Listed here are a number
of sources of further information and products you might find
useful. As we are British based these are primarily those based in
the UK, although some, particularly software that is free or
bought and downloaded online are not. All services we list
here and recommend are done so purely on the basis that we
have used them ourselves and found them to be reliable and work well.
We
would particularly direct you to the online software sources,
both free and paid for, which do not get as much publicity as
other commercial products, but which are often far better.
Some general computer security software is listed here because
we feel that this is a very important area that should not be
ignored. We have used well known commercial security software
in the past with untold problems. Since using the three free
security programs listed, we have not had this happen.
We would not recommend them otherwise.
Information
Online
http://www.dpreview.com
Phil Askey's British based site is without doubt one of the best
places for digital
camera reviews. It is very thorough and detailed, and
also has many forums on which you can read and post messages to do
with digital cameras and printers. However it deals solely with
digital cameras and news. It does not test lenses, scanners,
printers or anything else. Lots of information can be found in
the pages listed, the camera forums, and by reading the
postings, but posting on them is not as nice or helpful as it
once was as some of a fanatical and self righteous nature now
seem to populate them with their opinions and remarks,
especially about other posters.
http://www.cameralabs.com
This is a new site run from New Zealand by former British
based technology writer Gordon Laing. As a past editor of
Personal Computer World, and with a degree in Physics, reviews
are carried out in an informative manner from a user
standpoint. Unlike www.dpreview.com, which concentrates solely
on cameras, this site also features lens reviews and long term
comparisons. A forum site is also run.
Published
& Online
Amateur Photographer.
A weekly UK magazine, first published in the 1880's. Highly
respected. Was at first very sceptical of digital imaging, but now
devotes considerable space to it. Has some of the best magazine
reviews of digital equipment. Deals not only with digital cameras
and lenses, but scanners and printers, indeed anything to do
with photography in general. Many pages of adverts give good idea
of prices charged, and where to find the best deals. Many
secondhand dealers advertise in it. www.amateurphotographer.com
British
Journal Of Photography. Weekly magazine intended mainly
for the professional. Often features camera, lens and software
reviews with interesting observations. Can be read online for those
outside the UK who subscribe. www.bjp-online.com
Personal Computer
World. One of the first, and still the best, UK monthly computer
magazine. A good source of information regarding digital cameras and
printers. Often reviews digital cameras, scanners, and photo printers,
besides general and specific Imaging software, and the
benefit is that it looks at it from a slightly different perspective
to magazines devoted to photography. www.pcw.co.uk
Online
Retailers - New goods
http://www.jessops.com
UK's leading photographic retailer has a good online store, as well
as over 400 stores nationwide. Many own brand digital products. Now
no longer deals in secondhand equipment. But many others do,
see below. Is not as good as it once was, but it is reliable
and safe to use if rather expensive in it's product pricing.
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk
A good source of a wide range of camera accessories, lenses,
tripods, flash, etc. Stocks many hard to find items not
listed elsewhere.
http://www.7dayshop.com
An online store based in the channel islands that offers products at
competitive rates, as well as many items not found elsewhere. A good
source of memory cards and batteries at bargain prices.
http://www.lcegroup.co.uk
One of the UK's few independent photographic retailing groups to remain in
existence, Jessops having taken over most others, with a good
online presence and dealing in both new & secondhand
goods.
http://www.ffordes.com
One of the largest dealers of secondhand, now based in
Scotland, who also deals in new items.
http://www.red-door.co.uk
A specialist online retailer dealing in software and equipment for
Panoramic and Object Digital Photography
Online
software sites
To
buy
http://www.hamrick.com
The home of VueScan scanning software useable with virtually
all types of scanners. This is probably the best scanning
software it is possible to find. Recommended by countless
magazines and individuals, we find it excellent to use. It
will work with literally hundreds of scanners, and is
constantly updated to work with the latest types. It can work
in a guided or advanced manner. This is
downloaded as a working trial and a key to 'unlock' it can be
purchased at any time. Without the 'unlock' key all images
produced are watermarked and very obvious. The trial version
is not time limited, and the download is small. Only available
online.
http://www.ptgui.com
The home of PTGui Panoramic software. You may not have heard of
it, the main reason being it is only available online, being
downloaded and sold direct like VueScan. Based on open source
software it produces great results with little effort, and
although not cheap, is reasonably priced compared to others,
especially when you compare how they work. Without doubt the
best and easiest panoramic software we have found. Can be used
in standard or advanced mode. Works extremely well and is not
slow or cumbersome to handle. Downloaded
as a trial version to which a 'key' is purchased for full use.
Again images are watermarked in the trial version. Only
available online.
Free
photography software
http://www.dofmaster.com
A website dealing with Depth of Field and Hyperfocal Distance.
Provides much information and free software that can be used
offline. Well worth a visit.
http://www.epaperpress.com
Provides PT lens, a free software program that can be used to
correct lens image distortions. Also works as a plug-in for
use with Photoshop/Elements. Better than any image editor built-in lens
correction program, and even the 'proper' paid for lens
correction programs. Again based on the same open source
software as that used by PTGui. A large number of digicam and
DSLR cameras and lenses are supported.
http://www.gimp.org
Home of the open source equivalent to Photoshop. Not quite as
many options at present, and requires a bit of getting used
to, but as a free alternative to paid for programs it's great for what it is.
http://google.com
Picasa2 is a really good free program to have being an
organizer with image editor built in. For doing basic editing
work it's fine, and the options provided are good. A bit like
the quick edit option in Elements.
Free
security software
http://zonelabs.com
The provider of one of the best firewalls for personal use.
Never causes the slightest problem and enables a high level of
security when online. You decide what programs can access the
web in an easy manner.
http://grisoft.com
The provider of AVG anti-virus. 7.5 is the latest free
version. Works well without a problem. Now also provides
a free anti-spyware product.
http://lavasoft.de
Provides Ad-Aware SE. Anti-spyware, Malware, Trojan scanner.
Finds and removes all nasties that can get downloaded without
your knowledge. Now used by Google. No higher recommendation.
Image
editing programs
Photoshop
Elements
Not
as complicated to use as the 'full' Photoshop CS2, and nowhere
near as expensive. Has most of the options that the average
digital photographer needs. A very good RAW file converter,
ACR, always updated for the latest cameras. Also now has a
photo organizer as a separate item and full and quick edit
modes. Some features, panoramic stitching and lens correction,
don't work that well and are best avoided. The Black&White
conversion mode is useful but could have been so much better.
It's rather large requiring a lot of hard disc space, but
works in real time on images for most things, and is generally
better laid out and faster to use than many other similar
programs.
The
Gimp
As
a free open source image editor - see free software above -
this has few rivals. Not provided with many 'quick fix'
options, can't deal with RAW files, and is restricted to 8bit
image files. Otherwise it has everything that you could need.
Takes some getting used to, but if you are prepared to spend
the time learning how to use it, the interface and the way to
access the tools and features it has, then a good image editor
results. It's small in size by comparison to others, and works
fast. As with all open source software the progression
of improvements is slow but steady.
