We all know the amount of times that a link on the Internet captures our eye; screaming an incredibly low price for that certain camera you’ve been searching for. These ‘exciting’ finds can, quite often, be ‘Grey Imports’. A Grey Import is an item that is sold and purchased via an unauthorised camera reseller. Grey Import or Grey Market items are typically sold on the Internet, where they cannot be easily viewed and inspected.

Grey Market merchandise is imported and sold via methods that are not standard in the given industry. Typically in the camera industry, a manufacturer works alongside an importer who sells the product to distributors a specific, local region. These distributors go on to sell the authorised goods. Grey Market items are not certified and cannot be supported by the authorised importer or manufacturer.

Selling and purchasing goods via the Internet and over international borders is becoming a  highly popular way to shop. Grey Imports are most common in the photographic and electronic markets, where - via the Internet - they cannot be inspected. It is crucial that you know exactly what you are purchasing, and if this item will comply with Australian standards. Here are a few problems you will discover when buying a Grey Import:

• Functionality - The camera does not function efficiently, or sometimes does not function at all.
• Features - Often the camera does not have the key features or abilities that it should ideally have.
• Damage - With bad storage and shipping, these cameras can often be damaged.
• Technical Support - These cameras generally will have no technical support available.
• Australian Standards - Grey Imports will not comply with Australian Standards.
• Warranty - Often the warranty is only valid in the country of issue.
• Manual - Photocopied manuals are often supplied, in languages other than English.
• Software - Any downloadable software available on the Internet will not be compatible with the camera.

Noise can be frustrating when it appears in your photos, especially when you don’t want it there! Whilst it can be a great way to achieve a funky, modern effect, it does take away from the sharpness and clarity of your photo. Increasing the ISO allows you to capture sharp pictures in low light situations by increasing the camera’s sensitivity, but it can also add unwanted digital noise to your picture. So, what are some ways of correcting noise and emilinating it from your photos?

To begin, it is important to know exactly what noise is and what to be looking out for. Dots, speckles and smudges of random color are generally what makes up digital noise on your photograph. It is most visible in places such as within skin tone or on a backdrop, where the tone should be even but becomes unstable. Digital noise can have a ‘grainy’ appearance; and this can often be appealing when attempting to achieve a unique style.

There are two great ways to eliminate digital noise - via your digital camera and on your computer. In order to reduce noise on your camera, use higher ISO values only when you require it - so the lower your ISO level, the less noise will appear in your photos. Many modern digital cameras have a noise-reduction mode and if so, ensure that it is switched on. Get to know your camera, what it likes to take and in what conditions.

To further eliminate noise, the next step can only be performed on your computer - so it’s time to get computer savvy! Transfer your photos to your computer and select your favourite image editor program. If you do not have one on your computer, have a look online and download a basic model. Programs such as PhotoShop and Paint Shop Pro often will have a noise-reduction filter that you can use to get rid of noise. Make sure you gain a good knowledge of the program that you are using, and understand how to use it effectively.

By this point, your images should have a very low level of noise apparent, if any!

There is nothing more frustrating when you find that perfect shot, take a snap and the discover seconds later that it was a blurry mess. Blurred images can be caused by a number of reasons, such as a shaky hand, slow shutter speeds and your camera focusing incorrectly. So, how can blurry images be prevented on my digital camera?

Steady Hands
Even when shooting in a clear situation with great lighting, you may move the camera slightly without realizing it.  To help reduce blurred images, hold the camera as steady as possible and take extreme caer when lining up the shot via the LCD screen. If you are using a viewfinder to capture your shots, steady the camera against your face.
Digital cameras can be prone to camera shake when taking hand-held shots and zooming in on a subject - so it isn’t always your unsteady hand! To help prevent blur, shutter speed should be set at a faster rate than the focal length.

Focus
Most modern digital cameras will indicate when they achieve correct focus, generally on screen or via a small sound. In order to gain the best focus possible, aim the camera at the object that you are attempting to capture and press the shutter-release button to the halfway mark. You will feel a slight click at this halfway point and the camera should focus well. This is the point in which you are able to press the shutter-release button fully and take your picture.
In some circumstances, particularly in low lighting, a digital camera may have some trouble focusing. Auto focus modes on your digital camera will work best when there is contrasting colour or light between a subject and the background.

Slow Shutter Speed
If lighting is particularly low, wide apertures and slow shutter speeds will automatically selected by the digital camera. Most people are unable to achieve taking sharp shots that are hand-held when the shutter speed is below 1/60th of a second.  Be sure to increase lighting within the room, heighten the ISO setting or use a tripod.

Fast Shutter Speed
Attempt to freeze the image by using a faster shutter speed. Using a faster shutter speed will ‘freeze’ the image momentarily, and give you a sharper shot. If you do not have the option of altering the shutter speed, select a Sports or Outdoors mode, as these are developed to also freeze the frame.

Image quality is one of the most important aspects to consider when purchasing a digital camera - if not the most important. Every photographer, no matter what experience level, wants to have those beautiful, sharp photos, but does higher resolution make the image quality better?

It is important to firstly understand what image resolution is. Image resolution describes the detail a photo or image holds. The higher the resolution - the better the detail within your photo. Resolution can be measured in a number of ways, however most typically via megapixels, and the more megixels you have the higher the image detail or resolution.

So, essentially, image quality based on higher resolution is very dependent on the photographers desired outcome. If you wish to have a a sharp and detailed image, then certainly, the higher the resolution the better the image quality. However, if you are quite an expressive or artistic photographer, you may feel that image quality is not necessarily a measure of the sharpness and detail of the picture - it may be, to you, that colour or richness defines the image quality. 

It is also very dependent on your camera and its megapixels, meaning that the less megapixels your camera has the lower the resolution and therefore the image quality. This is often based heavily on the amount of money you spend on your camera - typically a more expensive camera will have more megapixels or higher resolution in general. At Kirk’s Cameras we can guide you as to which cameras have the best resolution for the best prices - so give us a call or come on in!

Unlike decades ago, it is now possible to purchase a digital camera or ‘digicam’ that can fit in the palm of your hand. They are light weight, thin and attractive, coming in many colours shapes and styles. But what enthralls most of Kirk’s Cameras photographers is the digicam’s vast array of funtions.

Our team are commonly quizzed the efficiency of a digital camera’s video filming abilities. The prospects of owning one camera to take both images and video footage are endless - it is simplicity in its finest form. However, we tell our customers that whilst this is a great convenience, it is important to understand that in spending a little more on your digicam and its accessories you can obtain the results of owning both a sole digital camera and camcorder, all in one.

Do your research prior. Make sure you read reviews and know your specifications. It is also useful to be aware of what you are going to generally be capturing on your digicam - whether you need something light weight, or something with higher megapixels. Most importantly, if you wish to purhase a digicam to capture a lot of video footage, you will need a fast and good quality memory card. A San Disk 2, 3 or higher will give you the best video results, and despite its price, it will last you for a long period of time. Our friendly team at Kirk’s Cameras are more than happy to see customers come in with a list of questions, so come on in and ask away!

Kirk’s Cameras encounter many people purchasing their first Digital SLR (DSLR) Camera. Many come to our Melbourne based store asking for a DSLR to help them take magnifcent quality photos. What a number of people are not aware of is that it is not only your DSLR camera that will help you on your way to becoming a great photographer, it is also your lens.

There are several different types of lenses, with many different abilities and functions. For photographers who are keen being on the move, their is the Fixed Focal Length Lens. This lens has a ‘no zoom’ capability - meaning that to zoom in and out your must come closer to or move further away from your subject. In contast, a Zoom Lens enables the photographer to zoom in and out quickly and simply, bringing more or less of your chosen image into view.

Want a photo of that tiny butterfly with all it’s beautiful markings? You’re after a Macro Lens. This lens gives you the advantage of taking extremely close up images, with fantastic definition and quality. If you wish to take a photo of a wide expanse, such as 180 degrees, you will need a Fisheye Lens. A cirular Fisheye Lens can give a rounded effect to the image, if that is what you desire.

Finally, there is a Lens Doubler, which is a lens that is added to another lens. So, if you have a 50mm lens on your DSLR and you add a Lens Doubler, you will wind up with a 100mm lens. When you come on down to Kirk’s cameras be sure to speak to our experienced staff about your specific needs, and we will find you the perfect lens to match not only your camera, but also your photo!

In this day and age there is nothing more exciting than being able to playback significant moments and experiences in your lifetime. Kirk’s Cameras want to help you in capturing your baby’s first words and steps, along with weddings or sporting events. However there are many options out there to assist you, and our team wants to make sure you get the perfect camcorder or video camera for you!

We are now in a time in which we are able to not only watch our favourite movies - we are able to see how the movie is made! Often viewers observe the huge, bulky looking cameras and microphones used on set. These are known as video cameras, and they capture purely a moving image. In 1981, Kodak invented the fantastic camcorder, which captures not only the moving footage, but also records the sounds that go with that important image. 

Camcorders are a compact and attractive new piece of technology, with clever capabilities. We can share our footage via the internet, or play it back on the television. There is a huge range of camcorders and video capturing devices on the market, so come on in and see our friendly and knowledgable team who will help you pick out the perfect camcorder for you!

At Kirk’s Cameras our team have a large amount of customers come in to our camera store asking us to explain the difference between a digital camera and a digital SLR camera. When choosing and purchasing your new camera, this is an important element of photography that you need to know.

For starters - ‘SLR’ stands for Single Lens Reflex. This means that the lens can be removed and replaced as needed. A regular SLR camera is a conventional film based SLR camera whilst a digital SLR (DSLR) is a digital SLR camera. DSLR or SLR cameras compared to a digital camera are far more complex to use, as certain functions and settings within the camera have to be manually set - such as focus, shutter speed and zoom. These are aspects of a digital camera that most people take for granted, as they are automatically set within the camera. These days, for your benefit, most DSLRs have some pre-set automatic functions - this being the beauty of digital cameras! Along with this, a DSLR can have the lens removed and replaced, meaning that the photographer can take extremely close up images at an incredible quality.

A DSLR camera can offer you the ability to become a very skilled photographer, producing some high quality photographs. When you come in to Kirk’s Cameras, our friendly staff will be more than willing to assist you in making your choice between a digital camera and a digital SLR camera.

When you come on in to purchase your brand new Digital Camera at Kirk’s Cameras, our friendly staff will be more than happy to assist you in finding the perfect camera for your photography needs. We know how daunting it can be looking at so many makes and models, with so many different functions and abilities! Let’s have a look at a few tips to help you out when buying a new digital camera…

There is nothing more frustrating than than being in the middle of an important experience in your life and having the battery life of your digital camera zip down to nothing. Upon coming in to find yourself a new camera, consider quizzing our team on which models will have the best and most reliable battery life, as you’ll want your battery power to keep you going for extended periods of time!

Some avid photographers out there simply want to post their images on the web, however others wish to get their photos tranformed into large print outs. When considering your new digital camera, you will need to think about how many megapixels you are going to use, and the model you choose can have an impact on this decision. The megapixels on a camera can range anywhere from 2 megapixels to 8 megapixels, so if you plan to create huge images to decorate your walls you will need a camera with 5 megapixels or above, to capture as much detail as you can.

There are other simple elements you must consider when buying your new digital camera, such as finding a decent optical zoom and user friendly controls and functions, with all of the options you feel you will need. Our courteous staff can’t wait to help you find exactly what you’re after, so come on in and we’ll make buying a digital camera a pleasant, fun and easy experience!