It was awesome to come into work and find out we got some time to relax.  For me personally, all the stress of the recent project had really built up a knot in my shoulder the massage therapist really went to work on it.  It’s finally starting to get loose. I heard similar stories from everyone else I talked too and everyone seemed a good deal perkier afterwards.

The other thing the chair massage session did was give us all a little time to connect socially after the “Big One” which I feel like makes us more of a team.  I told the boss it worked so well she should think about doing it more regularly we’ll see if she goes for that!

Well, I hope everyone who reads this get a chance to get some massage soon. This was one of the best office events we’ve ever had to be sure.  If you’re a boss I would recommend bringing in chair massage for your team too.

Due to some of the chemical components found in digital cameras, they must be disposed of properly and not just thrown in with everyday trash. Chemicals such as lead, beryllium, arsenic, mercury (and more) can be found in circuits, circuit boards and batteries. When improperly disposed of, digital cameras can threaten the environment as these toxic materials can potentially breakdown and be released into landfills. Depending on where you live and where you purchase your digital camera, there are several options for disposal once it is no longer of use to you.

Some Internet sites buy used electronics and allow the seller to make a profit. Users can enter their camera model, choose its quality level, select applicable features and accessories, and submit to the site for an approximate value of the used camera. If the camera is still of value, you can choose to accept the money from the company or you may choose to donate it to a variety of charities. If the camera is of poor quality or ineligible for resale, the company will still accept it and recycle it accordingly.

Electronics stores such as Best Buy and Ultimate Electronics also offer recycling programs to safely dispose of digital cameras. A benefit to selecting this option is that these retailers don’t require that the camera you’re disposing of was purchased at their store. This is an excellent option for digital cameras that are non-repairable or not suited for resale.

There are also several organizations specializing in electronics donations, which include digital cameras. Depending upon the condition of the camera, your donation can range from $1.00 to $100.00 to the charity of your choice. Even if your camera is not in working condition, it can still be used for parts and components. Plus, donations such as these are tax deductable, so both you and the environment can benefit from donating your used camera. To find organizations that accept electronics donations, simply do an Internet search for “electronics donations”.

Regardless of whether you sell or donate your old digital camera, it is crucial to dispose of it properly.

Point-and-shoot digital cameras are ideal for the everyday amateur photographer. They’re designed to be sleek and compact – some are even smaller and thinner than popular mobile phones. There are a wealth of features and benefits to point-and-shoot models that have made them much more popular than 35mm and disposable cameras that used to be the norm. Below we’ll discuss some of the benefits of point-and-shoot digital cameras.

Size: Point-and-shoot cameras are often small, sleek and stylish and come in a variety of colors. They can be easily packed and carried around on vacations, day trips or in a purse or bag for everyday use.

Picture Quality: Depending on the model, point-and-shoot digital cameras can take high-quality photos in a variety of settings – even low-light or high-motion situations. Many have digital zoom capabilities of up to 10x – making it easy to hone in on exactly the subject you wish to capture. Additionally, most models feature some form of auto-stabilizers to enhance focus quality and reduce blurriness.

Video and Photo-sharing Capabilities: Many digital cameras can shoot videos in addition to taking pictures – some even in high-definition. Not only can you take superb quality pictures and videos, but with certain models you can upload them to popular social networking sites – making them available to family and friends at the touch of a button.

Convenience: Point-and-shoot digital cameras bring instant gratification. The view screen allows photographers to instantly see the picture that was just taken. If it’s not desirable, you can simply delete until you get exactly what you want.

Price: As with most products, the saying “you get what you pay for” rings true with digital cameras. Pricier models will cost more and offer more features. Models on the lower end of the spectrum will cost less, but offer fewer bells and whistles found on more expensive cameras. However, even entry-level cameras offer fairly standard features such as (at least) 3x zoom capabilities and automatic settings to take the best pictures possible, regardless of setting. Additionally, users can save money developing photos because you can choose to develop only the images you like.

With so many point-and-shoot digital cameras on the market, purchasing one for the first time can be a bit intimidating. The best way to start the buying process is to first determine what your needs are and then determine your budget. Here we’ll discuss a few features for today’s digital cameras and how they effect the purchasing decision.

Digital zoom: Digital zoom refers to the number of times a camera can zoom in on a subject. Lower-end cameras start around 3x to 5x digital zoom and go all the way up to 24x. The lower your zoom capabilities, the lower your price tag will be. If you anticipate taking a lot of close ups, you may select a camera with higher zoom capabilities.

Resolution: Digital cameras are extremely versatile and most allow you to change the resolution at which you shoot photos. For photos you’ll be posting online or viewing via computer, a high resolution is not necessary. For pictures you want to develop, you’ll need a higher resolution. Your resolution measured in megapixels – the higher number of megapixels your camera contains, the more control you’ll have over the resolution. Most of today’s digital cameras come standard with at least 4.0 megapixels. Higher-end models will feature as many as 12.0 or 15.0 megapixels. If you’re looking to print standard photos (3”x5” or 4”x6”), a camera with 3.0 megapixels or more should fit your needs. If you’re looking to create larger prints, consider moving up to 8.0 megapixels or higher.

Conditions: If you’re an adventure junkie, you might want to consider a more robust camera designed for a lot of sports and/or outdoor use. These types of cameras often have shock absorbers and are water resistant or water proof to a certain depth. If you anticipate normal, every day usage for your digital camera, you may choose a more stylish model that fits your personal taste.

Ease-of-use: Sometimes cameras come with so many options, navigating the menu can be difficult. When researching different brands, learn about the menu features on the camera and if they are user-friendly and intuitive.

The number of places to purchase digital cameras is seemingly endless, especially as the Internet allows you to access superstore chains, electronics stores, specialty camera stores and more without even leaving your home.

Superstore chains (for example Target or Wal-Mart): Superstore chains offer a significant selection of digital cameras at a variety of prices. One of the advantages of these superstores is that they buy in bulk so it’s likely the camera you select will be in stock the day you want to buy it. Since their selection is so extensive, they offer a wide variance of products as well, ranging from entry-level cameras to higher-end models.

Electronics stores (for example Best Buy or Ultimate Electronics): Electronics stores are an excellent place to purchase digital cameras. Because they specialize in electronics, they are more likely to have staff on-hand to answer more technical questions about the cameras you’re considering. They are also more likely to have a larger selection of higher-end digital cameras, including those for semi-professionals or serious amateurs. Electronics stores may also offer extended warranties or in-house support services for an extra fee.

Specialty camera stores: Whether online or in person, specialty camera stores will offer an extensive selection of cameras – especially higher-end models designed for professionals. Since they are specialty stores, their prices may be higher than discount chains; however, the staff will be extremely knowledgeable and able to answer nearly any question you may have.

Online markets, outlets and auctions (for example Amazon, Overstock or eBay): These outlets may offer new, used or refurbished cameras at excellent discounts. Additionally, they typically list all the specifications and features of each camera. The drawback with outlets such as these is that you are unable to actually physically see and touch the camera you select before you purchase it. You may not be able to receive additional support from these outlets nor may you have as many warranty options. Additionally, should you determine the camera you selected is not the right one for you, these outlets may have less-than-convenient return/exchange policies.

An SLR camera is one in which the lenses are interchangeable.  SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex and refers to the design of the camera.  SLR cameras are the type that professional photographers and serious amateurs use.  The digital SLR is simply an SLR that uses a digital or electronic image capture method, as opposed to the analog film method invented in 1826.  Digital cameras have been in existence for a relatively short period of time.

Digital SLRs were at first largely shunned by professional photographers because they distrusted the quality of the images produced and as with all technology evolutions there is an adoption period.  Over time professionals came to recognize the many benefits that the digital format offered.  At the same time the technology became much better, producing higher quality images and virtually eliminating the storage issues that came with large file sizes of high resolution images.

Emerging ahead of digital photography and developing in tandem with it was the use of digital photo manipulation and layout.  Digital forms of media creation made it much more efficient to just have your images in a native digital format from the get go, rather than needing to scan the analog to create a digital version – a process which generally degrades the quality of the photo anyway.

The benefits of digital SLRs run the gamut of photographer needs. Arguably the best part of the digital camera is the lcd preview screen on the back.  This advent gave new sureness to the photographer, that they could be satisfied with a shoot immediately, rather than waiting to get the film developed.  It also significantly speeds up the process of delivering photos for print, by eliminating the need to develop film and print images.

Digital SLRs also do a fantastic job with auto settings and adjusting to a variety of light and other photographic conditions.  This has helped make amateur photographers much better, much faster – allowing them to focus more on composition (which they sorely need ). The digital camera can also replicate various film speeds, allowing photographers to adjust on the fly without the need to switch film.

With all the advantages a digital SLR offers, one will find very few professionals using film based cameras anymore. And only the technophobic amateur will use film.  In fact, film is so outdated that industry support for it is seriously waning and only a handful of specialty shops exist to service this dwindling market.

Most big camera brands make and sell digital SLRs including:

Of these only 5 are really major players in the digital SLR market:

• Canon
• Nikon
• Olympus
• Pentax
• Sony

• Alpha
• Axis
• Banshee Bungee
• Blue Crane
• Blue Crane Digital
• Cannon
• Canon
• Canon-Smith-Victor
• Casio
• DB ROTH
• Digital
• Fuji
• General Brand
• Hasselblad
• J-Rod
• Janco J. Camera Corp.
• Kodak
• Leica
• Lomo
• Minolta
• Niko Electronics
• Nikon
• Nikon-Smith-Victor
• Olympus
• Panasonic
• Pentax
• PhotoBert
• Ricoh
• Samsung
• Sigma
• Sony
• Tamron
• Vivitar
• Wildlife Safari
• Zeikos

Canon makes a wide variety of digital cameras from professional level SLRs to easy to use (and much more affordable) every day point and shoot cameras.  Canon is generally thought of and certainly positions it brand as a high quality camera maker.  And they do have a fairly long history of making quality cameras.  In fact Canon has been making SLR cameras since 1933, giving them several decades of experience.

Canon is a Japanese company that has roots pre-dating WWII. Canon now has a strong presence in both the Point-&-Shoot and Digital SLR markets. They have made a host of different consumer level point and shoot type cameras over the years, including a broad range of 8mm, 16mm and 35mm cameras.  Their cameras have been popular with consumers since the 1960s.

SLR Cameras

The first professional level SLR camera produced by Canon is widely considered to be the Canon F-1 released in 1971.  More recently Canon has built a reputation as a very high quality Digital SLR maker.  Throughout the past 4 decades Canon has also helped to push the camera industry forward by developing it’s own lens systems and auto focus lens systems.  Todays SLR offerings from Canon range in price from around $550 to $7,000.  At the lower end of their line, the serious amateur can get a very good camera at an affordable cost.  At the upper end, the professional can get one of the best cameras around.

Point and Shoot Cameras

Canon also makes a wide variety of point and shoot digital cameras.  These range in price from $100-$350.  The point and shoot camera is designed to fit easily into a purse or pocket and take decent quality photos quickly.  These types of cameras are great for pictures with family and friends, vacations and the like.  But they won’t be able to take magazine quality images.

Hybrid Cameras

Canon also makes a mid range of cameras that take better pictures than the average point and shoot, but don’t have interchangeable lenses like SLRs.  The Canon lines of powershot G, S & SX fall into this category of cameras. These cameras are also much less compact than the small point and shoots, but smaller than SLRs.  With regards to price they again fit into the middle range, selling for between $200 and $500 a piece.

Fuji opened its doors in 1934 as a manufacturer of film for cameras. Since its inception, the company has been innovating and expanding into several different photography realms. They are currently the largest company in the photographic imaging industry.

Fuji offers higher-end models for semi-professionals, seasoned amateurs as well as entry-level models for beginners.  Fuji offers six series of cameras to choose from, each including one to eight different models.

Fuji’s S Series is comprised of seven higher-end cameras designed for semi-professionals and experienced amateurs. The series features impressive zoom capabilities and several professional-level imaging options including high-speed continuous recording. The S Series ranges in retail price from $199.95 to $599.95.

Fuji’s F Series boasts professional results with a compact design. These cameras offer features like artistry imaging and unique shooting modes. Zoom ranges from 5x to 12x. The series is relatively affordable, with prices ranging from $235.00 to $279.95.

The Z Series by Fuji is comprised of six different models and is an extremely stylish line. Cameras are available in a series of colors and also offer communication capabilities such as instant uploading to social networking sites. The zoom ranges in this series range from 5x to 3x. Prices in this flashy line range from $100 to $200.

The XP series from Fuji includes the FinePix XP 10/11, which is designed to withstand significant cold, shock, dust and water.  This camera is ideal for a lot of outdoor use. There’s a user-friendly upload function to share photos fast, and the camera offers a 5x digital zoom capability. The model has a retail price of about $200.

The J Series from Fuji is an entry-level line perfect for the beginning photographer. Digital zoom capabilities range from 3x to 10x and prices are budget-friendly with most models available for $100 or less.

Fuji’s A Series is designed for photography beginners. They have a sleek design and user-friendly functions that making taking photos easy for anyone. The line is very affordable and also AA batteries, which makes it easier to make sure you’re always able to take the photos you want.

Nikon is one of the largest and perhaps most recognized camera manufacturers on the market. Nikon was established in 1917, and with constant innovation and development of new technologies, the company instantly became a leader in the photography and imaging arena.

Nikon’s digital SLR series is comprised of several different models, each offering an array of features and benefits for professional photographers, semi-professionals or extremely serious amateurs.  Among many technical benefits such as ISO ranges of 200 to 6400 (ISO refers to the speed at which the camera takes photos, and can therefore dramatically affect how your photos turn out), precise high-definition movie shooting capabilities, there are more varied and practical applications such as Scene Recognition Systems, bright LCD screens for easy, accurate viewing, and lightweight designs that are able to withstand more rugged conditions. Cameras in Nikon’s SLR series are interchangeable with a variety of lenses and range in price from about $499.95 to over $7,995.

Nikon’s “CoolPix” cameras make up the fleet of more entry-level digital cameras, although some of the higher-end cameras in the series offer several semi-professional features. Most of the cameras in the series feature a colorful look with several different styles to choose from. Several cameras in lower end of the series offer fewer features and lower technical capabilities than its digital SLR and even higher-end counterparts. Zoom capabilities in this line range from 3.4x to 15x, so depending how close you want to be able to zoom into your target, there are several versatile cameras in this series ideal for beginners to serious amateurs. Features in the lower end of the spectrum in this series include automatic modes that make it simple to take several different kinds of photos in a variety of settings, and motion detection that makes it easier to get the best photos during high-activity situations.  Buyers who select the higher-end models in this series can enjoy high-delimitation video filming capabilities, as well as built-in stabilizers to ensure perfect photos every time. Prices in this series range from $119.95 to $499.95

The Samsung Group is a global conglomerate corporation. It is comprised of several businesses, including the world’s largest electronics company, Samsung Electronics, which manufactures a myriad of appliances and personal electronics. Samsung Electronics makes a wide variety of digital cameras, ranging from near SLR-quality models to more compact designs for everyday use.

Samsung’s NX series is made up of the NX10, which retails for about $700. The company positions the NX series of cameras as a hybrid that combines the high-quality picture taking capabilities of a digital SLR with the compact design and user-friendliness of a point-and-shoot model. The main difference between the Samsung NX series and its compact digital camera series is in the image sensor – APS-C (Advanced Photo System – a type of image sensor format that’s roughly equivalent to “classic” or standard film negatives.) The APS-C sensor, which is found in most current digital SLR cameras, is much larger and more precise than those found in standard digital cameras. A larger sensor results in less grainy photos and enhanced performance in low light. Though it is not interchangeable with other lenses, the NX series from Samsung offers many of the same SLR features in a more compact design.

Samsung’s compact line currently features over 30 cameras, varying in price from $499.99 to $99.99. On the higher end, users can expect such impressive features as rotating screens and some of the brightest lenses available on the market. Some cameras in the compact series boast a “dual view” feature, where the user is able to see the same image on the front of the camera as on its LCD screen, which makes taking self-photos extremely easy. The middle of Samsung’s spectrum of compact digital cameras include such features as 4 to 10x digital zoom, thin designs and a variety of colors to choose from. On the lower end, users can expect standard features such as 3 to 5x digital zoom capabilities and automatic stabilizers that make taking great photos easy for even the novice photographer.