Top 10 Cartoon Characters

Top 10 Cartoon Characters

By: Paul Venier

If you are anything like me or half of the population, you have loved
cartoons growing up and most probably still do. If you are saying to yourself,
"Nah, I am too old for cartoons anymore", then you are probably forgetting that
The Simpsons and The Family Guy are cartoons that have become Primtetime Shows
for adults but are still cartoons nonetheless. Looney Toons are still my
favorites of all time and far as I am concerned, Mel Blanc was a voice and sound
genius. With all that being said, I will go through some of my favorites of all
time and then compose my absolute favorite Top 10.

The Road Runner with Wile E. Coyote have always made me
laugh. And even though I don't want to ever see Wile E. Coyote catch The
Roadrunner, I still can't help but feel sorry for him in the end. His sad facial
expressions when he realizes that the rug has been pulled out from under him, so
to speak, is priceless. By now you would have thought that he wouldn't buy any
more stuff from ACME. Foghorn Leghorn is terrific. That voice
and the way he is always duped by The baby Chicken Hawk kills me....I say son,
it just kills me!

Yosemite Sam is a great voice also. Loud and overbearing.
And let's not forget about that terrific mustache and attitude. Bugs
Bunny is an unbelievable great cartoon character. Mel Blanc said he
came up with the voice by blending a Brooklyn and Bronx accent. Bugs was The
Groucho Marx of the Cartoon World. Conniving, slick, insulting, clever,
sarcastic and knew how to manipulate his foes to his advantage.

Elmer Fudd was the perfect target for Bugs Bunny. Always
being outsmarted and even with his threatening gun in hand, he was still no
match for the superior rabbit...that little wascal! Sylvester &
Tweety Bird were also the case of the villain after the innocent one
and the innocent one always winning, leaving us still feeling sorry for villain.
The same formula as The Road Runner, just different characters. Tweety was just
so cute and Sylvester was always getting put outside by the old woman.

Porky Pig was a fantastic voice characterization by Mel
Blanc with that stuttering delivery. And where would Looney Toons be without
that famous, "That's All Folks!" Of course, Porky took a little longer to say
that. Jessica Rabbit had to be the most beautiful cartoon ever
conceived. If ever it was possible to have desires for something not real, she
would be the epitome of those yearnings. I expect that many a young lad had many
sleepless nights conjuring up images of her in their dreams. I am sure that
older lads did also.

Mickey Mouse has to be mentioned just for being one of the
pioneers of the cartoon universe. He was around before there was even sound and
then evolved with the help of Walt Disney's voice and vision.

Daffy Duck was terrific and always second best to Bugs. They
had a love/hate relationship that was epic and classic. Daffy was so excitable
and insecure. Homer Simpson is one of the best cartoon
characters of the modern era. The show was originally a spin off of The Tracy
Ullman Show and it has survived for around 20 years now............Doh! The
dialogue is very adult, clever and smart and the show has won an extremely large
audience over the years and deservedly so.

Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble were The Prehistoric
Jackie Gleason and Art Carney of The Honeymooners. Wilma was definitely Alice.
The amazing thing to me was that Fred had a car in that era and Ralph never had
one in the 50's. SpongeBob Squarepants is another today cartoon
that is very hip and adult oriented and yet still for kids at the same time.
Very funny for any age.

My honorable mentions are Popeye, Huckelberry Hound, Mighty Mouse, Baby Huey,
The Vulture, Felix The Cat, Bluto, Rocky & Bullwinkle, Heckle & Jeckle,
Goofy, Jimmeny Cricket, Beavis & Butthead, Mr. Magoo, Yogi Bear & Boo
Boo, Woody Woodpecker, Boris & Natasha, Alvin and The Chipmunks, Taz the
Tazmanian Devil, Betty Boop, Underdog and Toms & Jerry.

So after all of that, here it is:

My Favorite Top 10 TV Cartoon Characters

1. Bugs Bunny


2. Daffy Duck

3. The Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote

4. Foghorn
Leghorn

5. Sylvester & Tweety Bird

6. Elmer Fudd

7. Yosemite Sam


8. Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble

9. Homer Simpson

10. Jessica
Rabbit

As I said before, I am very partial to The Looney Toons Characters and
especially to Mel Blancs characterizations of them. I also favor the older
cartoons to the newer ones. I don't know if it is because of my childhood
memories or because I feel they are just better. I am not really sure if I am
objective enough or not but it is, after all, My Top 10 Favorites. What
are yours?

Thanks for reading from, THE COMEDY TORNADO!! http://www.comedytornado.com

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The Best Way To Clean Your Digital Camera

The Best Way To Clean Your Digital Camera
By: Amy Renfrey
This week I?ve been asked a barrel of questions! I?m very lucky to have such a loyal group of subscribers. One the questions I was asked was from John about digital camera cleaning and what sort of digital camera cleaning equipment did he need (a different John to last week).
Well don?t do what I did before I knew anything about photography. It?s embarrassing, but I?ll tell you anyway. I was standing at a beautiful beach one balmy, Aussie summers dusk and there was a rush of wind. It blew sand all over me and onto the digital camera. Knowing ?zip? about digital camera care and maintenance at the time I cleaned the lense with the corner of my t-shirt and went on my merry way.
When I arrived home that night I took out my digital camera to download the images to the computer and out fell small particles of sand onto the floor. I thought ?what the..?? I was surprised to see so many grains. I took off the lense cap and there were sand granules embedded into the edge of the lense. And that particular digital camera lense has never retained the same sharpness and clarity since my various trips to the beach. After a while the sand granules on the lense caused the annoying lack of quality that I previously had. I?ve done a lot of dumb things in my time with digital photography from not knowing any better, and that was a doozy.
Thankfully I learnt and am now teaching digital photography. Camera care and cleaning is a regular thing you should give your digital camera. And the best way to clean a lenes? Carefully! This is why you should never take the edge of your t-shirt and clean it because unbeknownst to you, you could be leaving tiny trails of grit and dirt on the lense causing scratching.
Remember all digital camera lenses are made of glass. The clarity and sharpness you get in your digital photos relies heavily on the surface of that glass to be squeaky clean. Nothing must get onto the lense if you can help it. Its pretty hard to keep a lense 100% clean because of dust particles floating around in the air, but you can get as close to100% as possible with some handy digital photography camera cleaning equipment.
There are a couple of ways you can clean your digital cameras lens, and that?s with a bit of spit?..just kidding. Seriously, you must use a proper lense cleaning cloth. You can use cleaning fluid too. This can cause some streaking across the lense if you use too much. One drop on your lens cleaning cloth in a gentle circular motion with a will get most marks off a lens.
In popular digital camera stores you can buy a pretty good lens cleaning fluid. It shouldn?t be more than $20-$25 depending on where you go. The digital camera lense cleaning fluid is an alcohol-based fluid that, just between you and me, I wouldn?t take my digital camera out without it. The digital camera lens cleaning fluid is ideal because it?s not solely for dust but accidental finger prints and other unplanned smudges.
Don?t forget about your other digital camera filters too. You can have a polariser on the front of your lens which will most likely need a clean if you?re using your digital camera a lot, or if you are using it outside for a day. You?ll be amazed at how dirty the lens can get. If you?re not sure, grab a lense cleaning kit from your nearest digital camera store.
Personally I have several lens cleaning cloths, lens cleaning fluid, a brush with an air capsule to blow of dust then brush, cotton buds to get into the crevasse and a small leather pouch I keep it all in. The leather pouch is actually a small ladies purse. I bought it for the size and the durability and protection it gave my cleaning equipment.
No more wiping the lense with a t-shirt! (Heaven forbid!)
Happy shooting, Amy Renfrey
Amy Renfrey is the author of two major successful ebooks ?Digital Photography Success? and ?Advanced Digital Photography?. She is a photographer and also teaches digital photography. Her educational ebooks takes the most complex photography terms and turns them into easy to understand language so that anyone, at any level of photography, can easily move to a semi-professional level of skill in just a very short time. She?s photographed many things from famous musicians (Drummers for Prince and Anastasia) to weddings and portraits of babies. Amy also teaches photography online to her students which can be found at http://www.DigitalPhotographySuccess.com

Wildlife Photography Case Study Photographing Birds

Wildlife Photography Case Study Photographing Birds
By: Jennifer Clarkson
More and more it seems that bird-watching is becoming popular with segments of society I would not expect to take interest in it. Certainly photographers of all walks of life are picking up their cameras and snapping beautiful shots of birds in flight, or pecking at seeds. Come winter, I know some of us will be avidly searching for cardinals in the snow! It's really quite simple to photograph birds. Read on for some tips from the experts.
Cameras and Lenses
When photographing wildlife in general, you will be far enough away from your subject that you will want a telephoto lens to get any kind of detailed close-up - see my article on zoom lenses for more information. You also want to be able to pan your camera as it moves across the sky, so either use a tripod that allows you easy movement, or be comfortable hand-holding your lens such that camera shake is minimized. A 300mm or 400mm lens is ideal, especially it if has rapid autofocus that works well with your cameras continuous autofocus (a.k.a. Servo mode for Canon cameras).
Technique
Experts agree that any wildlife photo looks best when the eyes (at a minimum) are in focus. To that end, set your auto focusing point to the centre one since that generally results in the fastest focusing job. Also, if you're using manual mode, set your aperture to its maximum (f/4, say), and meter off a neutral shade (the sky, perhaps) to close with an appropriate shutter speed. Try to work it such that your shutter speed is at least 1/1000 second so that the entire bird is in sharp focus.
When the bird enters the viewfinder's frame, start moving your camera with the bird and engage your autofocus on its head as best you can. Continuous shooting grants you the best chance of getting a keeper, since at least one of the shots will likely turn out well.
Tips for getting started
+ Larger birds are easier to shoot than smaller birds, so if you can, start with the big ones - you have a better chance of capturing them in motion since they move slower and are easier to capture in a panning motion
+ Avoid busy background that detract from detailed feathers - aim for simple backgrounds, or use a long lens to blur the background (small f/stop for narrow depth of field)
+ Focus on the head (especially the eyes) of the bird, if at all possible
+ Overcast days yield better detail in feathers than direct sunlight
+ Keep your eye in the viewfinder and your finger on the shutter release so you don't miss a shot! + Consider placing some bird food in a secluded spot, and then pre-focus your camera where you expect your bird friends to eat (you'll have to research what food they like to eat) + Keep your hands off the food as much as possible to prevent your scent from deterring the wildlife from approaching - avoid wearing perfume or cologne
For more photography articles, please visit Jennifer Clarkson's website at http://www.jclarksonphotography.com
To learn more about the books in her eSeries on Digital Photography, or to promote sales, please visit the following sites: Choosing your camera and accessories

Travel Photography What To Do In Bad Weather

Travel Photography What To Do In Bad Weather
By: Jennifer Clarkson
There's nothing worse than being on an expensive trip and having bad weather every day: rain in Venice, snow in Canada, hurricanes in Bermuda. But don't despair: there are ways to use bad weather to your advantage, and some tips for protecting your camera gear.
Use a Lens Hood
If you're a DSLR owner, use a hood for your lens. Hoods usually prevent rain and snow from directly hitting your lens in bad weather, thus enabling you to avoid splotches on your photo. If you don't have a hood, then shield your lens from rain and snow with your hand - just be careful not to get your hand in the photo! Along the same lines, you could find a sheltered doorway in which to perch and photograph the comings and goings of locals caught in bad weather.
Combat Low Light with a faster lens
The lower the f/stop on a particular lens, the "faster" it is - that means you can shoot hand-held in lower light than a "slow" lens. Translated to layman's terms, an f/1.4 lens is faster than an f/2.8 lens because the f/1.4 lets you capture a dark and stormy night at 1/60th second, whereas the f/2.8 lens forces you to capture the same scene at 1/30th second (likely to result in a blurry image if your focal length is more than 30mm).
Spend the day inside photographing architecture common to the region
When it rains too hard for a lens hood to help, consider spending the day going from Church to Cathedral, or viewing museums (check first to ensure that photography is allowed). Architecture can be very diverse and very interesting - play with shadows and macro lenses to capture the essence of the region.
Photograph the storm itself
Storms can be very interesting close-up: blurred Christmas shoppers caught in a sudden snowstorm, raindrops in puddles, palm trees swaying in the wind with lightning in the background. Experiment with different lenses. Again, try to capture the locals and how they react to the bad weather.
Dramatic Skies
Some of the most dramatic skies happen right before, during, or right after bad weather. Try setting up shots that showcase the skies by looking for an interesting foreground, but be sure to set the horizon line low in the frame. Watch for the sky to warm up right after the storm.
Shoot Portraits
One of the nice things about bad weather is that you almost always get perfectly diffuse light, which is ideal for portrait shots. Try getting people to pose in sheltered doorways, or nearby a large window. If you can, carry a reflector with you for portrait shots - car windshield reflectors used in the summer make great fold-up reflectors for photographers on a trip!
For more photography articles, please visit Jennifer Clarkson's website at http://www.jclarksonphotography.com To learn more about the books in her eSeries on Digital Photography, or to promote sales, please visit the following sites: Choosing your camera and accessories Getting the Most out of your Camera's Basic Settings

Landscapee painting in Barodaa

Howw Landscapee painting in Barodaa and other parts of Gujaratt has developed over the yearss.

SoOMEHOW, LANDSCAPEe PAINTING NEVER REALLY CAUGHT ON IN BARODAa
Most artists have done landscapes at some point or the other during their careers but few have pursued it with passion and out of deliberate choice. Well-regarded teacher-painters, U. P. Rao and N. S. Bendre, did paint numerous landscapes; in fact, in the late 1980s, the Baroda-based corporate group, IPCL, commissioned N.S. Bendre to paint six landscapes related to their new plant coming up in Nagothane. These works, made in the pointillist technique that Bendre was quite fond of, graced the calendar that IPCL brought out in 1989. Perhaps, this was the last major body of work that Bendre did before he passed away. Though Bendre was singularly adept at different 'kinds' of painting, the only shishya he left behind (where landscapes were concerned) was Vinod Shah.
Vinod Shah was already 'doing' landscapes as a schoolboy in Rajkot. He attended painting classes conducted by one Maganbhai Trivedi who was originally from Karachi but who had relocated to Rajkot after Partition. Trivedi taught at the Saurashtra Chitra Shala, an institute that prepared students for Elementary and Intermediate Drawing exams. Other youngsters with Shah were Sanat Thaker, Ashwin Vyas, and Manhar Makwana, who became popular painters in Gujarat later in their lives. Landscapes, still-lifes, and portraits were the main 'topics' taught at the Saurashtra Chitra Shala. Shah came to Baroda in 1955 to study at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S.U, and in his second year, was exposed to N.S.Bendre and his style of teaching/painting watercolours. Bendre's influence was so strong and exhilarating that landscapes and still lifes became the foci of Shah's artistic endeavours.

mOVIE gOSSIP.............????

Nicolas Cage Film to Be Shot in India
Friday April 6

A movie starring Nicolas Cage as a soldier-turned-mystic bent on revenge will be shot in India early next year, an executive of the film's producer, Virgin Comics, said Friday.
Self-improvement guru Deepak Chopra is working on the script for "The Sadhu (The Holy Man)," to be directed by Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, said Gotham Chopra, chief creative officer of Virgin Comics. Gotham Chopra is Deepak Chopra's son.
The film is an adaptation of a comic book series about English soldier James Jensen, who is on the hunt in India for the man who murdered his family.

"Our goal is to start filming in India in early 2008," Gotham Chopra told The Associated Press.
"Nick chose Shekhar to direct the film. The sadhu is an iconic character," Gotham Chopra said. "He is an Indian equivalent of the samurai. He is the spiritual warrior of the mind."
Cage became interested in the project after reading the comic last year.
"We sat down and talked to him about India and sadhus," Gotham Chopra said. "The story is very much set here and everybody including Nick loves the idea of shooting it in India."
Virgin Comics is a year-old partnership involving British billionaire Richard Branson, Deepak Chopra and Kapur.

THOUGHTS............

If I am not for myself, who is for me?When I am for myself, what am I?If not now, when?-- Hillel (circa 70 B.C. - 10 A.D.)


If I do not document my results, who will?If the significance of my work is not communicated to others, what am I?If not now, when?-- philg

Quick Camera Tips for Better Pet Pictures

Quick Camera Tips for Better Pet Pictures
By: Christine Peppler
Pets, like any member of a family, have unique personalities, individual responses to situations, and ways of expressing themselves. From a dog that loves to play hide and seek, peering from around a corner, to a cat that triumphantly perches in its favorite spot after removing any who dares to trespass on its prized territory, these small events are among the memories of pet owning families. Capturing the nuance of these situations simply requires a camera and the use of a few techniques which make photographing a pet unique.
Choosing the Shot
There are a number of ways to shoot great pictures of a pet with a camera. Portraits can be challenging with a pet, but the end results can be worth the extra effort. Using food, toys, or another person to direct a pet to look in a particular direction or to elicit a certain expression may be necessary. To obtain a more natural scene incorporating interaction with other animals or family members can help to create an image that better captures the true personality of the animal and a more typical atmosphere as attention is drawn away from the camera.
Common settings for pet pictures are where ever the animal is comfortable, such as lying on a favorite chair or gazing out a window. Another ideal setting is where ever they can be engaged in a favorite or natural activity. This helps to reduce some of the difficulty in getting an acceptable pose in front of a camera and better reflects the behavior and personality of a pet.
Setting Up the Shot
As is true when photographing other types of subjects, assuring that the background is free of clutter or distracting objects can help to focus attention in the shot on the pet. A plain background often creates the best backdrop. Wiping the eyes of a pet prior to shooting can also help to eliminate any distracting residue that will take away from the focus on their eyes.
Just as with small children anyone hoping to capture the best images of their pet will need to approach the situation with patience. Waiting for the right shot to happen is often a prime ingredient. Once the right setting or situation is selected and any needed props or helpers are assembled then the task of getting the best photo will frequently require multiple shots with the camera.
Taking the Shot
Getting photos that show the detail of a pet's features requires getting the camera up close and on their level. The pet should fill the frame and the photographer's viewpoint should be near the eye level of the pet. When getting close with the camera isn't an option, zooming can help to achieve similar results and when all else fails cropping during the editing phase can also improve results. Although the eyes of the pet should be the focus of the shot in most instances, it is important to shoot with the camera at angle if flash is used to eliminate the eerie glow that can occur when flash bounces off of the eye.
Whenever possible it is best to avoid using the camera flash with a pet. The risk of getting the unwanted reflection in the eyes is significant and some pets will even learn to avoid the flash by closing their eyes at an inopportune moment. For this reason, shooting pets outdoors is often easier, particularly early or late in the day or in the shade when harsh sunlight doesn't take away from their features. When photographing indoors and available light is insufficient, better photographs are easier with a camera that allows the in-camera flash to be disabled or removed. The photographer can then bounce the light off of a wall or ceiling to avoid any harsh glare.
Selecting the appropriate setting on the camera can help to assure optimal focusing. Many consumer model cameras have settings such as portrait and action which function nicely. Using the burst mode or sequence-shot setting when trying to capture images of a pet while playing can allow rapid shots that best capture the activity.
For millions of individuals and families who have pets as part of their lives, preserving memories of their time with us can be important. A good camera and knowledge of just a few photographic techniques can help to capture the kind of images that will be treasured for years to come.
The author, Christine Peppler, encourages readers to visit her website at http://www.homemedias.info for more information about using, caring for, and selecting a camera or other home electronics device.

Camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2

Camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2 A Great Camera for Everyone
By: Frederic Madore
If you want to take high quality pictures you will surely need a high quality camera but which one? Today there is a wide range of cameras that you can buy. There are the old fashion cameras, the automatic cameras and of course the digital cameras. One of the best is the digital camera Canon PowerShot s2.
You will find that the digital camera Canon PowerShot s2 is packed with high quality features. The new version of the PowerShot s2 is an amazing improvement compared to its predecessor. The Camera Canon PowerShot s2 is like having a mix of a high quality camcorder and a high quality digital camera.
Here are some of the new features for the canon digital powershot s2:
- 12x optical Zoom Lens- A large 1.8 inch LCD Display- A New ?Night Display? Feature- DIGIC II image processor
The new night display is very useful; it will brighten the LCD screen and the EVF when you are in dark environments. Also the New DIGIC II image processor of the canon digital PowerShot s2 will provide you with amazing quality performance ability.
On top of that the brand new canon digital PowerShot s2 comes with a stereo sound recording giving you an excellent sound and pitch. Another important factor to know is that the canon PowerShot s2 has a 5 megapixal CCD.
If you are one of those who like to make home movies the canon digital PowerShot is perfect for you. You will have a wide range of features for movie making. Features like:
- Wind Filter- Adjustable mic level- Sound quality level- and more
That?s not all; this camera canon digital PowerShot s2 brings you great features for adjusting the color quality. You can swap the colors and you can even highlight various parts of the picture! That?s pretty cool in my book.
By now you should agree with me that with so many features buying a digital camera Canon PowerShot s2 is a very good choice on top of that the PowerShot s2 uses many of the features of its predecessors. Features like:
- Optical image stabilization- USB 2.0 High Speed Support- Rotating LCD- Secure Digital memory card (instead of CompactFlash cards)
On top of that the addition of manual controls, an amazing movie mode and support for various lenses makes the camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2 one of the most important part of your arsenal when you go out on holiday or special events.
Visit our website for more quality information about the Camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2. We offer various information about the art of digital photography and camera models. If you like our article about Camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2 visit our website for more quality articles.

Shopping For a Digital SLR What You Should Know Before You Begin

Shopping For a Digital SLR What You Should Know Before You Begin
By: Chris Roberts

Curious about the state of digital SLR cameras today?
This quick review will provide you with the BIG POINTS to keep in mind as you go shopping for a new digital SLR.
MAIN FEATURES
Interchangeable Lenses - you can swap the lens on a digital SLR as much as you like
Optical Viewfinders - what you see through the viewfinder is what you get in the final image
Large Sensors - increased sensor size (vs. compact cameras) allows SLRs to capture high-quality photos in low-light conditions
High Speed - these cameras are FAST, with instant startup times and zero delay between shutter press and image capture
Before I dig into some of these features in more detail, let's review the features that are "missing" from digital SLR cameras, at least when you compare them to their compact cousins.
WHAT'S MISSING
No Movies - digital SLR cameras don't capture movies. They're for still photography ONLY
No LCD Previews - many digital SLRs don't display a preview of the image you're about to take on the LCD (with some notable exceptions)
Not Compact - digital SLRs can't fit into a pocket - even the compact ones are quite large and bulky (the lens can add a lot of size and weight)
EMERGING TRENDSNow that we've gotten the high level summary out of the way, let's talk more about some of the developing trends in digital SLR camera technology.
I used to recommend caution when buying a 10 megapixel camera, since you only need 10 megapixels if you want to aggressively crop your photos or make gigantic prints. I really can't do that anymore, because the manufacturers are making cameras with anything less obsolete.
While there used to be a hearty crop of 6 megapixel SLRs to choose from (which is PLENTY if you enjoy making 8x10 and 4x6 prints) today there are fewer and fewer and every new camera on the horizon is packed with 10 megapixels.
Another steady trend is the increasing size of the LCD screens, paired with a decrease in the size of the camera body.
While 1.8 inch LCDs used to be standard, the new baseline in LCD size is 2.5 inches. These larger screens help you to review the photo that you just took, and make it easier to change settings on the camera using the menus.
On the flip side, the dimensions of digital SLR cameras continue to decrease. First-generation digital SLRs were huge and heavy, and not the sort of cameras that you wanted to carry on a day hike.
Today, manufactuers are trying to make their SLRs as compact as possible, in order to make them more attractive to consumers who don't want to lug around giant cameras all the time. Pentax started the trend with their small and light line of *ist cameras, and now Canon and Nikon have followed suit (with the Rebel xTi and D40 respectively).
SPECIAL FEATURESA year ago, digital SLR cameras competed on a variety of standard features: megapixels, camera size, continuous photo speed, LCD size, and the number of different photography modes.
Recently there's been an emergence of three new "extra" features that are included on a limited number of cameras.
Dust Control - dust can get on your camera's sensor when you're chaning a lens, and shows up in every photo you take. Dust control is designed to prevent this.
Image Stabilization - this feature helps you take clear photos in low-light conditions when you can't use a flash
Live View LCD - this shows a preview of the image you're about to take, much like the LCD on every compact digital camera
Olympus pioneered the dust control technology (their name for it is a SuperSonic Wave Filter) and other companies are beginning to adopt it using their own proprietary names.
While image stabilized lenses have been around for years, the addition of image stabilization (IS) to the camera body (which works with ANY lens) is a more recent innovation. The first cameras to use it were the now-obsolete Konica Minolta Maxxum cameras. Konica Minolta sold their operations to Sony, who adopted the IS technology in their Alpha A100 camera.
Now, built-in IS is also included in cameras made by Pentax, Olympus and Samsung.
Live LCD screens are another Olympus innovation, which has not been as readily adopted by other manufacturers. To date, only two other non-Olympus cameras have live view LCDs: the high-end professional Canon 1D Mark III and the fairly expensive Panasonic DMC-L1.
THE PRICESThere was a day when you couldn't get a decent digital SLR camera for anything less than $2,000. I'm happy to say that those days are long gone.
Now many new digital SLR cameras debut with prices under $800, and these prices simply decrease as time goes on (SLR cameras are a lot like cars and computers in that sense).
Let me be clear though: digital SLR cameras are still not competitively priced with many of the compact digital cameras. You cannot find ANY digital SLR camera for less than $400, and the cameras that are less than $600 have limited feature sets.
What's your best bet if you're looking for an inexpensive digital SLR?
Go online and hunt around for models from 2005 and 2006. The manufactuers release several new cameras each year, and while many of the older cameras are still quite capable, you can't find any stores that sell them new.
Many owners of first and second-generation digital SLR cameras are looking to upgrade to the latest and greatest, so you have the opportunity to snatch up their old cameras at bargain-basement prices.
Chris Roberts helps consumers find the best digital SLR cameras, lenses and accessories at the Digital SLR Guide. The site offers a free newsletter and digital SLR lessons to help you get the most out of your camera.

Grady Nichols In The Fullness Of Time Smooth Jazz Music CD

Grady Nichols In The Fullness Of Time Smooth Jazz Music CD
ReviewBy: Clyde Lee Dennis
One word describes the CD In The Fullness Of Time from Grady Nichols... AWESOME!
This CD literally grabs your attention right from the start with Heaven Help Us All and won?t let go until the very last note of the very last song Tuesday Morning, which by the way is another great track.
One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you?ve got one of Grady Nichols?s most impressive releases ever.
Listen to and I think you?ll agree that the song choices are excellent, the production is outstanding and Grady's Sax work is in top form. Of particular note on this offering is his amazing rendition of Amazing Grace.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 11, Amazing Grace. Good stuff!
In The Fullness Of Time Release Notes:
Grady Nichols originally released In The Fullness Of Time on Sep 21, 2004 on the Compendia Music Group label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Heaven Help Us All2. Live For You3. Awakenings4. Seasons of Change5. In Not Of6. When She Comes To Me7. Just For You8. Oh My Soul9. Something About You10. I Will Be Your Friend11. Amazing Grace12. First Corinthians Thirteen13. Tuesday Morning
Personnel include: Grady Nichols (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Bill Champlin (vocals); Chris Hyde (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Wallace McNary (Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Jeff Lorber (keyboards); Chuck Totress (bass guitar); Joe Nathan Watkins (drums); Matt Steele (percussion); The Higher Dimensions Choir. Recording information: Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Get the information you want on your favorite smooth jazz songs and artists at http://www.iLoveSmoothJazz.com
Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. SmoothLee is a life long music fanatic, smooth jazz in particular, and does a daily online radio show featuring smooth jazz music that can be heard at http://www.TulsaSmoothJazz.com

Alexander Zonjic Seldom Blues Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Alexander Zonjic Seldom Blues Smooth Jazz Music CD Review
By: Clyde Lee Dennis
Seldom Blues is the latest release from Smooth Jazz Sensation Alexander Zonjic, and is another great one by this talented musician.
Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
Alexander Zonjic possesses the characteristic of being able to bowl you over with his talent alone. The kind of artist I really enjoy listening to.
I?m of the opinion that Seldom Blues is certainly Alexander Zonjic?s best work in a few years. A totally enjoyable CD and an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up because it?s a collection that even the casual Smooth Jazz fan can appreciate and enjoy.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 7, Sweet. This is a great track!
Seldom Blues Release Notes:
Alexander Zonjic originally released Seldom Blues on Nov 23, 2004 on the Heads Up Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Leavie It With Me2. Seldom Blue3. AZ Does It4. Isabela5. People Make The World Go Round6. Spill The Wine7. Sweat8. Under The Moon And Over The Sky9. Quantum10. Britters
Personnel: Alexander Zonjic (flute); Kem (vocals); Earl Klugh, Michael Ripoll, Paul Pesco (guitar); Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone); Rayse Biggs (trumpet); Jeff Lorber (keyboards, percussion, programming); James Lloyd, Bob James (keyboards, programming); Kyle Whalum (bass instrument); Lamar Carter (drums); Kevin Whalum, Sherrie Kibble (background vocals). Recording information: JHL Sounds, Pacific Palisades, California; From Above Music, Youngstown, Ohio. Arranger: Jeff Lorber.
Get the information you want on your favorite smooth jazz songs and artists at http://www.iLoveSmoothJazz.com
Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. SmoothLee is a life long music fanatic, smooth jazz in particular, and does a daily online radio show featuring smooth jazz music that can be heard at http://www.BaltimoreSmoothJazz.com

Bona Fide Soul Lounge Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Bona Fide Soul Lounge Smooth Jazz Music CD Review
By: Clyde Lee Dennis

Bona Fide, very talented Smooth Jazz artist has released his latest album titled Soul Lounge and Wow! It?s really a good one.
It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that?s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn?t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all.
One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you?ve got one of Bona Fide?s most impressive releases ever.
Listen to Soul Lounge and I believe you?ll find there's not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, and the production is simply outstanding. If you're even mildly into Smooth Jazz music you'll enjoy this album.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 6, The Journey. What a nice track!
Soul Lounge Release Notes:
Bona Fide originally released Soul Lounge on Sep 27, 2005 on the Heads Up Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Bona Fide Club2. Funk Box3. Soul Lounge4. Girand's5. Midnight Train6. The Journey7. Bromo Tower8. Deep Chill9. 23rd Of May10. B. More Knights11. Rosebank Gang
Bona Fide: George Hazelrigg (guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano); Kevin Levi (saxophone, keyboards); Tim Camponeschi (keyboards, bass guitar); John E. Coale (drums); Howard Zizzi (percussion). Additional personnel: Rick Aurich, Willie Williams (guitar); Chuck Loeb (electric guitar); Jimmy Wilson (flugelhorn); Joe Ercole (keyboards)
Get the information you want on your favorite smooth jazz songs and artists at http://www.iLoveSmoothJazz.com
Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. SmoothLee is a life long music fanatic, smooth jazz in particular, and does a daily online radio show featuring smooth jazz music that can be heard at http://www.OrlandoSmoothJazz.com

Alan Hewitt Noche De Pasion Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Alan Hewitt Noche De Pasion Smooth Jazz Music CD Review
By: Clyde Lee Dennis
Very talented Smooth Jazz artist Alan Hewitt has released his latest album titled Noche De Pasion and Wow! It?s really a good one.
It's a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I'm more than happy to announce that?s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn?t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it's own.
Smooth Jazz music fans will recognize some of the well known contributors n the project including Euge Groove, Michael Lington and Mindi Abair plus a few other notables as well.
If you?re a Alan Hewitt fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don?t even have to be a fan of Hewitt, or even Smooth Jazz to know is good. This is just good music. Period.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 4, Sweet Thing. This is a great track!
Noche De Pasion Release Notes:
Alan Hewitt originally released Noche De Pasion on Apr 27, 2004 on the 215 Entertainment label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Noche De Pasion2. Breathless3. Love Feeds The Fire4. Sweet Thing5. U Touch Me6. Inside My Dreams7. Viva La Noche8. Captured9. Blue Sky10. Reminisce
Alan Hewitt Project: Shea Chambers (vocals); John DeFaria (guitar, nylon-string guitar); Euge Groove (soprano saxophone); Michael Lington, Mindi Abair (alto saxophone); Gerald Spikes (tenor saxophone); Steve Madaio (trumpet, flugelhorn); Alan Hewitt (piano, keyboards, drums, drum programming).
Get the information you want on your favorite smooth jazz songs and artists at http://www.iLoveSmoothJazz.com
Clyde Lee Dennis, a.k.a. SmoothLee is a life long music fanatic, smooth jazz in particular, and does a daily online radio show featuring smooth jazz music that can be heard at http://www.OrlandoSmoothJazz.com