Monthly Archives: March 2011

Canon 100mm F 2.8 L Macro Lens

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Lenses are essential tools for enthusiast and professional photographers. The ability to change lenses permits all kinds of opportunities for the photographer, allowing them to capture quality images that would be difficult with just the one, standard lens.

The Canon 100mm F 2.8 L Macro Lens is part of Canon’s prestigious L-series of optics, and is designed for optimum performance in close-up (macro) photography. Its rugged and reliable design protects against unfriendly climates and accidental bumps and knocks. It offers a minimum focussing distance of 30 cm.
The photographic features of the lens are stunning. The L Macro Lens includes a Hybrid Image Stabiliser, which corrects lens shifts and angular shift to ensure stable images. The Hybrid Image Stabiliser allows for 2 stops of correction for 1.0x (macro) zoom, 3 for 0.5x and 4 for regular shooting. A focus limiter switch is also integrated into the lens. This allows for quick shot by permitting an increase in autofocus speed.

This lens contains an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element to remove chromatic aberration and thus improve image quality. Artistic effects are easily achieved with the L Macro Lens. Its 9-blade circular aperture creates bokeh effects (creative blurring) when isolating subjects at wide apertures. In addition, manual focus override is available, which allows you to focus the lens yourself without switching out of autofocus (AF) mode.
There are specific lenses for particular purposes. At Kirk’s Camera Supply, our staff can assist you with finding the correct lens for your application. Drop in to our Ringwood store today, or give us a call for more information.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras Melbourne.

Cokin Camera Lens Filters

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Filters are an important part of the photographer’s arsenal. Whether you are a professional or an enthusiastic amateur, filters are essential for achieving a variety of effects. Cokin Filters, made in France, are amongst the best filters for photographic use. Their reliability and versatility make them excellent additions to the working photographer’s bag of tricks.

Cokin Filters come in all manner of types and styles, for applications such as colour correction, polarisation and artistic or special effects. The selling point of the Cokin design is its Creative Filter System. In this system, the filters are square, but may be attached to a wide range of lenses. This is accomplished via a crew-on lens adaptor system. Provided that the filter is sufficiently large to cover the lens, the filter can be attached to virtually any camera.

Kirk’s Camera Supply, as part of its mission to provide quality photographic equipment, carries a range of Cokin filters and adaptors. Our trained staff are more than happy to consult with you regarding Cokin filters and accessories. If you are just starting out with extending your photography or are a seasoned veteran, we can assist you with finding the right filter for your applications. Call our store today, or drop in to ask your questions in person.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras Melbourne.

Canon 1100D

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The new EOS 1100D from Canon is their latest entry-level digital SLR, packing all of the features one might expect from Canon into an affordable unit. Successor to the 1000D, the 1100D features HD video recording and high performance still shooting improving upon its predecessor.
The 1100D’s 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor capture quality, high-resolution images, which are then processed using Canon’s sophisticated Digic 4 image processor. Its ISO range is wider than that of the 1000D, ensuring better quality images in low and high lighting conditions. In addition, HD video can be recorded and then played back on your HD television, allowing you to quickly shoot quality video footage without the need for a separate digital video camera.

The 1100D is replete with features, but still very easy to use. It’s aimed at those making the transition from the compact digital camera to the DSLR. Settings are essentially automatic, but can easily be changed for extra control over your images. The Feature Guide contains a ‘glossary’ of all of the 1100D’s features and modes, so you can quickly and easily find out how to get the shots that you want. It makes an excellent point-and-click camera for those looking for something a little more robust than their compact digital unit.

Kirk’s Camera Supply stocks the Canon 1100D, so give us a call to check current prices. In addition Kirk’s also carries a wide range of camera accessories to complete your photographic experience.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras Melbourne – Your First Choice for Digital Cameras in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne, close via the Freeway to Donvale, Box Hill, Nunawading, Vermont, Glen Waverley, Bayswater and many more.

Canon EOS 600D

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Canon’s new EOS 600D digital SLR is an attractive entry-level/enthusiast camera suited for a wide range of applications.  A model up from the hard-to-top 550D model, the 600D includes such improvements as a swivelling screen for multi-angle viewing and Full HD video recording. Wireless flash control and additional filters complete the upgrades. But, does the performance of the 600D exceed its older brother, or merely match it?
The 600D uses an impressive 18-megapixel CMOS sensor to capture images and Canon’s Digic 4 image processor for compression and manipulation. Full HD video recording, which is virtually standard with all of Canon’s latest DSLRs, is accomplished at 24, 25 and 30 fps (frames-per-second). The quality of Full HD recording on a DSLR is actually comparable to many digital camcorders, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your video recorder at home. Another interesting feature is the video snapshot mode, which allows you to take a small amount of footage (a few seconds) and then arrange it on the camera.
Despite its power, the 600D is easy for beginners to use. The automatic adjustment features automatically choose the best settings for optimum picture quality – all you need to do is point and click. The wireless flash option is a godsend for avid photographers, as multiple flashes can be positioned anywhere around a subject and triggered without the need for complex wiring or fiddling with lots of settings.
The Canon EOS 600D is a great camera for those making inroads into the world of the Digital SLR. Its extensive but easy-to-use feature set makes is ideal for enthusiasts and amateurs alike. Call Kirk’s Camera Supply for prices, or drop into our Ringwood store to ask about purchasing your 600D.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras Melbourne.

Camera storage cases

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So, you’ve just bought a shiny new digital camera. Great! It might be a top-of-the-line compact camera, or a professional DSLR, but we’re sure you’re proud of your purchase. Of course, even if you buy the most rugged camera on the market, it still requires care and protection. Many cameras are permanently damaged by jolts and impact. After all, they are precision pieces of equipment often with several moving parts.
Kirk’s Camera Supply stocks a wide range of protective cases for your camera. Not only will they protect it from shocks and accidental drops, but will also make them easier to carry and less conspicuous.
Picking an appropriate case is important. Our trained staff can assist with any decisions you may have trouble making. There are different kinds of cases for different cameras and applications. Leather cases are very popular, as they are attractive and offer a modest level of protection. They are principally suited to compact cameras, as their small shape can easily slide into a leather holster.
Larger cameras, such as DSLRs, require another kind of case. These are frequently made from very tough, durable synthetic fabrics. They are large enough to hold the camera as well as accessories such as memory cards and pens. Many larger cases are essentially bags, and can also hold lenses, filters, cloths and other accessories.
Hard cases are the most durable and rugged of all, and are recommended in instances where the camera will be subjected to harsh environmental conditions (crossing the African savannah, for instance). Even softer DSLR carry bags are made of very tough material, so these should be used where the camera is at risk of being ‘bashed around’ (like on a flight).
In the end, it depends on your purposes and your specific model of camera. Browse the selection of cases and accessories that we have on our website. Feel free to visit our store to ask questions and find out which case is best for you.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras

Online and Physical Camera Service

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Kirk’s Camera Supply is run by a passionate team of camera enthusiasts. We believe in supplying you with a top-notch product that is appropriate for your needs. We would never force a product upon you that you don’t need. Customer service is a priority, and we at Kirk’s Camera Supply try to assist customers in their purchases wherever possible. We are always happy to give advice about the products that we stock and photography in general.
Part of our dedication to customer service is offering two distinct purchasing outlets. The first you have already discovered, as our website is an important conduit for conducting business. Our other outlet is our physical store in Ringwood, where our stock is stored. Having two modes of sales allows the customer flexibility in their purchase. Customers can purchase from their home, after reading our articles online, or come in to the store to ask questions prior to finalising their decision.
We prize contact with our customers. Talking in person allows for feedback, so we know where we can improve.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras

Printing your photos

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The advent of digital photography can raised a little dilemma – how do we actually access our photos? In the analogue age of photography, the process ended when you went to get your photos developed and took the prints home. Not so with digital. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing. In fact, there are a whole range of possibilities when it comes to dealing with digital images.

The most obvious is taking the traditional route, by printing out your photos. The advantage of digital photographic media is that printing and enlarging can be done on much less specialised equipment, often in less time and less expensively. There are two options here for getting excellent quality images: printing them at home and getting them printed by a digital prints service. Printing quality images at home requires a good printer and a sufficient paper stock. Most home inkjet printers perform reasonably, but if you want film-quality images, it’s best to turn to a professional.

Kirk’s Camera Supply provides a print service to its customers, producing quality prints from most digital media. 6”x4” instant prints are an easily affordable 50 cents. Premium prints, ranging up to a massive 30”x40” begin at the same price. However, we also offer ‘Fine Art’ or ‘Metallic’ prints for those very special shots, or even a ‘Canvas’ print for that artistic look. These carry a 2 to 7 working day turnaround, which is about the same as for film prints.

Once you receive your prints, the next step is to frame them or put them in an album. Photo albums are a great way to archive those memories. Digital photographs aren’t just floating in the digital cloud – they can take the place of film photographs any day.

For more information contact Kirks Cameras.

Storage media for digital cameras

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Whether it’s a compact digital camera, a digital SLR or even a mobile phone camera, storage is a common concern for all modern photographers. The mass adoption of digital photography has spelled the end of the limitations of film. One of film’s most pressing limitations was how many shots could be stored at once without having to reload and develop. Digital camera storage, based on solid state memory, has alleviated this problem. Thousands of images can be stored on the one thumbnail-sized card.

There are many varieties of digital camera storage media out there, and it’s important that you choose the right one. Kirk’s Camera Supply carries digital storage media for most cameras. Our range of capacities means that you can find the right amount of storage at the right price for you. For most applications, a 2-gigabyte storage medium is a good start. Digital memory prices are falling all the time (roughly halving every year!) so we can assure you of an excellent deal.

Digital storage comes in several different formats. SD cards (and the even smaller, fingernail-sized micro-SD cards) are among the most popular, and currently store up to 32 Gb. CompactFlash cards are slightly bigger and thicker, and have been used in digital cameras since the early days. They are often considered the most rugged cards for photographic use. MemorySticks are used primarily by Sony cameras, and come in many varieties for different cameras and purposes.

All modern photographers should place great importance in their choice of digital camera storage. Size isn’t the only factor either – quality of manufacturer and build is important to avoid data errors, which may corrupt your photos. It’s important to choose an appropriate card when you buy your camera if it doesn’t already come with one. Come into our store today, and ask which card is right for you.

For more information contact Kirks Camera.