Posts Tagged ‘Should’

LCD Monitor vs CRT Measurements – What You Should Know Before You Buy

LCD monitors are not the same size as CRT monitors. LCD monitors are actually larger for the same sized CRT monitor! Monitor measurements are measured diagonally. Since the advent of the television, this has been the industry standard for screen measurements. When computer monitors hit the scene, the measurement became the diagonal measurement of the tube itself, not the actual viewable screen. When you look at your monitor, there is a plastic box that houses your CRT tube and other components, but when you look at the front of your monitor, there is probably an inch or more of framework around your picture tube. This hides the rest of the CRT tube that is enclosed within the box.

Now take a ruler or tape measure, and measure the actual image you are viewing, measure diagonally, and you will see that the actual measurement is smaller than the monitors claimed size. For example, my 19 inch CRT monitor, measuring the actual image from the bottom left hand corner of the picture to the upper right hand corner is actually 17.25 inches, or in other words, only .25 inches larger than 17 inches, if the monitor measurement were the actual viewing screen this 19 inch monitor would only qualify as a 17 inch LCD monitor. This is where the LCD measurement comes in.

Led Lcd

LCD monitors are measured by actual viewable area of the screen. They do not have a large rounded out tube beyond the screen, it is a flat panel of Liquid Crystals behind which are a series of tube lights that shine through the color crystals to illuminate your display. A 17 inch LCD monitor is 17 inches diagonally, a 19 inch monitor is 19 inches diagonal or about 1.75 inches larger than my example of the CRT tube.

Another little known glich in monitor measurements is how the diagonal measurement of a widescreen monitor reduces the overall height of the monitor which in turn reduces the actual size of a standard 4:3 to a smaller size. Example: If you purchase a 32 inch widescreen TV and watch a standard broadcast movie in it’s original format, you in essence are watching a 26 inch television. A more in depth look at how this measurement effects the full screen format, please read my Widescreen article. [http://www.thegourdreserve.com/dailysaleswidescreen.shtml]

LCD Monitor vs CRT Measurements – What You Should Know Before You Buy

Should Students Have To Wear School Uniforms?

The great debate continues about should students have to wear school uniforms? There is no definitive answer as it entirely depends upon the persons beliefs. There are benefits for some children who wear uniforms and disadvantages to others.

The main reason schools in America choose not to allow their students to wear their own clothes is because of the gangs. Having a uniform stops gang members from displaying their colours and garb. The schools also believe it helps stop violence and helps instill a sense of pride in the students. It also helps to break down the barriers between different socioeconomic groups.

Camera

Below are some opinions taken from a messageboard regarding the issue:

“I feel we should keep to the uniform. It sets an example of the school. It is representation the community. It is easy to point out different people. Also there would be more fights/bullly’s due to the lack of ‘fashion’. “

” Many schools throughout the U.S. force students grades kindergarten through twelfth to wear uniforms. Students who attend public schools should not have to wear uniforms for four reasons.

1. School uniforms inhibit studentsEUR(TM) individuality. Young people often express their feelings through the clothing that they wear. Uniforms will take away this form of expression. Why should school districts try to make everyone look the same?

2. A school uniform policy inhibits a student’s freedom of choice. Schools teach students that our country is a free one. But when school boards make students wear what they tell them too– it curtails the students’ freedom.

3. There is the issue of cost. Many parents shop for their children’s clothes at used and discount stores. Uniforms can cost more money than these families might be able to afford. Also, these students would need to buy additional clothing to wear after school and on the weekends. That’s double the amount of money a family would spend than they would without the uniforms.

4. The last reason I do not enjoy the thought of school uniforms is comfort. Students enjoy wearing comfortable clothing to school. Uniforms are not necessarily comfortable. Also, wearing a uniform might make the student uncomfortable around people outside the school who don’t have to wear a uniform.

If we want individuality, freedom, and comfort for students while keeping costs down for families, we should not have a school uniform policy for students who attend public schools. “

” In my opinion, right up to year 11 students/kids should have to wear school uniform, it stops all the arguments about who has the latest fashions etc.

But when you reach college or 6th form it should stop, because by then your old enough to know not to take the pee out of what people wear. Mind you saying that, most of the people at my 6th form were wallys. “

Should Students Have To Wear School Uniforms?

What Kind of Camera Should My Wedding Photographer Use?

If you are in the process of looking for a wedding photographer, chances are you will soon hear the terms: medium format, 35mm, and digital. Those are the three primary types of camera systems currently used by wedding photographers. We, the wedding photographers, have argued amongst ourselves for years as to which camera system is best. I’ll start by sharing with you about the different camera systems and will then give you my opinion of which camera system your wedding photographer should use.

Medium Format

Camera

For many years medium format has been the absolute best option. A medium format camera uses film that is 3 times the size of a 35mm negative– resulting in higher resolution images and beautiful enlargements, however, the cameras and processing costs are very expensive.

Primary advantages: high resolution negatives. Previously, the fact that a person owned a Medium Format camera was almost, in and of itself, a sign that they were a true “wedding photographer” (due to the expense of the system).

Disadvantages: expensive to operate (film costs are so high that some wedding photography books encourage medium format photographers to limit the photos they take); film can be lost or damaged during processing; slower to focus and operate.

35mm

For many years 35mm has had a bad reputation for providing poor quality enlargements — especially when compared to medium format. However, over the past 10 years the quality of 35mm film has improved tremendously. It is now a common format used by many professional photographers, especially those who use the photojournalistic style and shoot close to a thousand or more images on a wedding day.

Primary advantages to 35mm: fast (easy to quickly focus and shoot during), much improved quality of enlargements (many people would have a hard time telling the difference between a 35mm and medium format 8×10 enlargement).

Disadvantages: processing film is becoming more and more expensive, and film can be damaged or loss during processing. Many photographers that shoot film are now having the negatives scanned so that the files become a digital file.

Digital

Professional digital wedding photography has been a viable option since about the year 2000 (although some would argue that date). The quality of digital cameras has now reached a point where I now feel digital has surpassed the quality of medium format negatives. Keep in mind there is a broad variety of cameras, and a “professional” digital camera from 2004 that cost ,500 new will not capture the quality of images that a “pro-am” (a camera targeted to advanced amateurs and also professionals) from 2010 that costs ,000 will capture. “Digital camera” covers a massive spectrum of cameras and camera quality.

Primary digital advantages: instant review of images on the back of the camera; no film and processing costs (although the savings is offset by the additional computer time required to process the digital images); more control over the images (i.e., a slight rotation or cropping of an image is quick and easy with digital but requires a custom print from 35mm or medium format). Many digital cameras surpass the quality of even medium format.

Disadvantages: technology changes rapidly over time and cameras soon are outdated (although this doesn’t necessarily effect you, as the consumer). Memory cards are easier to lose than rolls of film (if your wedding photographer uses a digital camera, ask them how they make sure the photos arrive safely back at the studio).

So, which camera system should my photographer use?

No matter what you have been told – all three formats are a viable method for wedding photography. Some might be more expensive than others, but they all CAN produce good results. The fact is that all three systems can result in poor-quality photos, too. Many photographers use several of the camera systems. Some might use medium format for the formals but 35mm for the reception and ceremony coverage. Others will primarily shoot digital, but might bring film cameras as backup equipment.

This is the key: before signing a contract with a photographer, ask to see sample enlargements that were taken with the same equipment that would be used at your wedding. If you like the quality and color of the images, it doesn’t really matter whether 35mm, digital, or a medium format camera was used to record the image!

What Kind of Camera Should My Wedding Photographer Use?

What Kind of TV Should I Choose? Plasma, LCD or LED?

So you need a new TV. But what kind of TV do you want? There are so many TV options these days, that selecting the proper TV can be a hassle. Plasma, LCD, LED…which one should you choose? In this article we discuss each different type of TV, including the advantages and disadvantages of owning each type. With this information, you will be able to make an easy decision when choosing what kind of TV you want.

LCD TVs

Led Lcd

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. Because of the advent of LED, LCD is now starting to drop off in price. LCD was all the rage when it came out many years ago, and was very expensive. Now you can buy a nice size LCD for a good price. The advantages of LCD are as follows: – Very clear picture. LCD also has a longer life then plasma, in most cases. LCD looks better for high definition gaming, as well as blue-ray movies. Plasma is cheaper then LCD, but LCD looks better. – LCD is just as easy to smash as plasma if dropped. – LCD TVs will keep coming down in price while LED gains favor.

Plasma TVs

A plasma TV is now extremely cheap. However, there are some disadvantages to using plasma. This is mainly due to the gloss or haze that generally appears on the screen; you have to block the sun out of the room you put the plasma into or you can’t look at it. – Plasma is cheap now, but not rated to last as long as LCD. Plasma’s power regulation isn’t as good as LCD. Some users have used their plasma for years just to unplug it one day and not have it turn back on. – A plasma TV may or may not have a good warranty on it. LCD TVs can be warranted to last at least 5 years. Plasma TVs are usually warranted to last less then that. So if you’re going to dump money into a plasma, get a good warranty. 5 years is good, 10 years is great, and 15 years or more is awesome. – The gloss on the screen annoys some and stops others from buying. This is most noticeable in a sunny room. For this reason, you’ll want to place your plasma into a room where there is not a lot of sun on it.

LED TVs

LED is a brand new technology. Right now, it’s very expensive. The picture quality is supposed to be a lot better, because each LED TV is built of millions of tiny LEDs. – LED is really new, and we’re not too familiar with it. But what would happen if a few of the millions of LEDs were to go out? These are good questions to ask when purchasing an LED TV. – LED is really expensive. Make sure to get a good warranty to protect your investment. You might spend 1 or 2 thousand on a plasma or LCD TV, but you’ll spend 5 thousand on an LED Tv at the time of this writing.

TV Warranty

When purchasing a TV, it’s important the TV comes with a good warranty. Some TVs come with a 3 year warranty, some come with a 5 year warranty. A plasma TV will come with a different warranty period then an LCD TV, as will an LED. The major thing is being able to recognize the different kind of warranties, and what they cover. Below we will analyze this.

In-store warranty

Usually when purchasing a TV, it will come with an in-store warranty for a limited time. This in-store warranty period is three months for most stores. Some stores sell an extended in-store warranty period. These are the best warranties to have sometimes. This is because if your TV breaks down after the in-store warranty period, it has to be shipped off to the manufacturer to be repaired. This can be time consuming and frustrating. We will discuss why below, under manufacturer warranty. An in-store warranty for your TV is great. If the extended in store-option is offered, take it over the manufacturer option.

Manufacturer warranty

Most warranties after the three month to a year period default to a manufacturer’s warranty. These you must be careful of when purchasing a TV. Be sure to read the fine print if purchasing an extended warranty. The fine print is where people always get screwed. For instance, Staples has a clause in their extended contract for laptop warranties that says if the work costs more then the cost of the unit, that the customer may be entitled to receive a gift certificate. This happened to someone I know and she received a gift certificate for less then half the cost of the laptop. These clauses sometimes also refer to how electronics are worth less money after leaving the store. Be very careful to read all the fine print in the extended service plan you get. Sometimes the extended service plans are just a rip off and covered in fine print. Avoid these.

What Kind of TV Should I Choose? Plasma, LCD or LED?

What Should You Look for in a New Camera?

These parameters are discussed at 2 levels:

-Based on degree of functional use of available features

Camera

-Based on the type of photography you want to attempt

–>Based on degree of functional use of available features

A person who is happy with his or her camera model usually responds with the following words of praise.

‘Incredible ease of use’

‘User-friendly controls’

‘Intelligently and thoughtfully designed’

‘Excellent value for money’

‘Light and compact’

These are the kind of terms that you will come across from camera owners who are satisfied with their camera models. These superlatives sum up what people usually look for or could look for at an overall level in their camera. It is a broad evaluation based on design elements, size and affordability.

Before you make a decision to purchase you should explore a little further and study the type of features available to you. Unless you make the attempt to understand the features at your disposal, there is the risk of being stuck with a model that does not suit your particular requirements. Let’s take a look at what features you should look for, as well as the features that you should be wary of when you choose a camera system.

–>Features to Look For

1. The lens is by far the most important device in your camera. The quality of the lens ensures the sharpness of your image. The camera lens is described by length (given in mm), known as the focal length of the lens. 50mm is the standard focal length in a lens. A lens of shorter length is known as a wide-angle lens and is used usually by landscape photographers. A lens with focal length greater than 50mm is called a telephoto lens and is especially useful to professional photographers in capturing distant images.

There are also cameras with a zoom lens. A zoom lens can offer various focal lengths, so you have a lens capable of many focal lengths. Simple put, when you use a zoom lens you can make your subject bigger or smaller within the frame.

For instance, a wide-angle zoom can cover a range of focal lengths below 50mm, or a telephoto zoom gives you a range of higher order focal lengths. Some superior zoom lenses can take you from wide angle to standard and through to telephoto ranges. The power of the zoom lens is defined by the extent of magnification from a lower focal length to a higher end and is given as 2x, 3x and so on.

Some lens tips:

–A 50mm or 100mm lens is considered adequate for most non-professional hobby users. The professionals usually go for telephoto lenses of 200mm or more. A lens with higher focal length costs a lot more. Most beginners don’t need to invest in a telephoto lens.

–Check if your camera is compatible with the range of lenses that the manufacturer of your model has on offer. Most manufacturers have hundreds of lens options on offer and your requirement for lenses varies as you progress in photography. Your camera has to be compatible with lenses of higher focal length and speed. If you are planning to upgrade your camera by buying another model from the same manufacturer, check for compatibility with older accessories so that you can put to use some of the lenses already available with you and save yourself an additional expense.

2. Depth-of-field preview button

A depth-of-field preview button is a necessity if you want to achieve better focus. It allows you to identify the area that will be in focus in your photograph. This area is referred to as the ‘depth of field’. When you adjust the focus in your camera the preview button is a useful tool that can help you vary the focus and depth of field in different shots.

3. Image sensor resolution

In digital cameras, there is no film in use but this is instead replaced by a device called the image sensor. The image sensor renders colors, is sensitive to light and is the device that captures images in small pixels on its surface.

Image resolution is a measure of the sharpness or level of detail in photographic images. Image resolution is expressed as a number and is measured in mega pixels. High-end professional use cameras have an image sensor resolution of around 12 mega pixels and the most advanced professional models go up to almost 14 mega pixels. At the mid range you have camera models with resolution ranging from 2 – 6 mega pixels. To deliver large format prints of superior quality, you should go for models with resolution greater than 3 mega pixels. At the lower end, you have models of 1 mega pixel or less and the sharpness of the photograph is slightly inferior compared to cameras with higher values of image sensor resolution. Lower pixel models are best suited for small format prints.

4. If you have the facility for Auto-bracketing it can be a very useful tool. Auto-bracketing enables the camera to automatically take 3 exposures or in some cameras 5 exposures of the same shot by varying the Exposure Value (EV) to lighten or darken an image. Each of the images will be slightly differently exposed and this is a great tool to ensure that you capture the moment perfectly. You can bank on at least one being a properly exposed picture. This tool comes in handy especially for professional photographers.

5. If tonal quality of the photograph is your top priority when you choose a camera then it is best that you go for a digital camera. Photographic prints of scenes captured on a digital camera have a level of tonal quality that is far superior to best quality traditional prints.

6. There are sophisticated camera models available today that can capture movement and audio-visual images. If you want to go beyond static images and capture the first steps of a child or activities during family get-togethers, then you should look for a camera with these advanced capabilities. It will create a better experience when you go down memory lane. The Kodak Easyshare LS753 Zoom Digital Camera is one such model that offers audio-visual capability.

–>Features to be Wary Of

Some features or the lack of certain functions can prove to be a stumbling block for a photographer. Be careful when you select your camera system and pick those models where such drawbacks are minimized or not present. Being aware of such drawbacks is important if you want to make a smart choice.

1. If you want to go in for a camera model with a zoom lens, look for an optical zoom, not a digital zoom. The optical zoom provides variable focal length whereas a digital zoom merely increases the magnification in the center portion of the picture. If the camera you choose has both optical and digital zoom, then make sure that you can disable digital zoom.

2. Some cameras are not all that effective in low light conditions and dark places, the flash a not powerful enough. Be sure you don’t select such a model.

3. The shift between exposure-modes should be a simple one-step process. In some models shifting between ‘shutter priority’ and ‘aperture priority’ takes longer since it is a little more complicated, involving more than one step in the process of shifting between modes.

4. In some camera models you run into the problem of dust collecting in the film compartment. Look out for any obvious fine openings that can cause this problem.

5. Slow and noisy Auto Focusing can be irritating. Look for a quieter model.

6. A camera has to have the four key exposure modes: auto, manual, aperture priority and shutter priority. There are models with many more exposure modes but choose such models only if your requirements warrant the confusion that goes along with having a whole host of exposure modes.

–>Based on the Type of Photography Your Want to Attempt

You choice of camera and the functions that you need depend quite a bit on the type of photography that you go in for.

1. If you are into wildlife photography, look for a camera that includes Center-weighted metering.

Center-weighted metering is considered best by wildlife photographers for the flexibility it offers. With the center-weighted meter the attention is on the center of the frame as the meter reads the light reflected from the subject. The sensitivity of the meter is concentrated on the subject located at the center of the picture frame. You can adjust the size of the sensing area to 8mm, 15mm or 20mm based on the size of the subject and its distance from you. Nikon is credited with introduced the world’s first Center-Weighted Meter.

2. For landscape photographers, the key features suggested are -a spot meter, a wide angle lens and a memory exposure lock. These three features are considered the perfect tools for landscapes.

The spot meter allows for creative thinking when you compose your shot because the spot meter has a major role to play when you want to meter only a small portion of the scene. The spot meter allows for concentrating the meter’s sensitivity on a chosen spot of the scene during exposure. Using a spot meter can be time consuming but its application in executing creative ideas makes the time spent worthwhile. For instance, taking a shot of the sun setting over the sea or capturing the pattern of snow atop a mountain peak can be done with the help of a spot meter. The memory exposure lock is the mechanism with which you can lock the spot meter reading. The camera will use the locked in reading when you click for an exposure.

A wide-angle lens is capable of highlighting objects in the center or foreground. In landscape photography the tendency is to usually have a prominent object like a tree, landmark or person in the foreground to emphasize the scale of the picture against the distant elements in the scenic setting. This feature brings out the depth in the photograph and the wide-angle lens makes this effect possible.

3.Those who indulge in trekking and mountaineering and are looking for functions that is adaptable in contrasting light conditions such as night-time camp fire or early morning at sunrise or at sun-set, should go in for a feature known as ‘multi segment metering’. The multi-segment meter divides the frame into several areas and takes into account the different tones of color in the scene.

4. If you are an inveterate traveler then the camera size and weight should probably be a key consideration. Compact, light cameras are ideal during travel or for trekking.

5. Digital cameras are evolving at a rapid pace in their capabilities. Available to you are cameras that can offer ‘programmed scene modes’ for different types of photography situations and these options are available to you within the same camera model. For instance, the Kodak Easyshare LS753 zoom digital camera has around nineteen automatic scene modes. The mode can be varied depending on the subject and the scene before you, such as – children, snow, beach, backlight, flower or fireworks. This model also has the night mode for night shots and the sport mode that allows you to capture action without the problem of blurring. If your interest in photography is varied but you don’t have the technical knowledge to change the settings for different scenes and subjects, then a digital model with automatic programmed scene modes is your best bet.

6. For beginners still learning the ropes of photography, the criteria for selection should be on features that simplify usage rather than those that complicate the process of learning. For instance, some cameras have a feature called the viewfinder LED. This feature allows the camera to determine the shutter speed that is required for a proper exposure. If you don’t use the right setting, the LED changes from green to yellow to give a warning that the shutter speed is too slow to get a sharp picture. This is a form of auto-assistance that can be a big help to a new photography enthusiast.

To sum up, it is imperative that you explore all your options before you make a final purchase, no matter how time-consuming this process may be. The Internet is a great way to do some pre-purchase information search. Do your Internet research to shortlist options – most major camera manufacturers have websites with extensive product descriptions and price details. You can also do your cost comparisons online at sites like shopping.com. Shopping.com lists 410 products in Point and Shoot Cameras, 153 products in 35mm SLR Cameras, 1,500 products in Digital Cameras besides other camera types and accessories.

Once you have a shortlist, make a visit to the retail outlets. Check out a few alternatives brands and models based on your requirements. Assess them on size, weight, ease-of-use of controls and features. A beginner usually looks for a user-friendly model with significant simplicity in operation. Camera models with manual dials are considered easier to use and quicker to learn and manage by some beginners. But some prefer the panel of buttons. Choose the type that suits you. Ease of use in placement of buttons has to be checked. You have to be comfortable with the ‘layout’ of the various buttons when you handle your camera. The placement of the control layout has to be logical.

And then finally, zero in on the camera that you want. Anyone who wants to experiment, learn and enjoy photography should look for a model that is versatile. For example, your ideal camera could be one with a combination of optical zoom lens of 3x magnification (this is a standard level), a depth of field preview button and an image sensor resolution of at least 3 mega-pixels.

If you make the right choice, your camera system can take you on a long fruitful journey of creativity, learning and fun.

What Should You Look for in a New Camera?