For those on the hunt for a DSLR designed for the pros, this could be your next camera. The Nikon D3S is a refinement of the highly popular Nikon D3 - which set the standards high amongst professionals around the world. Perfect for speed photographers and photo journalists, the Nikon D3S is perfect for those looking for an upgrade - including brand new updated features such as a 720p/24fps HD video mode and a new Hi3 extended sensitivity setting that allows stills and movie capture at a whopping ISO 102,400.

Although this clever DSLR may appear chunky, it fits into the hand like a glove, providing comfort and confidence in your skills. The outer design is user friendly; with all buttons and functions smartly marked for ease of use. The features of this exciting DSLR camera are never ending - so we’ve narrowed down some of the most intriguing to add to our list.

• 12.1 Megapixel Sensor
• ISO 200 - 12,800 (ISO 100 - 102,400 in Boost Mode)
• 720p/24 fps HD Movie Mode
• 11fps in Continuous Shooting Mode
• Larger buffer for 48 RAW frames in one burst
• Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor
• In-camera RAW Processing
• Nikon EXPEED Image Processor
• Super Fast Operation   
• Auto-focus - tracking by color  
• Scene Recognition System
• Dual Compact Flash card slots
• Compact Flash
• 3.0 Inch LCD monitor
• Virtual horizon - indicates if camera is level
• HDMI HD video output
• Detailed ‘Control Panel’ type display on monitor
• Buttons sealed against moisture
• Dual battery charger as standard

If you believe that this camera sounds perfect for your next project, be sure to come right on in to Kirk’s Cameras in the heart of Ringwood - we will give you in-depth information, reviews and a demonstration of the Nikon D3S.

With some of Australia’s leading camera manufacturers turning their heads toward touch screen digital cameras, how are we to know what’s good and what’s bad? The new Nikon Coolpix S230 is a great place to start - combining simplicity, style and quality into one to create a top-of-the-range touch screen digital camera.

Blending the use of an infamous, high quality Nikkor lens alongside the strong performance benefits of Nikon’s Expeed digital image-processing concept, this camera is sure to impress. A large 10 megapixel sensor guarantees that you will capture everything from near to far - with rich, sharp image quality. The 3 inch touch control LCD screen offers a world of editing and capturing options, for any skill level. If you are not accustomed to a touch screen style, the screen may take some getting used to.

The Nikon Coolpix S230 comes in a sleek, strong aluminium design that is suited to any individual. There is the option to select silver, red or purple - expanding options for any taste. The camera is certainly user friendly - with simplicity that means little bedtime manual reading. However, becoming a master of the touch screen may take a couple of goes. There are many features and abilities that will assist to make any photographer look like a pro, such as Food Mode and Sports Mode. Here are a few key features:

Be sure to come in to Kirk’s Cameras in Ringwood today, to check out this fantastic new digital camera by Nikon. Our staff are happy to help out, provide information and handy demonstrations.

Here at Kirk’s, we speak to many customers who aren’t quite sure about purchasing a digital SLR camera - and this is when we eagerly show them Fuji’s FinePix S200exr. This compact, relatively light-weight digital camera looks identical to a DSLR camera, delivering some top quality, DSLR-like results. So, if you’re busily hunting for that perfect Christmas gift of a quality digital camera, look no further!

The FinePix S200exr encorporates a super intelligent flash technology, that allows you to take flash-assisted macro shots with the ideal balance of flash output and sensitivity. This flash system captures both the subject and background in bright, clear details over the full flash range - no matter how close or far away the subject may be!

With a high quality 2.7 inch LCD screen, you are able to tilt the camera to almost any angle and still clearly view your screen, in rich, brilliant colours. There is no dimming or reflecting, providing you with flexibility at any angle. The newly developed electronic viewfinder is designed to offer the same kind of viewing experience as an optical finder, displaying dramatically improved responsiveness and colour accuracy.

The new Exr Mode helps you to improve clarity, reduce noise, increase dynamic range, or let the camera automatically adjust settings to suit the scene. There are a large ten different Shooting Modes that can be selected to assist in enhancing your photos. Ontop of this, there are also another sixteen Scene Position functions to choose from, specially designed to suit any situation. Some of these include Pro Low-light Mode, Portrait Enhancer, Fireworks, Text and much more.

To find out more about the Fuji FinePix S200exr, come on in to Kirk’s Cameras in Ringwood today, and we will give you the low-down on this fantastic digital camera!

The Samsung ST550 is a breakthrough in the digital camera world - hosting two LCD screens for your convenience and fun! With a 1.5 inch front LCD, and a 3.5 inch back LCD touch screen, anything can be made a reality! Get ready to take some creative, rich and sharp shots with this brand new camera!

The front LCD features ‘Children Mode’ for fun and simple animation that captures those special expressions only kids can make - keeping them entertained and smiling. You can be assured that your timing is always perfect with the built-in Self Timer, which is great for those groups shots of you and your friends or family. The camera has an information centre that can assist you with Shutter tips and Funtion messages or information.

You will be able to see each and every detail with 1,152K High Resolution - even before and during that perfect shot. Any movement that you make will be sensed by the camera and used appropriately. The Samsung ST550 also features a 27mm Wide Angle Lens, for capturing landscapes and group shots. A huge 12.2 megapixels guarantees that you will see it all at the best quality, along with full HD video capturing abilities.

To find out more about the Samsung ST550, give the team from Kirk’s Cameras in Ringwood a call today, or come in and visit. Keep your eyes peeled for more information on the Samsung ST550 on our blog!

Canon have a selection of entry level cameras to suit any photographer - and today we are focusing on the Canon EOS 500D. This fantastic DSLR camera can make any avid photographer look like a pro, capturing high quality, sharp and rich photos with ease. Let’s take a look at some exciting features…

High Quality Images
15.1 mega pixel Canon-developed CMOS sensor captures superb image quality with low noise and natural colours.
Superior Processing
New DiG!C 4 Processor means faster processing, and new features such as Live Face Detection AF Mode.
Sharp Focusing
9-point AF and 6-point Assist AF for ultra sharp images.
Fast Shooting
Continuous smooth shooting speed of 3.4 frames per second. 
Sharper Previews
3.0 inch (920,000 dots) LCD screen with anti-reflection and anti-smudge coating for clear photo previews. Cleaner Images
Prevents and automatically removes tiny dust particles resulting in cleaner images

These are simply a few of the exciting features that the Canon EOS 500D has to offer. Come on in to Kirk’s Cameras in Melbourne today, or give us a call, and we will help you out with all of your entry level DSLR needs!

The Pentax X70 digital camera is one of Pentax’s most recent releases in their digital camera range - and is becoming highly popular. With its sleek, professional appearance, and DSLR-like qualities, this digital camera can assist you in taking professional, strong images in no time.

The Pentax X70 features a high-magnification 24x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilisation and wide-angle to super-telephoto coverage. The camera is easily portable, and perfect for day-to-day casual shooting, sports events on the weekend or more formal photography. Here are some of the specifications and their benefits to you:

12 Megapixels – delivers high quality, sharp and rich photos in prints up to an A2 size.
Dual Image Stabilisation – CCD shift optical stabilisation plus Digital Shake Reduction help to reduce blurred images due to shaky hands, subject movement or when shooting in low-light conditions.
Auto Picture Mode - automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene by detecting the subject’s lighting and other conditions.
26mm Wide Angle 24x Optical Zoom Lens - ideal for close-ups and distant shots, such as landscapes and group shots.
ISO to 6400 - this will help you take better photos in those low lighting environments.
Face Recognition – focuses and sets correct exposure on faces.
1cm Macro – take stunning close-ups as near as 1cm from your subject.
Blink Detection – gives warning signal when detecting closed eyes in the photo previously taken.
High Speed Continuous Shooting - capture the subject continuously at a maximum speed of approximately 11 images per second.
Smile Detection - this function automatically releases the shutter the instant it detects the subject’s smile in frame.
Full Manual Controls – for greater control over the camera, allowing you to be more creative.
2.7” LCD plus Electronic Viewfinder – 230,000-dot LCD with Anti-Reflection coating makes it easier to see your images in daylight. It is also great to use the electronic viewfinder when faced with strong backlight or to improve grip for greater camera stability.

Come on in to Kirk’s Cameras today, and we will give you a demonstration of this fantastic new digital camera!

Using a camera flash always comes in handy when shooting images indoors, during the night or on a cloudy day. They can bring out the best in a darker, dimmer photo - often capturing elements in a scene that the human eye would not normally recognise. Not only does it light up and brighten a deep, dark situation, it also brings focus and sharpness to the final image. The team at Kirk’s Cameras are often asked many questions about how to use the camera flash, and we would love to share some of our flash secrets with you today. Read on to find out some basic tips on using the flash to enhance your photos beautifully.

It is highly important to know the advantages of using the flash on your camera. These include:
Versatility - the quality of light may be adjusted various ways to suit you.
Portability - most flashguns can fit inside your pocket or in a small bag and are easily portable. Adjustability - brightness may be changed according to the distance from subject and lens aperture that is required.

It is also, however, important to recognise and work with the disadvantages of using a flash. These include:
Limited range - most flashes have a range of only a few meters, meaning less coverage.
Short duration - this limits the range of shutter speeds.
Heavy battery consumption - this limits the time you have to capture the perfect picture.

One of our very first tips to remember is to choose a flashgun that is right for you and your camera. The main types of flashguns include Hot Shoe Mounted, Bounce flash, Hammerhead flash, Ringflash and Slave flash. These all range in requirements and skill levels, and it is best to speak to a professional about your needs prior to purchasing - ensure that it is right for you!

Shutter speed plays a huge role in making the most of your flash, only working well at certain shutter speeds available on your camera. For example, if the shutter speed is set faster than your flash sync speed, you risk having only part of the picture frame exposed. It is also important to adjust the aperture, which controls all of the light entering the lens.

For something a little different, try using the flash on a lovely sunny day. Often a burst of flash can eliminate unwanted shadows on your subject’s face. It can make an image appear more natural, and light it up perfectly for the environment. Making the most of a camera flash is all about experimenting, so be sure to carry your camera everywhere, and practice, practice, practice!

If you would love a not-so-technical alternative to a DSLR camera, the PowerShot G11 can provide you with some of the best results possible! The PowerShot G11 delivers superior image quality with a 10.0 megapixel High-Sensitivity CCD sensor offering amazing low light capability - capturing images at DSLR-like standards.

The PowerShot G11 features a 28mm wide angle lens, 5x zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer and RAW mode, you can enjoy complete flexibility when editing and manipulating your photos. It is perfect for those photographers yearning for complete creative control; and taking stunning images at the same time with little effort. Some more of the features for this awesome new camera include:
 
- 10.0 megapixels with a High-Sensitivity CCD sensor delivers outstanding quality images in low light whilst reducing noise and blur
- A Dual Anti-Noise System expands the range of shooting situations by reducing noise and highlight blowouts, preventing blurring and making low light shooting possible
- Genuine Canon 5x optical zoom lens, helping you to take clear close-ups
- 28mm wide-angle lens allows you to shoot beautiful landscapes or capture great group shots
- RAW image recording giving you the highest image quality with complete flexibility during processing
- Optical Image Stabilizer for crisp shots even at high zoom or in low-light conditions without flash
- High resolution 2.8” Vari-angle LCD screen wide viewing angle allows you to capture the perfect shot at any angle 
- Low Light Mode ensures perfect shots are captured even in low-lit scenarios
- Get creative with your photography and enjoy full flexibility with manual control

To find out more about the Canon PowerShot G11, give the camera experts from Kirk’s Cameras a call today, and we will provide you with all of the information that you need!

The brand new Nikon DS3, released on the 14th of October 2009, is an exciting new option for those photographers looking for something a little higher in skill level. The DSLR camera has been designed for those individuals wishing to meet or beat a professional standard of photography. As the brother of the popular Nikon D3, the DS3 has been modified and perfected to the highest of quality.

With a vastly expanded dynamic range and 1,280 by 720-pixel HD video capture capability, this camera is one of the best. A huge 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor enables the camera to boast light sensitivity all the way to 12,800 in normal us. An enhanced mode can extend that range all the way to ISO 102,400 for settings with extremely low light. This can also be applied to video capture in high definition.

There are many more exciting functions now available on this ground-breaking DSLR camera, such as an improved 51-point autofocus speed, optimized sensor cleaning functions and a high speed mode that can capture approximately 9 frames per second. If you are interested in capturing video recordings with great sound, an external microphone can be used.

This camera has been heavily perfected to suit the requirements of any avid photographer, and is able to supply you with high quality, rich images and video recordings. Come on in to Kirk’s Cameras today in Ringwood, and we will tell you more about the Nikon DS3.

The Canon EOS 7D is making waves in the photography world - as a fantastic option for those semi-professional camera enthusiasts to take high quality images at a professional level. With its vast array of customisable settings, fancy features and helpful extras, this fantastic DSLR can make anyone with a clue look like a professional photographer.

In terms of weight and carrying the Canon EOS 7D, it is not difficult, however not light weight alike many new DSLR cameras on the market at current. Its stainless steel and polycarbonate body weighs 820 grams without a lens; meaning that you will need a secure, sturdy camera bag to keep it safe and protected at all times when not in use.

Despite weight and appearance, the Canon EOS 7D is a modern DSLR marvel for semi-professionals - incorporating some of the highest quality features available to date. The Canon EOS 7D is the first Canon DSLR camera to feature two D!GIC 4 Image Processors; this giving the camera a large speed boost in order to take 8 JPEG images per second for up to 90 photos. Using this technology also speeds up Live View, for tose who are not so savvy with a viewfinder.

What is also very impressive about the Canon EOS 7D’s features is the 19 cross-type points of autofocus and the boost to its light sensitivity - now ranging from 100 to 6400 ISO and can be pushed out to 12,800 ISO if required. Image noise is also improved in this DSLR camera, with little noise evident even in photos taken at 1600 ISO.

Even with all of these exciting technical features, the Canon EOS 7D is obtaining most of its popularity via the full High-Definition video shooting mode - which the DSLR handles perfectly well. Video can be recorded at a full HD rate of 1080p and at 30, 25 or 24 frames per second for smooth results. The in-built microphone is sufficient, however some professionals may feel the need to use an external microphone. The Canon EOS 7D, when used well, can capture extremely high-quality, film like video in a matter of seconds.

In addition, a Picture Style button on the back of the camera lets you switch between nine different creative colour styles in a quick fasion. A Q button shows your current settings on the screen, and if you press the RAW/JPEG button and the camera will take the following photo in both formats. Clicking on the Info Button twice brings a digital level onto the screen to ensure the horizon appears as it should in your landscape photos.

So, if you are looking for a semi-professional digital SLR camera the Canon EOS 7D is perfect for you. Come on in to Kirk’s Cameras today, and we will give you a demonstration and some more facts about this great DSLR.