DSLR News

The Sony Alpha A550 (with kit 18-55mm lens, $1049 list; body only, $949 list) takes us another step forward with in camera processing of HDR and DRO functions. While these items, to me, are the headliners for this camera, other camera amenities add to its allure. These include an articulating monitor, two Live View modes, very good high ISO results, a fast 5 fps (frames per second) shooting rate...

Boasting incredibly high resolution for a 35mm-size D-SLR, the A900 features a full-frame sensor and some unique technology. Sony developed an Exmor 24x36mm CMOS chip for this camera; it’s packed with 24.6 million effective pixels but they’re quite large (5.9 microns vs. 5.5 microns with the A700) thanks to the oversized sensor and improved design. As a bonus, analog-to-digital...

One of the first choices you come across when setting up a new camera is the Color Space setting where you can select either sRGB or AdobeRGB, and both have their purposes. If you want to know what’s the best option for you, and when to change it, read on.

Here are some tips I discovered when researching this month’s column. One was from my wife who uses this technique all the time—smile! And you know what, people smile back, making you appear friendly and non-threatening. The other was from Michael Archambault, who suggests you “acknowledge that street photography is not perfect.” Or as my grandfather once told me, “If you spend your whole life looking for happiness, it’ll make you miserable.”

Today’s quick tutorial is a throwback to the days before electronic cameras, without autofocus, built-in meters, and other modern conveniences. The Sunny 16 method for determining proper exposure was one of the easiest “rules” back then, and it can bail you out of a jam today when using a full-featured camera.

One camera feature that landscape photographers have relied upon for years to achieve sharp photos is image stabilization. But does it always work the way you expect? Read on.