42nd Street Photo News

42nd Street Photo Cherishes Your Memories

Here at 42nd Street Photo, there’s a good reason we’re in the business of digital cameras. Photography is a hobby for some and a necessity for others, but for all of us, it’s a way to remember people, places, events, and more. Photography and motion capture may very well be the closest we ever get to time travel, and while it may not make for a really cool science-fiction flick, there is a reason why we as people have coined the term “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

All of us, through our lifetime, will lose someone we love. This could be a grandparent, a parent, or other family member; it could be a friend. Whatever the case, having something physical to remind you of someone is a way to remember certain people and to help us get past the pain we feel from losing them.

Everyone will miss someone at some point as well, and being able to see a picture of someone you care about but can’t see in person is a great way to get through that time as well. The beauty of digital photography, and one of the main reasons 42nd Street Photo is in the business of digital cameras, is the ease of sharing. Film cameras will always be a classic way to share image captures, but for those who simply want to see someone a thousand miles away, digital photography makes it easy to snap a picture and send it to anyone in the world at the speed of light. With digital photography, there is no need to wait and no need to worry if a one-of-a-kind print was lost in the mail.

While every person experiences tough times during which photographs can help, each of us will also share happy times with another. Family gatherings, special events and precious moments are all things we’d like to remember, and with digital photography, saving these memories is simple and cheap. If we at 42nd Street Photo could travel through time, we’d probably go back to when cameras were first invented and give one to every family that didn’t have the technology, because it really is a shame that before these times, many people could not afford to capture the memories that others might take for granted.

We certainly are lucky to be living in a day and age that makes it so easy to get in touch and capture memories with little boxes. We may not be able to go back in time, but with a digital camera, we just might have the next best thing.

42nd Street Photo - Thoughts About The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3

While we can’t rightly tell everyone who reads our blog which camera they should purchase, we can usually make some good suggestions.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3, however, is a great suggestion, in our honest opinion. It’s versatile, affordable, and of great quality, both for image and video capture. If you’re an amateur photographer, or a casual one, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 just might be the perfect camera for you and your budget.

The TZ5 model, as a precursor to the ZS3, was a great camera, and highly recommended by friends and family alike. The ZS3, in all it’s glory, has improved upon everything that made the TZ5 great.

With a  newer processor, wider and more powerful 12x zoom lense, HD movie mode and improved face detection, image capture is not only easier, but of much higher quality. It has a 3″ LCD screen (460k pixels), 10.1MP resolution, 25-300mm focal length, and stereo sound recording.

It might not be classified as a super-compact POS digital camera, but this Lumix is lightweight and travels very well. And while many who purchase the camera may not do so because of it’s appearance, no one can argue that the ZS3 is a great looking camera.

42nd Street Photo Offers Tips For Photographing People

It has been the experience of the folks here at 42nd Street Photo that taking pictures is not an art form for everyone, but all of us like taking good pictures, especially of those we love. While photographing your family and friends may not be rocket science, we’ve found that a lot of people are unhappy with the way their portraits and group shots turn out, so we’re here to help with some handy tips that might help.

First off, you need a good digital camera. This doesn’t mean that you need to go out and buy the best DSLR on the market, it simply means that you should purchase a camera that suits your needs and can do what you need it to do.

The first step is to determine how you want to share your pictures:

• If you know for a fact that you will only be sharing your image captures online, then you don’t need to get a camera with a ton of mega-pixels. Anything over 8.0 is more than you’ll really need for digital sharing through email and to put on your personal websites.
• If you plan on sharing these images on a HD television however, check the resolution of the TV to see how large it goes. It’s best to capture these images at the same size as the TV if you want clean and clear pictures to be displayed correctly.
• If you wish to print your pictures and share them that way, it’s best to go with a larger MP count, at least 12.0 or greater - 14.0 is a great resolution, but for 4×6 or 5×7 printouts, 12MP should do the trick.

The second step is to determine what kind of pictures you will be taking. Do you tend to take a lot of pictures at your families sporting events or special occasions, or do you primarily plan to photograph those that stand still, smile and say “cheese”?

• If you only plan to take portraits, a fancy DSLR with a high shutter speed is not necessary. Simple point-and- shoot cameras go up to a great enough MP count that one of these will work for digital or print sharing purposes.
• If you tend to capture images of others in action, such as dancing at a wedding, playing sports, running, etc., you may want to get a camera with a broader range of features. Many POS cameras will tend to take blurry pictures when action is in the scene, so a higher-end POS or a DSLR with a good shutter speed and aperture is the key to sharper action shots.

The next step is anticipating your shot.

• For still shots, you have all the time in the world to tweak the settings on your digital camera, so unless you are shooting in auto all the time, it is best to read the manual that came with your camera to figure out the best settings for close to medium range portrait shots. Frame the shot however looks best to you, keeping in mind the position of lighting around you. Generally speaking, portraits come out best when the flash is not needed, and the camera is mounted on a tripod, so there is no worry to hold the camera steady. Light should come from behind you (or whoever is taking the picture) but at a slight angle, so the facial features stand out better.
• For action shots, manual settings are best, and a DSLR camera is preferred. The great thing about DSLR’s over most POS cameras is that they snap the picture right away, so that you wont get stuck with nothing but a foot or hand in frame, and miss out on the good stuff. Also, many DSLR’s have better auto settings, if you’re not comfortable with manual mode. Still, you should check out the manual and learn what the settings do, and experiment with different types of action shots in different lighting conditions.

When it comes down to it, practice and experimentation helps a lot to ensure better pictures. If you only take pictures when you want good shots, you may not be satisfied with the results. If you get in the habit of carrying your camera with you everywhere you go, feel free to snap away (since you wont be wasting film!) and if you think of it, mark down in a photo journal what the conditions and settings were, so you can make a reference later if you do or don’t like the way it turned out.

42nd Street Photo Loves the Nikon Coolpix P90

While the Nikon Coolpix P90 doesn’t have a lot to offer in the features and controls department, it more than makes up for it in the image processing department. In order to explain how well this DSLR camera captures images, we’ll use an analogy consisting of you and your doctor. Generally, when you go to your doctor’s office, you describe your symptoms and a medically licensed expert offers his or her diagnosis. It would be rather silly in this scenario to disagree and diagnose yourself in converse to a professional opinion, which is comparable to wanting more image capture options and features on a camera that already knows how to take a great picture in whatever conditions it faces. That is where the Nikon Coolpix P90 shines.

With a nice feel but not a lot of weight to it, the best feature of the Nikon Coolpix P90just might be the price tag - and this isn’t one of those “it’s okay for the price” sort of cameras, it’s way better than it’s price tag. Super zoom is a feature that one normally is required to shell out big bucks for on most DSLR’s. Many top-of-the-line DSLR’s might struggle to capture clear pictures in bright and low light situations, but here at 42ndStreet Photo, we’ve found that the Coolpix P90 handles all light conditions extremely well.

The LCD screen pivots, which is very nice for those akward angle shots. While it does take amazing pictures, potential buyers should know that this is not a camera for those just starting into the world of  photography. It’s relatively easy to use if you know what you’re doing, but an inexperienced user might find themself taking many uninspiring pictures if they don’t want to dedicate the time to learning how it works.

All in all, the Nikon Coolpix P90 is a good camera for anyone who wants to take good pictures, but for those that crave lots of features, this may not be the camera for them.

42nd Street Photo Recommends the Nikon D5000

When it comes to competing in the world of digital photography, Nikon has always held it’s own, but with the D5000 Nikon is surpassing expectations. The D5000 has been referred to as “the poor man’s D90 (made by Canon)”, but such a brief description, while accurate, doesn’t do much justice to the value of this diamond in the rough.

Unorthodox is the keyword here, from the model number to the appearance of the D5000, but this is likely what amateur and financially sound professionals alike are looking for in a digital SLR camera.

While it lacks the heft and solidity of many of it’s competitors’ digital cameras, the folks here and 42nd Street Photo have enjoyed the more compact size, lighter weight and ease of use. It doesn’t feel expensive, because it’s not (compared to the Canon D90), but this doesn’t mean the D5000 doesn’t take great pictures.

First off, the display is as unorthodox as the rest of the camera - but this just places the D5000 in a class all it’s own. This camera is one of the few which boasts a fully articulate preview display screen, which means the user doesn’t have to take pictures only from behind the lens, but from the top, bottom, and sides as well. This could prove very handy for those tough “over-the-crowd” shots, or for getting low-to-the-ground image captures. As if the sharp display, vivid colors and unmatched brightness weren’t enough, Nikon has added it’s GUI to the 2.7″, multi-angle display. This makes the extra 0.3″ of the Canon D90 seem almost pointless, at the sacrifice of these other features.

Compared to the Canon D90 (as it seems appropriate since these two models share so much in common), the Nikon D5000 takes strikingly similar pictures. The main difference we’ve noticed between the two is the saturation. While the D90 takes more vivid image captures, the D5000 captures the same amount of detail and clarity, which is most important. Since most photographers perform some manner of post-capture editing, a quick color correction is all it takes to bring the captures from the D5000 to perfection.

All in all, the D5000 isn’t the best of the best, but at it’s low price tag, it’s the best money can buy. Generally speaking, what you pay for is what you get with a digital camera, but the D5000 throws in just a little extra where it really counts.

Grab The Canon EOS Rebel T1i With 18-55mm IS Lens At 42nd Street Photo

While 42nd Street Photo is not biased towards one brand of digital camera or the other, we do realize that all cameras are not created equal. Having said that, might we suggest the Canon EOS Rebel T1i with 18-55mm Lens for the consideration of your digital camera needs? The Rebel is perhaps the best all around camera on the market today, with the quality you would expect from Canon, and a price that is unmatched for all that is packed into this Canon model.

Not only does the Canon EOS Rebel T1i offer a myriad of fun, as well as essential, features - it also is compatible with a wealth of accessories, from lenses to add-ons, to just about anything you would want to use with a digital camera in your image-capturing endeavors. So go on, grab yourself a Rebel from 42nd Street Photo and start snapping masterpieces!

• This compact DSLR is managable, light weight and very portable
• 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor for quality, high-resolution image captures
• Full HD 1080p video recording
• 3″ Clear View LCD screen for vivid preview
• Distinctive EOS quality
• Great Price!

For more information about the Canon EOS Rebel T1i, please check out 42nd Street Photo on the web at 42photo.com.

Tips From 42nd Street Photo On Capturing Those Wedding Memories

It’s wedding season, that’s for sure. Most of us have likely been to a few weddings already, which means there are probably more to come in May, June, maybe even July and August! It seems everyone carries cameras with them today, especially to special events like weddings, and other celebrations, but most couples would prefer to hire a professional to ensure their wedding snapshots will preserve those memories the way they remember them. It definitely helps to work with your wedding photographer, but many times it can become a chore to pose for pictures. Here are some simple tips from your friendly neighborhood New York digital camera store to make the process go easy and the result beautiful.

1. Hire a Professional - there are a lot of people that like to call themselves photographers, and chances are that one of your friends fall in to this category. Whether or not they have the skill and the experience to be entrusted with the memories of that once-in-a-lifetime celebration is ultimately up to your best judgement, but if someone really knows how to use a camera and capture quality snapshots, they will certainly have a portfolio that you can look at. Additionally, knowing your in good hands will relieve a lot of your own stress about the day, and while having a friend handle the task in order to save a little money might seem like a good idea, why not let your friend enjoy the day with the rest of the guests, instead of being trapped behind the lens for a day?
2. Be Yourself - it’s easy to get a little controlling throughout the day at your wedding. What you might not have considered is the affect this will have on your pictures. Sweat, redness in the face, fatigue - these things are all physical symptoms of stress, and there is only so much post-capture editing any digital photographer can do, so why not relax and see your better side appear in that wedding photo album. Many people would recommend a professional wedding planner, if you can afford it, but it may be just as well to entrust the task to a loved one, as long as you don’t have to worry about them enjoying themself while the planned events take place. Stress is no ones friend, and although your wedding should be the perfect day, we all know that this is not always the case, so letting a few things slide may be the difference between a stress-free or a stress-filled day.
3. Take It Slow - a wedding should be planned with plenty of cushions around events to leave ample time for conversation, interaction, transportation, and photos. One wedding-specific event that comes to mind where people may rush is walking down the isle after the vows are confirmed, the bride and groom say “I Do,” and the kiss seals the deal. When walking down the isle as “Mr. amd Mrs.” for the first time, this is a great opportunity for some truly magical photos. Walk slowly, look at eachother, smile at your friends and family, and soak it all in. You only get to do this once, so make it last, and ensure some better images by which to remember the moment at the same time.
4. Plan with Photographs in Mind - while you may have your hands free planning which flowers the bride’s maids should hold, what playlist to dance to, etc., planning your wedding with photography in mind should be just as important. Consider the time of day or night the ceromony and reception take place. Would it be better to take pictures of your party in a softer morning light or a bright afternoon sun? How about some moonlit shots of the bride and groom by the lake? The fact is, lighting has everything to do with photography, so while leaving some cushions between events can you get some extra shots, planning when photographs should be taken will only ensure the quality that much more.

All things considered, if you have a photographer that knows what he or she is doing, the worry on your end should be minimal. However, don’t forget that they are working for you, so try to take care of all the details beforehand so that they can concentrate on taking good pictures, and you can concentrate on having the best day of your life.

42nd Street Photo Recommends the Canon Powershot G10

For photographers of all shapes, sizes, styles and experience, Canon knows how to cover their bases. With quality digital cameras in the DSLR and POS arenas, Canon has something for everyone. But they also have one camera that may suit anyone just right, the Canon Powershot G10.

With it’s first glance wide range of features, generous display, and 14.7 megapixels, it’s hard not to take a closer look. Once you do, you’ll probably find what many other photographers, from the amateur to the professional, have found. The Canon G10 is the kind of digital device that gladly meets, and proudly surpasses expectations, especially for the price.

While not the cheapest digital camera on the market, the G-10’s modest price tag is the clincher for many. Still, for others, it’s the 28mm wide angle lens, 5x optical zoom, DIGIC 4 Image Processor, or perhaps it’s compatibility with a wealth of accessories that can spark that creative edge. Whatever your bread and butter, the Canon G10 has something, if not everything, you would want in a compact point-and-shoot digital camera.

42nd Street Photo offers plenty of other POS digital cameras, so if the G10, though unlikely, doesn’t fit your needs, come on in and we’ll help you find one that will, at a price that’s right for you!

Put More Memories On Display With A Digital Photo Frame From 42nd Street Photo

Chances are, if you like to take pictures, you also like to show them off. It’s certainly not uncommon to have photos framed and on display around the house, and many familys preserve memories in this fashion. Consider how many framed photographs one might have around the house.  It’s a good bet that there are old and new pictures in these frames, but one thing that these frames can’t do is change out the picture without your help - or display a picture that you captured just moments ago.

It might be that time of the millenium to look into a digital photo frame or two. If you’re a minimalist who isn’t very fond of cluttered tables and shelves, all you need is one digital frame, which can display numerous images you’ve captured with your digital camera. If you like the clutter, perhaps you can hang on to all those traditional framed photographs from when your children were young, but have a few digital frames that cycle through more recent image captures.

Another feature some of the Internet savvy folks might be interested in is the ability to email pictures straight to the digital frame, which many do offer. Even without direct email-to-frame functions, it’s easy to plug the frame into your home computer and transfer the images. Many digital photo frames have a myriad of effects that can be applied to transitions, including the amount of time each image stays on the screen, the order in which to show them, what time of day the frame will be on (in the interest of saving energy), and more!

Check out 42nd Street Photo to see what we have in the way of digital photoframes.

4 Tips For Taking Digital Photographs Of Art

When it comes to putting together a portfolio of your work, the photography of your body of work can be as important as the work itself. 42nd Street Photo knows what it takes to capture clean, well-lit images, and assuming that not everyone can afford a top of the line camera, here are four basic tips to photographing your artwork with a point-and-shoot digital camera.

1. Composition - How your art fits into the frame can make a big difference. For sculpture and other three-dimensional works of art, centering the piece in the frame with about 20%-30% empty space around it will usually look right. It may also be preferable to set up a scene around it. If your art is something that one would display on a dining room table, feel free to set the table around the piece. If it’s something that would be displayed on a bookshelf, then set it up on location. As long as your piece is irrefutably the focus of the image, and the center of attention, it will look right.
2. Lighting - Most point and shoot cameras have a built-in flash, and the default setting for the flash is usually auto. 99% of the time, you will want to turn the flash off and get as much indirect lighting as you can. Be mindful of the types of light you use, as well.  Natural sunlight will always be the best source, since it is powerful and contains all colors of the specturm. With artificial lights, bulbs, spots, etc., certain colors will be more dominant. Whatever your situation, the key is to get as much indirect lighting as you can, since there is a greater dispursion from reflected light than direct light. If you absolutely must use your flash (and we mean if it’s night time, only one light in your house works, and you need these pictures now!), then it’s a good idea to use the highest resolution setting on your digital camera, step further away from your subject, and capture it closer to the corner of the frame, so the flash does not wash out the piece. Later, you can crop the photo the way you want, but for the initial capture, you want indirect flash, which if yours is attached to your POS camera, you need to aim it to one side or the other.
3. Stability - If you’ve taken a lot of pictures before, you may have noticed that darker pictures (aside from just being hard to see because they’re darker) tend to be more blurry than a well lit photograph. So, when photographing artwork with no flash (so as not to wash it out), having the camera still is a must. If you have a tripod, then your set, but if you don’t have one, you may have to get creative. We’ve found that a tall stool, or a pile of sturdy books atop a table can do the trick. Just be sure to place the camera closer to the edge, so you don’t get a blur of the edge of a book or stood in the bottom of your frame. Also, if your camera has a self-timer feature, use it. This will give you plenty of time to snap the picture and step away from the location.
4. Post-Capture - It is very rare that you will take a digital photograph that can’t be improved upon in some way. Take advantage of the fact that you’re using digital technology instead of film, and don’t be afraid to do some post-capture editing to your image. A lot of times, simple brightness/contrast adjustments can make a world of difference. Also, a lot of photo-editing programs have auto-fix features, that work the best on a well captured image. Feel free to use these first, and try various combinations of these filters in different orders. WHen all is said and done, you want to have a picture that is sharp, balanced and accurately dipicts your art.

42nd Street Photo Recommends the Leica D-LUX 3 For Portable Professional Photography

When it comes to quality, medium to high-resolution image captures, most DSLR’s on the market can handle the task, but there are very few that can do so, and fit into your pocket for easy portability. While many professional and amateur photographers alike enjoy toting around a big bag of accessories, lenses and bodies to show off their plans for the day, others will prefer to be more modest, and carry their tools with ease before they get to work. The Leica D-LUX 3 is just what this brand of photographer needs.

Comparing the D-LUX 3 to it’s rival, the Panasonic DMC-LX2, the perks are clear. The D-LUX 3 generally comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 4 and a variety of manual options that the DMC-LX2 does not. However, quite similarly to its Panasonic counterpart, the sensor is optimal for taking shot in 16:9 apect ratio. Basically, with a 4:3 ratio, 16:9 shots can be taken, but the camera will only be utilizing a fraction of the sensor to acheive these dimensions, while a camera that is equiped with a sensor already optimized to take 16:9 shots can still take 4:3 shots, without losing as much of its sensors capability.

The Lecia D-LUX3 has also been known to snap pictures with much reduced noise on all ISO settings. This accounts for the less than super-fine quality of the image being displayed on preview, but these images will print just as well. We thought we would make it a point, so you won’t be too surprised when you’re under the impression that the lens isn’t working correctly.

All in all, the D-LUX 3 is a finely crafted camera which offers its perks at the price of a few drawbacks, but like we always say, since everyone has their own preferences, you might find that this camera is the perfect one for you. You can check it out on our site at 42photo.com, or by visiting the 42nd Street Photo digital camera store in New York City.

42nd Street Photo Recommends The SONY Alpha DSLR A 200K For The Amateur Photographer

If you’re a more-than-casual photographer looking for the package deal, the SONY Alpha DSLR A 200K just might be the perfect camera for you. From a company known for finely crafter electronics and superior quality, a single-lense reflex digital camera with all the features should be a no brainer, but in case you’re still not convinced, we’ll give you all the details.

This DSLR from the Alpha series by SONY comes paired with a 18-70mm zoom lense, which will come in handy for those far shots. With a 10.2 megapixel resolution and a 2.7″ clear LCD screen, along with on-board shooting info and histogram display for confirmation of an image well shot, knowing that you have captured your perfect shot is much easier. Add in a center-cross 9-point autofocus with SONY’s exclusive Eye-Start activation, which automatically focuses when you look through the viewfinder, and you’ll be taking professional quality digital photographs in no time.

All DSLR cameras run the risk of dust contamination between lense changes, it’s just a fact - however, the Alpha DSLR A 300 lens (available for purchase separately) employes a built-in self-cleaning sensor system to keep shots clear and free of grit. Additionally, pictures are perfectly balanced by an advanced D-Range Optimizer, which automatically adjusts lights and darks for a beautifully balanced image.

As you can see, the Alpha A 200K comes standard with a load of features which increase the quality of your photos drastically over any point-and-shoot digital camera, as well as beyond that of many DSLR’s in its class, plus the option to upgrade your lenses is alway nice. Feel free to stop by the 42nd Street Photo website to view the complete list of accessories available, or simply visit the 42nd Street Photo store located in New York, NY.

Sony DSC W300 is Sure to Please the Casual Photographer

The Sony Cybershot DSC W300 is everything you would expect from a digital camera with the Sony name on it. It is stylish, durable, reliable, and with a massive 13.6 megapixel resolution, it captures every detail stunningly. For a point and shoot camera, it does just that quite well. While many point and shoot cameras leave little room to adjust settings, the Cybershot DSC W300 offers more options than most, and yet is one of the rare breeds that doesn’t need to, because the automatic features packed into this semi-compact digital camera are smart and effective.

While higher resolution images do not always mean higher quality captues, this Cybershot captures where it counts. The extra features, high resolution, and 3x optical zoom may make this relatively inexpensive gadget worth the investment for some, but for others, it may fall just short of exceptional.

One of the main drawbacks of the DSC W300 is its internal memory - or lack thereof. With only 15mb of storage, this is definitely a digital camera for the casual photographer. This isn’t a large drawback, as 2gb and 4gb memory cards are relatively cheap these days, but for a semi-compact, it could be better.

Another drawback for some might be its size. Most people invest in a compact camera for the convenience of carrying it in their pocket or purse, but this Sony Cybershot is a little thicker than most would probably prefer. The finish is gorgeous, with a charcoal grey titanium body, but if price is not an issue for you, and 10 megapixels is as high as you need to go (give or take), something from the the Canon Powershot line might be the better bet.

The Olympus E-420 Continues the Trend

While the Olympus E-420 is only a few steps beyond its predecessor, the E-410, the new features are worth the upgrade. It continues to be the lightest DSLR’s on the market, which includes the addition of any accessories made specifically for it.

To begin with, the E-420, like the E-410, has 10 MP resolution, live-view, and SSWF dust reduction system. As previously stated, it also continues the trend of being the smallest DSLR in it’s class.

However, there is an impressive list of features not found with the E-420:

• 2.7″ LCD Display
• Face Detection
• Perfect Shot Preview
• Wireless Control  Flash
• Dynamic Range Enhancement (Auto Gradation)
• 3.5 fps Continuous Shooting
• Contrast Detection for Auto-Focus

So, as you can see, the E-420 does not disappoint. For more information on the complete line of digital cameras available from 42nd Street Photo, please visit our website.

42nd Street Photo Recommends The Nikon Coolpix S60 For The Casual Photographer

For a lot of people, photography isn’t so much a hobby as it is a daily part of their lifestyle. Everyone knows someone that carries their camera with them everywhere they go, whether to work, a family outing, or a night on the town with their friends. If you don’t know someone like this, chances are you’re that person, and this is the perfect camera for you!

The Nikon Coolpix S60 is considered an ultra-compact digital camera, as it fits nicely into a pocket, or can act as a fancy, image-capturing bracelet around one’s wrist. It’s sleek and simple design may confuse users as to where all the settings are, since the only buttons on it’s body are the on/off button and the shutter to snap pictures. The 3.5 inch touch screen handles the rest.

While the response on the S60 touch screen has been known to lag a little, this will probably go unnoticed by the casual photographer, for whom this Coolpix model was designed. However, even though it is a casual user’s digital camera, this does not mean that it is not packed with the features that larger compacts come with, like 5x zoom, 10 megapixel image-capture, optical image stabilization and a mini HDMI port for directly connecting the unit to an HDTV.

The Nikon Coolpix S60 comes in six fashionable colors, so you’re bound to find one that fits your style.

For more information on the complete line of Coolpix digital cameras, please visit 42photo.com.

Pick Up The Canon Powershot G10 At 42nd Street Photo

At 42nd Street photo, in New York City, we’re not biased towards any particular kind of camera. While we might recommend a DSLR camera to more serious photographers, point and shoot cameras like the Canon Powershot G10 must be given due credit. While not a digital single lens reflex camera, this next model of the popular Powershot series has stepped up to the plate and is batting with the majors.

Featuring 14.7 Megapixel resolution, and a CCD sensor to match, the Canon Powershot G10 surpasses many DSLR cameras in quality and image pixel-count. It also has a 5x optical zoom (a 44-128mm equivalent to 35mm film), superior face detection via DIGIC 4, and 80-1600 ISO.

Along with its impressive technical specifications comes a vivid 3.o” color LCD screen, and the capability to shoot in high quality RAW format, like many DSLR’s can. The body design is nothing as spectacular as the Sony DSC-T300 we previously mentioned, but it is a good looking camera at a relatively small size (just above compact), and a fairly light weight of 12.3 ounces.

Along with the Canon Powershot G10, like with most point and shoot digital cameras, comes the convenience of auto settings, as well as the ability to shoot in manual settings. It is versatile, convenient, and a good buy for anyone from the casual the professional photographer. Pick up this incredibly affordable digital camera and 42nd Street Photo today, online at 42photo.com or in our New York camera store.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K Best Camera For A Low Price

At 42nd Street Photo, we always try to offer the best possible price on digital equipment, but more importantly, we try to offer the best brands for the price your paying. It definitely helps when the manufacturer makes a fantastic product for a good price, and this is most certainly the case with the Lumix DMC-FZ28k from Panasonic.

While Panasonic is is no stranger to quality and affordability, the Lumix DMC-Fz28k packs a little extra for the money you’ll spend on it. Everyone knows that Canon makes a fine digital camera, but many have hailed the Lumix as the better buy over it’s direct Canon competitor, the SX10 IS. It is said to be faster, lighter, brighter, and on top of that, it shoots movies in HD, while its Canon counterpart does not.

In the DSLR world, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28k has it where it counts, and doesn’t add any fluff. Compared to its predecessor, the FZ18, it offers 10.1 megapixels, versus the FZ18’s 8.1 mp. The HD movie capture is an improvement, as well as its wide angle capabilities, zoom range and quality.

While many might view the upgrade from the 18 to the 28k a natural progression, we view it simply as building on something that already exceeded our expectations.

42nd Street Photo Recommends the Sony DSC-T300 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

If you’re a big fan of the iPhone, you’re going to like this. In the vain of touch screen technology, Sony has released the Cyber-shot DSC-T300 Touch Screen Digital Camera. It’s quite the mouthful, so let’s agree that it will suffice to say that this is the second generation of ultra slim touch screen digital camera from Sony…come to think of it, is there a concise name for the DSC-T300 that reveals all its splendor? It is near impossible to sum up the features of this Cyber-shot in a simple title, so a review of considerable length seems necessary.

For starters, take a look at it: It is slender, sleek, sexy, and sophisticated - and that’s just the front. Behold the back of the camera, which doesn’t look like the back of a digital camera so much as it resembles a compact, high-quality, mini-television. It kind of makes you wonder why there are lots of buttons on most portable electronics. Say goodbye to the four-way controller that has plagues humanity since the beginning of the digital age! Alright, that’s a bit dramatic, but you have to admit that a touch screen is way more convenient than a bunch of buttons with different features on each menu, since most four-way controllers work in such a manner.

Concerning the touch screen, you will also notice the 16:9 aspect ratio, which, as impressive as the size and quality of this screen can be, cannot begin to comprehend the 3648 x 2736 high-resolution images this device can capture. Of course, without a good sensor, all the resolution in the world means nothing more than more pixels of a poorly captured image - which is why this Cyber-shot is packed with a 1/2.3″ Type CCD sensor chip. And if you’re worried about taking a good picture with the T300, don’t fret - image stabilization comes standard on the camera.

Along with a plethora of options, the Sony DSC-T300 has a max ISO of 3200, Shutter speed of 1/1,000 of a second, 5x optical zoom, 2x digital zoom, and a 3.5″ Touch-sensitive Hybrid TFT LCD screen.

If you’re not one for technical specs, all you need to know is that this camera takes fantastic digital photographs, is compact, and is as easy to use as it is to reach out and touch it. For more information on the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T300 Digital Camera, please visit 42nd Street Photo on the web.

42nd Street Photo Recommends the Sony HDR-SR 12

When it comes to true high definition video, it doesn’t get much better than the Sony HDR-SR-12 digital camcorder. Perhaps the best feature of the SR 12, in terms of convenience, is the 120GB of hard disk space on board the unit. Many people worry about running out of space or not being able to shoot enough video on a high resolution, but with 120 gigabytes ready for you, worry not. Additionally, this saves the hassle of carrying tapes or mini-DV discs. Just pack up the camera and you’re ready to roll.

Although the 1920 x 1080 resolution is a great perk, they don’t stop there. Great resolution means nothing without great translation of real life motion capture, and the SR 12 captures colors brilliantly. From all the talk about the SR 12, many people will tell you not to bother looking into technical specs, and let your eyes be the true judge of quality. To add to the visually stunning video the SR 12 captures, it’s body design is equally sleek and sophisticated.

The Sony HDR-SR 12 has 48 hours of continuous recording at lower definition settings, and 14 hours at its impressive 1920 x 1080 resolution. If that wasn’t enough, it can store 8GB worth of video or pictures on a Pro Duo memory stick, which makes transfering  files very easy (as if simply pluging your camcorder onto your computer wasn’t simple enough for transfering files).

All in all, the Sony HDR-SR 12 is a sure bet for anyone, whether you’re a professional, student or just want to capture some fond family memories. For more information on the SR-12, please visit 42nd Street Photo on the web.

42nd Street Photo Feels the Winter Spirit

Here at 42Photo.com, we love Winter. It may be cold, but New York City is beautiful this time of year, and for any photography enthusiant, that means photo-opportunities. While taking pictures of the big city during the Winter time isn’t so different from snaping images in the Summer, there are a few things that amateur and professional photographers alike may want to take advantage of while around this season. That’s right, we’re talking about snow - but more specifically, snowflakes.

In 1898, Wilson Bentley stated the theory that “no two snowflakes are alike”. Bentley has snapped pictures of over five-thousand flakes in his time, and we’re going to let you in on the secrets for doing so with your point-and-shoot digital camera.

1. Shoot from multiple angles, from as close to the flake as you can possibly get. Usually, this will be around around two inches away, and if you hold the camera steady, you can get a good couple of shots.
2. Large, soft flakes are easiest to capture, while small and bright crystals may reflect too much light, and you can lose the details within. The best conditions for these flakes is a bitter cold day with a lot of moisture in the air.
3. Photograph the snowflake on a surface to which the flake will stick, and not melt quickly. Snapping a flake on skin will prove much more difficult than capturing it on branches and clothing. It also helps to catch the flakes on a darker background.
4. Calm days are ideal, since wind can carry your subject away before you get your award-winning shot. Cold and calm is key.

Getting the Most Out of Your Point and Shoot Digital Camera

With nearly any serious photographer, DSLR cameras will come highly recommended over the “simple” point and shoot models but at 42nd Street Photo, we realize that although casual photographers don’t want to shell out for an expensive model, they still want to take great pictures — and they can, if they know a few helpful tips for using their point and shoot.

The irony is, many casual users will buy a more expensive camera expecting a better picture to come from it, but the camera will not do the work for them, and a DSLR on auto-focus won’t do much more good than an auto point and shoot, except capture more pixels worth of a poorly snapped photo. The key is to familiarize yourself with the manual settings, so the camera doesn’t take a portrait the way it would a landscape.

In order to capture fantastic images with a point and shoot, here are a few tips:

• Read the instruction manual - sure, manuals are for suckers, when it comes to working simple piece of machinery. However, even the simplest of digital cameras these days are more advanced than most people can figure out from simple trial and error. The manual may not tell the secrets of the pros, but it will tell you how to use the functions, set the options, and more. Knowing how to use these functions (let alone knowing that your camera is actually equipped to perform them) is key to knowing both the capabilities and the limitations of your hardware.
• Consider the type of picture you are taking - let’s say you want to take a picture of a landscape versus a portrait of a person. In this case, many factors would have a part in the outcome of the image captured, but among them the most important may very well be the aperture. Simply put, the aperturevalue will let more or less light into the camera. More light will give you a softer shot all around, with a smaller portion of the shot in focus, while less light will offer an opportunity to capture a wider picture in consistent focus. Here’s the catch: Higher aperture means a wider opening, while a lower aperture will give you a more narrow opening, which will let less light in, and therefore will be better for landscapes, and other wide shots.
• Light sources play a big part- everyone already knows that cameras capture light, but are you aware of exactly how light affects a picture? If you’ve ever had a family photo turn out poorly due to excessive light, or not enough, you might wish you had known about shutter speed. Simpy put, this determines how long the image is captured. Since photography is the result of light passing through the lens and being projected onto a sensor (or if you’re old school, a frame of film) more light at once will create a brighter picture, and likewise, a small amount of light, over the course of a longer period of time, will have a similar effect. The key to determining the shutter speed is considering the lighting situation. If you are outside at high noon with sun-a-plenty to light your subject(s), shutter speed need not be very slow. In a dimly lit banquet hall, however, allowing more time for the light to enter the lens will increase the exposure, and when done right, will produce a brighter picture, even in darker locations. However, the disadvantage here is the risk of blur. The longer the shutter stays open, the more movement will be captured, and no mater how steady a photographer you are, there will be some blur if the shutter stays open for too long.
• Three letters: ISO - now that you know about aperture and shutter speed, consider another fun setting: ISO. This number indicated the sensativity of the sensor to light. So now that you’re all concerned about keeping your hands still while snapping the picture at low shutter speed, you can rest easy. If you are more comfortable at a lower shutter speed (and who wouldn’t be), upping the ISO can produce similar results without the blur.
• Experiement - while you may not have all day to experiment with your cameras features, consider taking 20 minutes out of a slow, sunny day around the house to take some pictures around the house, inside and out. Experimenting with the features is the best way (aside from a formal education in photography, of course) to figure out how to get good results with your camera. We recommend spending some time with your camera on the Program Mode, if it has one, as this will give you a semi-manual feeling. Other modes may give you full control over various settings mentioned above, but automatically choose the other settings for you. You may find that you have no clue as to shutter-speed, but you have a gift for choosing aperture, in which case you would set aperture and the camera would choose your shutter speed.

42 Photo Suggests Four Artistic Choices for Printing From Your Inkjet Printer

We’ve talked before about how economic and easy printing your own photos can be, and how since the days of film are fading, digital technology has made it so simple to share your digitally captured images, but many of you may be missing out on a few options when it comes to printing your photos. Here are four creative choices for printing from your inkjet printer:

1. Hahnemühle Bamboo - This environmentally friendly (or green) fiber has proven its worth for beautiful prints. It’s naturally rigid texture makes for a nice, heavy matte finish, and works especially well for photos that may be considered too stark on plain, bright, white paper.
2. Moab Moenkopi Unryu 55 - This slightly translucent and textured paper adds a dimension to photographs that no Photoshop filter can. When it comes down to it, just as capturing an image is a manipulation of light, an additional, subtle manipulation via texture and translucency might be the perfect touch for any given photograph.
3. Harman FB Mp Warmtone - This matte surface was made for Black and White images. The appearance of a freshly printed sheet has been compared to that of a freshly bathed film photograph, and lacks the bleeding that many other matte finishes might give you. The barium compound in the paper can be thanked for that.
4. Innova FibaPrint - This paper has a glossy finish which more closely resembles that of a traditional film photograph than those other flimsy photo-finish gloss papers. For a genuine looking digital photograph, this is the way to go, since the gloss finish takes the ink surprisingly well.

Olympus E-3 Kicks it Up a Notch at 42nd Street Photo

A lot of people were worried about Olympus until earlier this year. To make a long story short, each consecutive model released by the company was not the best upgrade when compared to the heavy-hitters such as Canon and Nikon. Needless to say, the Olympus E-3 DSLR was going to make or break the future of the company.

Here at 42nd Street Photo, we take digital photogrpahy seriously, which is why we offer great deals on top-of-the-line digital cameras and camcorders (along with many other digital audio and video products), so carrying the Olympus E-3 is not only a service to our customers in terms of offering fine equipment, but also a service to ourselves as a 40-year experienced digital camera store that takes pride in the products we offer to our customers.

While Olympus has always been recognized for the fine quality of glass in their lenses, a great lense wont take a good picture if the rest of the parts aren’t up to par. This is why it is important that the E-3 stepped up the sensor quality, megapixel count, focus speed, etc. A digital camera works a lot like the human eye in the sense that one less-than-optimal part can cause a problem with the picture it sees - or captures.

42nd Street Photo

I just wanted to say that I did my homework before going to www.42photo.com when looking to purchase my Canon camera. As this was the most expensive online purchase ever for me, I wanted to be absolutely sure of getting the camera and price that was offered on their web site. Every review I could find online overwhelmingly spoke highly of them, so I decided on 42nd Street Photo.

The online checkout process was without a doubt, the most straight forward, no non-sense and easy to understand that I’ve experienced online. I was given the option of checking the shipping prices and total cost BEFORE giving any credit card info. I like this very much.

Also, they list the item as in-stock or not, clearly on every item. I called the following morning to find out the status of my order, a person in a relaxed voice telling me “Your all set, no problem!”.
I felt like I made the right decision!

I received my camera in perfect condition, overnight delivery, without a scratch or hitch in the process!

Anybody can sell a product. Very, very few can sell a product with quality service, honesty and low prices!

Thank you 42nd Street Photo, I’ll be back as they say!

Michael T,
Denver. CO.

42nd Street Photo A+++ Service

I previous purchased a digital camera from this company and was extemely pleased with their service. I have recommended them to several other people and did not hesitate to order anopther camera from them. I am extremely pleased with 42nd Street Photo’s service. I got an email which was very good with providing status updates and calling to arrange a time for delivery. I will be back in the near future as you can tell. Thank you

Customer Testimonials

good service. i made a mistake with my original order, the service person helped me correct it and did a really good job of up selling me.

Shop 42nd Street Photo for Digital Camera Christmas Gifts

42nd Street Photo has been one of New York’s most trusted digital camera stores for over 40 years now. The biggest reasons to shop Christmas with us though, are our great prices! If you’re looking for a high quality digital camera that’s easy to use - be sure to look at the Casio EX-S10 . It’s on sale right now for $219.99! It will make a great gift for that loved one who’s looking to take better pictures.

If your loved one has an interest in photography and wants the camera that does everything, they might want the Nikon D300. The D300 is one of Nikon’s top of the line 12.3 megapixel cameras. There are very few digital SLR’s on the market that capture stunning images like these. Visit our store for more Christmas bargains!

Epson R2880 Photo Printer Does Color and Black and White

We all know that sharing digital image captures is easy through email, blogs, and photo sharing websites such as Flickr! However, printing your images to share with family, or stick into a photo album, can prove to be a bit more difficult of a task. Either you need a good printer, or you need to spend a little extra to have them printed professionally.

If you’re one of those that likes to have a lot of pictures to pass around, you may want to think about investing in the Epson R2880. Not only does Epson have a good reputation, but their hardware is consistantly improving. The R2880 does photo printing right, which is due in large part to the 8 cartridges of UltraChrome K3 inks. In other words, the transitions between colors on most printers can change from matte to shiny in appearance, especially in blacks - but the R2880 maintains consistancy between shades.

In addition to the improvement in the ink, the particular algorithm used to translate the colors from screen to print was developed in conjunction with the Rochester Institute of Technology. This translation is known as Radiance technology, which is unique to Epson. When compared to other inkjet printers, the difference is as noticable as the bands that others will create between colors. Also, black and white prints come out astoundingly close to the appearance of traditionally developed black and white photography.

Here at 42nd Street Photo, we want you to get the most out of your digital photos, which is another reason we created this blog. To learn more about the Epson R2880, check out the official Epson website, and to learn more about us, check out 42photo.com.

What Every Digital Photographer Should Know About HDTV

It may come as a surprise to some of you that knowing how to use a digital camera is just the beginning. Still, to some, it may be common sense - don’t feel bad if you are of the former, as there is enough technology to force even the most savvy consumer to turn their head 360 degrees. Sure, the digital age is moving faster than ever, but that doesn’t mean that the staff at 42nd Street Photo need a crash course - they know digital like you know your own children.

So, what about this whole HDTV thing? Obviously, many of us are taking the neccessary steps to ensure we don’t get stuck without our digital converter box for broadcast television, come February 17, 2009. But how many of us know about other areas of compatibility? This one area of which we speak, is of course, the compatibility between your digital photos and your HDTV.

Wait, you don’t have an HDTV, you say? Well, then you may want to consider it.

While the purchase of a high definition, flat screen television is not neccessarily a must, there are many advantages to owning one, including a great way to view your digital photos. Many models are now built with SD card slots, and if you’re one of those “always prepared” digital photographers, you more than likely use SD cards as your preferred storage device for images captured with your digital camera of choice. This is good.

As of now, the highest resolution available for an HDTV is 1920×1080 pixels, and most DSLR cameras can capture better resolution images than that. Furthermore, if you decide to purchase one of the more modestly sized HDTV’s, you will get around a 1280×720 pixel resolution. Either way, there is little to no concern for the images not displaying well on an HDTV.

Before you begin wondering why the best resoultion HDTV’s have a lower pixel count than many digital cameras, consider the fact that larger images require more memory, so all your images can be taken at (or resized down to) your televisions resolution for the best compatibility. Unless you’re shooting photos for a magazine, newspaper, or other print media, there is no need to capture your images at the highest resolution your camera offers, nor is there a need at present for an HDTV to display as many pixels, since pixels displayed on a screen are displayed differently from pixels printed on paper. SO, what does this mean? It means your images will look better at the same resolution as your HDTV than they will at a larger resolution, and it also means you have a lot more room to store images.

But, in case you are still hung up the HDTV peak at 1920×1080 resolution, let us educated you as to why. While some would debate this fact (probably those with eagle eyes), that particular resolution is best viewed at a distance from the television equal to, or greater than, twice the height of the screen. If they were to squeeze any more pixels into the screen, there would be no significant difference in the quality you view at that distance. So why pay more for resolution you’re not going to be able to appreciate?

A lot of times, we need to sit back and enjoy the digital age, instead of pushing for more memory, better resolution, faster processors. Digital is moving fast enough as it is - we don’t need to speed it up, we need to enjoy it, and with an HDTV, you’ll have a whole new way to enjoy your digital photos.

Nikon Reveals DSLR Camera with HD Video

Most digital cameras on the market now, including a lot of point and shoot cameras, are capable of capturing video. Most SLR cameras, however, do not have the same advantage over the point and shoot cameras in the way of video capture, as they do when it comes to capturing higher quality images. Nikon, however, has revealed a DSLR camera which can capture HD video.

You may be asking yourself what the big deal is. Every day, digital gets better, and its uses extend further. A few years ago, it was not as common for the general population of digital camera owners to put together DVD’s, slideshows, or presentations featuring their family vacation, but with the advances in resolution, software, and overall ease of use, many more are getting into it.

Sharing is the key word. How do you want to share your digital visual media? Bigger, better…higher resolution? Indeed. That is why the Nikon D90 is a big deal. It captures 1280×720p high-definition video with sound. Additionally, rather than focusing on higher mega pixel count (although at 12.3MP, most uses should not require any more), the D90 has borrowed the APS-Csized CMOS sensor from the higher-end D300, making it a significant improvement over and able replacement for the D80 in many ways.

However, there are a few disadvantages to the D90 when it comes to video. The most noticable difference between the D90 and a similar quality (and definition) digital camcorder, is its frames-per-second rate. While DVC’s will generally give you 30fps, the D90 tops out at 24fps. Additionally, the sensor chip can overheat with extended use, and by extended use, we mean 5-25 minutes of constant video capturing. Basically, at the camera’s highest definition and quality settings, the user is limited to 5 minutes of recording time. At a more standard definition, between 640×480 and 800×600, the capture can last up to 25 minutes.

The estimated price for this piece of equipment is set at around $1,000 for the body, or $1,300 to include a AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens, but we just wont know until it hits the market.

For more information on Digital Cameras, please visit 42nd Street Photo at 42photo.com.