42nd Street Photo Recommends the Leatherman Charge AL

This is probably one of the best little tools you can carry. The Leatherman Charge AL includes scissors that slice through just about anything with beveled edges that allow them to get close to whatever your cutting, for a clean trim every time. Bit drivers for versatility, diamond-coated files for fine-point work and a 154CM clip-point knife are all housed in 6061-T6, hard-anodized aluminum alloy handles. Rounded edges for grip comfort and a stainless steel badge make this a Leatherman that’s really earned its name. The Charge AL takes the idea of a multi-tool up a notch. No more searching through piles of tools or wishing you had a tool when you’re far from home and need a quick fix.

- Phillips and flat tip eyeglasses screwdriver
- Phillips #1-2 and screwdriver 3/16 in.
- Hex 5/32 in. and 9/64 in.
- Hex 1/16 in. and .050
- Hex 1/8 in. and 7/64 in.
- Robertson #2 and #3
- Hex 3/32 in. and 5/64 in.
- Screwdriver 1/8 in. and Torx #15
- Removable Pocket Clip
- Quick-release Lanyard Ring

Specifications:
Blade Steel: 154CM Stainless Steel
Carry System: Leather Sheath
Handle Material: Hard-anodized, aircraft-grade aluminum handles
Length Closed: 4 in.
Weight: 8.4 oz.

For versatility, durability, quality, and style, the Leatherman Charge AL Multi-Tool has positioned itself to offer its user almost any type of tool needed in most any type of situation.

42nd Street Photo recommends the Surefire E1E Executive Elite Flashlight

Are you are looking for great flashlight that’s compact but yet bright enough to get the job done? Then the Surefire E1E Executive Elite Flashlight is what you need. The SureFire E1E Executive Flashlight is a high powered flashlight that fits easily in the palm of your hand. It provides 15 lumens for 1.5 hours according to the specs but our testing has proven to exceed that runtime.The glass at the business end is Tempered Pyrex.

Here is a more technical description

* Max Output: 15 lumens
* Runtime: 1.5 hours
* Length: 3.40 inches
* Weight: 2.20 ounces
* Battery: One 123A lithium

Here are some other features about this light.

* Rugged aerospace-grade aluminum body, Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized in olive drab
* O-ring sealed, weatherproof
* Tempered Pyrex® window
* Pocket clip
* Tailcap switch: press for momentary-on, press further to click constant-on
* Switch lockout prevents accidental activation during transport or storage
* Batteries included

This light is especially bright so please do not make the mistake and look directly into it. The clip on the side makes it easy to attach to a hat brim or belt. This light is tough, compact, reliable, bright and recommended by 42nd Street Photo as one of the best inexpensive lights around. This light sells for $79 for at 42nd Street Photo.

42nd Street Photo’s Beginner Photography Tips

We are going to offer a few tips for the beginner photographer. This article is more for the people who want to get into photography and are just looking for the basics to get started.

Start with an inexpensive camera. There is no use in spending a lot of money if you are just starting out. First buy an inexpensive camera and take plenty of photos to get the feel for what you are doing then you will know what to purchase next. I would suggest a point and shoot until you starting getting serious then move up to a SLR.

Carry your camera at all times, photo opportunities came when you least expect them too. Most digital cameras are small enough to fit in a small carry bag and you can even add a tripod if you like. You might also find a location you want to come back back and take photos of if you don’t have your camera.

User free resources to learn more about photography. Check out your local library and even the wealth of free information on the Internet.

Play with your camera settings. Learn what each setting does and how to use it. Read the manual that comes with the camera and don’t be afraid to experiment with them.

Take photos all the time and any time. Take photos everyday if possible to practice on a regular basis.

We hope these help any beginners that are interested in photography.

Do I need a Tripod?

At one time many photographers use these things call tripods when doing a shoot. They are rarely needed or even used now due to auto-focus, auto this, auto that, and now its so quick and easy to shoot an acceptable shot. Today’s cameras make it almost impossible to produce a poor image, but there are still some things to consider in which you would need a tripod for. We will cover a few tips on tripods and there use.

Tripods can be seen as an inconvenience without a doubt. A huge mistake is thinking the lighter the camera the lighter the tripod should be. I am not saying all heavy tripods are more stable, this is not always the case. The design of a tripod does play a big part in overall stability though. The ‘try before you buy rule’ here is a must.

The more inexpensive tripods are usually not put together very well. They are usually designed with rivets that hold them together rather than nuts and bolts. When these rivets come loose they cannot be easily fixed so try to avoid these tripods.You should be able to lock leg extensions in place with no trouble. Extend the legs, lock them in place and then push down on the tripod. If there is any slippage move to the next one. Some tripods come with leg braces. Some of these work and some don’t. A tripod with leg braces is not automatically more stable as it really depends on design.

Most tripod have an extending center column. Some of these center columns come with a rack and pinion drive for easy adjustment. Whether the center column is manual or rack and pinion the center column should move up and down smoothly.

Tripod with heads are usually not the way to go. Tripod plus head, you select a head to go with your tripod is a better option in my opinion. Selecting a head separately for your tripod will make sure it fits your camera’s needs.

You can check out our wide selection of tripods. We hope this helps you in selecting the right tripod for you.

Using a Macro Lens

We are going to discuss how to use a macro lens. There are many lenses out there they may be marked ‘macro lens’ and may not actually be a macro lens. For shooting the best close up and personal images that are at least 1/3 life size or larger you need a macro lens. These lenses can range in price depending on the type. Canon makes a nice macro lens Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens (67mm) or if that is too much for your pocketbook you can also try the Canon EF 50mm 2.5 Compact Macro Lens (52mm). No matter what type of macro lens you use just make sure it is a macro lens.

Now this not the same as using a telephoto zoom. When using a macro lens you must pay more attention to focus, lighting, movement, camera stability, and depth of field.Focus is probably the most essential. The auto focus does not work properly with many subjects. Choose a part of the subject you wish to focus on and make it your main point. I would suggest setting the camera up with the correct magnification first then moving the entire camera closer or farther away from the subject you are going to shoot. I would also suggest having a tripod handy.
If you are shooting active subjects like birds, insects, or plants, forget the tripod and go handheld.

Lighting is also very important when using a macro lens. It’s not always possible to get natural light and a flash can be used but do not overpower the subject. The best thing to use is ring flashes. This way you can put the flash in the proper position and not overpower the subject. You can also use a softbox and cover the flash.

Another problem you could have when using a macro lens is depth of field. The best way to solve this problem is to make the film plane parallel to the subject. You might also try using less magnification and this will sometimes make the subject look out of focus.

We hope these few tips will help you when using a macro lens.

42nd Street Photo’s Pet Photography Tips

Pet Photography can be tricky. If you are not careful you can cause pets to look blurry, angry or frightened. We are going to give a few tips that will help capture your pets personality.

- Avoid using a camera’s flash, this can effect your pet’s eyes and make them look red. Light can make or break the photos of your pet.

- Use outside light if possible. If you can go outside then out your pet next to a window.

- Lie on the floor and put your pet on a higher surface for an original perspective. Don’t look down at your pet. Try not to take shots where your pet is looking directly in the camera.

- Try to capture your pet at its best moments. Try to capture most characteristic expression and pose of your pet.

- Keep the picture simple. Your pet needs to be the focus of the picture.

- Fill the frame with your pet. Very little background is a good effect.

- Shoot close-ups of your pet’s face.

- Be patient. Don’t get upset, sometimes these things take time. You might want to bring out your pet’s favorite toy or treat if that gets his attention.

We hope these few tips help when taken photos of your pet.

Be sure and stop by 42nd Street Photo for all your camera and camcorder needs.

Photographing the Aurora Borealis

Today we are going to talk about photographing the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. If you have the chance to travel far enough north to witness this phenomenon then I suggest you take a few photos because it’s something you will want to remember. The lights in the sky are caused by the Earth’s magnetic field interacting with energy from the sun. Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

The best months to view the Northern Lights are March and September usually in the far northern or southern hemisphere. The times of best activity seem to be from 10:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M.

A few things you might need

Tripod
Wide Angle Lense
Remote Shutter Release Cord or Remote Control
Extra batteries for the cold
Folding Chair (unless you prefer to stand and wait)

Lenses

You will need a fast wide angle lense. Most wide angle lenses that are included with SLR cameras are f/3.5. This is not fast enough. Try using a f/2.8 or, if you are serious then use a f/1.4. The faster (wider maximum aperture) the lens the better.

Get the best picture

If your camera has the ability, shoot in RAW mode to capture the most detail. For starters shoot in manual mode, roughly ISO 400 to 800, an aperture of f/2.8, and a shutter speed of 30 seconds. If you do not have the f/2.8 capability, you will need to bump up the ISO to 800 or 1600.

Focus

Since the Aurora is far away, set the focus to infinity. Be sure and test your lens in daylight. You may need to back off from full infinity for correct focus.

Patience

Aurora photography takes patience. You might have spend many nights waiting for the perfect shot.

We hope these few tips can get you started if you want to shoot the Northern Lights. Also be sure and visit 42nd Street Photo for all your camera needs.

Photography and Sports – Get In The Game

Today we are going to talk about sports photography and offer a few tips that may help you out. Sports photography can be challenging if you do not have the right equipment. This is also probably one of the purest forums of photography. Most sports are very quick paced events and usually there are quite a few players and plays happening at once. These few tips ensure great action shots on the field, court or wherever play is taking place.

Equipment

Snapshot digital cameras are difficult to use for sports photography due to the time lag while the camera focuses and the shutter opens. These cameras are not very good under low light conditions due to the very small pixels. They also have built in zoom lenses which may be good to shoot a sport like basketball, but not good enough for sports like baseball and football.

DSLR cameras like the Canon 40D and Nikon D300 are more suitable for sports photography. These cameras usually include a decent kit lens like an 18mm to 50mm zoom. The one issue with these lenses is that ther are usually slow in terms of focal ratio. For a sport like football you will need a lense that is at least 200mm to 300mm.

Get in the Game

Timing is of the essence for a sports photographer. Make sure you are paying attention to whats happening on the field/court as well as whats happening on the sidelines or dugout. Record the reactions of teammates and coaches to great plays and disastrous errors by their team or the opposing team. They just as effective in capturing the memory of a great play as the play itself. Be sure and also take photos as fast as possible. The action can move pretty fast in a game like football. Try to get as close to your subject as possible for the best resolution.

Understand the game you are shooting. If you understand that game and teams playing it will make it easier to capture those great moments.

Pay attention and expect the unexpected. In all sports anything can and will happen. The one time you put your camera down could be the one time a great play happens. You need to have the camera focused a second ahead or you’ll miss your shot.

Sport photography takes practice, so take as many photos as possible. You will get better as time goes with each shot. Good luck.

42nd Street Photo’s Tips for Shooting Star Trails

Today we will give you a few tips on shooting star trails. Many photographers work to capture the beauty of the heavens with their cameras. Photographing star trails is quite easy. Your lighting though will have to meet certain conditions.

- No ambient light is the best. Avoid light pollution. Most types of photography we concern ourselves with direction, intensity, and the color of light. Shooting start trails the opposite is required. The farther away from city lights the better. Moonlight is also undesirable.

- The sky should be as dark and clear as possible.

- Have all your equipment. Lens, tripod, memory, camera protection, flashlight, and power. Capturing star trails can even require 2-3 hours of continuous shooting so you need to be prepared.

- There should be a foreground subject. Star trails simply do not look good without it.

- Exposure (Aperture) The aperture partly controls how bright the trails are going to be in the photograph. If you use a very fast lens wide-open you will usually get more trails than you probably want.

- Exposure (Shutter Speed) – Exposure time partly defines how long star trails are going to be in the picture and does not influence brightness of the actual trails.

- Film speed. ISO50 and ISO100 are great.

We hope this tips will help and that you have an enoyable time while shooting star trails.

42nd Street Photo’s Photographing Sunrise and Sunset Tips

If you travel a lot during the holidays if might have the chance to see a beautiful sunrise or sunset in the location you are at. Here are a few things you might consider if you want to photograph these moments.

If you do decide to have a go at taking a sunrise / sunset picture, then winter is probably the best time to start. Why? Because the nights are long and the days are short, which basically means, you don’t have to set off at a too late/early of an hour.

- Do a web search to find the time of the sunrise or sunset.

- Carry a notebook and log any great locations you find.

These are just a few tips and we hope they help you when shooting sunrises and sunsets.

Take a video tour of 42nd Street Photo

Check out our video tour of 42nd Street Photo and come by and visit us. We have everything you need from digital cameras to DVD camcorders.

42nd Street Photo’s Photography Techniques

There are all kinds of photo techniques you can use when shooting photos. Here are a few from 42nd Street Photo you can consider and learn more about.

High Speed Photography – This type of photography is considered a science by some people. It is a series of photographs that may be taken at a high sampling frequency or frame rate.

Black and White Photography – All photography was originally monochrome, most of these photographs were black and white. Many photographers continue to produce some monochrome images. Many full color digital images are processed using a variety of techniques to create black and whites images.

Infrared Photography – In infrared photography, the film or image sensor used is sensitive to infrared light. Due to the arrival of digital photography, we can take infrared pictures whenever we please. This depends on how your camera sensor array reacts to the infrared and, depending on the filter you are using.

Smoke Art Photography – Smoke art photography, in its simplest definition is photography that features smoke. The smoke can be considered the subject or the medium to create something else.

Panoramic Photography – is a technique of photography, using special equipment or software that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. You can create a panorama by using any camera1, even a disposable one.

These are just a few techniques you might enjoy or maybe even see or run across when admiring photos.

Photography Gift Ideas for Christmas

The holidays are right around the corner and many people have either started shopping for gifts or will right after Thanksgiving. Here are a few suggestions for that photographer in the family.

1. Top End Digital Camera

Just take a trip down to your local camera store or to 42nd Street Photo if you are in the New York City area. These stores usually have a great selection of all types of digital cameras.

2. Photography Magazine Subscription

Consider gift subscriptions to such photography-related magazines as American Photo, Outdoor Photographer, Professional Photographer, Shutterbug or Digital Photographer.

3. Digital Photography Course

You can check out photography courses being offered the New York Institute of Photography. Course types include NYI Complete Course in Professional Photography, Digital Photography Complete Course: Adobe® Photoshop® for Photographers, and NYI Short Course: Fundamentals of Digital Photography.

4. Digital Photo and Video Editing Software

Digital photography is about capturing a beautifully unique image, it’s also about manipulating that image to achieve the best from it. There is some excellent photo editing software out there like Corel Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop.

5. Photography Gear

You might also consider photography gear like tripods, lens attachments, carrying cases, clothing with camera brand logos on them.

We hope that these suggestions will help with your holiday planning for that photographer in your life.

42nd Street Photo’s Underwater Photography Tips

Gear: Some may prefer a point-and-shoot system; others may want manual control in a compact digital, while others may want a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. So defining the ideal camera must start with the shooter’s needs. For a manual compact digital, the Olympus SP350 is great, and for SLR the Nikon D200 and D2x in Subal housings. For the point and shoot, there are several Olympus systems and even the SeaLife with a wide-angle lens.

Best use of your camera: Get a versatile strobe arm, such as the UltraLight, if you want to vary your lighting. This type of arm is for the diver who is comfortable in the water and wants to improve his style. For any camera, if there is a wide angle lens available, add it to your system.

Perfect Technique: Blurry photos are from too much movement or too slow a shutter speed. Master your balance and buoyancy because that is the most important part of getting great photos underwater. You can’t compose, adjust strobe angles and analyze your results if you are kicking, falling over and scaring your subject away.

Most common mistake: Shooting from too far away. You should take a photo, get closer and take another, and then get closer yet until either you can’t fit the subject into your picture area or the subject leaves. If the fish stays still, move in and shoot just the eye, but keep getting closer.

Here are a few other tips for underwater photography from 42nd Street Photo

- Get out and shoot. Find a place to dive near where you live.

- Don’t use digital zoom

-  Make sure you understand the focusing distance of your camera in and out of macro mode. Use macro mode when you are within the macro focusing distance.

- Bring a dive light with you to help your camera auto-focus

- If you turn your flash off, either manual white-balance your camera, or set it to underwater mode

- Anticipate what you might see underwater, adjust your strobe, f-stop ahead. It would be big mistake, to see a shark and having your camera at F22

- Learn how to use your histogram and highlights screen, and use them often

- Use a 100mm or 105mm lens to emphasize or isolate the subject, and reduce the background

- Get the exposure right in camera; don’t rely on post-processing

Consumer Vs. Expert Reviews of Digital Cameras

Most will agree that it is a good idea to read up on reviews of a camera before shelling out the cash for it, but it may be wise to look into who is actually writing the review. While consumer reviews can be a great source of information about a product, since generally speaking, the purchasee has first hand experience using that particular model, often times, lack of information leads to a less-than-satisfactory opinion.

Let’s look at a good example of this, the Nikon D300. Here is a digital camera from a well known and established company, with an impressive range of shutter speeds, high-resolution screen, a myriad of options for shooting conditions, built in flash, long-lasting battery and continuous shooting at 6/second. Now, suppose this is all our reviewer knows about the camera. Suppose they used it for a few days on a family vacation, encountered a number of features they didn’t necessarily understand, and therefore decided they did not get their money’s worth. They might jump on Amazon.com, or wherever is was that they happened to pick up the digital camera, write a poor review and return the camera, never knowing about its 12.3-megapixel self-cleaning DX-format CMOS sensor, HDMI port for outputting images to a high-definition screen or that it was “2007 Camera of the Year” on PopPhoto.com.

Purchasing a digital camera may seem like a simple task, however there are many things to consider beforehand. Perhaps there will be things that were not so obvious before, like what options there are for the flash, what ratio the screen is, how much it weighs, etc. These are the types of details that 42nd Street Photo would love to help you figure out. We don’t just want to sell you a digital camera, we want you to purchase the right digital camera for you. Trust us, we like satisfied customers.