Complementing Syntagma’s network of websites, including Digital Camera Latest, we will shortly launch Syntagma Photographic from its own studios here at HQ.

Initially, we will shoot most of the pictures used across the network. Eventually, they will be posted online and offered for sale, firstly to other website users, then in hard-copy form by mail order.

All our photos will be flagged “Image by Syntagma Photographic”.

We haven’t had a major expansion of the public business for quite some time, so it obviously gives us great pleasure to start growing again in the midst of this dangerous downturn.

Antiques Emporium : Image by Syntagma Photographic.

Some time ago, the megapixel race started again, with suppliers rushing out pixels by the Millions.
Hoping, of course, to have us rushing out for the shop and buy such a nice topmodel.

At the same time, it’s funny to hear specialists warn for too many pixels… what’s going on?
Camera manufacturers use so called CCD sensors, like the Sharp 6 MP chip shown in the picture. Nowadays, you can buy them with no less then ten million (mega) pixels on a small surface. How much is that… check out these resolutions:

• most pictures on this blog: 0.15 megapixel
• your computer screen: 0.8 - 1.3
• required for a 4″ x 6″ print: 2 - 3
• for a big 16″ x 24″ print: 6

However, there are times I’m very, very lucky with every megapixel: especially when I can’t get close enough to the subject. On my computer, I simply cut the part I like out of the image.

So if you need to crop out images regularly, consider a large MP number. If you don’t, spend the money on a nicer, smaller, easier model. Or a big zoom, so you don’t have to crop your images so often!

There is a lot of buzz going on in digitalcamera land: every models seems to need an image stabilizer.
Is that true - and is it really helpful to build them into very small compact cameras?

Digitalcamerainfo decided to take the test and put 5 modern compacts into a difficult test to show what they are worth.

And: that’s a lot! Maybe there is no ideal camera doing everything perfect, but the test shows that image stabilizing is very, very helpful. Many hopeless cases can be prevented if you turn this feature on!

Read more at Digitalcamerainfo.

Macro photography is a very nice way to explore the small, but spectacular world we usually walk by…
Modern cameras have great macro capabilities, but it takes some time to master the skills.
Here are a few things to consider:

This is a superzoom in action: very nice and handy - but in a mirror the cam is very present at 2 cm distance…

Here a macrolens is used to get some distance from the object. The cam is a lot smaller now… Watch the small tripod.

Right: that looks good with controlled reflections… but the photographer should have used the self-timer and run away. The picture would have been better with a reflecting surface. Do not run off when you catch insects, though…