I don’t want to spend much money. I want a very good tripod but at an efficient price. Do I need to buy my tripod from Canon. How do I know what specific type of tripod I need for this camera. How about used tripods?

Thanks

You don’t want to cheap out too much on the tripod.

Read the questions posted by people who are trying to figure out how to "fix" their cameras after they’ve taken a little tumble on a wobbly tripod.

Most light weight tripods will work. If you want a good height (your eye-level for example), you’ll have to spend a little more money in order to get a more stable tripod.

I use a lightweight velbon, with a ball head. It’s the predecessor to the current Velbon MAXI 343. It’s an excellent tripod, and is small enough to pack in my suitcase, yet has enough extension to go to my eye level.

In a previous article, lighting was identified as the element which most determines the quality of an image. Working with available light and using internal flash and external light sources were discussed. In addition to the light present, the amount of light on the image sensor, or exposure, is determined by the opening/closing of the aperture and the length of time that the shutter is open. To better understand exposure, this article will discuss aperture, shutter speed, and the concept of “bracketing”.

Aperture is essentially the opening that allows light in through the lens. You will see aperture indicated in “f-stops”. The smaller f-stops represent larger apertures and therefore more light coming in through the lens. To state it more directly, the larger the aperture the brighter the light obtained. It is also important to realize that aperture also influences some of the focusing within a shot, known as depth of field. Technically, a camera can only focus on one item within a shot with items becoming less in focus the further they are from that point. The depth of field is the range or distance of items that are in focus; thus, an image with a narrow depth of field generally has a smaller area in focus. A wide depth of field is used when wanting detail throughout the shot but a narrow depth of field is desirable when a single object or person is the focus of the image. When using a larger aperture, depth of field is minimized while reducing aperture maximizes it.

Shutter speed is generally understood as the length of time the shutter is open. Slower shutter speeds allow for more light and faster shutter speeds less light. Therefore, a night shot often utilizes a slower shutter speed in addition to a larger aperture to maximize the light coming into the lens. Whenever a slow shutter speed is utilized the risk of camera shake is significantly increased and thus, tripods are often necessary to avoid blurring. Fast shutter speeds, such as 1/250, produce very sharp images and can act to freeze action. A slow shutter speed produces less defined images; images that demonstrate movement by blurring action. Just as with aperture size, the shutter speed selected is not “right” or “wrong”, it is merely which will create the type of image wanted.

It is important to understand that when adjusting shutter speed or aperture size it is often necessary to adjust the other to accommodate the resulting change in lighting. For instance, if a faster shutter speed is chosen to freeze action aperture size may need to be increased to obtain adequate lighting for the shot while realizing that there will be a narrower depth of field.

Digital cameras offer the user control over aperture and shutter speed. For the novice, a Fully Automatic Mode in which the camera decides on the shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and focus is most handy. This feature is often sufficient for producing excellent photos but there are limitations. For instance, the camera will not sense when the user is attempting to take a shot which captures faster action. Use of a shutter speed that is too slow in this instance will result in blurring. As described above, it may be advisable to adjust the shutter speed, and possibly the aperture size, for this type of shot.

Many digital cameras also possess a Programmed Mode which allows the user to select the situation that is most appropriate; for instance portrait, sports, or landscape, and the camera makes the decisions from there. As discussed above, adjustments in the shutter speed to allow you to create special effects may be desired but not congruent with what the camera assumes is wanted. Most digital cameras offer a Shutter Priority setting that allows the user to adjust the shutter speed while the camera determines the aperture and other features. In other instances, increased depth of field may be desired and achieved by selecting a smaller aperture. This is possible using the camera’s Aperture Priority setting which will allow aperture alone to be adjusted. The Manual Mode allows both the shutter speed and aperture to be manually controlled. Obviously, this mode allows for the most control of shots but requires a significantly higher level of skill.

A final word about getting the best exposure with a digital camera is about a technique called “bracketing”. Bracketing is used when it is difficult to determine the optimum exposure because the lighting varies within the scene. For instance, taking a photograph of a dog sitting in a snow covered field presents challenges based on the extreme contrast and reflection. Bracketing is simply the practice of taking several shots of the same scene with different exposures. Most digital cameras make this very easy to do as they can automatically vary the exposure, taking a shot at the metered setting and others which are under exposed and over exposed. The user then compares the images, selects the best one, and deletes the rest. During the editing process it is even possible to combine the best parts of multiple shots to get the best composite image.

Although automatic settings produce great images, even a novice can adjust shutter speed and aperture to capture action and create special effects within their photographs. Digital cameras make the process easier and less expensive through progressively manual controls and the option of deleting photographs that simply aren’t desirable.

Christine Peppler
http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/basic-digital-photography-taking-control-of-exposure-87402.html

Tripod for camera is a stand that is used for mounting the camera. It aids in clicking pictures since it holds the camera in a still position and prevents camera movement. You can obtain clear pictures with close up shots with the help of a tripod.

It also useful for wildlife photographers since it can be folded and carried in a backpack. Moreover, it allows you to place the camera in different positions and angles. For instance, the camera can be placed horizontally, vertically, facing upwards, or downwards. A tripod offers various options for clicking pictures. In this article, we shall suggest some tips for buying the right tripod.

Tips For Buying A Tripod

Strength – The tripod should be strong and sturdy if you wish to mount a heavy camera on it. However, even if you do not have a heavy camera, it is advisable to buy a strong and sturdy tripod with a longer life. It is a one-time investment and not something that you will change with seasons. So, look for a good quality brand with guarantee or warranty.

Tripod head – This is another important aspect of buying a tripod. The head is very crucial and you must choose one depending on your needs. There are various types of heads like ball head, pan tilt head, geared head and fluid head. The ball head will offer full rotation, pan tilt head will offer horizontal and vertical placement of camera. The fluid head tripod will allow smooth movement of the camera since it has a lubricating liquid on the head that allows free movement. It will eliminate the chances of jerks while moving the camera.

Weight – There are lightweight foldable or compact tripods and heavy weight sturdier tripods to meet different needs. Lightweight tripod for camera is ideal for outdoor photography since it is easy to carry. Heavy weight tripods may suit indoor photography.

Technorati Tags: indoor photography, outdoor photography, tripod for camera

With many professional portrait studios opting for them as the shooting weapon of choice and more and more homes going completely electronic, there`s no denying that digital cameras are here to stay. As technology continues to advance and pictures taken on them prove incredible, the amount of digital camera accessories to make shots even better is really on the rise. Where only a few extras used to be available, digital camera fans are finding a whole host of choices these day.

There are two major categories of digital camera accessories on the market the must haves and the would love to haves. Let`s look at both.

Must Haves

. Extra memory. With digital cameras offering such ease in shooting, those who want to take high-quality pictures find themselves tearing through memory cards rather quickly. These digital camera accessories are generally pretty affordable and are more than easy to carry. Typically the size of postage stamp or just slightly larger, extra memory cards can be used by anyone from the professional shooter to the amateur on vacation.

. Spare batteries. It might be hard to consider these as an accessory, but the fact is many who own these cameras do. While most digital camera batteries can last a long time, when they run out in the middle of a vacation or a particularly fun shoot, it can be really irritating. Having a spare set can really come in handy. It`s best to consider rechargeable spares to save on replacement costs down the road.

. Weatherproof camera bag. When it comes to digital camera accessories, this one is a must have for anyone that intends to take their camera outside, ever. Providing protection from bad weather and drops alike, these accessories aren`t very expensive either and they can help store those extra batteries and memory cards, too.

Love To Haves

. Lighting mechanisms. This particular class of digital camera accessory might almost fit into the must have list. While most digital cameras take very good pictures, there onboard flashes tend to leave a lot to be desired. There are all kind of lighting mechanisms that are available that can remedy this. Some are designed to work with specific cameras and others are standalones that can assist in any photography setting. These are great for anyone who wants to take spectacular shots to consider.

. Tripods. When it comes to digital camera accessories, this is one any serious shooter might want to consider. These help take away the shake that`s involved in some settings and can really help create spectacular images.

. Extra lenses. Not all cameras will accept these digital camera accessories, but those that do can really benefit from them. Providing a way to really turn a digital into an all-purpose camera, these add ons should be considered by those who can use them.

When it comes to digital camera accessories, the options are becoming amazing. The above is just a small list of those available. While not everyone will need many digital camera accessories to take the pictures they want, it`s nice to know options are out there

Idan Lavi
http://www.articlesbase.com/electronics-articles/digital-camera-accessories-cover-the-bases-112973.html