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!

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!

Are you a camera enthusiast who lives in Melbourne. Then you have to know Kirks Camera in Ringwood, Melbourne.

Here are some facts about this specialised camera shop in Ringwood:

1. staff is very friendly and very knowledgeable, many have backgrounds in the photo industry
2. large range or cameras, digital slrs and many other photography products and accessories
3. camera service department
4. product demonstration available

They can help you get the best out of your photography. Staff are highly dedicated camera professionals that will assist you to find the gear that is right for you.

They are happy spending time in store chatting with you about your photographic, video or astronomy needs. This allows you to find the best photo equipment. Kirks stock a large array of digital cameras, digital slrs, video cameras, binoculars, telescopes, memory cards, batteries, filters, lenses, bags and a whole lot more.

TOKYO, May 8, 2008—Four Canon products were recognized with “Best Product 2008″ awards by the prestigious Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), representing 30 photography and imaging magazines across 13 European countries.

The Canon PIXMA MP970 (PIXUS MP970 in Japan) inkjet all-in-one was selected as “Best Multifunction Photo Printer in Europe 2008.” Summing up the appeal of the PIXMA MP970 in just four words—”Photos and more besides!”—the judges highlighted the model’s use of seven inks in separate cartridges for “natural color rendition,” and Canon’s 9,600 x 2,400 dpi FINE printhead, which ensures “superb photo quality in terms of color reproduction, detail and sharpness.”

The judges crowned the Canon CanoScan 8800F as “Best Flatbed Photo Scanner in Europe 2008.” The TIPA jury noted that the 4,800 x 9,600 dpi CanoScan 8800F, capable of scanning up to twelve 35mm slides or negatives at a time, “provides consumers with a solution for all photo archiving needs.” The scanner also earned kudos for its Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement (FARE) Level 3 technology, which corrects for the effects of dust, scratches, color fading and graininess, and high-luminance white LED lamp, which “virtually eliminates warm-up time and allows for scanning to begin instantaneously from its sleep mode.”

Winners of TIPA’s European Photo & Imaging Awards are selected annually from among the photo and imaging products launched in Europe during the previous 12 months from June to May. Canon products have been recognized for excellence with multiple awards spanning both input and output devices. An awards ceremony for the 2008 winners will be held on September 23 during this year’s Photokina fair in Cologne, Germany.

Source: canon.com

Kirks Cameras Melbourne now also offers an online resources section for all you camera enthusiasts.