Panasonic’s Venus Engine Image Processor
April 22, 2009
The Venus processing Engine is an image processor developed by Panasonic. They are being used in almost all the digital cameras featuring in the Lumix series. Generally image processors work in four stages. Firstly they receive data from the CCD sensors, then they create Y-Colour differences i.e. image processing is done, then JPEG compression is done and lastly the image data is saved. With the introduction of Venus Image Processing Engine series; the latest being Venus Engine HD, Panasonic is claiming faster shutter speeds along with lower energy consumption.
Venus II, is the successor of Venus engine and is known for its enhanced resolution and super fast shutter response, this image processor has been incorporated in its Lumix DMC-FZ7 camera. Now with all the basic properties of Venus II, Panasonic developed the Venus III image processing engine that also provides better noise reduction at high ISO speeds and offers lower power consumption. But it was later discovered that along with noise reduction, some fine image details were are eliminated, thus to overcome this defect of the Venus III; the Venus IV Engine was developed.
The Venus Engine IV claims higher quality images as well as includes accurate tracking and correction of of stabilisation and ISO control. It also provides better noise reduction, preserves the finer image details, a faster shutter response along with great power efficiency. It provides superior quality images by using advanced signal processing that provides blur-free images that are rich in colour and depth. Advanced signal processing is done by adding two more circuits that help in reducing both low frequency as well as chromatic noise. Thus y6ou are sure to get superior quality images even in dimly lit situations. Panasonic has incorporated this advanced image processor in its Lumix DMC LS85 and Lumix DMC TZ6 Digital Cameras.
Next in line of Panasonic's Image Processors is the Venus Engine V; which uses advanced signal processing to generate beautiful images under high sensitivities. Multi-task signal processing is applied to all images for empowering higher performance and faster shooting. This image processor also increases the accuracy of many features such as MEGA Optical Image Stabilisation technique and the Intelligent ISO Control. A lot of energy efficiency improvements have been incorporated in this one, thus it provides better power efficiency. The cameras which come with this feature include the Lumix DMC FX40 and the Lumix DMC FX550 Digital Cameras.
A large scale image processing engine is the Venus Engine HD. It ensures high quality pictures and supports high definition television screen. It can handle dimly-lit subjects as well as fast moving high definition movies very well. It allows you to shoot in 720p AVCHD Lite and performs advanced signal processing for the best quality images and videos. Cameras using this image processor include the Lumix DMC G1 and Lumix DMC TZ7 Digital Cameras.
With the Venus image processor you are sure to get the best quality of images and movies along with the almost nil amount of noise and distortion. It also ensures maximum power consumption.
Various Types of Digital Camera Lens
April 21, 2009
Fixed Focal-Length Lens System
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These types of lenses do not offer any kind of optical zoom. Even though the camera uses fixed focal-length lens, it still allows you to choose macro and landscape focus modes. As this lens system is fixed, it is useful for the compact and ultra-compact camera types. A fixed lens system also ensures the camera operation is quicker and easier. Also cameras with this type of lenses are generally cheaper compared to the others. This lens offers a wide angle view, which is best suited for landscapes as well as for group photos. Although they have so many advantages their major drawback is that it cannot zoom faraway objects, thus you can only take close-up snaps. Therefore the image quality is also of the lowest possible optical quality. This lens is best suited for beginners and novice photographers. |
Fixed Zoom Lens System
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This type of lens system is fixed onto the camera's body. It thus does not spring back into the camera even if it is turned off. The cameras using this type of lenses are generally a little heavy as compared to the others. Even though the lens system does not pull into the camera, it still allows for a portable and compact design. Usually the lens is protected by an in-built cover. These lenses support different kinds of lens converters or lens filters. Manual focus options are very easy and the zoom factor can go up to 18x. Sometimes the cameras with fixed zoom lens system take longer to boot. Cameras with this type of lens system is a little expensive as compared to the fixed focal-length type and is suited for anyone who wants possesses certain photographic knowledge. It is also a little complicated to use. |
Retractable Zoom Lens System
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Next type of lens system is the retractable type. These types of lenses rebound into the camera's body once it is turned off. It pops out only when the camera is in the power ON mode. cameras with this type of lens system are very compact, portable and light-weight devices. The lenses are protected by the external cover of the camera. The major disadvantage of this camera is that it does not support any kind of lens converters or filter. The zoom range is also limited to about 2x or 3x magnification. Camera start-up time is longer. Cameras that comes incorporated with this type of lens system is best suited for gadget lovers or for people who look to have a cost effective device. |
Interchangeable Lens System
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This lens system is usually used in digital SLRs. An interchangeable lens system indicates that the entire lens unit can be dismantled from the camera for attaching a new compatible lens system. Some DSLRs are also compatible with the lenses used in 35mm cameras, so in case you have any just check if they are compatible with your current DSLR. You can get one of the best quality images using these lenses. It offers you with a lot of flexibility to be able to handle different types of scenes and situations. You can upgrade the lens quality by just purchasing a new lens system. There is no need to change the camera. But this is very expensive to buy and maintain. These lenses are also huge and bulky and can sometimes cause confusion. Thus this lens system is an ideal unit for serious professional photographers. |
Depending on your requirements, you can choose a particular camera with any particular type of lens system.
Comparison — Film/Digital Cameras
April 19, 2009
Although, 35mm conventional film and compact digital cameras are used for the same purpose they are completely unrelated to each other and differ on many grounds. Some people prefer the prints obtained by digital cameras but yet others may prefer the look and feel of film cameras. However there are some main points of differences between the two types of cameras. Film cameras make use of disposable batteries, while different types of batteries are compatible with digital cameras.
In case of film cameras, the pictures are recorded on the film, while for digital cameras the images are recorded on the image sensor. The image sensor determines the size of the frame and light sensitivity factor of the camera. The film based cameras come with an optical viewfinder that can display almost 97% of the subject. On the other hand digital cameras, makes use of optical viewfinder as well as an LCD display. One downside of the LCD display is that though it displays 100% of the desired subject, it consumes a lot of battery power, so you will need to have replacements handy. In some digital cameras, the optical viewfinder is replaced by an electronic viewfinder.
One major advantage of using 35mm film cameras is that the shot fires instantly, there is almost nil waiting time, while in case of digital cameras the wait time depends on the shutter speed and the size of the image. Due to this you need to be careful while shooting with digital cameras. Single Use Film is the storage media for the captured images. It cannot be reused and you are provided with only a fixed number of frames per roll. Nevertheless, digital cameras use memory cards that can be reused . These storage media come with different capacities and can hold a many frames. Also images can be stored in JPEG, RAW or TIFF formats.
Apart from a few high end film cameras, the others cannot display the shots until the film has been developed. Once it has been developed you can scan the photos to be displayed on a computer or television. But in case of digital cameras, the images can be viewed on the LCD screen. You can connect the camera to the computer or television through the respective ports. You can also share your photos online by uploading it on any photo sharing site.
The last distinguishing factor between a conventional and digital camera occurs while taking prints of photos. For taking prints of the film, you need to get to a photo lab, while for digital cameras the photos can be transferred to the computer for printing at the home printer.
Film Based SLR Camera Vs. Digital SLR Camera
April 13, 2009
With the market filled with loads of affordable digital cameras; there is still a debate over the which one is better; a film SLR camera or a digital SLR camera. Both of these cameras have their own advantages and disadvantages and are suited for different types of tasks. With the advancements in the digital camera technology, the dSLRs are now ready to give the film based cameras a run for their money.
The major advantage that digital cameras have over conventional cameras is its convenience. With a digital SLR camera it is very easy to preview and print images. The photo editing software provides you with complete control over the image. Thus you need not have to rely on the printing labs anymore for correcting or editing your pictures. In case of a film based camera you can need a complete darkroom setup with loads of equipments and fluids which is a cumbersome process. Conventional camera users may speak of the advantage of using different types of films for superior photos, however the same effect can be obtained by using filters and photo editing software. The main advantage of using the photo editing software is that you need not be locked into one kind of photos for a particular type of film.
Another major advantage of a dSLR is the facility to preview your images live on the screen. This function is available in compact digital cameras which do not come with traditional viewfinders. Live viewfinder facility is now being incorporated in many dSLR cameras such as the Olympus E510, which is an entry level, simple and light weight camera. One main factor that predicts the quality of your image in digital cameras is the electronic functionalities. But this can be both a boon and a bane. The advantage is you can play around with the features and adjust the lighting features. The bane is caused due to noise reduction and compression. Tremendous noise reduction can cause softening of the image details, while too much of compression can lead to small sized images. These factors can cause distortion in the pictures. It is thus advisable to shoot in uncompressed RAW mode, this saves the image's original information. RAW shooting mode is available in almost all digital SLRs as well as in a couple of compact cameras.
Initially there was a lot of argument that the resolution of a film base camera is quite high as compared to digital cameras. A higher resolution is supposed to deliver superior quality images. But these days more and more digital cameras are coming with higher resolution count that can produce higher quality images. Due to the high image pixel count, you can upload images on the internet, share it via emails as well as print large posters. One point to be considered here is that a higher pixel count need not necessarily mean superior quality images; the camera's lens system and image processors are also some of the aspects. This can be because the processor may not be able to cope with a very high pixel count., but these days digital SLRs have come up with intelligent sensors and processors that produce good quality images.
One major issue with digital SLRs is purple fringing; this casts a ghostly purple halo around the edges of high contrast sections of the image. For coping with this factor it is advisable not to shoot high contrast objects at full wide angle. There are many friendly and simple to use entry-level dSLRs like the Nikon D40 DSLR. An example of a great advanced dSLR is Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR. With time and practise you will soon gain experience with the digital SLR. Now all you need to do is make more space on the walls for hanging all the great photos.
Types of Digital Camera Batteries
April 11, 2009
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Although, batteries were the last thing to think of while buying conventional film cameras, it plays a major role in influencing one's buying decision in case of digital cameras. The various types of batteries and the merits and demerits of each variety has been explained. Thus, before buying a digital camera please ensure to check the battery compatibility without fail.
