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The Monthly Edition Of The k-Byte Newsletter |
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| V. 27, No. 6, June 2010 | Users Helping Users |
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The Monthly Edition Of The k-Byte Newsletter |
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| V. 27, No. 6, June 2010 | Users Helping Users |
Contents
Meeting Previews on Page 6
June: Today's Linux Desktop
Linux is not just for the computer programmer.
This meeting will demonstrate why.
July: The Annual Hardware/Software ZOO
No one can keep up with all the available applications today. So bring your favorite so the rest of us can learn from your experience.
Quote of the Month
Our worst enemies here are not the ignorant and the simple, however cruel; our worst enemies are the intelligent and corrupt.
Graham Greene [1978]
by Jerry Schneir, LACS, http://www.lacspc.org, in User Friendly, the Los Angeles Computer Society Newsletter
This year, buying a new digital camera will offer more challenges then ever before because of so many new features being made available. Unfortunately, some of the new features being offered are valuable but some may be less so or even of very questionable value. This results in a lot of second thoughts and all too often, buyer's remorse. I hope that this article helps direct the buyer to make a better selection, a camera more suited to their needs, ability, and pocketbook.
Step 1: Before going out on your shopping venture you need to be honest with yourself. How much can you realistically afford? Money will be needed not only for the camera itself but also for the accessories that you will need for it. Items such as memory cards, extra batteries and camera case can easily cost $50 or more, probably more. The extras should include the following: memory cards, extra batteries-AA or LiION, a battery charger if one is not provided (look for dual voltage (120-240v), and of course, a camera.
Step 2: Decide what camera type or style really appeals to you, fits your life style. The camera type will, to a certain extent, limit your choice of available features The more common designation of digital camera types and styles (along with features) are:
Simple Point & Shoot (P&S)
Most have an optical zoom of up to 3 to 7x. These give you the most camera for the money
Ultra Compact Cameras
Small cameras that easily fit into a pocket or purse. The zoom range is usually 3 to 4x optical. These tend to be pricier but more stylish.
Compact Super Zoom Cameras
Zoom range up to 10x- 12x optical zoom. This is a very popular group of cameras with a lot of variety. These are generally in the $200 to $300 price range. But beware, no one camera in this group has all the desirable features.
Mini SLR Type-Ultra Zoom Cameras
Zoom range from 12-30x optical zoom. Here again, this is a very popular group of cameras with a great deal of variations between the models. Some of these cameras sell for as much as the lowest end of the digital SLR cameras, $300-$500 and in many cases, they produce images almost equal to most dSLRs.
Internal Zooming Cameras
The lens does not protrude from the camera, these are the most compact of the cameras, may have up to a 4x optical zoom, but have fewer important features but a very steep relative price.
Prosumer Cameras
Designed for the photographer who may want a less bulky camera than the dSLR or for someone who has the knowledge to use all the features that such a camera can offer but doesn't want the bulk and weight of a dSLR. Here again, the prices are from $400 to $800 or more. Some of these cameras have up to 7x optical zoom
Digital SLR (dSLR)/Interchangeable lens Non-SLR Type
Designed for the dedicated photographer. Prices range from $500 to $5000 or more.
The following is a list of features common to most cameras which should help influence your choice of camera.
LCD size
The LCD is the window on the back of the camera that is used for taking viewing or reviewing images. It is also the window used for setting the camera parameters and settings. The LCD should be as large and bright as possible. The standard screen size today is 2.5 inches to 3". Unfortunately, not all screens of the same size are identical. The LCD is made up of dots or pixels used to display the image. Pick one with at least 230,000 pixels..Generally, the more the better. Some of the newer models have 460,000 to 920,000 dots which means brighter pictures on the LCD and generally, easier viewing in bright light. Some LCDs work better in brighter light while others also work well in very dim light. Some LCD screens brighten up in dim light while others show how the image will look when the picture is taken. Some LCD screens rotate or flip up or down. This is very handy for some picture taking situations. Check DPReview for details on the LCD (http://www.dpreview.com/).
Menu System and Buttons
Look to see how easy it is to see the menu on the LCD and to navigate from one feature to another. Some cameras make it very easy and fast to change settings via the LCD, others are not as user friendly. Some cameras use dedicated buttons for things like white balance, ISO, or exposure compensation. Generally the more dedicated buttons the better but beware of cameras with buttons that are hard to push or require holding one button down while pressing another. Programmable buttons are nice to have IF they offer the right options.
Shutter Lag
This is the time interval between pressing the shutter all the way down to take the picture and when the camera actually takes the picture. Most of today's cameras have reasonably short shutter lag, but a few still have a far too long a time interval between pressing the shutter and taking the picture. Also check the time needed to get the camera ready to shoot and the time lag between pictures.
Zoom Range
The standard zoom range in today's cameras is 3-4x OPTICAL. Optical Zoom is the only factor
you should consider since digital zoom tends to degrade the picture. All digital cameras come with some digital zoom. A 3x optical zoom means that the camera goes from wide angle to telephoto by a factor of 3x. A wide angle of 24- 28mm (in 35mm film equivalence) allows more of the scene to be included in the picture and is highly desirable. Telephoto means the subject is shown larger and closer but less of the total scene is shown. . Obviously, the greater the zoom range the easier it is to obtain pictures of objects that are far away. But here is the hidden problem, in most cameras (other than the dSLR type) the more you zoom the more light you need to take the picture. If you note, many cameras say f3.5-5.6 or something similar. It means that at the wide angle setting the lens opening is f3.5, but at the extreme zoom it is only f5.6. And as you zoom out, you may need an even faster shutter speed (even with image stabilization) to minimize camera shake. Look for cameras with at least a f3.5 setting for the widest angle, f2.8 or f2 is far better.
Image Stabilization (IS)
This is important. The only 2 kinds of IS worth considering are Optical IS where a lens element moves so as to minimize camera shake and Sensor IS where the camera imaging sensor moves to minimize camera shake. Any other type of IS has minimal value and may in fact cause a degrading of the final image. Some cameras offer multiple types of IS, if you are looking at one with multiple types of IS, check to see if you can turn off everything but the optical or sensor IS. The other types of IS being offered are (1) the electronic IS where the camera's internal image processor attempts to identify the motion and eliminate it and (2) where the camera increases the ISO setting to gain a faster shutter speed. In this latter type, the higher ISO setting yields higher noise or grain which is damaging to the image. The camera may have an internal program to minimize the appearance of the grain but this also degrades the sharpness of the image.
Pixels-Sensor Size
If, after taking a picture, you enjoy adjusting or modifying images on your computer, then you will probably want at least 10 to 14MP. Otherwise anything over 8MP is overkill for most people. Note that higher pixel counts may result in increased grain (noise) in the image at almost any ISO setting above 100. Sensor size is also an important factor since it influences how large and how many pixels can be placed on the sensor. A few of the newer cameras are employing somewhat larger sensors in an attempt to minimize noise at higher ISO settings.
Viewfinder
A viewfinder is useful in poor or very bright light. Cameras with a 3 inch LCD rarely have optical viewfinders. Cameras with 10x or larger zooms either have NO viewfinder or use electronic viewfinders (EVF). Some EVF suffer from image lag, i.e., in a fast moving action, the viewfinder is NOT showing what the camera is aimed at. Some EVF have relatively low pixel count and therefore their images are grainy and almost impossible to use to evaluate a taken picture or image sharpness
Movie Mode
A couple of factors are important, even critical if taking movies is something you want to do with this camera. The new standards are720p or 1080p which will yield very high quality movies on your HDTV. Also important is the zooming ability while making movies. Some cameras DO NOT ALLOW OPTICAL ZOOMING WHILE SHOOTING A MOVIE, or if they do, they may severely limit the speed of the zooming. Instead, some cameras use digital zooming only while in the movie mode. Some cameras have a dedicated movie button that is separate from the still picture button. Some cameras provide an HDMI port for connecting to HDTVs. The format of the movie may be of importance to you as well. Some cameras limit the length of the movie scene while others allow shooting until the memory card is full.
The following are additional things to consider:
Battery type
Some photographers prefer cameras with AA rechargeable batteries since they are easily obtained anywhere in the world. Most smaller cameras and dSLR use proprietary LiION batteries. The best AA rechargeable batteries are the ENELOOP brand by GE/Sanyo.
Histogram in either preview (live) or review (after the shot) mode
Focusing Assist Lamp
This is a light on the camera front that goes on as you try to focus. It makes focusing easier in dim light. Some cameras use the flash for this.
Function (FUNC) Mode
Allows changing of certain picture taking parameters without going into the menu. A very handy feature if you are a "photographer."
Exposure Compensation
Allows you to compensate for backlit or unusual lighting.
Flash Compensation
Allows you to alter the strength of the flash to compensate for unusual situations.
Memory card type
CF and SD cards are cheaper than xD and Memory Sticks. Newer type SD cards are the SDHC and the SDXC. See if your camera supports these newer style memory cards.
Scene Modes
Beware of overkill, too many options can be confusing.
Auto Selection of Scene Modes
Some newer cameras automatically select a scene mode for you based upon built in parameters. Generally works very well.
Hard to define features
The best menus explain features and settings and may even give shooting advice. Check the ease of changing camera settings. If possible the LCD should be readable even in very bright or dim light. The camera should be easy to hold securely and fit your hand size.
So what am I recommending?
I cannot recommend a single camera or a single type of camera. I am impressed by many of the newer Canon and Panasonic cameras while Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus, and Fuji cameras also appeal to many photographers.
Here are some of the newer features and cameras that you will be seeing this year. But beware, some of these newer features (and cameras) may not be worthwhile:
Panorama sweep
Here you hold down the shutter button and just sweep the horizon. The camera takes multiple images and then stitches the images together in the camera to produce just one panorama type image.
HDR
High Dynamic Range allows the camera to merge 3 or more images to produce a scene with a great range between the lightest part and the darkest part of the picture. The human eye can
see about 6 stops, HDR may yield 8 or more stops thus you can get both good detail in the shadows and the brightest parts of the scene.
BSI
Back side illuminated CMOS sensor. This new type of sensor is supposed to increase the sensor sensitivity to light without increasing noise. Early reports are very good.
Smile Timer Mode
That captures images only when the subject smiles. Interesting, but?
Motion Remover Mode
That removes unwanted objects from photographs, may be hard to use.
GPS unit built in to identify picture locations. Nice feature but adds to the cost.
AVCHD and AVCHD Lite
movie recording. New movie file formats but may not be compatible with a lot of equipment.
Intelligent Resolution Technology
Applies different image processing to different content within each image. Interesting concept but will have to see how well it performs
SDXC memory cards
A newer high capacity SD card (32 and 64GB). Not of great value unless you shoot a lot of and very long movies.
David Pogue, of the New York Times, a well known writer about technology, especially cameras, published a list of 9 cameras for $300 or less. I indicated those cameras with an asterisk (*). Here is the list from David Pogue along with some of mine, of interesting new, nearly new, or just announced cameras worth checking. I did not list his Nikon, Kodak, Samsung or Olympus choices because of what I felt were certain shortcomings with those particular cameras, some of which he noted in his article. Why he included them is beyond my understanding. Consumer Reports also listed 4 cameras in their February 2010 issue which I have also included and indicated with a # following the camera's name. Some of these cameras have yet to be released, others just haven't been tested yet, but to me, they may be the trend setters for future digital camera:
Canon S90 IS #
Canon G11 #
Canon SD 980 *
Canon SX 20IS
Fujifilm FinePix HS10
Fujifilm FinePix F70EXR *
Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR
Casio EX H10 *
Olympus E-LP1
Olympus SP-800UZ
Panasonic ZS5
Panasonic ZS7
Panasonic ZS3 *
Panasonic FZ35 #
Ricoh CX3
Sony W290 *
Sony WX1 #
Sony HX5
Published monthly, k-Byte is the official newsletter of the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group (FRPCUG): our mailing address is PMB 152, 305 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521.
Opinions expressed in k-Byte are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the group or its members. Publication of information in k-Byte constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use of any information found in this publication is at the sole risk of the user. Neither k-Byte, nor its officers, nor its editors or contributors assume any liability for damages resulting from use of information in this publication.
Submissions
Articles, letters and short items of interest on computer-related topics are welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for publication are subject to editing. Send your contribution to the editor via e-mail attachment. If you have questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.
Copyright and Trademark Information
k-Byte is copyrighted ©2010 by the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group. The k-Byte logo and the Front Range PC Users Group logo are Trademarked by the Front Range PC Users Group. Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit users groups may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in k-Byte without prior permission, provided that: a) proper author and publication credits are given; b) that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to k-Byte at the above mailing address, or emailed to contact(at)frpcug.org; and c) any additional instructions/restrictions contained in the article are followed. User groups wishing to exchange newsletters with FRPCUG are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.
Disclaimer
IBM PC, OS/2, Compaq, HP, Dell, UNIX, Windows MAC, Apple Computer and other trademarks occasionally mentioned in k-Byte are registered trademarks of International Business Machines, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Microsoft, Dell Inc., Apple Computer Inc., or their owners respectively. Neither FRPCUG nor its newsletter k-Byte are connected in any way with any manufacturer or seller. Acceptance by FRPCUG of donated products or services from suppliers, or inclusion of a supplier in the FRPCUG Partner list does not imply that any continuing financial support is received or expected by FRPCUG. Nor do such activities imply an endorsement of either the supplier or product or service. Such information is made available to members as a service. Use of any product or supplier found in this publication, or any FRPCUG publication, is at the sole risk of the user.
About FRPCUG
FRPCUG is an independent nonprofit computer society, so incorporated with the State of Colorado and open to anyone interested in personal computers using any operating system: Windows, Linux or MAC, and digital hardware (such as music/video players, smart phones, etc.). Its purpose is to provide an educational and scientific forum of mutual benefit for members of the community regardless of knowledge level. FRPCUG holds a monthly meeting and conducts various special interest groups (SIGs) and seminars. Members have voting privileges, subscription to the k-Byte newsletter, and access to SIGs and selected seminars. Annual dues are $25 for individual/family membership ($20 for students) and $50 for corporate/group membership.
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June General Forum Meeting
We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on: |
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Day
Tuesday |
Date
June 1st |
Time
7:00 PM |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Time | Topic |
| 7:00 to 7:15 | Announcements and raffle |
| 7:15 to 8:00 | Open Forum |
| 8:00 to 8:10 | Break |
| 8:10 to 9:00 | Today's Linux Desktop |
To check on FRPCUG events in 2010 using a familiar graphical calendar format, connect to the 2010 Graphical Events Calendar
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July General Forum Meeting
We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on: |
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Day
Tuesday |
Date
July 6th |
Time
7:00 PM |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Time | Topic |
| 7:00 to 7:15 | Announcements and raffle |
| 7:15 to 9:00 | Hardware/Software ZOO |
See you at the meetings!
Get full membership benefits. If you are not a current member, download and complete a Membership Application. Mail the completed application and your payment to the address listed, or better yet, bring the application to the next meeting.
The June meeting will provide samples of several Linux distributions plus a view of some compatible software. Remember, Linux is an open source (free) operating system. So even you confirmed Windows users will find this information interesting and useful.
The annual Hardware/Software ZOO is scheduled for the July meeting. Bring a favorite piece of software and/or software to demonstrate. This is a chance for all you photographers to demo your camera and favorite software. Or how about all you genealogical researchers? Demo your favorite software. Or . . . ? No one can keep up with all the available applications today. So bring your favorite so the rest of us can learn from your experience. And bring the whole family. You (and the family) will probably actually enjoy yourselves!
Digital Imaging SIG
The Digital Imaging SIG is a forum for discussion of digital imaging hardware and software. The meetings are held every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Senior Center Lobby. The meeting format is informal, using the Shop Talk sessions as a basis. For more information, contact Mike Morris at twriterext(at)gmail.com.
New Technology SIG
The New Technology SIG provides advance support for all PC related operating system and telecommunication issues. The meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month at Bluebird Manufacturing Inc., 1421 Webster Avenue, in Fort Collins. For more information, contact Chuck McJilton at 970-493-2987.
Shop Talk
One-on-one assistance. Drop in to the Senior Center lobby on any Saturday (holidays excepted) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Board Meeting
FRPCUG's executive board meets on Wednesday of the week following the General Forum meeting. All members are welcome and are encouraged to attend. These meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the Staff Board Room of the Fort Collins Senior Center.
For a view of all FRPCUG activities in 2010, in a traditional graphical calendar format, connect to the Graphical Events Calendar
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Calendars created with HTML Calendar Maker Pro
Webroot Software (http://www.webroot.com), located in Boulder, CO provided an extremely helpful and informative presentation at the May FRPCUG meeting. The two representatives from Webroot fielded many questions on their products and on computer security software in general.
Not only was the presentation excellent, but the company provided many free software packages that can be used independently or in conjunction with their current Beta product.
All of us at FRPCUG offer a very special Thank You to the company and to the representatives who took time from their very busy schedules to prepare their presentation and visit our meeting.
Photo Gallery
This month's featured photographer:
Mike Loughlin using a Nikon D40 camera.
North from Lory State Park
This photograph is a combination of 3 photographs and is an example of what can be done with High Dynamic Range (HDR) software. HDR software extends the range of highlights to shadows. The software used to create this photograph is Photomatix (http://www.hdrsoft.com/).
The camera settings common to each of the 3 photographs are:
Mode = Auto, Exposure Program = Aperture Priority, ISO = 200, Focal Length = 55 mm., White Balance = Manual (Sunny), Scene Capture Type = Standard.
The settings unique to:
Photograph 1 are: Exposure Time = 1/640 seconds, F Number = 7.10
Photograph 2 are: Exposure Time = 1/800 seconds, F Number = 6.30
Photograph 3 are: Exposure Time = 1/500 seconds, F Number = 8
Copyright © 2010 by Mike Loughlin. All rights reserved. Send requests for copies/reprint permissions to kbyte(at)frpcug.org
Pamela Tabak receives numerous computer-related questions via e-mail and during classroom presentations. She selects those she feels are of common interest to most members and forwards them to us for publication.
Pamela invites members to ask their questions at http://tinyurl.com/ask-pamela. More often than not you will receive and answer within 24 hours.
QUESTION: I have just purchased Corel's Paint Shop Pro X3 and would like to know if it's possible to open it without first seeing the "splash screen?"
ANSWER: It is possible to bypass the "splash screen" by following the steps below:
Your program will now open without the opening the splash screen first.
QUESTION: I am working on an Excel 2007 worksheet and some of my columns are missing. How can I find them and why did this happen?
ANSWER: Inadvertently you have hidden the columns in your worksheet but it's very simple to unhide them:
QUESTION: I hit an incorrect key and now my word doc is double spaced. Can you tell me what I did and how I can change it back to single space?
ANSWER: There is a simple shortcut that you can use to change the space size: Click into the section or highlight the section that you want to change. Then hold down the CTRL key and hit either the key numbered 1 or 2. The space between your sentences will change according to your selection. Release the CTRL key.
QUESTION: I never know where to click when I need to click into a form or document. Can you give me a general guide line?
ANSWER: It really does not matter where you click as long as it is within the confines of the form or document because your curser or active I-Bar will always jump the beginning of the chosen area. In fact it is better to keep the curser out of the way so that you have a clear view of the information that you are typing
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FRPCUG CONTACTS
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Telephone Area Code 970
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| Title | Name | Work Phone | Home Phone | |
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FRPCUG Officers |
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| President | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Vice President | Mike Loughlin | 416-5824 | mlough(at)frii.com | |
| Treasurer | Chris Ingham | 226-9055 | chris.ingham(at)hotmail.com | |
| Secretary | Chuck McJilton | 493-2987 | cdmcjs(at)gmail.com | |
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k-Byte Staff |
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| Editor-in-Chief | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Features Editor | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
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Other Contacts |
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| Membership Coordinator | Jack Linder | 663-2151 | jack(at)frpcug.org | |
| Technology SIG Leader | Chuck McJilton | 491-1011 | 493-2987 | cdmcjs(at)gmail.com |
| Digital Imaging SIG Leader | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Publicity | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| FRPCUG Fax Line | 493-1408 | |||
| FRPCUG Home Page w/ E-Mail | http://www.frpcug.org | |||
| FRPCUG Officer E-Mail | board(at)frpcug.org | |||
| Library Request E-Mail | library(at)frpcug.org | |||
The Fort Collins Senior Center is located at 1200 Raintree Drive. This site is situated at the northwest corner of the Shields and Raintree Drive intersection, on the north side of the Raintree Shopping Center, and just west of the bank building on the corner of Shields and Raintree (see map at right).
Check the marquee at the main entrance for directions to the specific meeting room.
