Set Up A Nikon D70s Aeb

AEB can be helpful when scenes are very light or very dark.

The Nikon D70s digital single lens reflex camera has an automatic exposure bracketing feature. When AEB is turned on, the camera takes multiple shots of the same scene, but with slightly different exposure settings. In the event that the camera's automatic exposure system chooses the wrong exposure, bracketing increases the likelihood that one of the pictures will have the right one.

Instructions

Setting Bracketing Mode

1. Press the Menu button on the camera's back panel to display the menu system. Use the down arrow on the directional pad to select the CSM Menu option, and then press the right arrow to enter the Custom Settings menu.

2. Scroll down to Detailed, then press the right arrow.

3. Press the Menu key a couple of times until you see the list of menus, scroll to the CSM MENU option and press the right arrow.

4. Scroll down to option 12 -- BKT Set -- and press the right arrow to activate it.

5. Scroll to "AE only" to activate AE bracketing or "AE & Flash" to activate automatic exposure bracketing that also modifies flash settings. Press the right arrow to select it. You can now press the Menu key to exit the menu system.

Using Bracketing

6. Tap the shutter button without pressing it to get your camera back into shooting mode.

7. Hold down the "BKT" button and rotate the camera's main control dial until you see BKT in its top panel and you see the exposure compensation icon, which has a "+" and a "-" sign in a square, start blinking.

8. Hold down the "BKT" button and rotate the camera's secondary command dial, located on the front of the grip unless you changed the camera's settings, to select your desired bracketing program. The display will show the bracketing option with a number, an "F", another number, and a graphic. The first graphic shows how many shots it will take, the second number shows the exposure difference, and the graphic shows whether they will be positive, negative or both. For example, "3 F 1.3 + -" means that the camera will take three shots -- one properly exposed , one 1.3 stops underexposed and one that is 1.3 stops overexposed. If the display shows "2 F 0.7 -" it will take two shots: one that is properly exposed and one that is 0.7 stops underexposed.

9. Compose your picture and, when you're ready, press the shutter button once for each shot in the sequence.

10. Turn off AEB by holding the "BKT" button and turning the main control dial until the "BKT" indicator disappears from your camera's display.

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Download Photos From A Samsung S630 Digital Camera

Download Photos From a Samsung S630 Digital Camera

With the Samsung S630 digital camera, you can download the images stored on the memory disk in your camera to your PC's hard disk. Downloading your pictures onto your computer is the best way to store and preserve them and it also allows you to view them on a larger screen, share them with others, print them and edit them with photo-editing software. You can also delete the pictures that you do not wish to save. The steps outlined here come from the manufacturer's user manual, which is included with the camera.

Instructions

Downloading Photos from the Samsung S630 Digital Camera

1. Connect the camera to your PC with the USB cable. Turn on the camera. Connect the camera and the computer using the USB cable supplied with your camera. Turn on the computer and the camera and the computer will now be connected. A menu will display on your camera, with these options: Select USB, Computer and Printer. Select "computer" by pressing the up/down button on the camera and then click "OK." If you select "printer" by mistake, disconnect the USB cable and start over.

2. On your computer's desktop display, select "My computer." Double-click "Removable Disk." Select "DCIM," then "100SSCAM." The image files from your camera will be displayed. Select an image and press the right mouse button. A pop-up menu will open.

3. Click the "Cut" or "Copy" menu. "Cut" cuts a selected file. "Copy" copies the file. Click a folder where you want to paste the file.

4. Press the right mouse button and a pop-up menu will open. Click "Paste." This transfers the image file to your computer. Repeat for each image you want to download.

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Get Rid Of A Shadow In A Photo

Shadows can be used as an artistic element in photography. But if shadows obscure too much of your subject or background, they can ruin your shot. Use image-editing applications to salvage what light your camera managed to capture from the shadowed area. While shadows can't always be entirely removed from images, there are several free, image-editing applications that you give a fighting chance against the shadows.

Instructions

GIMP

1. Download and install a free copy of GIMP to remove shadows from your photos. Launch GIMP. Select the "Open" option from the program's "File" heading to load the image you wish to edit.

2. Click on the "Free Select" tool in GIMP's toolbox. Trace the shadow in your image with the tool, holding down your mouse's left button while tracing.

3. Select the "Brightness-Contrast" option from the "Colors" heading. Drag the Brightness-Contrast menu's "Brightness" slider to the left to saturate your shadow with light. Drag "Contrast" slider to the right, slightly, to restore definition, or detailed texture, to your selection. Click "OK."

4. Select the "Save as" option from GIMP's "File" heading to save a new copy of your image.

Paint.NET

5. Use Paint.NET to get rid of shadows in your images. Download a free copy of the program, install it and then launch it. Click on the "Open" button in Paint.NET's toolbar to import the image needing work.

6. Select the "Lasso" tool from the "Tools" window. Trace the perimeter of your image's shadow, while holding down your mouse's left button to make your selection.

7. Select the "Brightness/Contrast" option from the "Adjustments" heading. Use the "Brightness" slider to illuminate, or lighten, the shadow. Use the "Contrast" slider to maintain the shadowed area's mid- and low-color tones, where detail and textures can be seen. Click "OK."

8. Click on the "Save" button in Paint.NET's toolbar to save your changes.

Pixlr

9. Remove shadows from your images, using Pixlr's online image editor. Click on Pixlr's "Open image from computer" option to upload your picture into the program.

10. Click on the "Lasso Tool" in Pixlr's "Tools" window. Trace the outline of the shadowed area, while holding down your mouse's left button.

11. Click on Pixlr's "Adjustment" heading. Select its "Brightness & Contrast" option. Use the "Brightness" slider in the "Brightness & Contrast" menu to add light to the shadowed area. Use the menu's "Contrast" slider to balance the mid and low tones. Click "OK" to apply your changes.

12. Select the "Save" option from Pixlr's "File" heading to save your image on your computer.

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Look Up A Digital Tv Guide

Digital TV customers use a TV guide to review up-to-date event information by channel and time. Whether you need to review your TV guide for a specific program's schedule, channel program lineup or a list of programs available on every channel at a specific time, looking up a digital TV guide is not difficult. TV service companies offer customers several methods of accessing a digital guide, including on screen, on the service company website and in hard-copy print form.

Instructions

1. Use your remote control. Cable, FiOS and satellite service companies offer on-screen digital TV guides to customers and a remote control to access the feature. If you're using the remote control provided by your service provider, look for a button marked "guide" or "menu." If you can't find the appropriate button to access the TV guide or are using a universal remote and can't locate the button, see Step 2.

2. Contact your service provider's technical support department for assistance. A technical support representative can help you locate the button on the remote control and instruct you on using the guide. Also, a technical support representative may have additional knowledge to help with a customer-owned universal remote.

3. Visit your service provider's website. Select any buttons or links marked "TV Listings" or "What's On Now," or conduct a keyword search ("TV listings" or "digital TV guide") to access the guide. Keep in mind that guide locations differ by service provider --- some allow open access to anyone visiting the site while others require visitors to have an online or TV service account. If prompted, enter your address, ZIP code or telephone number to find the guide for your area.

4. Go to your service provider's local service center. Most service providers offer a hard-copy print version of the guide. Ask a customer service representative or look for a table, kiosk or stand with service-related pamphlets or other documents.

Tags: service provider, your service provider, remote control, your service, technical support, access guide

Canon Elph 2 Camera Instructions

The Canon Elph 2, released in 1999, was one of the first advanced photo system, point and shoot cameras, boasting the smallest zoom lens at that time. While today's point and shoot cameras save images digitally onto SD cards, the Canon Elph 2 stores images on standard 35 millimeter film. The Canon Elph 2 has an accurate hybrid auto focus and three print formats; panoramic, wide-angle, and classical.

Prepping the Camera

Before shooting with the Canon Elph 2, you must prepare the camera. Insert a standard role of 35mm film into the camera by first turning the film crank (located on the side of the Canon Elph 2) until the film compartment cover pops open. Drop the 35mm role of film into the film compartment with the exposure indicator pointed outward. Close the film compartment cover. You do not have to pull the film leader across the back of the camera as with standard 35mm cameras.

The Canon Elph 2 requires one CR2 lithium battery. Open the battery cover (located on the left side of the camera) by sliding it from front to back until it stops. Lift the cover and remove. Insert the CR2 lithium battery with the positive terminal pointing outward. Reattach the cover by clipping the front end of the battery compartment cover in place and pressing down on the back end. Slide the cover fully closed.

The power switch on the Canon Elph 2 is located on the front of the camera in the top right corner. Press the power switch to "On." When the camera turns on, it automatically places you in the wide-angle zoom setting, and the flash will be set to auto flash.

Print Type and Zoom

The Canon Elph 2 provides three shooting modes; C (Classical), H (Wide-Angle), and P (Panoramic). The shooting mode dial is located at the top of the camera and can be adjusted at any time.

Use the zoom lever, located on the top of the camera, to capture close-ups of your subjects. Turning the zoom lever clockwise zooms in, while turning the zoom lever counter clockwise zooms out.

Shooting

Similar to today's digital cameras, the Canon Elph 2 has a half-shutter setting to allow the camera to auto focus. When the Canon Elph 2 has fully focused, the green indicator light (located on the left of the viewfinder) will stay solid green. If the green indicator light blinks four times, it indicates you may be too close to your subject.

The orange indicator light, which is located beneath the green indicator, will remain solid orange when the flash is fully charged. If the orange indicator light blinks four times, it indicates a stability or camera shake warning.

When you are ready to take your picture, press the shutter button down fully.

Tags: Canon Elph, indicator light, compartment cover, film compartment, green indicator, zoom lever

Lithium Vs Lithium Ion Batteries

Lithium and lithium ion batteries, or cells, provide portable electricity. They both work by moving electrons from one place to another which creates an electrical current. There are both advantages and disadvantages to either type.

Cell Type

The main difference between lithium and lithium ion batteries is that lithium batteries are a primary cell and lithium ion batteries are secondary cells. The term primary cell refers to cells that must be discarded after one use. Secondary cell is a term that refers to a battery's ability to be recharged.

Comparison

Lithium batteries are not easily and safely rechargeable, this is why lithium ion batteries were invented. They can be charged several times before becoming ineffective. Lithium batteries however are not rechargeable, but do offer more in the way of capacity than lithium ion batteries. They have a higher energy density than lithium ion batteries. Lithium batteries use lithium metal as their anode unlike lithium ion batteries that use a number of other materials to form their anode. Lithium ion batteries are disadvantaged in that their shelf life is about three years, after that, they are worthless.

How They Work

In both types, electrical currents occur because of a chemical reaction that takes place inside the battery. The anode in a cell moves electrons to the cathode which is located at the opposite end of the cell. Electrolyte is used to separate the anode from the cathode, assuring they never touch.

History

The idea for the lithium battery was first introduced in 1912. The first lithium battery was made available to consumers in the 1970s and it was not rechargeable. Lithium metal was found to be unstable which is why a rechargeable lithium battery was never developed. Nonmetallic lithium was used to create a battery in 1991. This lithium ion battery was rechargeable and much safer to use than the standard lithium battery.

Uses

Both types of batteries offer a lot of power for their size. They can be used in any number of devices from flashlights to compact disc players. Lithium ion batteries can be formed into many shapes which makes them ideal for items such as laptop computers, iPods and cell phones. They are also widely used in these devices because of their ability to recharge. Lithium batteries are the battery of choice when it comes to powering artificial pacemakers because of the amount of power they can offer.

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Use Different Camera Lenses

Many cameras today offer point-and-shoot simplicity that utilizes fixed lenses. Other models provide the photographer the opportunity to change lenses depending on the conditions and desires of the user. Camera lenses are easy to use and provide a whole new perspective for creative expression.

Instructions

1. Make certain the camera allows the user to change the lens system. Point-and-shoot, disposable and many digital cameras use a fixed lens. The camera body will exhibit a release button feature on the front of the camera near the lens mount if equipped.

2. Decide on an effect or perspective for the photo shoot. Shooting a large area of landscape or a city view requires a wide-angle lens. Wide-angle lenses work well with large groups of people as well.

3. Close in on a subject by using a telephoto or zoom lens. Subjects posing a threat to the photographer or who are simply impossible to get close to require a telephotos lens that uses powerful magnification to provide clear pictures of something far away.

4. Use a standard lens in the 50 mm range to capture everyday scenes. This lens will suffice for typical shooting and some portrait work that doesn't need a large depth of field. Many DSLR cameras include this type of lens.

5. Consider using unusual lenses for an added twist on common subjects. A fish-eye lens adds a very interesting carnival-mirror effect to photos by providing an extreme wide-angle perspective.

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Put 35mm Film In A Pentax Camera

Knowing properly load film into your Pentax camera can mean the difference between having a useful roll of film or an accidentally exposed roll. If you fail to properly attach the film to the take up spool, your film may not be exposed at all. Follow these procedures to properly load film into your Pentax camera.

Instructions

1. Lift up the rewind knob located on the left side of your Pentax camera. When the knob is lifted, the back of the camera will open.

2. Take the film out of its plastic container. Save the container to put the used film in before having it developed.

3. Lay the camera on a hard surface with the back side of the camera facing upward. Load the film into the opening on the left side of the camera. Push the roll of film firmly into the holder and push the knob down to fasten the film roll securely in place.

4. Pull the film out of the roll and over to the other side where a spool is located. Find a slit in the spool and insert the end of the film into the slit. Make sure the film completes one full circle in the spool by pushing the advance button on your camera to firmly secure the film.

5. Close the back cover of your Pentax and begin taking pictures.

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Choose A Tv Tuner Card

Choosing the right TV tuner card for your computer can be a hard choice with all of the options available to consumers. Using these steps to narrow down your choices will save both time and money, as well as ensure that you get the performance you are looking for out of your TV tuner card for your computer.

Instructions

1. Determine what kind of connection you want to use with your computer for your tuner card: USB (Universal Serial Bus) or PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect). While almost all computers have USB ports that are free, many systems do not have an available PCI slot. Using a USB tuner card may be a bit more expensive, but the installation is much quicker and simpler.

2. Determine if you want an HD (high definition) or SD (Standard Definition). While SD tuner cards are much more affordable, HD tuners provide a wider array of quality and available channels.

3. Verify that the card is compatible if you plan on using your tuner card with Windows Media Center. To verify, most tuners will have a "Designed for Windows Media Center" logo on the box, but the manufacturer's website or user manual for the tuner can also provide the information.

4. Decide if you want the ability to use multiple tuners for activities such as PIP (picture-in-picture) or recording one show while watching another. If so, you must either install two tuner cards, or select a card offering dual tuners built-in.

5. For better system performance while using the TV tuner card, select a card with a hardware MPEG-2 encoder. This simply means that the card itself will handle converting the TV signal for use with your computer, versus your computer's CPU handling this process. Your system performance will be greatly affected if your tuner card does not have a hardware encoder.

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Download From The Internet To An Android Phone

If there are movies, music or other multimedia files on the Internet that you want to download to and watch on your Android phone, you can do so by downloading them on your computer first, and then downloading them to the phone using the USB cord that came with your device. You'll need to "mount" your SD card for the android phone before you can download files to it from your computer as well.

Instructions

1. Connect your Android phone to your computer with the USB cord for that phone. Click the "Mount" option when it appears on your phone's screen to mount the SD card to your computer.

2. Click "Start" in Windows and select "Windows Media Player."

3. Open your computer's web browser to the link for the file you want to download. Click on the download link to download the file to your computer. Click and drag this file to the "Sync List" box in the "Sync" tab in Windows Media Player.

4. Click "Start Sync" to download the file to your Android phone.

Tags: your computer, your Android, your Android phone, Android phone, Click Start, computer Click, cord that

Hook Up A Slingbox

How far has television come from the days of 3 channels and no remote? Look no farther than the Slingbox which allows a person to view their television from anywhere at anytime. All that is needed is a high speed Internet connection and a computer.

Instructions

1. Connect the Slingbox to the video source. Whatever source supplies the cable programming, connect the Slingbox to that device (DVR, satellite box or cable box). Use the connector cable that is included with the Slingbox.

2. Plug the infrared emitter connector into the designated slingbox port and position the opposite end in front of the cable box's infrared emitter. This is how the channels are changed remotely. Slingbox has thousands of cable boxes pre-programmed but sometimes not all devices or buttons will work through Slingbox. (see resources for assistance)

3. Join the Slingbox to an ethernet outlet using the ethernet cable supplied by Slingbox. If there is an available Ethernet wall outlet then connect the Slingbox directly to the wall outlet. An Ethernet router will also work as a connection. If all else fails Slingbox has a device that turns an electrical outlet into a useable Internet port. (see resources for a link)

4. Find an available eletrical outlet to plug the slingbox into. Now the Slingbox is hooked up and ready to go.

5. Configure the software for the Slingbox. Insert the software that came with the Slingbox into the CD drive of the computer. Follow the steps on the setup wizard. Once the software locates the connection it will list the available cable boxes for setup. Select the cable box from the list. The software will notify the user if there are problems. A digital program guide will appear on the screen if everything is connected correctly. If the program guide does not appear please check all connections.

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Use Digital Slr Cameras

Start using your digital SLR camera

You've finally upgraded your one-click camera and invested in a high-quality Nikon or Canon digital SLR camera. DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras have become immensely popular because they provide stunning, high-resolution, professional-looking images that can vividly preserve your memories. Although your digital SLR camera can seem much more complicated than your previous point-and-shoot camera, it is actually quite easy to use. The only difference is that a digital SLR camera provides you with more tools and options.

Instructions

1. Decide what mode you want to take your photo in. Digital SLR cameras come with many different modes for shooting your photographs. Automatic mode relies upon your camera to make the best decision regarding focus, flash, aperture and many other factors. Types of automatic modes include portrait, landscape and night. Semiautomatic mode is where you can adjust one particular setting (either aperture or shutter speed) and your DSLR camera makes the rest of the decisions in conjunction with your settings. Semiautomatic mode is usually indicated by letters on your camera: P (program mode), S (shutter priority mode) or A (aperture priority mode). If you are a beginner, you should start out with automatic mode. If you would like to try semiautomatic modes, start out with program mode, which is a general setting that allows you to adjust flash, white balance, ISO and other options.

2. Go to your digital SLR camera's main menu and decide between RAW or JPEG format for your photos. RAW format is an uncompressed file that offers a high dynamic range in your photo. RAW format will have to be converted before it can be seen, edited, processed or printed on your computer. JPEG is a compressed format that is easily recognizable on your computer and on the Web. It takes up far less space than a RAW file, but is less dynamic and lower in quality. If high-quality photos are your main priority, shoot in RAW format. If you don't want to deal with converting your files later and have limited space, shoot in JPEG format.

3. Hold your digital SLR camera correctly. Blurriness in photos is often a result of camera shake. The best option for shooting with your digital SLR camera is to use a tripod. If you need to hold your camera, make sure to firmly grip the right side of the camera with your right hand. Your left hand supports the camera's weight by holding it from underneath or wrapping around the bottom of the lens. Although it may be tempting to pull away from your digital SLR camera and use its LCD screen to frame your subject, this often results in an instability that leads to camera shake. Make sure to hold the camera close to you and use the viewfinder to focus your photo. Lean against a solid object, like a wall, table or tree, to add extra stability.

4. Fill your frame and make sure your subject is in focus. Use your DSLR's lens to zoom in on your subject. Make sure the subject takes up your frame, and don't let too many background objects or people get into the shot. Carefully check in the viewfinder to make sure that the part of the image that you want to highlight is truly in focus. Don't just rely upon your camera to get it right.

5. Press the shutter button correctly. Not releasing the shutter button correctly can lead to many problems, including camera shake. Place the flat part of your forefinger against the shutter. Apply pressure firmly, but do not jab at the shutter. This will provide you with more control over your shutter and reduce the likelihood of your digital SLR camera jerking every time you take a shot.

Tags: digital camera, your digital, your digital camera, your camera, camera shake

Make A Tripod

If you need a tripod for your camera, you don't have to go out and spend a lot of money on one. Instead, you can use some everyday items found around your house to make a tripod. Just follow the steps below.

Instructions

1. Look at the bottom of your camera and find the tripod hole. Most holes are threaded to accept a screw end. Make sure the screw you're using fits into your camera's tripod hole.

2. Remove the cap from the 2 liter bottle and fill the bottle with water.

3. Use the drill to make a hole in the plastic bottle lid. Be sure to use a drill bit that matches the size of your screw.

4. Put the washer on the screw, then insert the screw through the hole in the bottle lid. Make sure you put the screw into the bottom end of the lid, then screw it in all the way. When you're finished, the head of the screw and the washer should be tight to the bottom side of the lid and the long, threaded end of the screw should be coming out of the top side of the lid.

5. Locate the tripod hole in the bottom of your camera again. Insert the screw into the tripod hole and turn it until the two are securely fastened.

6. Place the lid back on the 2 liter bottle and screw it on. Once it's completely tightened, the weight of the water and the bottle will hold up the camera. Move the tripod and camera to the necessary spot and take your pictures.

Tags: tripod hole, your camera, bottom your, bottom your camera, liter bottle, Make sure, Make sure screw

Embed Audio In Hdmi

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a format for high definition video and audio input and output. Basically, a user is capable of connecting an input device such as a DVD player or cable receiver box to an output device such as a TV using one HDMI and get both high-definition video input and high-resolution audio input with that one cable. To embed audio in HDMI, all you need to do is connect your TV to whatever input device you have.

Instructions

1. Plug an HDMI cable to the HDMI output port of an input device that also transmits sound such as a home theater sound system, cable or satellite receiver box, DVD player or Blu-Ray player. Note that older models of these devices might not have HDMI output ports and will not be capable of transmitting anything with an HDMI cable.

2. Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into your digital TV set's HDMI input port. Note that like older input devices, older TV sets such as analogue TV sets might not have HDMI input ports and will not be capable of receiving anything with an HDMI cable. Note also that the HDMI cable's connectors are interchangeable.

3. Power on both the input device and the TV set and increase the volume on your TV set. Audio will be embedded into the HDMI cable and transmitted to the TV from the input device if, and only if, the input device is transmitting audio. For example, if you are playing a movie on a DVD player, then you will get audio on your TV so long as the TV is not on "Mute" or with the volume turned down.

Tags: HDMI cable, input device, anything with, anything with HDMI, audio input

Download A Picture To A Flash Drive

Download a Picture to a Flash Drive

Downloading a picture to a flash drive involves copying the picture from your computer to the USB device. A flash drive is a removable storage device that plugs into your computer's USB port. They can be used to store seldom-used files or to transfer files among computers. It is best to "copy" the image, rather than "move" it so that you have a backup of the file on your computer.

Instructions

1. Insert a flash drive into a USB slot on your computer.

2. Open "Start", then "My Computer."

3. Note the drive letter for the flash drive. It will likely be "E," "F" or "G."

4. Open the folder that contains the picture you want to load on to the flash drive.

5. Right-click the picture and select "Copy."

6. Point to the place on the flash drive where you'd like to copy the photo, right-click and select "Paste."

7. Click on the "Remove Hardware" icon in the Windows task bar when the copy is complete. See the link in References if you're not familiar with the icon.

8. Choose the flash drive from the list that appears.

9. Remove the flash drive when the "Safe To Remove Hardware" message appears.

Tags: flash drive, your computer, Download Picture, Download Picture Flash, flash drive, Picture Flash

Convert Film Into Dvd Format

Before there were home digital cameras, there were 8mm or 16mm cameras and film. The film would be literally cut and spliced back together to create a flowing scene. With all those old film canisters sitting around the house and attic, it may be best to transfer the information over to DVD before the film deteriorates and is unusable. In order to do so, you will either need to record the information onto a digital camera or send it out to an appropriate film production house.

Instructions

1. Set a camera directly above or below the film projector. Focus the camera onto a white wall where you will project the film. Make sure to zoom into the area so only the film content is recorded.

2. Begin the film projection and hit the record button on your video camera. Allow the camera to record the contents of the film.

3. Input the newly recorded video into a video editing software. Most computers will come equipped with a simple video editor, such as iMovie or Windows Movie Editor.

4. Export the video as either a Quicktime or Windows Media file.

5. Open your video burning software and import the video into the software. Insert the blank DVD into the computer and burn the video onto the DVD.

6. Contact a telecine house if you want a higher-resolution copy of your film. A telecine machine will run your film and scan every frame and place it into a computer. The images will then be placed into a video format and burned onto a DVD. If you would like, you will be able to receive a Blu-ray of your film (if you were using 16mm or higher film). Larger cities will typically have a telecine production house around. There is a list of locations throughout the country in the links provided in "Resources."

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Retrieve Cell Phone Videos

Retrieving or transferring cell phone videos from your phone to your computer requires connecting your cell phone or cell phone's storage device to your computer, via USB cable or SD card adapter. Transferring to and from cell phone to computer follows the same process--the only difference being where you are transferring your videos to. Allow several minutes for large videos to transfer.

Instructions

1. Attach one end of your USB cable to your cell phone and the other to your computer's USB port. If your phone uses an SD storage device, remove the SD card from your phone. Plug your SD card into its adapter, and the adapter into your PC's Micro SD port.

2. Click the "Start" icon in the bottom-left of your computer's main screen. Double-click the "My Computer" button to reveal a list of your computer's drives.

3. Double-click the icon corresponding to your phone under the "Devices With Removable Storage" section.

4. Navigate to your phone or SD card's "Videos" or equivalent folder and locate the video(s) you want transferred to your computer.

5. Open a new Windows Explorer window. Navigate to a folder or location on your hard drive where you want your videos transferred to.

Drag and drop your video's icon from your cell phone's folder to the desired location on your computer and wait for the file(s) to copy.

Tags: your computer, cell phone, your phone, from your, your cell, your cell phone

Load 600 Film In A Polaroid Instant Camera

The Polaroid instant camera is a fun way to take pictures.

The Polaroid instant camera is a film camera that immediately produces a developed picture, allowing the photographer to see a film image without darkroom processing. The type 600 film was produced in the 1980s, and continued to be produced by Polaroid until 2009. In October 2008, The Impossible Project "saved the last Polaroid production plant for Integral Instant film in Enschede (Netherlands) and started to re-invent and re-produce a new instant film for traditional Polaroid Cameras," says The Impossible Project website.

Instructions

1. Swing up the top of the Polaroid instant camera to open it.

2. Open the film door by pushing the rectangular button forward in the direction of the arrow. The button can be found on the side of the camera under the shutter release. The film door should swing open easily.

3. Hold the film pack by the edges between your fingers so the side with the pull tab is facing away from the camera. The metal contacts should be on the bottom of the film pack.

4. Push the film pack into the film door until you hear a click.

5. Close the film door. The camera should release the paper film cover. Discard the paper film cover.

Tags: film door, film pack, instant camera, film cover, Impossible Project

Transfer 8 Mm Movies To Dvds

Convert 8mm tapes to preserve memories.

Make sure your memories are long-lasting by converting 8mm cassettes to DVD. Although 8mm technology is obsolete, many people still have 8mm tapes. During its era, 8mm camcorders were available in analog and digital formats. Those tapes can be converted to DVD to preserve the memories on a more stable technology. The DVD format will also allow you to share old videos with friends and family. Create DVDs from your old 8mm cassettes using a converter.

Instructions

1. Place the 8mm cassette into the 8mm camcorder and plug it into the power outlet. Install a converter on your computer such as the Dazzle DVD Recorder Plus from Pinnacle, available for $49.99 as of January 2011. Connect the converter to the television using the USB cable to allow fast analog video transfer.

2. Connect the AV cable from the camcorder into the converter inputs and open the converter software on the computer to begin the transfer process.

3. Click the "Import" option on the upper left hand corner of the software interface. Choose the Pinnacle device on the "Import From" selection menu since the camcorder is connected to the computer using the Pinnacle hardware. Below the import menu verify that the right destination folder is selected.

4. Click the file type that the video will be imported as at the upper right hand corner of the screen under the "Mode" menu. Turn scene selection on or off to separate the video being uploaded. Set the "Stop at tape end" option at "ON" to stop importing the video when it is done. Select the file name for the video below the "Mode" box in the "Filename" area.

5. Click "Start Capture" to begin the transfer of the video from the 8mm camcorder to the computer. Once the transfer is complete the video files can be edited using the software. Click "Make Movie" tab and set the "Disc Type" to DVD. Click the "Create Image" button to record the video to the DVD disc. Finalize the DVD to complete the recording process and allow the disc to be shared.

Tags: begin transfer, from camcorder, hand corner, preserve memories

Use A Nikon D300 With A Microscope

Using your D300 and an adapter tube, you can create images of the microscopic universe.

The picture you see through a microscope's lens is begging to be photographed. With the D300's Live View capability, it's an excellent camera to use when taking photographs through a microscope. Exploring this world of wonder and microscopic adventure is simplified by readily available adapter tubes that connect your camera to the microscope seamlessly. With these tubes, you can use your existing microscope and slides to create amazing images of the world beneath the world.

Instructions

1. Determine the inside diameter of your microscope's eyetube. This will be listed on the side of the lens in millimeters.

2. Remove the lens on your camera by disengaging it from the eyetube with a twist and unscrewing it. Be as gentle as possible to avoid damaging the lens.

3. Attach the microscope adapter tube to the microscope by screwing it into the eyepiece.

4. Attach the D300 to the adapter tube in the same manner you would attach a lens, but twist the camera rather than the adapter tube, which is screwed into place.

5. Turn on your D300's Live View and insert a slide into the microscope.

6. Use the microscope normally to focus and move and use the Live View screen like an eyepiece. Take pictures as you normally would, setting the exposure manually.

Tags: adapter tube, Live View, D300 adapter, D300 adapter tube, D300 Live

Itunes Didn'T Save Album Art From An External Drive

iTunes is a digital media player developed by Apple Inc. that allows you to organize and play digital media on your computer. When playing music, iTunes normally displays the album art for the current music file. At times, if you transfer music files to iTunes from an external drive, the album art won't transfer with the rest of the music file. If the album art didn't transfer properly, you can add new album artwork directly from iTunes.

Instructions

1. Download the album artwork that is missing from your transferred iTunes files. There are several websites that offer free album artwork downloads. Download the album artwork directly to your computer's desktop.

2. Open iTunes on your computer.

3. Select the music file that is missing album artwork.

4. Right-click on the music file and select the "Get Info" option. A dialog box will open displaying information about the music file.

5. Drag the downloaded album artwork file from your computer's desktop to the white box located at the top of the dialog box.

6. Click "OK" to save your settings. The album artwork will now display when the music file is played. Repeat for all music that is missing its album artwork.

Tags: album artwork, music file, your computer, that missing, album artwork directly

How Does Polaroid Film Work

How Does Polaroid Film Work?

Introduction

With digital cameras taking over the photography market, it's sometimes fun to reminisce of the old days of the Polaroid camera. Polaroids have long been famous for being able to take a picture and have it be developed right in front of your eyes. Though mostly nostalgic now, Polaroid cameras are still used in some applications even today.

Film Layers

Instant Polaroid film is made up of three different layers, each with a dye coupler layer between them. On top of these layers is an image layer, a timing layer and an acid layer.

Re-Agent

Polaroid film is essentially one big chemical reaction. This reaction is started by a product called the re-agent. The re-agent is a mixture of white pigments, opacifiers and alkali. The opacifier and alkali are especially important since the opacifier works as a light blocker and the alkali as an acid neutralizer. This combination of products is spread across the entire frame of the film. This is why Polaroids have a white frame around the outside of the film, as if the re-agent were to be on the film itself, it would start the chemical reaction before the film is ready to be developed.

Process

When you take a picture with a Polaroid camera, the camera automatically pushes out the film using rollers inside the camera. As the film exits the camera the reagent is spread across the film. This starts a large chain of chemical reactions. The colors from the dye layers are brought up from the lower layers as the chemical reaction continues. At the same time, the acid layer is working its way up to the top while the re-agent is working from above. Once the two chemicals meet each other, the alkali and opacifier react to make the re-agent turn clear. As the re-agent turns clear the image slowly appears until you have a piece of developed film.

Tags: chemical reaction, acid layer, alkali opacifier, Does Polaroid, Does Polaroid Film, film This, Film Work

Use The Cuddeback Capture

The Cuddeback Capture digital scouting camera rapidly detects and photographs animals in a wide variety of natural settings. Whether you're a hunter or a nature enthusiast, you can set up the Capture, walk away, and later retrieve vibrant full-color photographs.

Instructions

Setup

1. Open the camera's cover, push the hinge rod at the top of the camera to the left to hold the cover open and review the camera parts using your owner's manual.

2. Screw the camera to the tree bracket.

3. Confirm that the rotary switch at the bottom is in the "Off" position and insert the D cell batteries. After the LCD screen flashes a series of numbers and the green and red LEDs turn off, insert your SD card.

4. Program the time, date and year. Turn the rotary switch to each of the positions, use the A and B keys to scroll through to the correct for each and set.

5. Shut the camera cover by pushing the top hinge to the right.

6. Select a tree about 10 to 15 feet from your target area and, using the strap that came with it, attach the Cuddeback Capture to the tree at a height of at least three feet.

7. Reposition the camera on the tree using the Capture's detection zone testing feature. Open the cover, switch to the "Test" position, close the cover and walk around in front of the camera until the red LED comes on. If it comes on when you walk in a spot that you don't want photographed, reposition.

8. Set the camera timer, the amount of time the camera waits between shots, by turning to the appropriate setting in the red "Armed" section on the rotary dial. To confirm that the capture armed correctly, close the cover, lock it with a miniature lock and quickly (within 45 seconds) walk away. Walk back to see if it takes your picture.

Retrieving Photographs

9. Unlock the cover and open.

10. Press the A or B key to stop the timer from taking another photograph and check the LCD for the number of images taken. Press the A or B key again to confirm the amount of SD free space remaining (in MB) and the date, time and year. Two dashes indicate the camera's testing mode has activated.

11. Remove the SD card.

12. Replace with another SD card, close the cover and lock or view, save and/or delete the card data on a second camera or the Cuddeback CuddeView 4-in1 and then re-install the original SD card, close the cover and lock.

Tags: close cover, close cover lock, cover lock, Cuddeback Capture, camera cover, camera tree

Nextel Phone Options

Nextel offers the unique Direct Connect feature, allowing your phone to act as a walkie-talkie.

Nextel is a subsidiary company of Sprint, but this company also offers their own features. Perhaps the most popular feature of Nextel phones is Direct Connect, allowing your phone to act as a walkie-talkie to other Nextel subscribers. Nextel also produces a line of phones with features ranging from extreme durability to touchscreen phones to advanced PDA technology. Nextel offers a variety of options to meet many different cell phone needs.

Communication Options

All Nextel phones are enabled with the Direct Connect feature, creating a walkie-talkie option between two Nextel phones. This feature is perfect for quick chats when you don't want to have an entire conversation or bother typing in text. Nextel phones like the 1465 and the Blackberry Curve come equipped with full QWERTY keyboards. Sliders like the Motorola Debut also offer a full keyboard for easier texting options.

Entertainment Options

Nextel phones such as the V950, Motorola Brute, Blackberry Curve, i680, i1 and the Motorola i890 come equipped with a music feature so you can play music on your phone. All Nextel phones have the capability to access the Internet, provided you pay for the feature in your plan, though not all come equipped with email access. Most of the phones also come with built-in cameras, except for the rugged models.

Durability Options

Nextel produces a line of "Rugged" phones meant to withstand rigorous lifestyles. Models such as the i335, i465, i365 and i576 are created with a protective plastic coating that can survive accidental drops or mishandling (purposeful mishandling is not recommended). These phones are perfect for on-the-go, busy people who are accident prone when it comes to electronics or people who participate in a lot of rugged outdoor activities, such as mountain climbing or water sports, in which they want to carry their phone with them.

Technical Options

The Blackberry Curve is the ultimate phone for the businessman or work-oriented person. The phone combines PDA features with all the normal phone features for the ultimate communication experience. The Motorola i1 is the only touchscreen currently produced by Nextel. This phone includes all the normal features of a Nextel phone, including Direct Connect, but this phone also comes with higher memory capability and the ease of a touch screen. If you're looking for luxury, this is the phone you'll want to buy.

Navigation Options

All phones come with GPS enabled, ranging from a simple location device for emergencies to an actual, built-in GPS navigation system in the higher-end smart phones.

Tags: Nextel phones, Direct Connect, Blackberry Curve, come equipped, come equipped with, equipped with

Compare Hdtv/Digital Tv Monitors

Your HDTV experience hinges, for a large part, on the type of HDTV monitor that you buy. Different monitors offer different picture quality.

Instructions

1. Understand flat panel TV. They are available as flat panel plasma and flat panel LCD. Plasma TV is extremely thin at around 3 inches and provides an incredible image quality. It is susceptible to burn-in problems in the first 100 hours of viewing, which can be avoided by keeping the contrast lower than 50 percent. New models even have features, which help avoid burn-ins. A plasma TV's lifespan can stretch up 60,000 hours of clear viewing, which is long considering normal TV viewing habits. On the other hand, LCDs offer great variety in screen sizes, ranging up to 65 inches in diagonal size. Though the picture quality is inferior to plasma, newer advances have improved it to a great extent. Besides, when viewed from the sides, the picture quality suffers. The prices of both plasma TV and LCD have come down in recent times making them affordable, without a reduction in the quality.

2. Understand direct view TV or tube TV, as it is commonly known. The most popular among all the HDTVs, it stretches up to 36 inches diagonally. Though inexpensive, it has disadvantages like its bulk and weight. They are good to view from any angle but the picture loses sharpness with high-definition feed. Its make also causes straight lines to bend on the screen. With innovations, Direct view TV sets now appear in flat screens and are even compatible with high-definition feed.

3. Acquaint yourself with rear-projection TVs. A lesser expensive TV than plasma TVs, it runs on two different technologies - CRT tubes and micro displays using DLP, LCD or LCoS technology.

4. Understand CRT TV. Though inexpensive, they don't deliver the same amount of brightness as micro displays. Not only do they require regular maintenance in terms of convergence adjustments for sharpness but also require careful setup.

5. Understand microdisplays. They are advanced TV sets, which run on microchips containing thousands of pixels. All microdisplay sets contain a lamp that relays light to the screen through or off the microchips. These lamps need to be replaced every 3000 to 10000 hours depending upon your usage habits. They are easy to replace and do not require an expert. They are best suited for Digital feed rather than an analog feed. DLP chips, made by Texas Instruments, are the most popular amongst the three chips. There is a wide range of DLP chips, all varied in their price and picture quality. Some DLP chips cause what is called the Rainbow effect - passing streaks of colour on the TV sets. It also at times leads to appearance of grainy pixels but future versions of DLP TV promise to circumvent these drawbacks and deliver a better viewing experience. LCD is less popular than the other microdisplays. Though it gives freedom from the rainbow effect, it is not as bright as LCoS or DLP TVs. It also has a lower black level and is prone to the screen door effect - appearance of faint grid lines on the screen - when seen from a close distance. White uniformity is another issue with LCD sets. It causes discolored patches on the screen at times. LCoS TV sets deliver good image quality due to deep blacks and outstanding pixel fill. Like LCD, it stays clear of the rainbow effect, further making for a pleasant viewing experience. But like LCD, it also has white uniformity issues.

6. Familiarize yourself with front-projection TVs. They are very different from the conventional TV sets. It is a display projector, which is not ideal for everyday viewing. It offers a brilliant image quality but require a great deal of light control. They are available as DLP projectors or LCD Projectors. While DLP scores on brightness, uniformity and blacks, LCD scores on the number of features. DLP suffers from the rainbow effect and is relatively expensive while LCD has some screen door effects and is not as bright as DLP sets.

Tags: picture quality, flat panel, image quality, rainbow effect, from rainbow

Toprated Outdoor Security Cameras

Top-Rated Outdoor Security Cameras

Security cameras that are made for outdoor purposes need to be vandal-proof as they are potentially unprotected from intruders. They also have to withstand severe weather conditions. Top-rated outdoor security cameras as recommended by The Home Security Store and PCWorld feature infrared night vision to compensate for low visibility and have both day and night recording modes.

SVAT CV31B Outdoor Security Camera

The SVAT CV31B Outdoor Security Camera has 24 Infrared LEDs and offers high resolution. The camera's casing is weather resistant. It can be connected to a TV, VCR or computer through an RCA jack connector. The light sensor in the camera switches on the infrared LEDs at night automatically. The camera features an anti-glare shield for bright sunlight and can record movement up to 45 feet away.

GVI BCDNIR Bullet Outdoor Security Camera

The GVI BCDNIR Bullet Outdoor Security Camera is a waterproof camera made to withstand severe weather conditions. It is completely submersible in water and salt-water resistant. The camera is equipped with eight LEDs, which record infrared night vision, and is equipped with a power supply so it can record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The camera has a sun shield for extra protection.

DSC DCL480 Outdoor Infrared Color Bullet Camera

DSC's DCL 480 Outdoor Infrared Color Bullet Camera has a 40-foot infrared shooting distance for recording at night. The casing is built to withstand severe weather. An adjustable bracket is included for changing the angle and height of the camera, allowing a wider recording shot. It can be mounted on outdoor walls or rooftops.

Lorex 2-Camera Outdoor Security System

The Lorex Outdoor Security System utilizes two outdoor cameras which both record and send signals to a receiver. Infrared mode allows recording day or night. In good weather, both cameras can be placed up to 300 feet from the receiver to set up a wide perimeter. A microphone allows an audio channel to be opened between the two cameras and the receiver. A remote control is included with the system.

Tags: Outdoor Security, Outdoor Security Camera, Security Camera, withstand severe weather, Outdoor Security

Display Track Title On A Jvc Kdlh1000

The JVC KD-LH1000 CD receiver features a front display that helps you view information about the song that's playing. While playing a CD, the display shows the track number of the current song and how long it has been playing. If you're not interested in seeing this information, you select one of the other display settings to view different information. The receiver includes two settings that allow you to view the title of the track currently playing.

Instructions

1. Press the "CD/CD-CH" button to change the receiver's source to "CD."

2. Press the "Eject" button to flip open the front panel. Insert the CD into the slot and press the panel back into place. The CD begins to play and the display shows information regarding the track.

3. Press the "D" button to change the display settings. The device has six different display settings to choose from, including two that display the track title. Continue to press "D" until you reach the setting you want to use.

Tags: display settings, button change, display shows

Chroma Key Tips

Chroma key technology allows filmmakers to film objects or actors against a a colored screen and then replace that background with just about anything the filmmaker can imagine. Many of the elaborate scenes in the Star Wars prequels and Lord of the Rings utilized chroma key technology to create worlds and backgrounds that simply could not exist in real life. Using this technology yourself can be done fairly easily provided you follow some basic tips.

Create Proper Spacing

Space the person or object being filmed around 8 feet in front of the green screen. It is important to get the proper spacing so that the objects or characters don't cast a strong shadow on the green screen.

According to DigitalProducer.com you should also place the camera as far away from the subject as you can. The reasoning is that a green screen can have imperfections or subtle wrinkles and folds. This will distort your image when you do a chroma key replacement and make the background look obviously fake. This is especially true if you have created your own green or blue screen out of cloth.

Avoiding Simple Mistakes

Make sure that the objects you are filming in front of the green or blue screen are not colors that are close to the color of the screen. To be safe, run a test shot and make sure that the colors of all the clothing and objects don't blend in with the background.

Keep in mind that metallic surfaces that are shiny can also cause headaches with chroma key replacement, because shiny metal reflects the colors around it. Because of this, portions of your metal object will be reflecting the green or blue screen, making the image unusable later. This can even happen with oily or shiny skin if you are not careful. Make sure that nothing is catching the light of the screen.

Lighting the Set

Make sure that you pay close attention to lighting. You will need to create an even lighting scheme for the set when you are working with chroma key replacement and green or blue screens. Don't use too much light, as this can cause the color of the screen to bounce off the screen and onto objects or people. Make sure you also pay attention to backlighting your objects and actors or you will have uneven shadows on the screen, which will result in headaches later.

Tags: green blue, sure that, blue screen, chroma replacement, green blue screen, green screen, color screen

Car Amplifier Wiring Instructions

Although wiring a car amplifier may seem like a daunting process with all of those wires stemming from numerous outputs, it is actually simple as long as you stay organized. There are three main steps to properly wiring the amplifier: powering the amplifier, wiring the channels and connecting it to the head unit. Working on each section of the wiring process can help keep all of those wires organized and lead to a clean installation.

Instructions

Ground the amp

1. Remove the negative terminal from your vehicle's battery to prevent damaging your electrical system.

2. Connect your ground wire to your amplifier. This usually requires placing your ground wire on the ground input and screw it into place with a Phillips head driver. However, this may vary depending on your amplifier's model.

3. Locate an area near your amplifier to ground it. An ideal area is a screw or nut with no paint on it. Paint can insulate the ground because the ground wire needs to be connected to a metal fixture on your vehicle.

4. Unscrew the nut or screw and place your ground wire's output end where the nut or screw was bolted in. Screw the nut or screw over the ground wire's output. An amplifier is powered similarly to a battery and needs both positive and negative polarities to draw power. Grounding the amp satisfies the negative polarity.

Connect to the Battery

5. Plug the power wire into your amplifier and run the wire along the left or right side of your vehicle up to the front beneath the dashboard. Note which side of the vehicle you run your power wire through because the RCA cable that you will install later should be placed on the opposite side of your power wire to avoid sound interference.

6. Fold back the carpeting underneath your dashboard to reveal small openings to your engine bay. These openings are likely covered by your engine bay's firewall.

7. Cut a hole, using your X-Acto knife, through the firewall large enough to run your power wire through.

8. Connect your power wire to your car batteries positive terminal.

Slide your power wire through the hole and connect it to the positive terminal on your car battery. You will need to remove the positive terminal, usually with a monkey wrench, then screw it back over the top of your power wire's connector. This is a similar process to how you installed the ground wire.

9. Connect your power wire's fuse within 18 inches of the car battery. The fuse prevents the entire power wire from burning due to a short circuit, but it doesn't protect the length of wire between the fuse and the battery. So the closer it is installed to the battery, the better.

10. Seal the hole in your firewall with caulk. Now that your ground and power wires are installed, your amplifier will be powered when you reconnect your negative terminal of your car battery at the end of the installation.

Connect to the Head Unit

11. Remove your vehicle's head unit, also know as the CD player or deck, using the head unit's specific removal tool. This would have come with your head unit. You can also purchase them at most car stereo installation stores, such as Best Buy or Circuit City.

12. Connect your RCA cable into your amplifier by simply plugging it into the RCA slot.

13. Run the RCA cable along the opposite side from where you ran the power wire, running it up to the front of your car near the head unit.

14. Plug the RCA cable into one of your head unit's RCA inputs and reinstall the head unit.

Connect to Speakers

15. Cut as many lengths of speaker wire as you have speakers or subwoofers to install to your amplifier.

16. Strip the plastic ends of each side of the speaker wire using your wire cutters to reveal the copper wiring.

17.Connect one length of one end of speaker wire to one channel on your amplifier, being sure to match polarities respectively. For instance, the positive strand of speaker wire will connect to the positive input on the channel of your amplifier. Perform this step for each strand of speaker wire on different channels.

18. Connect spade connectors to the other end of the speaker wires. Spade connectors slide on the speaker's or subwoofer's terminal. Slide the spade connector on the copper wiring and use the crimping tool to crimp it on.

19. Plug your speakers or subwoofers into their respective channels by connecting them to their respective speaker wire. For instance, a speaker located on the front right of your car should be wired to the front right channel. Connect the speaker wire's spade connector to the speaker's or subwoofer's terminal by sliding it into place.

Tags: power wire, your amplifier, speaker wire, your power, your power wire

The Best Trail Camera Settings

Trail or scouting cameras are used to track wildlife, whether for hunting or study. They have motion sensors and can shoot in day or night. They usually have an infrared flash to capture nighttime images without startling wildlife. To get the most use out of your trail camera, here are some starting hints.

Basics

Look for a game trail, usually near a water supply such as a stream or pond. Attach the trail camera to a tree using the accompanying straps with the lens facing the trail. Because image quality isn't the most important thing here---tracking wildlife is---set the camera to the second-lowest quality setting. That will give you more images on your memory card. Set the camera to about a 45-degree angle to the trail to give it time to capture the image. Don't set it facing directly at the trail. Motion sensors may not sense motion coming directly at them.

Sensitivity

Set the camera to take images at about three-minute intervals while shooting. That will give you a range of time when animals are in range of the camera. You also can set it for multiple shots once the motion sensor is tripped. Especially if the camera does not have video capability, that will give you a sense of motion and the direction animals are traveling. If the camera has multiple sensitivity settings, you probably don't want to set it to the most sensitive range because it might pick up unwanted motion by things such as birds, blowing leaves and even some large flying insects (such as moths).

Timing

Use the time-stamp feature. That will tell you what time, day or night, animals are coming along the trail. Some more sophisticated cameras also provide other information, including the date, what the temperature was when the animals were moving, and what phase the moon was in at the time. All of that information over a period of time can give you a good sense of how many animals are using the trail and when they are using it.

Also, check the camera at regular intervals. That will give you a better sense of how often animals pass by. The batteries in most models will last several weeks per charge, so check the cameras at least once a week.

Tags: will give, That will, sense motion, That will give, trail camera, when animals

How Cd Players Work

CD Basics

CDs are made of a transparent plastic disk with a hole in the middle. On top of the disk is a thin layer of aluminum. The plastic layer serves mostly to protect the aluminum layer where the actual data is written. That is why a scratch on the bottom of the disk is usually easy to repair, but a scratch on the top can easily ruin the CD.

CD Encoding

The underside of the Aluminum coating has a spiral track like on a record. This spiral track has either small pits in it in a manufactured CD, or small patches of dark ink in a computer-burned CD. All of these pieces of information together are assembled by the CD player into a song.

CD Player

The CD player has a turntable like a record player, which holds the CD and spins it very quickly. It also has a laser on a movable arm which follows the groove of the CD as it spins. The laser shines a light onto the CD, which bounces off the metal coating and into a light detector. When the laser hits a pit or a dark patch of ink, it lowers the level of light shined back. The light detector records tens of thousands of flickers of the light every second based on the tiny pits or patches of ink. It sends this information to a computer, which decodes it, turning the digital signal into sound waves.

Tags: light detector, like record, spiral track

Disassemble The Body Of A Nikon D40 Camera

Closely follow directions when disassembling the Nikon D40 camera.

The Nikon D40 is a digital, single-lens reflex, or D-SLR, camera. Before disassembling any digital camera component, you should ensure that the working environment is as free from dust and dirt as possible. Disassembling a Nikon D40 body is a fairly straightforward process that provides access to the circuit board and image sensor. From there, the image sensor can be cleaned or modified. As with any electronic device, opening the camera body will void the manufacturer's warranty.

Instructions

1. Remove all the screws from the bottom of the camera using the Phillips head screwdriver. Place all screws in a small container as they are removed so they are not misplaced.

2. Remove the bottom plate and set it aside. Turn the camera over and remove the eye cup around the viewfinder.

3. Remove the two screws on either side of the camera and lift up the rear LCD panel and disconnect the cable. Set the LCD panel aside.

4. Turn the camera bottom up again and remove the screw closest to the I/O cover on the side of the camera. Remove the I/O cover and set it aside.

5. Desolder the two visible joints on the exposed back of the camera using the desoldering wick or gun.

6. Remove the screws holding the metal shield in place. Pull off the shield using the tweezers and set it aside.

7. Disconnect the five cables and remove the three screws from the circuit board. Carefully lift the circuit board with the tweezers and flip it over to the left. Do not pull the board away from the camera, as it is connected by a soldered joint in the lower left-hand corner.

8. Remove the three screws holding in the sensor assembly and carefully lift it out of the camera body. Disconnect the cable and place the assembly on the microfiber cloth.

9. Use the canned air to clean out any dust and dirt from the body, circuits and sensor assembly.

Tags: circuit board, Remove screws, aside Turn, aside Turn camera, camera body

Delete Photos From Sd Cards

SD cards are used in digital cameras and camcorders to store files.

An "SD" card -- short for Secure Digital -- is a small card used for storing and transporting files, such as photos and videos. Hundreds of companies make up the SD Association, a trade organization of manufacturers that work with SD card technology. Despite the plethora of companies making and selling these cards, they all function the same. These cards can be used again and again. If your SD card reaches its maximum capacity, deleting some or all of the images can free up memory space.

Instructions

1. Connect your camera or camcorder to your computer using a USB cable. Depending on the make and model of your computer, you may be able to insert the SD card directly into a port on your computer.

2. Wait for your computer to recognize the device. This may take several seconds. If you don't get a pop-up box on your screen after a few minutes, click on your computer's "Start" or "Menu" button and select "My Computer" from the list of options. Look for the drive labeled "Removable Storage" or "Removable Disk" and double-click to open it.

3. Use your mouse to highlight the image or video files you wish to delete. You can delete multiple images at one time by holding down the "Control" button on your keyboard while you click on different pictures with your mouse.

4. Right click with your mouse and select "Delete" or "Send To Trash" from the drop-down box. On a Mac, drag the highlighted files to the trash bin using your mouse.

5. Empty the trash bin on your computer's desktop. On a Mac, the files aren't deleted -- and memory on your SD card freed up for future use -- until you empty the trash. Right click on the trash bin and select "Empty Trash" from the drop-down menu. Click "OK" on the pop-up box to finish the process.

Tags: your computer, your mouse, cards used, from drop-down, Right click, Trash from, Trash from drop-down

Disable The Thermal Cutout On A Nikon Sb900 Flash Unit

The Nikon SB-900 Speedlight is a rather powerful flash unit. When fired rapidly, it can get hot. The flash has a built-in heat sensor called the "Thermal Cut-out" that is designed to protect it from overheating. The "Thermal Cut-out" can disable the flash for several minutes if it heats up from being fired rapidly. If you are shooting a wedding or important event, it may be a disaster to have the flash suddenly stop working. For this reason, Nikon has provided a means to override the "Thermal Cut-out," with the understanding that the warranty on a new SB-900 is void if the flash is damaged from overheating while the heat sensor is disabled. Let's examine use the menu system of the SB-900 to disable the "Thermal Cut-out."

Instructions

1. Turn on the SB-900 flash unit and wait a moment while it initializes.

2. Press and hold the "OK" button for about one second until the user menu appears.

3. Turn the "Selector Dial" (scroll wheel) clockwise and notice how the user's menu highlight bar moves downward. Scroll down approximately 14 clicks from the top of the menu until you highlight the icon that looks like a thermometer. To the right, you will see an On/Off menu selection.

4. Press the "OK" button once, and you will notice that the On/Off selection becomes highlighted. Turn the "Selector Dial" until you have "Off" selected and press the "OK" button to lock in the setting.

5. Press the small unlabeled "Mode" button (next to the green dot) under the "Exit" label. It is the first button on the top left, just under the LCD display. This exits the user's menu and places the flash unit back into normal operation. Now you can take pictures without the flash shutting off from overheating. The flash will warn you with an error message on the LCD and a beeping sound, if it gets too hot. Don't ignore this condition for too long or you may damage the flash unit and void the warranty.

Tags: Thermal Cut-out, flash unit, from overheating, user menu, fired rapidly

Transfer Video From A Sharp Minidv Camcorder To A Pc

Connect a Sharp camcorder to PC with a Firewire cable.

Sharp MiniDV camcorders connect to a PC with a Firewire (also known as IEEE 1394) cable for high-speed transfer of digital video files. Sharp refers to the connection as "iLink," although the camcorders use a standard Firewire cable. Once connected, transferring video is simply a matter of dragging and dropping digital files into the computer. Videos can be played back with a variety of media software such as iMovie, Quicktime, RealPlayer and Media Player for Windows.

Instructions

1. Insert the plug on the end of the Firewire cable into the port on the back edge of the Sharp MiniDV camcorder. The plug inserts in one direction only; don't try to force it into the port.

2. Connect the plug on the other end to a Firewire port on the PC.

3. Turn on the camcorder and the computer, then wait for the "New Hardware Detected" message to display. The Sharp camcorder software should launch automatically. If not, double-click the name of the program.

4. Browse the video files on the camera, which will appear as numbered files on a window in the Sharp camcorder software.

5. Click and hold the left mouse button on a video file, then drag it to the computer desktop and release the mouse button to drop the file on the desktop. Repeat to transfer as many files as desired to the computer.

6. Use the Sharp video editing software or another video program to edit and play back the digital videos.

Tags: Firewire cable, Sharp camcorder, camcorder software, into port, mouse button, Sharp camcorder software

Monitor Room Temperature And Humidity Using Data Loggers

Temperature and Humidity monitoring overnight in a room with a humdifier.

Data loggers are devices used to record measurements, such as temperature and humidity, at set points over time. For instance, a data logger may be programmed to read temperature every 30 seconds. This data is captured and downloaded to a computer where trends may be observed using the readings. There are many reasons for wanting to monitor temperature and humidity throughout a home or place of business. The thermostat(s) could be wrong; there could be temperature gradients throughout the building; there could be no idea what the relative humidity is. This article describes use data loggers to monitor temperature and humidity so that proper adjustments may be made.

Instructions

1. Research and purchase a data logger and associated hardware and software if you don't already have one. There are many companies specializing in the production of these devices for industry, or you can purchase one from someplace like Amazon.com. Most should range in price from $50 to $100 depending on size and functionality. All are fairly straightforward to use with your home computer.

2. Experiment with your data logger if you are unfamiliar with its use. Follow the instructions for your particular data logger and program it to read at short intervals and expose it to different temperatures like holding it your hand or placing it in a refrigerator (if the data logger is capable of withstanding such temperatures). Download the data according to the manufacturer directions and see how the data captured looks. Do the repeatedly until you are comfortable with the device.

3. Program and place the data logger in a room where you want to monitor temperature and humidity overnight, or the course of several days, etc. This could be right next to a thermostat, in the middle of your child's room, in the corner of your basement, and so on and so forth. Try not to put it right next to a vent or air intake as the temperature/humidity fluctuations will be the greatest there.

4. Analyze the captured data with your computer and make adjustments to decrease/increase the temperature and/or humidity of the room. Most data logger software will provide you with a plot of the readings like the image featured at the top of this article. That image is a recording of my child's room where I wanted to see what the temperature was overnight and what happened to the humidity when I turned on a cool mist humidifier. Based on these readings, I made adjustments on where the humidifier was placed and how much to open the vents in the room. I then took more readings until satisfied the room was as comfortable as possible.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 again until the room or area is within the desired specifications.

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Top 10 Point & Shoot Cameras

Follow this guide to get the best camera for our buck.

Point-and-shoot cameras are by far the most popular types of digital cameras on the market today. They offer small, stylish and easy-to-use options that are great for photos on the go. But are you seeking something more than a simple camera? Some of the options today are fantastic, including forward-facing screens and built-in projectors to view your pictures. Here are some of the best point-and-shoot cameras for 2010.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

The LX5 replaces the old LX3 model from Panasonic. The upgrades are an improvement, including a wider zoom and better video codec. The JPEG processing is weak, but overall it's a great camera. Prices range from $415 to $499.99.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-WX1

This 10.2 megapixel camera excels in low-light situations. It contains a CMOS sensor that is used in some higher-priced DSLR cameras. Average price is $349.99.

Samsung DualView TL225

A very popular point-and-shoot because it's cool. With a screen in the front, everyone can see what picture is being taken. It offers a 12 megapixel resolution and touchscreen controls. It also comes with an attractive price, ranging from $237 to $299.99.

Canon PowerShot S90

The PowerShot S90 has good manual and semi-manual shooting options. This camera also performs well in low light. The S90 features a wide-angle bright f2 lens. Average price range is $350 to $399.99.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1

Another Panasonic camera that fits the on-the-go point-and-shoot needs, with wide-angle lens and high-quality snapshots. The DMC-ZR1 also wins in price category, with the average price of around $250.

Canon Powershot SD980IS

The SD980IS camera can change the image you are viewing by countering the effects of shaking. It boasts 12 megapixel resolution to give awesome detail and features a 3-inch LCD display and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer. And it looks cool, too. The average price of the camera is $250.

Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ

The S1000PJ is the first camera that offers a built-in projector so you can view your picture anywhere. Its uses a Vibration Reduction lens. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $350, but you can find the camera for much less on the Internet.

Fujifilm Finepix F200EX

This 12 megapixel camera offers a 3-inch LCD screen, face detection and dynamic range bracketing. The F200EX offers dual-image stabilized optical zoom and is very compact. Average price is $250 to $350.

Samsung TL320

The TL320 offers 12.2 megapixel recording and a 5X digital zoom. A 3-inch AMOLED screen allows for better contrast and battery life than comparable LCD screens. The camera offers Dual Image Stabilization, both digital and optical. Average price is $280 to $380.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX9

This super-small camera offers 1080i movie capture at 60 frames a second. It offers quality pictures in low-light environments and has a user-friendly touch screen. The main concern with this camera is low battery life. Price range is $350 to $400.

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