runs on a rechargeable battery make sure you always pack your charger and power up your battery before each day of shooting. For vacations, long trips, extended photo shoots or when using an older camera it is also a good idea to carry a spare fully charged battery. If your camera runs on ordinary AA or AAA alkaline batteries make sure you replace your batteries prior to a long day of shooting, make sure you always have a few extra batteries in your camera bag and reach for Oxyride batteries, which will enable you to shoot significantly more photos (up to 250) than conventional alkaline batteries. - ARA
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