http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/articles Latest articles, updated every five minutes http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/296 Digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are the serious photographer’s tool of choice. These units are also a world apart from point-and-shoot digicams, offering far superior performance… although sadly, they do have prices to match. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider investing in one, however – beyond, of course, the fact that it’s a better camera that’ll take fine pictures for years to come.Faster Response TimesThere are BB guns, and then there are machine guns. Press the shutter of a DSLR in burst (or continuous) mode, and the camera will start clicking away like an automatic weapon. This rapid-fire image capture capability highlights a startl...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/293 Be happy if you’re gearing up to buy a new digital camera – as of press time, there are over 300-plus different options from which to choose! But within the huge crop of available models you’ll find units in all shapes, sizes and colors, with prices ranging anywhere from $79 on up to a whopping $7,999. Need help narrowing down the selection? Not to worry, as here, we’ll help you make a critical first decision—whether to buy a point-and-shoot digital camera or a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) unit instead. The good news: Everything falls more easily into place once this key question is answered.First though, a quick definition and some broad strokes you’ll need to be aware of before d...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/170558 Your digital camera can get dirty. Here's the right way to clean it, whether an everyday model or a DSLR. Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/168717 Use your digital camera to capture beautiful close-ups of dew-covered foliage. Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/283 You're flipping through the weekly flyers from your local electronics store and marvel at the new digital cameras on the market. Not only are prices dropping all the time – for both the compact point-and-shoot cameras as well as the bulkier yet more powerful DSLR models – but new features are continually added, offering even more bang for your buck.Oh sure, you already know about megapixels, a quality lens and fast processor being key considerations, but there are many other convenient bells and whistles. It can be difficult to keep up with all the lingo – be it image stabilization, facial detection or interchangeable lenses – plus you might not be aware which features are worth noting, and which...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/167126 Learn how to take better pictures with IS or VR lenses, or your digital camera's image stabilization mode. Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/277 Whether you just picked up Panasonic’s amazing Lumix DMC-LX3 or dropped some more coin for a starter DSLR like Sony’s excellent DSC-HX1, your investment is far from over. Now that you’ve got the camera, it’s time to get the gear for it. From flash cards to cases, we’ve compiled a list of all the most useful accessories to deck out your new digital shooter....Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/119 When Pure Digital released the very first Flip handheld camcorder back in 2006 and promptly captured 13 percent of the entire camcorder market with a single year, the video landscape changed. Despite the ranting of pro photographers that little handheld cameras could never equal the quality of the real thing (they can’t), people overlooked the sacrifice in video quality for the Flip’s small size, ease of use, and low price.Three years later, all those factors are still in play, and video quality has gotten even better. The latest crop of cameras actually boasts 720p HD quality. And though no one disputes that a $1,200 HD camcorde...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/163747 Draw images with light on your photos, make time-lapse video from a lowly point-and-shoot, fix your stereo with your digicam, and more fun tricks. Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/162724 Your digital camera or camera phone can help you inventory your belongings, remember where you parked the car, and other practical things. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/230 If you're like most digital camera owners, your photos are copied over to a PC's hard drive and forgotten about -- save, maybe, for the odd one you print out, email to a relative, or create computer wallpaper with. But you can do much more with these memories. Resist dumping these once-in-a-lifetime shots into your computer's "digital shoe box," and consider these 10 options instead.Digital photo framesView your memories in a digital photo frame you can hang on the wall, or keep on an end-table or office...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/231 If you're like most digital camera owners, your photos are copied over to a PC's hard drive and forgotten about -- save, maybe, for the odd one you print out, email to a relative, or create computer wallpaper with. But you can do much more with these memories. Resist dumping these once-in-a-lifetime shots into your computer's "digital shoe box," and consider these 10 options instead.Digital photo framesView your memories in a digital photo frame you can hang on the wall, or keep on an end...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/223 Think of the annual Photo Marketing Association (PMA) convention as a chance to visit the biggest camera store you’ll ever see in your life.Taking up two floors of the Las Vegas Convention Center, you’ll find all the big boys from Canon to Sony there along with tiny mom-and-pop outfits selling photo charm bracelets. The yearly meeting was originally targeted to small camera store owners, but these days, independents are rarer than an up day on Wall Street. Right before this year’s edition, in fact, the huge Ritz Camera chain went bust – no surprise as the vast majority of camera buyers in 2009 simply go to Best Buy,...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/220 The race is on. Every device from the digital camera to the DVR to the HDTV is vying for the position of becoming a digital hub for all your home multimedia. And it’s not just about photos and music anymore: The push for true video-on-demand (VOD)—and high-def video at that—even has home theater manufacturers including Internet connections on their wares out of the box. (See: Countless custom networked...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/216 You’ve no doubt heard the claims from electronics manufacturers stating the world’s first this, the world’s largest that, the world’s smallest the other. Economic turmoil has only heated up this race to provide innovative products, and industry firsts. Here, we bring you 10 world’s firsts that are bigger, thinner, smaller, lighter, and faster than the competition.Longest Built-in Zoom CameraConsumers these days are demanding longer zoom lenses built into their digital cameras, hence the category of super-zoom cameras that are larger than your average digicam, but have a 10x zoo...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/159046 What you should know when using a camera in public: public vs. private property, what to do when challenged. Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/158434 Learn how to correct the date and time on your image files when your digital camera gets it wrong. Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:25:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/208 You’ve no doubt connected your digital camera to your computer to download photos or have inserted a little black thumb drive to store or retrieve files. But rejoice – the USB port can be used for so much more, thanks to its ability to suck electricity through your computer, powering some of the world’s strangest devices. Following are ten of the cutest, silliest and most useless examples we could find. As a fun game at home, try playing along by suggesting your own examples: You’ll be amazed at mankind’s capacity for ridiculousness. Oh, how we cry for the poor children…...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/158432 Learn how to on choose a camera, do your research, select lenses, and develop a workflow. Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/195 One of the advantages of digital cameras over traditional film-based models is units’ sheer simplicity. Today, taking pictures is a simple “point and shoot” process – plus, you can see the results immediately on the back of the camera. But let’s face it: Our photos don’t always turn out like they should, even with this advancement in technology. Is it that some of us just have a natural knack for photography while others are all thumbs? Perhaps, but by the time you finish reading through these tips on taking better pictures, chances are you’ll discover a vast improvement in your images....Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/186 From cell phones to digital audio players and point-and-shoot cameras, teenagers are all about personal electronics. But did you know there is actually a booming market for high-tech accessories, toys and cutting-edge devices aimed at kids as young as three all the way up to the tween and teen years as well? Here we highlight a few great gadgets for the younger set. 1) Erector Spykee Spy Robot, $300Every kid secretly wants to be a covert op, and what better to spy with than a stealthy robot? The price tag is a little...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/165 What makes a photo stand out? Surprise – it's not always the subject itself. After all, there are plenty of moments when the most ordinary thing, provided it’s photographed in a creative way, can make you sit up and say “wow!” The key difference here: Technique. Looking to step yours up a notch? Here are ten tips guaranteed to help anyone sharpen their focus, so to speak, and produce more eye-catching snapshots as a result.• Dial in more color – Turn up the saturation level to make colors pop. Unless your camera is automatic everything, you'll be able to increase it in steps (-3 to +3 for example), or pick a descriptive color setting like “vivid.” Wh...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/153446 Follow these tips to keep your digital camera in top shape this winter. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/154 Whether you’re interested in recording seasonal holidays, birthdays or vacations, it’s a perfect time to invest in a camcorder to capture those once-in-a-lifetime get-togethers with family and friends.Sure, a digital camera can do the trick to immortalize precious moments, but why settle for a still and lifeless image when you can shoot video and record audio for future ge...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/145 Memories are great things. Still, it’s a lot better having hard copies of events (specifically, pictures and videos) to help you relive each special moment rather than some hazy thoughts that get cloudier with each passing year. Enter 10 digital cameras and camcorders new for this holiday season that prove just the trick when it comes to documenting any occasion. Fancy yourself ready to start preserving all those heartwarming fireside chats and festive dinners for future generations to come? Snap those shutter buttons or hit record and let these great gadgets do the rest. ...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0400