Point And Shoot Camera Reviews

All right, you love taking photos but aren't quite ready for a DSLR yet. Not to worry, today we have some DSLR killers that you might not be able to live without.

Pros and Cons. With DSLR's you can get great photos with nice blurry backgrounds. You have many interchangeable lens options along with tons of accessories such a lighting ect.

Downside to DSLR's starts with price. They can cost you thousands of dollars including accessories. It is not uncommon to spend $5,000 or more on such a set-up. These cameras can also be heavy and bulky making them and accessories hard to transport.

Point and shoot cameras. You can carry them in your pocket, no need to purchase extra expensive lenses. Relatively simple to use.

Downside to point and shoot cameras they lack a little in creativity as you cannot control depth of field in most cases. Also you cannot photograph from very far away, such as trying to capture photos at an event, you just won't get the reach.

Here is a video reviewing the Sony DSC-RX100 MII Cyber Shot





 Hope you enjoyed this review. You can purchase the camera Here and see what others are saying about it. Here is another point and shoot you might like by Canon. It is the powershot G16 with 12.1 MP CMOS Sensor. It boast a 1080P video mode and provides outstanding low light performance with ISO 12800 capability. Plus this point and shoot is a little more affordable than the Sony Above.

See how others have rated this camera Here Also here is a video review of it to see for yourself.





If you enjoyed this video and found it useful in picking out your point and shoot visit this Link to save $50.00.

Thanks for reading our point and shoot camera review post and we hope you found it interesting as well as helpful in choosing your next point and shoot camera.

Using Continuous Lights For Photography

  Hi everybody, this is Martin Maven and I am glad to have you back. If you are here for the first time, welcome! If you are a regular viewer I thank you for returning. I hope you will find this particular post helpful as well as interesting. I truly love being a photographer as well as an instructor. I love helping people achieve their goals so here we go.

Have you used regular speedlights in the past, only to leave you desiring better performance? Are you in a transitional phase stepping up to a more professional level, such as adding a home studio? If you answered yes to any of these questions you are going to want to watch the video below and see what you have been missing. You will learn how to use the Profoto Studio Strobe It can be used as a flash, or even as a continuous light for photos or video work. I is also much more powerful than any speedlite, or even set of speedlites combined.
 

Wedding photographers might find this strobe to particularly intriguing for their work.This video was very informative as it showed all of this flashes best features and how it can be extremely useful for you in your photography endeavors. You can purchase the awesome Profoto Studio Strobe here 

Which Camera Should You Buy

Which Camera Should You Buy? That is not an easy answer. The Panasonic GH4 takes the impressive specs and performance of the GH3 and kicks it up a notch. The video below will show a review of the GH4, C100, BMPC4k   against each other to determine which is right for you.

See what others are saying about the GH4 Here

See what they say about the C100 Here
Watch this great full video review down below



 To purchase the GH4 just click Here for the lowest price possible and guaranteed through Amazon.

To purchase the C100 click here for best price!

YN568 EXII High Speed Sync Test

 So you want to see what the YN568 EXII can do in high speed sync? Well you are not alone. The YN568 EX II is what is known as a Canon 580 EX II killer. It possesses almost all of the same features for a fraction of the price. Canon cost over $500 brand new, while the YN568 EXII is only around $124.00

High speed sync is needed when you want your speedlite to perform properly over 1/200 or 1/250 of a second depending on the brand of camera you own. You often need high speed sync when shooting outdoors during brighter daylight conditions. To see this type of flash trigger a manual flash not capable of high speed sync on its own I have made this video for you. It will save you both time and money. You will need the YN568EXII as a Master and a much cheaper YN560 Speedlite as well to fire off camera.

The YN560 Speedlite is very simple and affordable, see what others are rating this flash Here

The YN568EXII can be purchased Here to save $61.00 !

Watch this video I have made to show you exactly how this YN568EXII works to trigger a manual flash.



Hope you enjoyed the video. If you have any questions or concerns please ask. Thanks a lot and hope you enjoy your new flashes!

How To Use Off Camera Flash Triggers

Hello photographers! Yes no matter which level you are at, you are a photographer if you are reading this blog because it shows your level or seriousness. So you want to learn how to use wireless flash triggers for some awesome off-camera flash you hear everybody rave about? Of course you do. Here we will make it easy as well as affordable for you to do so.

Yongnuo is is Chinese made product that is quickly making its mark in the world of photography! It was once considered obscure and mediocre by pro photographers and critics. Now the brand rivals that of Canon, Nikon, Sony and other top brands for less than half the price! I use the products myself and have yet for them to let me down.

Here is a great video showing how to set up these wireless YN-622N transceivers.




Please let me know if you liked that video and found it helpful.
You can purchase the Yongnuo YN-622N for a great price (Here)

You will also need a kick butt flash to go with that, I highly suggest the YN-568 EX II. Compared to a Canon 580 EX II which cost over $500, the YN-568 EX II has almost all the same features and performance for less than half the price. Buy here to save additional money YN-568 EX II

To use off camera flash effectively you will need additional items such as light stands, shoot through umbrellas/softboxes, flash grids, reflectors etc. Soft boxes are a more controlled light source with less spill light that can be properly utilized outdoors that are more resistant to wind Lastolite



*keywords- lighting kits for beginners, flash photography, how to use speedlites, yongnuo yn-560 II, yongnuo yn-568 EX II, affordable lighting kits, photography lighting kits, lights stands, photography light stands, cowboy studio light stands

How To Use Lastolite Ezy Box By Damien Lovegrove

Damien Lovegrove, Lastolite Ezy Box, How to use soft box, beginner photography, photography tutorials, photography tutorials 2014, Lastolite ezy box hot shoe, affordable speedlites,

Hello readers, I Martin Maven, a photographer and instructor would like to introduce a Professional Photographer by the name of Damien Lovegrove. He is an awesome photographer with a great eye for creativity and he is an excellent teacher as well! Here is the video so you can watch and learn the easy way. I will post links after the video of where you can get the products used during this video.




Here is the link to purchase this awesome soft box http://amzn.to/1pOr7Zk save time and money and buy now. Affordable light stands here Light Stands

Want speedlites or flashes that rival Canon and Nikon that usually cost up to $600 or more per flash for under $100 a piece? You are in luck, try out these great flashes for less than half the cost Affordable Flash

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial, I will be hosting photography lessons live in Arizona for all who might be interested. Good day to you all.

Damien Lovegrove, Lastolite Ezy Box, How to use soft box, beginner photography, photography tutorials, photography tutorials 2014, Lastolite ezy box hot shoe, affordable speedlites,

SnapChick reviewing the Flora Lighting Kit in Bikini Top

Attention SnapChick fans! She is here again this time wearing a bikini top while reviewing the Flora Lighting Kit.

SnapChick takes a lot of self-portraits so she stresses how easy continuous  lights are for this situation verses using strobes.

She shows how to assemble the light kit and demonstrates different types of lighting set up such as one, two and three light set-up.











Here is her full video showing it all, enjoy! Also if you like the lighting kit below you can buy it here Flora Lighting Kit




You can purchase the Linco lighting kit she used on her video here! Linco

SnapChick - Canon Rebel T3i / 600D Review

Hey everybody I am back to discuss a Canon Rebel T3i/600D Review by SnapChick!

So you are thinking about purchasing a Canon Rebel T3i or 600D DSLR camera? Well I have one myself and absolutely love it and I am seriously thinking about buying a second Canon T3i DSLR as a back-up camera. See what others are saying about the Canon T3i Here
Adorama was kind enough to send a Canon T3i/600D DSLR for her to review, I don't know if she was allowed to keep it.

Specification include 18 MP Crop Sensor which she says is plenty for entry level DSLR cameras.

Custom white balance settings are available on this camera. SnapChick goes over all of the details such as the 9 auto focus points, picture style settings that allow for a custom look, and three auto focus functions.

This camera's variable auto focus functions make it suitable to photograph still life as well as moving wildlife!

You can skip the basic modes, like portrait, auto, and scene basic modes such as sports mode for freezing motion. Well you don't have to take my word for it. Watch her video below and see for yourself.





SnapChick sums up that the Canon T3i or 600D which is actually the same camera, is perfect for beginners or those just starting out because of its high quality for the price and its ease of use. If you enjoy SnapChick be sure to check out our next blog/video tutorial and review. Buy the Canon T3i Now

To Purchase this camera for the best price possible click here

Car Show Photography Tips With Tony Northrup!

Okay beginner photographers, today we have Tony and Chelsea Northrup here demonstrating how to take car show photos. Car show photography tips with Tony Northrup!

I am a YouTube photographer, my name is Martin Maven. I have my particular areas of expertise which mainly consist of portrait style photos. Today I have outsourced a bit and brought in Tony and Chelsea to show you how this is done!

You can buy Tony's Book Stunning Digital Photography that covers so many useful aspects of photography that you are going to love!



I hope that you found Tony and Chelsea's video useful. Tony and Chelsea you are more than welcomed for the boost! You might also want to check us out at  The Gull for photography related videos and much more!




People who purchased Stunning Digital Photography Also Purchased Some Of The Books Below.

How To Create An Infinite White Background For Portraits

Hello photographers! So you want to make an infinite white background like the one I took on the left of the page? Well I don't blame you. Nothing makes a photo look more professional and nice than an infinite white background. You don't have to worry about lugging around a bunch of backdrops that get wrinkled, dirty and even torn. You can turn almost any wall into an infinite white background.

This blog is intended for beginners so I will start off easy and simple. You need to have three different zones. The lighting of your wall, lighting of your subjects and camera distance from your subjects which will all be about equal in relation to each other. Let's just say speedlites will be six feet away from the wall, your separate lighting for your subjects six feet away and you with your camera around six feet away from them. These measurements are merely a guideline, there are many variances that can alter this arrangement and you will have to adjust accordingly.

If you are indoors this can be much easier and you can just set up your camera settings and then you will not really need to change them as you will be in a controlled environment. This can be done outdoors but with a higher difficulty level as you will have to deal with changes in ambient light due to time of day and or weather conditions, but it can be done like the photo at the top was taken in an underground parking garage.

I use Yongnuo YN-560 II speedlites and Cowboy Studio Shoot through umbrellas as well as their radio triggers.

Here is the list of equipment you will need to create your infinite white background, use the links provided to save money and time, I have done all of the research for you.

Yongnuo YN-560 II Speedlite-http://amzn.to/1AnWwcF

Cowboy Studio Radio Triggers-http://amzn.to/WJbRp5

Cowboy Studio Strobist kit that includes umbrella, stand and bracket-http://amzn.to/1rJWlpM

I find video much easier to show you photography how-to such as this, here is the video I made especially for you!  Click here to watch now

Photography For Beginners

Hello everybody! My name is Martin Maven and first off I would like to thank you for taking that first step toward learning the basics of photography. I also do not consider myself a "Pro" by any means, but I would like to share what I have learned over the years with all of you. I am a born teacher by nature, I love to show others how to do something they don't know how to do. So let's get started!

This particular post is geared toward individuals who are brand new to the photography world. If you have never picked up a DSLR camera in your life this post is for you!

Much like you I dreamt of taking professional awesome photos with out of focus blurry backgrounds, and had no idea how to start. I had never even held a DSLR camera in my hands before so making that first move to go to Best Buy and get my camera seemed very daunting.

I had read some camera reviews between Nikon and Canon. From what I heard I decided to go with an entry level Canon T3i and I have never regretted my decision.

There are many camera brands out there so do your research and go with a brand that feels comfortable to you. You don't need to buy the most expensive camera out there either. The camera I use cost just under $400 and it can hang with the best of them.

Now what do you want to photograph? People, cars, landscapes? Or all of the above? Do you just want to do it as a hobby and take some really cool pictures, or do you want to go pro and make some money with your photography skills?

If you want to take pictures of people, most do, here is a photo from a photo shoot I had today with very popular model Noley Ryan from Tempe Arizona.

As you can see she is very beautiful and a great model! She is wearing a hoodie made by Zippy Girl Clothing, a new and upcoming clothing line popular amongst fashion minded girls with a Zippy attitude!

This photo was taken at the Peoria Library in Arizona. I used a single shoot through umbrella with a Yongnuo YN-560 II speed light, "off camera flash unit" triggered by Cowboy Studio FM Radio Trigger model NPT-04.

The lens I used was a 50mm 1.8 Canon lens. The sunlight was too bright to open it up to 1.8 so I dialed it in at around f4 and still maintained a relatively shallow depth of field. If the sun was bright why did I feel the need to use a flash you probably wonder? It was because the sun was to her back leaving the front of her and her face underexposed without the flash used for "fill light."

Okay, if all of what I just said sounds like total rubbish to you then you are not alone. What the heck is this guy talking about? Some might say, losing you talking about depth of field and blah, blah, blah.

I am going to start with the very basics covering camera functions and settings. Since I own a Canon t3i I will show you how to use one. You can implement many of the features I show you with whatever brand of camera you choose.

Look at the layout of the top view of the camera carefully. You can easily see the on and off lever, you want to turn it on. The large dial to the left of the on/off switch is for various program modes. The M stands for manual mode. I want you all to start off learning this mode first. Manual mode offers you the most freedom out of any other mode. It will allow you to take control of all functions such as ISO, "light sensitivity", aperture value, picture style, shutter speed and more. That being said it can be the hardest mode to use...but don't worry I will make it easy for you my friends, trust me.

The AV on the dial stands for Aperture Value, The TV stands for time value and the P is program mode. The little camera on the tripod symbol is for recording video. I will teach video functions later on, let's learn how to take pictures first.

So turn on your camera. Now you will need to flip out your display screen if you have not done that already. Now the rear of your camera will be your focus. Make sure your battery and memory card are inserted in the camera. The screen prompt will ask for setting the date and time so do that. You will need to navigate with the directional pad on the back of the camera. Here is a picture.

The five way pad the says, WB, AF and Set is what you will use. Just look at the direction of the arrows on the pad and that is the direction the cursor will move when you press it. Use the Set button to select, sort of like pressing Enter on a computer keyboard.

Let's start from the very top left and work our way to the right and down. The Menu button is self explanatory, it takes you to a menu of various settings and features. The info button will toggle the screen display, the button with the camera icon and red dot next to its upper left is the video record button. The two round buttons with the magnifying glasses underneath them are for zooming in and out in view finder. Not the same as zooming in and out with your lens. The AV button is for adjusting your aperture and the Q button is for selecting individual items to adjust on your display screen. The right facing triangle in a box is for displaying photos or videos you have taken. The little trash can icon is for deleting photos or videos you have taken that are on your memory card.

In fact here is a cheat sheet made by Julie Adair King, hopefully you find it helpful.

The Canon Rebel T3i/600D Digital Camera Layout Here's a guide to the buttons, dials, and other external controls on your Digital Rebel T3i/600D. The lens shown in this digital camera is the Canon EF-S 18–55mm IS (Image Stabilization) model sold with the Rebel; other lenses may vary.

Exposure Mode Quick Guide for Your Canon Rebel T3i/600D Digital Camera

Your T3i/600D offers the following exposure modes, which you select via the Mode dial on top of the camera. Your choice is important because it determines how much control you have over picture-taking settings.
Note: Modes described as automatic scene modes in the table offer fully automatic photography but enable you to alter color and exposure slightly through the Shoot by Ambience and Shoot by Lighting or Scene Type features.

As you can see everything is clearly labeled and all program modes explained very well.
Like I said before I don't consider myself a full pro photographer, I am still learning just as you are. I have learned my knowledge from photographers such as Matt Granger, 'That Nikon Guy', Snapchick, Micheal Zelbel, Jared Polin, Photographers on Utube, and Tony Northrup. To get the best price on a Canon T3i Click Here To Buy Now.


I highly recommend purchasing Jared Polin's photography guide to get you out of trying to use only the automatic mode on your new camera. If you only want to use auto mode you are better off just getting a much cheaper point and shoot camera because your photos are never going to look as good as they can that way. Separate yourself from the rest and make your photos look absolutely superb! Here is the link to buy his 3 hour guide of never before seen video footage, he will show you everything you need to become a pro photographer, or just take much better pictures and fully understand how your camera works. Click Here To Buy Now

Jared Polin is an accomplished photographer whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine and countless other international publications. He has recently pointed his talents to the business world and established himself as an entrepreneur with incredible vision and impressive results. In 2010, Jared launched FroKnowsPhoto.com, a fun and informative website for photographers that provides guidance in the art, process, equipment and experience of capturing moments in photos. Jared’s unique style and media savvy helped him grow the site’s audience The popularity of his “I Shoot Raw” brand of merchandise has catapulted Jared and FroKnowsPhoto to worldwide recognition, creating a legion of fans and photographers of all skill levels who flock to the site for education and assistance.
In addition to being a renowned photographer and online superstar, Jared is a trusted advisor and consultant to brands and companies looking to expand their online visibility.A recognizable personality at social media business and photo conferences around the United States, Jared is a sought-after speaker and a leading expert on photography and the use of content development and marketing.

This is Martin Maven, thank all very much for reading my first photography blog. I hope that you have found it useful and I wish you all good luck with your photography. Please comment and let me know what you think. Feel free to share this post with your friends and family.