Adjust A Stroboscope

Adjust your stroboscope to measure speed in RPMs, like a tachometer.

Use a stroboscope, also called a strobe, when you want to give moving objects the illusion of appearing still or if you want to study a moving object in slow motion. This can come in handy for a wide range of applications, including laboratory experiments and strobe photography when you need a photograph taken at a significant moment. By adjusting the flashing light from a stroboscope with certain frequencies of rotation, you can also determine the speed of an object's rotation.

Instructions

1. Plug in your stroboscope and turn the power switch to the "On" position. Your stroboscope will begin to flash automatically and display the flash rate in flashes per second.

2. Locate the "Flash Rate Adjust" knob near the display on your stroboscope and adjust the flash rate by turning the knob clockwise to increase the flash rate or counterclockwise to lower the rate.

3. Press the switch near the LEDs to change the display from flashes per second to revolutions per minute or RPM. Press the same switch to change the display to External Trigger. The External Trigger mode means your stroboscope flashes only if you provide an external trigger, such as an external event or when you want to synchronize the flashes of two or more stroboscopes. Press the switch to return to the display of flashes per second.

4. Mark a point on a rotating device, start your stroboscope at a flash rate higher than the rotating device's frequency, which you can see on the display, and then adjust the flash rate until the mark you made appears motionless. You will see the accurate measurement of the frequency of rotation on your stroboscope display.

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What Is The Difference Between Ac & Dc

In much of the world, and especially in the industrialized western world, electricity is an essential element of daily life, along with appliances and gadgets that run on battery power. Alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) make modern industrialized life possible. Each type of power-generation system works on its own set of principles. However, unknown to most people, the two types of electric current also often work together.

Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse

In the late 19th century, DC, which was championed by Thomas Edison, inventor of the electric light bulb, appeared to be in the position to become the dominant means of electric power in the United States. However, at the turn of the 20th Century, Nikola Tesla invented AC, along with the means to transmit AC by generators and motors. He then licensed his patents to George Westinghouse, who went head-to-head with Edison. Westinghouse and Tesla eventually prevailed with AC for the electrical grid system, although DC and battery power are still essential for portable electronic appliances and machinery.

How AC Power Works

AC power gets its name because of the way the electrons that form its current flow. AC flows in one direction, then alternates to flow in the opposite direction. AC has the capacity to be carried over long distances via power cords without a significant loss of power. This is the main reason AC prevailed over DC (much like VHS prevailed over Beta because VHS tapes had a longer recording capacity).

In the modern electric grid, AC power is transmitted to and from transformers by high-capacity wires, which then connect to the household or commercial establishment that draws from the power through its own internal wiring system. Power cords then connect appliances and electronics to the AC power source by being plugged into outlets. Some businesses and homes also have generators that can be used as a backup system in case of a failure of the main AC power source.

How DC Power Works

DC power works by generating a flow of direct current, or current which flows in a single direction. Sometimes DC is called "dry cell" when referring to batteries, although this is technically incorrect. With a battery, when the stored energy has been depleted, it ceases to generate electron flow. In popular terms, the battery is "dead." With rechargeable batteries, this process can repeat itself several times, although eventually, even rechargeable batteries fail to have the capacity to generate electron flow.

With Edison's system, DC power was produced by a generator, which actually initially produced AC power, which was then converted to DC by a device called a commutator. However, DC power cannot be carried over long distances without voltage (power) loss. There is also the danger of long distance wires overheating and catching fire unless they were made of very expensive super-conductive materials. DC power was eventually dismissed as not being commercially viable.

How AC and DC Power Work Together

Most homes convert the AC power that they receive from the electric grid into high voltage DC power. A switching power supply located in the home electrical system then converts the high voltage DC power into lower voltages. These lower voltages are what household appliances actually use. Most subsystems use DC voltages ranging from less than 1 volt to about 48 volts. There are losses involved with the conversion process, but most systems run with at least 80 percent efficiency. Many electronic conversion systems feature more than 90 percent efficiency.

DC Power and the Green Future

Beginning in the early 21st Century, there has been a movement to revive DC power. This movement is motivated by such innovations as electric cars, which are designed to decrease dependency on carbon based fuels. With a DC power gateway located at a home or business, it would be very efficient to recharge an electric car. An additional benefit is that the same DC power gateway could be used to run the appliances in the household or commercial establishment.

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Troubleshoot A Pentax Optio E10

The Pentax Optio E10 is a small "point-and-shoot" camera that takes pictures up to a 6-mega-pixel resolution. It features a 2 ½-inch LCD screen and will allow 3X-zoom. The camera contains approximately 10 megabytes of storage space and can utilize an additional SD memory card to allow for more pictures before uploading to your computer. The camera will take 320-by-240 video in small AVI clips.

Instructions

1. Plug in the AC adapter power cord or change the AA batteries -- if the camera will not turn on. If using batteries, insure they are inserted the correctly and make sure the battery compartment cover is fully closed.

2. Replace the batteries or attach the power cord - if the camera suddenly shuts off. Also, check the settings to make sure you have the auto shut-off option turned off.

3. Replace the memory card if the camera refuses to take pictures. Upload the pictures to your computer and delete the images on the existing card.

4. Replace the memory card or delete images if you cannot perform continuous picture shooting with the camera. Continuous shooting requires space on the SD card to store the pictures.

5. Check your USB cable connections if you are having difficulty transferring pictures to your computer. Make sure you have installed the USB driver included with the camera software on your computer.

Tags: your computer, memory card, camera will, delete images, Pentax Optio, pictures your

Work The Vcam Now From Tiger Electronics

You can use your VCam Now to capture your favorite moments in pictures or on video.

The Hasbro Vcam Now is a portable digital camcorder that allows you to record video footage and take high-resolution digital pictures of your favorite moments. It also includes a flip-out LCD screen to play back your videos on-the-go without the need of a television set or monitor. The camcorder has been designed with simplicity and requires just a few minutes of attention to learn all of its functions.

Instructions

Preparing the Camcorder

1. Slide your VCam's battery door open and check whether or not the camcorder has a fresh pair of AA batteries. The Vcam Now has an automatic shutoff function that will keep you from using it if it detects a low battery charge.

2. Open the MMC/SD card flap open and insert an SD card if you wish to store your movies and photos on removable media. If the unit fails to detect an SD card, it will automatically store all media in an internal storage device.

3. Power on the unit by completely opening the LCD/Viewfinder flap and pressing the unit's power button. The LCD screen will turn on and indicate both the battery charge and the current shooting mode of the camcorder.

Recording Footage

4. Use the "Movie/Camera" button on the control panel--the array of buttons next to the LCD screen--to change the camcorder's shooting mode to "Movie." The movie camera icon on the LCD screen will indicate that the camera is ready to shoot video.

5. Adjust the frame--the image your camcorder's lens will capture--to your desired settings. You can use the "T" button on top of the device to zoom in, and the "W" button to zoom out.

6. Press the "Set" button, the large button found at the top of the camcorder, to start recording your video. Press the button again to stop recording and save your video.

Taking a Picture

7. Look at the LCD screen to make sure that the camcorder is in camera mode which will be represented by a picture camera icon. Press the "Movie/Camera" button on the control panel to change the shooting mode if the device is currently set to "Movie" mode.

8. Press the "Next/Quality" arrow button located on the control panel to set your preferred picture resolution. The higher resolution modes will require more memory space per picture to accommodate the extra detail.

9. Press the "T" or "W" button to zoom in or out to adjust the frame of the picture to your desired setting.

10. Press the "Set" button when you are ready to take your photo.

Playback of Video/Pictures

11. Press the "Mode" button on the control panel to enter playback mode. Here you will find multiple image stills of your recently-shot videos and pictures. You can choose to view a single frame at a time by pressing "T," or change it back to viewing multiple frames at once by pressing "W."

12. Use the up and down arrows on the control panel to scroll through the frames. Press the "Play/Pause" button to begin watching a selected video and press the button again to pause it. You can also press the "Stop" button to stop the video and go back to the gallery.

13. Delete any unwanted pictures or videos by selecting them in playback mode and pressing the "Delete" button on the control panel. The LCD screen will read "Delete One?" Press the "Set" button to confirm the deletion or the "Stop" button to cancel the deletion and return to the main screen.

Tags: control panel, Press button, button control, button control panel, screen will, shooting mode, battery charge

Songs To A Zune Using Wmp

Windows Media Player is a media player that is included on all Windows base devices. One of its features is an ability to find and automatically sync files to portable devices. The Zune is built to work with Windows Media Player, which makes syncing and transferring files to the device that much easier. Compatible files will be transfered to the device automatically. You will have the option of converting files that aren't compatible with the Zune before the transfer. The Zune supports MP3, AAC, WAV, and WMA audio files.

Instructions

1. Open Windows Media Player. If you don't know find it, click the "Start." icon in the Windows taskbar. Click "Search". Type "Windows Media Player" (without the quotes) into the search bar and click "Search". Click the Windows Media Player icon that appears in the search window to open Windows Media Player.

2. Click the "Sync" button at the top of Windows Media Player.

3. Connect the Zune to your computer using the sync cable. Wait until Windows Media Player detects the Zune. You will know it has synced when it displays the name of your device in the sync window.

4. Drag and drop the songs you want to transfer to the Zune into the sync window on the right. Another method of finding the songs you want is to select "File", click "Open", and manually browse to the songs you want to add.

5. Click the "Start Sync" button to begin transferring all of the songs that have been put in the sync window on the right to the Zune.

Tags: Media Player, Windows Media, Windows Media Player, songs want, sync window, Sync button

Capture A Sunset Photo

A good sunset photo offers great benefits to both the photographer and the viewer. Honing their technique, a photographer gets to bask in the glory of accomplishment after capturing the perfect sunset shot. For the viewer, the sunset shot enhances the experience of enjoying a truly magnificent photo that illuminates a peaceful feeling. The problem is that some photographers are unsure of capture such a shot. This article will go over capture a sunset photo each and every time.

Instructions

1. Find the perfect location. There is more to a sunset photo than just the sun. Scout for a location that offers additional beauty. Also, avoid outside objects that may block the shot.

2. Check the "white balance" setting. The white balance can determine the difference between a horrible sunset photo and a magnificent picture. A major mistake is is keeping the white balance setting on the automatic camera setting. Set it to either the "sunset" or "daylight" preset. Another way around this is to use a RAW image format and set the WB setting in the photo editing software.

3. Choose a composition. Depending on the shot, you can use either landscape or portrait. While either will work, landscape is the more popular choice.

4. Set the exposure setting. For a photo with the best and most vibrant colors, the exposure should be underexposed to -1 or -2 stops.

5. Set the meter. This is another common mistake that photographers make. Do not allow your camera to do the metering. Spot-meter the shot by bracketing 2/3 and 1 1/3 stops in either direction right or left from the sun.

6. Frame the shot so that the sunset isn't directly in the main focus. Set the picture with the sun to the right or left.

7. Start the shot right before the sun sets. Check with the weather channel to find the time of the sunset. Set up the equipment and shoot in enough time so that you can capture a few shots before the sun sets.

8. Continue shooting as the sun sets, and catch a few after it has completely set. It is hard to say at what position the sun should be in to make the best shot. You will sometimes find the best shot after the sun is hidden behind the horizon and Mother Nature has supplied the prettiest color palette.

Tags: white balance, balance setting, before sets, best shot, right left, setting photo, sunset photo

Change A Camera Lens

Learn the proper way to change a camera lens.

Manual focus cameras have the ability to change lenses. The lens locks into the body of the camera allowing the user to focus on an object. Different lenses can create different effects, such as zooming in to a specific magnification. A wide lens can capture an entire landscape. It is best to consult your camera's owner's manual for the exact location of the functions on your specific camera.

Instructions

1. Turn the camera off. Place the lens cover on the lens. Examine the camera body for a small button right near where the lens and body meet. This is the lens release button.

2. Hold the release button in and twist the camera lens counterclockwise until the lens disengages from the camera body. Carefully set the lens aside, cover side down. If you have a protective cover for the back of the lens, screw it on.

3. Align the new lens. There will be a dot on the back of the lens that lines up and matches with a dot on the camera body. Once the two dots are aligned, push the lens in place and twist clockwise. The lens will engage and lock into place.

Tags: camera body, back lens, camera lens, release button

The Advantages Of Hdtv

HDTV has many advantages over analog TV.

It might surprise many TV viewers that HDTV was first developed more than 30 years ago in Japan. The United States became interested in the high-definition technology in the early 1980s. The first components were introduced to the U.S. public in the late 1990s. The advantages of HDTV are many when compared to the traditional analog TV of years past.

The Clarity Advantage

HDTV offers an unbelievably clear picture because the signal is transferred through a digital signal. There are 2 million pixels delivered through the digital signal compared to less than 500,000 pixels delivered through analog signals. This can give you a sharp and more precise picture. HDTVs have more lines of resolution compared with analog, which translates to a picture that is two to five times sharper and a no-noise reception.

The Dolby Sound Advantage

HDTV has a sound that is far superior to the soundtrack of analog TV. The digital signal that gives HDTV a superb picture also translates to a more refined sound to the human ear. The refined sound of HDTV originates with Dolby Sound. Many consumers are familiar with Dolby Sound because movies and CDs are produced using this digitally produced trademark. This gives you a sound quality that no one thought possible two decades ago from a TV.

The Wide Screen Picture Advantage

HDTV provides a wider picture than traditional TV. Many times, movies on an analog TV can look choppy, and some of the screen might even look like it's missing something. Because HDTVs have a wider screen, they fix the choppy look that movies used to have in analog. Movies will fit better and allow you to see the original film as it was seen in theaters. This improvement in screen size will give you an enormous advantage over analog TV. It gives you the best possible screen that really great movie theaters have. You will not need to leave your home to experience sports, movie and specials in surround sound.

The Multiple Show Viewing Advantage

The HDTV digital signal enables you to watch more than one program on the same channel. It will give you a chance to watch a show, pull up an electronic program guide, subtitles and other languages. These options are not available in analog TV.

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Use A Grey Card

The grey card can balance the colors in your photos.

Different light sources have different amounts of red, blue and green light. Taking photographs without compensating for the color balance results in strange off-colored images. The grey card is specially colored to have an even balance of red, blue and green--combined it is grey. Use a grey card in ambient lighting to set your camera's white balance for better photographs, or use a photo of a grey card to adjust color balance in digital photo processing. The same techniques are used for still or video photography.

Instructions

1. Outdoor photos taken in the shade will appear bluish without correction.

Set the white balance of your camera with the grey card. Use the "set white balance" function on your digital camera before you start taking photographs in a new location. Point the camera at the grey card under average or typical lighting conditions for the location. Set the white balance with the grey card occupying a major portion of the image--it doesn't even have to be in focus to set the proper white balance. Use this white balance setting for ensuing photos.

2. Indoor lighting gives an orange cast to uncorrected photos.

Take a picture of the grey card in the ambient lighting. You can use the photo of the grey card to set the white balance in photo processing software to balance the colors of all photographs taken under the same lighting conditions. Load a photo of the grey card in the photo-imaging software program. Select the portion of the photo that shows the grey card and set the white balance. The photo should appear with true whites and more vivid colors. Save this setting for processing other photos taken under the same lighting conditions.

3. Proper indoor white balance restores full color.

Set the exposure on your camera. The grey card is designed to reflect approximately 18 percent of the available light. This feature is used to set the proper exposure on film and digital cameras. Setting the proper exposure (f-stop and shutter speed) using a grey card gives a good image with white objects appearing bright, and black objects appearing dark. If you set the exposure using a dark object, the camera will compensate to make the object appear grey, and it will be overexposed. Likewise, if you set the exposure on a white object, it will appear darker, or underexposed. Here is where a grey card can improve your photos.

Tags: grey card, white balance, card white, card white balance, grey card white

Sort Iphone Apps

The iPhone can store up to six pages of application icons on the home screen, and thanks to the new operating system you can group similar applications by specific categories to free up more space on your home screen. Categories such as business, lifestyle and communication store up to nine applications and open a sub-menu when you tap the category icon on the iPhone's screen. The iPhone allows you to re-arrange your icons in iTunes when the iPhone is connected via USB connection, and synchronizes the new categories in iTunes and the iPhone.

Instructions

1. Plug one end of the iPhone device cable into the iPhone (only one end fits the iPhone) and the other end into the computer.

2. Double click "iTunes" on your desktop to launch the program. Click "iPhone" in the program's left pane.

3. Click "Apps" in the iPhone preferences window; click, drag and drop the application icons in the iTunes window with the mouse to rearrange them.

4. Drag and drop an application onto a different application to create a category.

5. Click "Apply."

6. Click "Eject" in the iTunes side menu. Unplug the cable from the iPhone.

Tags: application icons, drop application, home screen, icons iTunes

Become A Film Critic

Become a Film Critic

Film critics work for the print media and in broadcasting, and typically hold a bachelor's degree in journalism or a related field. You'll need to have substantial prior experience before a large paper or TV station will consider hiring you as a film critic.

Instructions

1. Enroll in a college or university that has a well-known school of journalism or broadcasting, depending on your desired career. Peruse Petersons.com and the Princeton Review College Search Web site (review.com) for further information.

2. Set up informational interviews with possible future employers. Find out what their minimum qualifications are for film critics.

3. Gain experience by writing reviews of plays, concerts and other college productions for your college newspaper or radio station. You'll gain needed experience and polish your skills at the same time.

4. Take elective courses about the entertainment industry. You'll need to have some knowledge about its history to write effective reviews.

5. Become familiar with all the arts. Smaller publications or stations might require you to write reviews on all forms of entertainment before you can specialize in just one.

6. Obtain an internship with a local paper or station during your college years. It can lead to an entry-level position upon graduation, even if it doesn't initially involve writing reviews.

7. Consider working as a freelance critic for small publications to gain experience for your rA©sumA©.

Tags: Become Film, Become Film Critic, need have, paper station, writing reviews

Choose A Good Camera

Choosing a good camera involves taking a look at the technical specifications for that device and seeing how those specs enable you to take pictures or videos the way you want. This will change based on your preferences. For example, if you only want a camera to take a few quick snapshots at a family gathering, you don't need to spend $1000 or more on a piece of equipment, but if you intend to master the art photography, you will be willing to explore high-end equipment.

Instructions

1. Look for a digital camera that can shoot both still pictures and videos if you plan on recording your memories on both formats.

Many digital cameras are capable of shooting on both formats. Choosing a camera that is capable of taking both images and videos gives you more options when it comes to how you use your new equipment.

2. Pay attention to the size of the camera.

If you're taking a camera with you on a road trip, to a family picnic or on some other type of event where space will be limited, you will need a camera that can fit comfortably in a purse, bag or in your pocket. Small cameras are still capable of taking high quality photographs.

3. Look for a camera with a large amount of storage capacity.

If you're looking for a digital video camera, for example, purchase one with a built-in hard drive of at least 1 gigabyte or larger. If you're looking for a still photography camera, purchase one with either an internal storage drive of 1 gigabyte or larger or one that can work with high capacity storage cards like MicroSD cards. The higher the capacity of the camera, the more photos and longer videos you can take.

4. Purchase a camera that allows you to manually adjust picture settings based on your needs.

Certain basic cameras have automatic flash, focus and aperture settings that the user can't adjust. Purchasing a camera that allows you to manually adjust these settings allows you to configure the device to take advantage of the available light in the room, the distance between the camera and subject and more.

5. Look at the technical specifications sheet for a camera to find out how long its battery can last.

A good video camera will have a battery life that lasts at least five hours, while many will be able to last eight or even 10 consecutive hours. Still camera batteries life depends on how you use the camera. You won't always be near a wall outlet to charge your battery, so buy a camera that can function for as long as possible.

6. Buy a camera with at least a "3X" or greater zoom. The zoom function on a digital camera is important because it allows you to take pictures of objects that are far away from the lens of the camera. The greater the zoom on the camera, the more distance your camera can cover when taking pictures without actually needing to get close to a subject.

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Use A Stereomicroscope

A stereomicroscope is a low-power compound microscope that produces a stereoscopic image. It is widely used in many fields of science, industry and medicine. For the scope to perform to its maximum potential it must be properly set up. The instructions given here are for a basic stereomicroscope with a zoom objective and both reflected and transmitted light illuminators.

Instructions

1. Set the microscope in a comfortable position and turn on the reflected light illuminator. Place a small solid specimen onto the stage plate. A coin or any other flat, detailed object will do nicely. Turn the zoom dial to low power and bring the image into focus.

2. Adjust the eyepieces for the correct interpupillary distance. Do this by bringing the eyepieces closer together or farther apart until a single field of view is observed. Now, set the diopter adjustment rings on both eyepieces to the zero position.

3. Use the zoom control to set the highest magnification. Bring the image into focus with the focus control. It is best to center the image on some clear point of detail.

4. Zoom the microscope down to the lowest magnification. The image could be slightly out of focus. Do not adjust the focus with the focus knob. Instead, adjust the focus for each eye separately using the eyepiece diopter adjustment rings. The microscope is now "parfocal". This means that as the microscope is zoomed from high to low magnification the image will stay in focus throughout the entire range. Each individual would have a different setting. The stereomicroscope is now set up for comfortable, all-day use.

Tags: adjust focus, adjustment rings, diopter adjustment, diopter adjustment rings, focus with, focus with focus, image into

Get Access Cards For Direct Tv

Direct TV is one of the most popular satellite choices for millions of people. Direct TV has a lot of great offers in television programming. In order for you to be able to use a Direct TV receiver, you need to have an access card for it. Direct TV access cards are what the receiver uses to connect to the satellite to pick up all of the programming. If you need to know get access cards for Direct TV receivers, the following steps will provide with several ways to get them.

Instructions

1. Go directly to the source. One way to get access cards for Direct TV is to order one from them. You can contact them by phone or online (See Resources for direct link). Once you have an account with them, you can get access cards. There may or not may not be a charge for the cards; it will depend on your individual situation.

2. Search online for Direct TV access cards. You can also get access cards for Direct TV from several different places online. You can search online auction sites, online newspapers (bulletin boards and forums) or even do an online search for the specific receiver you have and you are sure to find quite a few to pick from. Be certain to verify the exact Direct TV access card you are receiving, prior to paying any money for it. You want to be sure it is the one you need.

3. Find Direct TV access cards locally. There are many places you can easily and quickly find a Direct TV access card. You can start at the local pawnshops and will probably find some there. Any flea markets in the vicinity are another great place to get access cards for Direct TV. Check out any local newspapers, free local newspapers, bulletin boards in public places and anywhere else used electronics are sold.

4. Ask around for Direct TV access cards. Inquire with your friends, family and associates to see if they have any Direct TV access cards that may just be lying around not being used. People will often hold onto old receivers that have access cards in them.

Tags: Direct access, access cards, access cards, Direct access cards, access cards Direct, access card

Repair A Pentax Me Super Camera

A serviced Pentax ME Super can still produce great photographic results.

Released in 1977 by the Asahi Pentax camera company, the Pentax ME Super was a compact, relatively advanced single lens reflex (SLR) camera. Although marketed toward the novice or amateur photographer, the camera contained a wealth of features including through-the-lens light metering and a fast maximum shutter speed of 1/2000s. A very common problem among old Pentax SLRs is a stuck mirror resulting from an eroded, sticky damper pad -- the small foam seal that protects the focusing screen when the mirror retracts.

Instructions

1. Press the small release tab near the lens mount thread and rotate the lens counter-clockwise to remove it. Look inside the camera. If your mirror is stuck in the up position, you will see an empty chamber. Pull the mirror, located at the top of the chamber, down gently with the tip of your finger.

2. Remove the battery cover on the bottom of the camera using the edge of a small coin. Dispose of the old batteries, wipe the metal contacts clean with a soft cloth, and insert the two new batteries. Try advancing the film and firing the shutter to see if the mirror retracts and then returns down. If it sticks again, pull it back down and continue with the steps below.

3. Locate the mirror damper pad. It is at the edge of the focusing screen, a milky-white square of glass at the top of the chamber. Use a pair of tweezers to pull up one edge of the pad while gently slicing it away from the chamber with a hobby knife. Work slowly until the entire pad is removed. Clean away any crumbled particles using your tweezers.

4. Cut a small section of 2.5-millimeter-thick foam with a length of 40 millimeter and a width of three millimeters. Peel off the backing from the foam and lick the adhesive to allow for easier placement. Position the foam in the same place as the old damper pad, ensuring that it does not touch the focusing screen.

5. Hold the new pad into place for at least a minute while the adhesive dries and sets.

6. Wrap a small piece of lens tissue around the tip of a cotton swab and moisten it with glass cleaning solution. Gently clean away any old damper pad residue on the edge of the mirror, as this is what causes it to become stuck. Allow the glass cleaner to evaporate dry.

7. Advance the film and fire the shutter several times, watching the mirror to make sure it retracts and returns down each time.

Tags: focusing screen, Pentax Super, mirror retracts, returns down

Repair Mini Dv Tapes

Mini DV tapes

Mini DV tapes can become damaged due to normal wear and tear or faulty equipment. Because the tape is so thin and delicate, it's very easy for it to become twisted. One twist can cause the tape to feed improperly and tangle. If you are comfortable handling it, a little cellophane tape and a razor blade can get your Mini DV tape back in shape.

Instructions

1. Flip up the door on the front of the Mini DV cartridge. This will expose the tape.

2. Cut a piece of cellophane tape that matches the width of the DV tape. Splice the broken DV tape back together with the cellophane tape and rewind.

3. Cut out shredded or wrinkled DV tape. Make sure to cut at a 45-degree angle with a razor blade. Splice the clean tape back together and rewind.

4. Try a local or online video and repair shop if the tape is too mangled for you to fix. Such a repair will require a professional's expertise and equipment. Pacific Video Repair will repair damaged Mini DV tapes for $20 and back-up tape to DVD for an additional $12.95.

Tags: cellophane tape, tape back, back together, Mini tapes, razor blade, tape back together

Ideas For Adventure Movie Projects

Adventure films are very popular.

Whether you are making a short film or a full-length feature, one of the most popular film genres is action and adventure. Making a movie is itself an exciting adventure. From the moment you develop a premise for a film through the process of writing and rewriting your script to actually filming your project, you may feel that you are in a battle to complete your film on time and on budget.

Nature Adventure

Several filmmakers have explored themes that place characters in a battle with nature to survive. Take a look at a film such as "128 Hours" to get a better sense of what goes into the making of a successful nature adventure film. At the center of these types of films that so engage the audience is the human drive to survive, no matter the odds. Don't assume you can't make a successful adventure film on a low-budget since with a strong story and good actors, you can produce a film that gets noticed in film festivals and beyond.

Road Trip Adventure

Some of the best stories are those that feature an unlikely hero who embarks on a journey, be it by hopping a train to escape an unpleasant past or someone taking to the road after a lifetime dreaming of freedom. Road movies that explore the process of dealing with some type of personal struggle or challenge can become very successful films, both in terms of cinematic recognition and box office earnings. This type of story usually requires the protagonist to go through something difficult and come out on the other side of his struggle changed, often redeemed. The open road is used as a metaphor of the internal journey that one or more of your characters are going through. For example, your character may have just experienced a great loss and decides to take journey back home. On the way, he encounters various quirky characters.

Film-making on a Budget

While you can buy or rent professional film-making equipment, if you are working with a limited budget you may want to consider using a semi-professional HD camera with a quality lens. You can find filming equipment, such as a jib and lights, through online auction sites like eBay. You can even make your own. There are plans available online for making a steadycam for less than $20 that would otherwise cost many times more. Purchase editing software, such as Adobe Premier Pro, or for Mac users, Final Cut Pro. Alternatively, download a free movie editing program such as MovieMaker.

Animated Adventure Project

If you want to create an adventure film but don't have a huge budget for sets or exotic locations, consider doing an entirely animated adventure film. There are several relatively inexpensive programs, such as Poser Pro and Vue Infinite, that can be used separately or together to create very impressive animated sequences with 3D poseable characters. There is even a freeware program called Daz Studio you can use for this purpose.

Tags: adventure film

Iso Speed For Using Ambient Light On A Canon Eos 40d

Use a tripod when shooting with a low ISO to stabilize the camera.

If your prefer ambient-light photography, learn adjust the ISO setting on your Canon EOS 40D digital camera. By setting the ISO from 100 to 3200, you can potentially eliminate the need for an external flash unit or the camera's built-in flash. Although exposing photos solely with natural light can lead to noisier images than using an artificial light source, the colors and shadows in the photo will appear natural and realistic.

Daylight Scenes

Use the Canon EOS 40D's lowest ISO settings when photographing well-lit daylight scenes with ambient light. These speeds include 100, 125, 160, 200, 250 and 320. Choose lower ISO numbers when shooting stationary scenery on bright days, such as blooming flowers in a garden. If clouds begin to move in, or small movement occurs in the scene, use a higher ISO number. This freezes motion and creates a correct exposure in lower-light situations such as taking pictures of children picking flowers in a shaded yard.

Shooting Indoors

As ambient light availability decreases, increase the ISO setting on your camera. The Canon EOS 40D offers three mid-range speeds: 400, 500 and 640. As the sun sets and you capture a few more pictures outside, use these higher ISO settings. Or, if you move indoors and rely on the ambient light from a window, lamp or overhead lighting, increase the camera sensor's sensitivity by increasing the ISO.

Dim Situations

If you're in an interior room without any available window light and must rely solely on light fixtures, turn the camera's ISO even higher. The Canon EOS 40D can capture images at ISO 800, 1,000, 1,250 and 1,600. When you choose the "H" option in the camera's custom functions menu, the camera can expose at ISO 3,200. Photos created at these higher ISO speeds will appear much noisier and film-like than digital photos recorded at lower ISO settings. To increase the sharpness and clarity of ambient-light pictures captured with high ISO settings, mount your Canon EOS 40D to a tripod. The extra stability enables shooting with a slower shutter speed, which allows more ambient light into the camera to expose the picture.

Night Photography

When there's barely any ambient light except for moonlight or stars, you can use any ISO setting you desire. A tripod becomes mandatory because exposures with so little ambient light will exceed the length of time you can hold your camera steady without it recording any movement from your body. For finer grain photos, use a low ISO setting. Your camera will expose for up to several minutes and gather every ray of ambient light to correctly expose the picture. For a more night-like appearance with a moody, soft-focus appeal, choose ISO 3,200. This higher ISO setting decreases your exposure time if you're in a hurry.

Tags: ambient light, camera expose, expose picture, setting your, shooting with, these higher, when shooting

Fish To The Plus Aquarium Screensaver

The Microsoft Plus! program for Windows XP includes an aquarium screensaver based on the full version created by Prolific Publishing's SereneScreen. The Plus! marine aquarium only includes a demo of the full version and does not allow fish to be added. However, you can purchase an updated version of SereneScreen's latest aquarium screensaver, SereneScreen Marine Aquarium 3.1, which allows up to 30 fish to be in the tank at one time.

Instructions

1. Got to SereneScreen.com to purchase the full version of the program.

2. Choose the version you want to download. Multiple versions are available, and earlier editions allow up to eight fish in the tank at one time.

3. Download the demo programs before downloading the full version to ensure compatibility with your system and to see how well it functions with your graphics card.

4. Install the program's full version, and enter the keycode to activate the software.

5. Press "Spacebar" to open the screensaver settings, and select the fish you want to include in the tank. You can also choose to allow fish to be randomly selected.

Tags: full version, allow fish, aquarium screensaver, fish tank, fish tank time, tank time, with your

Change A Digital Picture Frame Setting

Digital photo frames are picture frames that display your digital pictures without having to pay money to print the pictures or view through a computer monitor. Common digital picture frames range in size from seven to twelve inches. Many digital picture frames can also display pictures as a slide show as well as showing short videos. Initially, all digital photo frames would stretch or skew images to fit a 640 x 480 pixel size, however, current photo frames will automatically stretch or skew images to meet a 16:9 or 3:2 image aspect ratio, but will let you change frame settings such as: background wall paper, number of pictures, to display, and slideshow settings.

Instructions

1. Load pictures into your digital photo frame by choosing one of two methods: inserting your digital camera's memory card directly into the memory card slot on the photo frame, or connecting your photo frame to your computer or digital cameral via USB connection. Then, using the photo frame's menu, choose the photos individually or by photo album to include in your photo frames visual gallery.

2. Select the "Wallpaper" or equivalent menu option for your digital photo frame. Then, select the wallpaper to display around your photos by clicking the example display that has the desired look and feel.

3. Choose the "Slide Show Settings" menu option to change the digital picture frame show settings for your photo frame. You will be able to toggle the delay time in seconds to switch between pictures.

Tags: photo frame, photo frames, your digital, digital picture, picture frames, your photo, digital photo

Cingular L1400 Lg Cell Phone Troubleshooting

The LG L1400 is a mobile flip phone released on the Cingular network in 2004. Though it will work without problems in most instances, there are times when the L1400 does not operate as intended. Most problems are common, however, and can be fixed without the need of a service technician by troubleshooting and fixing the phone yourself.

Connection Problems

You may find that the L1400 is not audible or does not receive a signal when trying to make or answer a call. This occurs when the phone is not in the range of a cell phone tower or there is some electronic disturbance. You can often regain a signal if you move to another location.

In rare instances, the L1400 will not work if there are too many users on the network. You may need to wait several minutes before you can use the phone.

Blank LCD

The LCD screen on the L1400 may not work on occasion. This is often a power issue and can be fixed by removing and reinserting the battery. The battery is located in the compartment in the back of the phone. To remove the battery, flip the phone over so the back is facing you. Hold the battery cover lock on the top of the phone. Push the cover toward the top of the phone and pull it off to expose the battery. Take the battery out of the phone and reinsert it. Place the cover back on the L1400, pressing down until it clicks in place.

If the LCD is still blank, the battery may be drained. Fully charge the battery before trying to use it again.

Short Battery Life During Normal Use

Battery life is determined by the way you use your phone. If you use the phone often to make phone calls, send text messages or play games, the battery will drain faster. There are times, however, when the battery will drain faster during normal use. If you are making calls over a weak signal, the L1400 works harder to keep the connection strong enough to transmit and receive a signal. The power used to keep the signal will drain your battery faster.

Short Battery Life in Standby Mode

You may notice over time that the battery does not last as long, even if the phone is not used often. The L1400's battery will wear down after extended periods of use and recharging, and will not be able to hold its charge as long as in the past. You should replace the battery once it keeps the charge for approximately half of its normal time.

Tags: battery will, will drain, Battery Life, battery will drain, drain faster, flip phone

Proper Sequence For Car Tire Rotation

tire

Tire rotation helps your tires wear more evenly and can improve the handling of your vehicle. To get the benefits, you must rotate the tires in the right pattern for your type of vehicle and type of tires.

Rearward Cross

The rearward cross is for rear wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles. The rear tires are moved directly forward, staying on the same side of the vehicle. The front tires are moved to the back, and to the opposite side of the vehicle. So, the rear driver side tire would move to the front driver side and the front driver side tire would be moved to the rear passenger side

Forward Cross

The forward cross is used for front wheel drive vehicles. It is the opposite of the rearward cross. The front tires go directly to the rear and the rear tires crisscross to the front.

X-Pattern

The X-pattern can be used in front wheel drive, rear wheel drive and 4-wheel drive vehicles. It is exactly what the name implies. The front driver side tire is swapped with the rear passenger side tire and the front passenger side tire is swapped with the rear driver side tire.

Directional Tires

Some newer tire designs are directional tires. They can be swapped front and back, but never from side to side.

Tags: side tire, driver side, driver side tire, wheel drive, drive vehicles, front driver

Make Postersized Photo Prints

Digital technology makes it easy to enlarge your favorite photo to be as large as a poster. Poster size prints can be great for any type of celebration, decoration or simply for memory's sake. They can also be a fun way to embarrass a friend.

Instructions

Print at Home

1. Choose a picture you want to enlarge to poster size and store it on your computer.

2. Go to a website which allows you to work with posters, like blockposters.com, and upload your picture to the site. Click the continue button. Pictures printed out poster size at home will be tiled by the site, so you can print section by section on your printer.

3. Use the website tools to choose the area of the picture you want to print and the size of your poster. Click the continue button.

4. Download the Portable Document File of your poster, and print it using your home computer using your desired type of paper.

5. Trim the white edges off of each page, and attach the pages together with tape or glue to form a large poster-sized photo.

6. Mount your new extra-large poster on a wall or other area.

Print Online

7. Choose a picture you want to enlarge to poster size and save it on your computer.

8. Access a website that allows you to print photos, like shutterfly.com. Go to their large format print section and select the desired size for your photo. The average poster size in 20x30 inches.

9. Upload your photo to their site, and preview the print to ensure that it is the size and resolution that fits your needs. Continue through the steps and select the shipping option that suits you best.

10. Pay online for your new poster-size print and wait for it to come in the mail.

11. Mount your new poster-sized picture on a wall or other area.

Print at the Store

12. Take the picture that you want poster size to your area photo center.

13. Ask the photo center attendant to enlarge your picture to poster size, or 20x30 inches.

14. Give the attendant your photo and ask when your new poster-size picture will be ready.

15. Return to the photo center. Look at the new print and make sure that it meets your standards. If not, ask the attendant to reprint it.

16. Mount your new poster on a wall or other area.

Tags: poster size, Mount your, other area, photo center, picture want, size your

The Canon 420ex Compatibility With 40d

In the early 2000s, the 420EX represented Canon's midrange Speedlite offering. It was replaced by the 430EX, and subsequently, the 430EX II. While the Canon 420EX is discontinued, it remains a capable tool for use with Canon's digital SLR lineup, including the 40D.

Function

The 420EX is similar in size and capabilities to later Canon models, such as the 430EX and 430EX II. According to the Canon USA website, the 420EX offers E-TTL ("evaluative-through-the-lens") metering, which will work with the 40D to adjust for proper exposure when using the flash.

User Interface

The one obvious difference between the 420EX and successive units is the user interface. Instead of an LCD panel, the settings on the 420EX are displayed in lights on the back of the body. For someone using a recent digital SLR like the 40D, or used to using a more recent flash like the 430EX II or the 580EX II, this may take some getting used to.

FEC

In a review of the 430EX on "The Digital Picture," a number of differences between the 420EX and the later model are listed. Of note for 40D users is the lack of FEC, or "flash exposure compensation," on the body of the 420EX. In order to increase or decrease the power of the 420EX, 40D users must press the button on the top labeled with the "flash" symbol and "+/-," then use the selection wheel on the back of the camera, in order to set the exposure compensation level.

Tags: between 420EX, exposure compensation

Make Wave Gauges

Wave gauges are electronic circuit monitoring devices that detect sudden changes in water levels in oceans and seas. They measure the flow of water current passing between a pair of stainless steel electrodes mounted on a device immersed underwater to a certain depth or in buoys. Stainless steel codes, also known as sensors, convert the wave effect into an output voltage equal to the underwater depth of the codes and send them to devices on the shore for reading.

Instructions

1. Connect the remote computer to the Opto-Isolated Interface using a RS232-RS485 connection for multiple communications. The Opto-Isolated Interface is a device with multiple channels for controlling other circuits and electronic appliances remotely.

2. Attach the connecting cable from the Opto-Isolated Interface to the PIC Interface, which is the data acquisition interface. Ensure you are using a two-way connection to enable use of send and return signals to and from the control unit.

3. Link the PIC Interface to the analog signal processor using a two-way connecting cable. Let the connection hook up the devices in the following order: remote computer to Opto-Isolated Interface, then to the PIC Interface, then to the analog signal processor. The analog processor is a signal amplifier that provides information in the form of a continuous mathematical value with the aid of elements such as transistors, resistors, inductors and capacitors.

4. Measure a distance 3 feet from the top of the 5-foot aluminum rods and weld two triangular aluminum plates measuring 4 inches in height to these two points with the sharp point connecting to the aluminum pipe. Drill two holes each on these plates ensuring they conform to the second plate's holes. Fix two glass insulators to these plates and fasten them. Insert the two steel codes through the glass ensuring all these parts are parallel and fasten tightly ensuring the codes do not touch the glass and water movement is free.

5. Place an electronic box fitted with a DC converter circuit and digital-analogue communication device on top of the aluminum plate and fasten. Connect one electrode to the electronic box cable and another to the analogue signal processor, and then attach the long wave probe cable from the analogue processor to the electronic box.

6. Connect three independent DC-to-DC power supplies such that each one serves the digital circuits and the analog signal processor, and that the third connects to the digital signal isolation. This ensures there is no interference among the devices. Attach all the three to an AC power source.

7. Join one isolated DC-to-DC converter cable to the PIC interface using a single-send signal only. Install control and calibration software to the PIC Interface for better performance and hardware acquisition.

Tags: Opto-Isolated Interface, signal processor, analog signal, analog signal processor, cable from

Clean Your Dslr Camera

Thwart dust by using lens caps and a body cap when a lens is not attached.

Dirt is not a friend to your digital SLR camera. It can get into cracks and crevices of the camera body. It can attach itself to the glass of the lens. It can even make its way inside your camera and stick to the glass above the image senor. Dirt can also show up in your images as little black spots. That's why running the camera's built-in image-sensor cleaning process, and giving the rest of the working parts an occasional cleaning, is important.

Instructions

1. Shoot a test picture of a white sheet of typing paper or a white wall. Examine the resulting picture to see if little black spots appear. If so, you will need to clean dust from your camera's image sensor.

2. Rub the outside of your camera with a microfiber cloth to remove dirt and dust from the body.

3. Remove the lens.

4. Start the camera's image-sensor cleaning process, accessible through the camera menu, if one is available. Check your camera manual for specific instructions.

5. Look inside the camera and find the piece of glass that sits above the image sensor. Turn the camera so the lens opening is pointing down. Blow a stream of air across the glass using the blower bulb to release any remaining dust.

6. Give a few strong shakes to a special static-charged brush and wipe the bristles across the glass inside the camera if some dust or dirt remains.

7. Dampen a special sensor-cleaning brush with the photographic solvent and carefully wipe the glass to remove any grime.

8. Pick up the lens. Blow across the glass or use a blower brush to remove dust from the glass.

9. Wipe the glass with a fresh microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints or smudges. For stubborn spots, apply a few drops of lens-cleaning solution to a fresh cloth and wipe gently.

10. Reattach the lens to the camera body.

11. Take another test picture and check for any remaining black spots in the image.

Tags: your camera, across glass, black spots, dust from, above image, camera body, cleaning process

Do Chroma Key Video Effects

Do Chroma Key Video Effects

The chroma key effect has long been used to superimpose subjects over a colored background which is replaced with another image. "Chroma" refers to color, and the idea is that a background that uses a specific color will be replaced electronically with another image. The replaced image provides the illusion that the subject is in another locale or standing in front of graphical images such as weather maps or other news-related graphics. Thanks to sophisticated computer video editing software, the chroma key effect is now achievable with less expense and effort than in the days before digital video technology.

Instructions

1. Choose your colored background. Either a green or blue screen has become the most popular choice for backdrops used in the key effect.

2. Construct the backdrop. The chroma key backdrop will need to be large enough to provide complete coverage for the desired scene. If using a canvas or muslin backdrop, the material should be free of any wrinkles or folds. The key backdrop should be as flat and smooth as possible.

3. Light the backdrop. For the chroma key effect to work, the backdrop must be lit as evenly as possible. Use broad lighting sources that provide consistent coverage of the backdrop.

4. Place the subject far enough in front of the backdrop to avoid shadows from the subject falling on the backdrop, or light from the backdrop reflecting onto the subject.

5. Videotape the desired scene with the camera position so the key backdrop fills the viewfinder.

6. Import the video into your video editing software.

7. Import the desired background image you wish to use to replace the colored background. Place this image below the key effect track.

8. Select the chroma key effect from the list of available filters or key effects.

9. Adjust the key controls for color range, cutoff and threshold until the colored backdrop is removed to reveal the background image. Use the effect controls to insure the edges of the foreground subject are free of any key color artifacts.

Tags: chroma effect, colored background, another image, backdrop chroma, background image

Buy An Extended Warranty For A Tv

If you've just purchased a new TV, learn more about an extended warranty. You can get these warranties either through the manufacturer or through another source, like the store you purchased the TV from. Follow these steps to buy an extended warranty for your TV.

Instructions

Buy a Warranty Through the Manufacturer

1. Locate the warranty card for the TV. This usually comes in the box the TV was packaged in. Some companies also have online sites where you fill out warranty information. You can fill them out and send the form electronically. Or, you can print and send it via snail mail.

2. Pick a warranty that's right for you. Many companies offer extended warranties for different periods of time at different costs. Don't pay too much or too little. Ask yourself how long the warranty should be to make it worth your while.

3. Understand what you're purchasing. The warranty will most likely cover all manufacturer defects but may not be valid if something else happens. Read through the warranty a few times to discern what is and what isn't covered.

4. Complete your form and send it into the manufacturer with the chosen form of payment. Print out a copy of the warranty from their site to have an extra copy for future reference.

Buy a Warranty Through Another Source

5. Go to purchase a new TV at the retailer that offers the best price. A store clerk will most likely offer you their company's extended warranty at checkout time or as they help guide your decision. Feel free to ask specific questions about it before you get your wallet.

6. Ask the sales representative what their warranty offers. Will they personally handle all problems with your TV? What are the return policies? If the TV is defective, will they come and pick it up? Pay close attention to the way that they answer these questions and more. If they evade any specific questions, consider going with the warranty from another store or through the manufacturer.

7. Have the sales representative show you why they feel their extended warranty is better. Look to see if the warranty at the store runs longer than what the manufacturer will offer. Weigh all of your options carefully because an additional warranty can add significant costs to your purchase.

8. Continue with your purchase if you're satisfied with the terms of the warranty and their answers to your questions. You can usually purchase your extended warranty at the time you buy your TV. There won't be any need to fill out forms later.

Tags: extended warranty, extended warranty, most likely, sales representative, specific questions, warranty from

Diy Helmet Speakers

Add speakers to your helmet for on-the-go listening.

If you enjoy taking to the open road on a motorcycle, you're sure to love the sound of cars whizzing past you and nature all around you. Should you want to listen to music, however, you may run into some difficulty without speakers built into your helmet. Thankfully, you can make your own helmet speakers using everyday parts and just a bit of ingenuity.

Instructions

1. Place your helmet on your work space, and remove all the foam padding from the inside. If the padding is not removable, then leave it in place. Carefully cut into the two-sided padding around the ears and pull the foam out of the fabric covering. Don't discard it, as you will need it later.

2. Cut a hole in both the pieces of foam padding you removed to the size and shape of the speakers of the headphones.

3. Take apart the headphones, and remove as much of the plastic as you can so you're left with just the speakers and connecting wire. Place the speakers in the foam pads, and use the scrap foam to fill in gaps so the speakers are snug. Make sure no foam will somehow come between the speaker outputs and your ears. Slip the foam back into the fabric padding covers. Keep the speaker wires tvisible. Tape the fabric padding shut.

4. Tape the headphone wiring in the helmet shell. The wires should come from the ear pads to the center of the helmet, then down the helmet backside. Place all of the removed padding back into the helmet. Plug the headphone's wire connector hanging from the back of the helmet into your MP3 player's port and test the sound. Make adjustments if needed.

Tags: your helmet, back into, fabric padding, foam padding, into your

Choose Shutter Speed On A Manual Camera

Choosing the correct shutter speed with a manual camera is very important. "Shutter speed” refers to how fast or slow your camera lens shutter opens, and it works in conjunction with the aperture to affect how much light the negative receives. Shutter speed can also be used to achieve artistic effect with motion blur, but if used incorrectly, it can ruin a photograph with unintentional blur.

Instructions

1. Decide what you want to achieve with the subject you are photographing. Your shutter speed will vary based on whether you want to demonstrate action or freeze the motion.

2. Choose a faster shutter speed to freeze action. Depending on how much light is available, most action involving people will be “frozen” with a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second or higher. This is also a good shutter speed to keep in mind, because any time you use a slower speed, you should use a tripod to eliminate camera shake.

3. Choose a slower shutter speed to capture motion blur. You'll need to use a tripod, which will keep every nonmoving object stable; only moving objects will blur. With a shutter speed of 1/30 of a second, a fast-moving object such as a car will register with a small amount of blur. Using a shutter speed of one second or more may result in that car represented as a line all the way across the image.

4. Take a light-meter reading. You must keep in mind that a slow shutter speed used to capture motion may be allowing too much light to hit your negative. You must adjust your aperture accordingly by changing it to a higher number (smaller opening.) It is also important to keep in mind that changing aperture will affect your depth of field. For example, if your light meter reflects the correct settings to be F8 at 1/60 of a second, but you want to show a slight amount of motion blur, you would change your shutter speed to 1/30, and adjust your F-stop to F16. An F-stop of F16 will give you a greater depth of field.

5. Take the photograph. Make sure the changes you made are accurately reflected in your light-meter reading. If you are unsure, you should take a photograph with one F-stop above, and one F-stop below. This will provide a safety net for you. Practice makes perfect, so take photos often, and make notes on what works and what does not.

Tags: shutter speed, keep mind, motion blur, much light, shutter speed, shutter speed second

Difference Between A Cf Card & An Sd Card

Both CF and SD cards are memory cards.

Both CF cards and SD cards fall under the category of memory cards, specifically solid state memory cards. Solid state memory cards have no moving parts and thus are considered more reliable than hard disk drives.

Physical Size

A CF card is much larger than an SD card. While the CF card is roughly 1.5 square inches, SD cards are less than an inch long and about a half inch wide. The SD card is nearly flat, while the CF card is approximately a quarter inch thick.

Function

Both CF and SD cards are used to hold information, especially in digital cameras. Devices generally use one type of card or the other, but not both. CF cards tend to be used more than SD cards in digital cameras, especially in SLR cameras.

Memory Capacity

CF cards can generally hold more data than SD cards. Standard SD cards can only hold up to 2 GB of data, although SDHC cards are also available that can hold up to 32 GB.

Speed

The fastest SD card has a rough data transfer speed of 20 Mbps. The fastest CF card has roughly a 45 Mbps data transfer rate. The perceived difference in speed by a user, however, is generally negligible.

Interface

CF cards use a 50-pin interface, which allows for a 16-bit transfer bus (the amount of data that can be transferred at a time). SD cards use a 4-bit transfer bus and have only a 9-pin interface.

Tags: memory cards, Both cards, card roughly, data transfer, digital cameras, fastest card

What Causes A Memorycard Corruption

Memory cards allow for hundreds of pictures to be taken and saved.

Memory cards have expanded over the years, allowing for hundreds of pictures to be taken in one sitting. Memory cards are small and fragile and must be treated with care. There are many reasons why a memory card can get corrupted, and it often leads to losing any pictures contained on that card. There are simple things that can be done to prevent the card from getting damaged.

Empty or Dying Batteries

Often the card is corrupted because of simple things that are done without even thinking. When taking pictures, make sure that you have a fully charged battery. If the camera dies while taking a picture, often that picture will not have been written to the memory card. The same thing applies if the batteries die while transferring those pictures to the computer.

Removing or Turning Off Memory Card Too Early

If you turn off the camera or remove the memory card before it can actually write the data to the card, it will corrupt those files. If you need to remove the card from the camera or the computer, make sure it has transferred, or written all the data, before you remove it. If you open, delete, rename or move a file while transferring data, it can damage the files.

Memory Card Not Formatted for that Camera

Formatting is a common problem. A memory card formatted on a computer can actually be corrupted when inserted into the camera. Or if you format a memory card on one camera and use it on another, it often will be corrupted when inserted into the second camera.

Other

Sometimes taking photos too rapidly before the camera can completely write the data onto the card, or taking a picture and deleting it, will cause corruption. Also, letting the memory card get too full before downloading it to your computer can damage the data.

Memory Card Fixes

If the card becomes corrupt, stop using it. Do not format or delete any images. Sometimes, instead of using an importing program, dragging the photos from the card to a file will allow you to save the photos. Many memory card companies also offer image recovery programs that help save the photos on corrupted cards.

Once you have done all you can to rescue the photos, you have two choices. You can reformat the card in the camera you are going to use it in. Or you can buy a new memory card. If you choose to keep the same card and the problem happens again, realize that the card may be corrupted beyond repair. Buy a new one.

Tags: memory card, card corrupted, Memory cards, card camera, card from, corrupted when

Navigation Software For Cars

Navigation software for cars helps drivers around the world

As more people purchase GPS (global positioning system) devices for their cars, the manufacturers of these units are constantly creating new and more complicated versions. Both old and new GPS units can be updated with navigation software for the newest maps and directions available.

Detailed Maps

The latest versions of navigation software for cars offer the most detailed versions of maps available, including small streets that may less-known or recently constructed. It is important to update the software to integrate this knowledge into your GPS unit's database.

Personalization

Set up your preferences on the GPS device using the software on your computer. You can input your home address, language of instruction, favorite places and data for other countries that you plan on traveling to.

Directions

Once the GPS has located your position by triangulating signals received from satellites, and you have input your destination, the software determines the most direct route between the two. Certain software programs also monitor traffic flow and can provide alternate routes between two spots in the case of an accident or road delays.

Syncing Devices

Once you have installed the software on your computer, you can sync the GPS device to it. This allows the device to upload any new information that the program might have, as well as any preferences that you have changed since the last sync.

Tags: input your, software your, software your computer, your computer

Stop Phone Stalking

A phone stalker is someone who repeatedly calls your phone to harass you or your loved ones. This can be a scary experience because you have no way of knowing if this person is also watching or following you. It also can cause panic whenever your phone rings, because it could be the stalker on the other end, which also can cause you to miss out on important phone calls.

Instructions

1. Change your phone number with your phone provider. Contact the phone company and explain your concern about having a stalker. Ask that your number be listed as private in the phone directory so that you cannot be easily contacted.

2. Hang up the phone immediately if the stalker is on the other end of the phone. Engaging in conversation will just agitate the situation and give him a reason to keep calling you.

3. Contact your local police department. The police department is trained to deal with stalkers and threats against people. They may ask you if you have an idea of who the person is. Give them any information that may help find the stalker.

Tags: your phone, also cause, police department, stalker other

Never Receive A Photo Radar Ticket In The Mail

No Photo Radar Tickets

Here's never receive a photo radar ticket in the mail. You may run a red light or be speeding accidently and see the flash in your rear view mirror. You think, Oh, no, I've been caught by photo radar. If you follow these simple steps, you may never receive that ticket in the mail at all. Photo radar traffic tickets started in Europe as early as 1978. Even then the photos from the traffic cameras showed the front and back of the car and the driver. It has begun to pop up in nearly every state as a moneymaker to fill the state coffers.

It works exactly like it sounds. A computer and a radar unit are attached to a camera.

The roadway has buried hot spots for detecting movement. When a vehicle exceeds the posted speed or runs the red light, the hot spots send a message to the computer to record it and the camera takes the photo. Most cameras are set to show the front and back of the law breaking vehicle and the driver. However the cameras are not infallible. Once a ticket showed the correct automobile but the driver was deceased years before.

Keeping in mind that camera photo radar laws are different in each state, these are generalized steps but may work in most states with photo cameras. You will need to check your state laws for loopholes. Here are some steps you can take now to NEVER receive that photo radar ticket:

Instructions

1. There are many legal ways to fool the paperwork on a photo radar traffic ticket. One way is to cross-register your vehicle with your spouse or other opposite sex family member. The sex of the person named on the ticket will be the opposite sex of the driver in the photo. It's normally kicked out by the editors when it is obviously the wrong sex person driving.

If you do receive the photo radar traffic ticket, you can have the police or court dismiss the citation due to the opposite sex photo. You are not obligated to say who was driving.

2. You can re-register your automobile under the name of a family trust, a limited liability corporation, a regular corporation, or limited partnership business. If a notice of violation comes in the mail, trash it as police and courts may take no further action.

3. You can ignore the ticket and trash it. If you do, you may have to dodge a process server for 4 months.

However if you can dodge them for four months, because if the ticket isn't served or signed, it must be dismissed from the court after 4 months. See tips below about dodging.

4. Your state may have a website where you can check the status of the ticket without penalty or tracking.

5. Another possibility is to register your automobile with a Post Office box as your mailing address. The motor vehicle division may require a physical address for you but perhaps only the box address may show at the photo-enforcement company.

6. At least with a post office box, the process server will be unable to find you. Also pay a little extra to go to a non published number so they can't get your address.

7. In fact, due to editing by the photo company, who sends the information on to the police department for citations, you may never receive it. They normally don't send tickets to P.O. Boxes, Businesses, Corporations, or other governments(like a county or state vehicle).

Tags: photo radar, radar traffic, front back, never receive, Photo Radar

Put A Canon Manual Lens On A Canon Digital Slr

Canon offers a high-end digital processor in their digital SLRs that allow regular Canon manual lenses to be used on the digital body. Using manual Canon lenses saves a user quite a bit of money, as digital lenses are very costly. However, the exposure and focal length differs, so when using a manual lens on a digital SLR you must accommodate for the difference in focal length. Canon has kept their simplicity of changing lenses the same through the 35-mm manual SLRs to their digital SLRs; this makes using manual lenses on your digital Canon SLR easy.

Instructions

1. Turn the Canon digital SLR camera off before removing or mounting any lenses.

2. Remove any current lenses by pressing the lens release button located on the body of the camera to the left of the lens. Twist the lens slowly until it unlocks and is easily removed.

3. Position the Canon manual lens so the red dots on the lens and camera body are lined up with each other. Twist the lens slowly to the right until the lens locks into place. The lens is now installed and ready for use.

Tags: digital SLRs, focal length, lens slowly, manual lens, manual lenses

Buy Cd Wallets

Individual CD cases can protect your music, but they can't help you keep your large collection organized on one small shelf. And it's not easy to carry 40 CD cases around when you're going on vacation. Luckily, you can buy a CD wallet that will keep your music collection safe and compact. Here's how.

Instructions

1. Figure out how many CDs you have. Generally, a CD wallet can hold between 20 and 300 CDs. The number of CDs you have can help you decide how big your wallet should be.

2. Look for a CD wallet online. Amazon.com and other general retailers have lots of selection, and they will deliver right to your door. Of course, you'll have to wait on the mail before you can start transferring your music into your new CD wallet. Also, you'll have to pay shipping.

3. Go to your favorite music store. Music stores should have everything to keep your CD collection organized and safe. Just keep in mind that your selection of larger CD wallets might be limited in smaller stores.

4. Try an electronics store. Large retailers, such as Best Buy and Circuit City, will probably have the widest selections of CD wallets. You can even search these stores via their website and have your CD wallet delivered to your door. Small computer shops will probably have smaller selections, and they might specialize in carrying smaller wallets.

5. Check out an office supply store. These stores will usually have at least a few small CD wallets. Use this as your last option or, if your local Staples is closer than Best Buy, call ahead to see if they have what you want.

Tags: keep your, your music, your wallet, collection organized, probably have