Choosing a digital SLR camera: Part 1

I take a lot of photos, mainly family outings and sports stuff, though I definitely fall into the "amateur" category. My camera of choice for many years has been a Canon EOS SLR, a film camera.

I’ve been postponing my definitive move to digital because of the lack of time to properly analyze the issue and choose the best camera for my needs. Being 99% certain that a handheld digital camera was insufficient for my needs, it meant that the move would have to be all the way up to a digital SLR, or DSLR for short.

A few months ago, in time for a two week family vacation to the beach, I made up my mind up and switched over. I hope these thoughts help you in your own decision-making process if you are thinking of moving to a DSLR.

The first basic question was: should I go digital? Not such a no-brainer in my opinion. But I decided yes, of course, there are just too many benefits. I love film but SLR seems to be dying. Nikon itself will stop making most of its film cameras and concentrate on digital models, in order to focus on “business categories that continue to demonstrate the strongest growth”.

But at the same time, was it true that a good compact digital camera would not do? Are they a match quality-wise with SLR film cameras? Or would I need to go for a digital SLR?

Having seen prints of photos taken with handheld digital cameras, I found the quality to be inferior than what I was accustomed to with my trusty Canon film camera. You might want to read this handy article to understand if megapixels matter. There’s a lot of misunderstanding on this, and camera makers certainly aren’t helping with their claims and ads. This Megapixel Chart also helps.

Next, I suggest you read "10 Reasons to Buy a DSLR Camera" which goes into great detail on who should and shouldn’t switch to a digital SLR. If I had to distill the reasons down to a handful, I’d say the reasons a digital SLR makes sense when compared to a handheld digital camera are:

• Image quality. Some people think there isn’t much difference. I think there is. Do your own tests. Even so, the next few reasons are indisputable, and to me just as important.

• No shutter lag. Push the button and the picture is taken. No delays. Shoot another and another with no delays. Great for action shots.

• Instant start-up. Turn it on and start shooting immediately.

• Add-ons. Lenses. I have a zoom lens and external flash for my Canon film camera, and wanted the same functionality with a digital camera.

Please note that you and I may or may not having similar needs, and so you may put more weight on factors that to me are secondary, and vice versa.

In Part 2, I’ll discuss which digital SLR I bought and why, and my very strange buying experience.

Tags: digital cameras, DSLR

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Chrysler’s three bidders

Knowledge@Wharton says that DaimlerChrysler has three serious bidders for Chrysler at this point, and that they should have preliminary offers in hand soon (the end-date was by March 30):

• Cerberus Capital Management, a New York private equity firm. Has ex-Chrysler executives in prominent roles.
• Blackstone Group and Centerbridge Partners, both private equity firms
• Magna International, a Canadian maker of auto parts, together with Ripplewood Holdings, a New York private equity firm. Ripplewood also has ex-Chrysler executives in prominent positions.

They also mention that GM may eventually join one of the private equity bidders.

Tags: Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, GM, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Steelers on work ethic

Here’s a lesson from how the Pittsburgh Steelers try to create a professional and effective work atmosphere vs. how the Cincinnati Bengals don’t.

You may know the Steelers as the hard-working, blue-collar, 5-time Super Bowl champion American football team (of which I’m a fan). The Bengals, on the other hand, have lately been known for having nine players arrested since January 2006, one of them four separate times.

The NFL is understandably concerned about this thug image and has finally decided to do something about it. Commissioner Roger Goodell will announce proposed penalties has proposed for lawbreakers shortly.

Why don’t the Steelers have this problem?

"It’s about the people you bring in, it’s about your actions matching your words, when you set guidelines in terms of the atmosphere that you’re building — it’s all those things," says Mike Tomlin, their new head coach.

Tags: Pittsburgh Steelers, Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Bengals, Mike Tomlin

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Chinese MGs are for real

Nanjing Automobile presented their Chinese made MG cars today, built at their huge $450 million plant in Nanjing city. Expectations have been mounting for some time.

Nanjing has built three models:

• MG TF roadster
• MG 7295 sedan
• MG 7275 sedans

Bloomberg reports that the brand, renamed `Ming Jue’ or `Modern Gentleman’, will go on sale in China in the second half of the year.

Nanjing’s future plans?

• Invest $2 billion in the brand; open U.K. and U.S. plants.
• Build MG TF roadster convertibles at a former MG plant in Longbridge, England, plus open a research center there. They will also name a handful of UK dealers in May 2007.
• Start production of the MG TF Coupe at their Oklahoma plant in mid-2008. The roadster, a coupe and a sedan will go on sale in the U.S. in 2008, says Duke T. Hale, CEO of MG Motors North America Inc.
• Use the MG brand as a springboard for international expansion. If Chinese automakers have one flaw, it is that they have no recognizable brand names. (What is China’s biggest brand?)

Nanjing Auto bought the MG brand and other assets for $97 million in 2005. At the same time, Shanghai Auto bought the design rights for two MG Rover models for $130 million. Shanghai has already launched the 2.5- liter Roewe 750 (based on the Rover 75);  they’ve sold 4,000 of them in China in the last five months.

Chinese automakers need to start creating strong brands if they want any chance of successfully reaching the major automotive markets (USA, Europe) with their own-brand cars. This in addition to improving quality and safety, and then improving public perception of these qualities.

Many Chinese companies with money to spend have been buying languishing or troubled big-name companies for quick access to world-class brands, technology, distribution networks and smooth entry to major markets. Notable examples are Lenovo, who bought IBM’s PC business in 2004, Qianjiang, the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer who bought Italy’s Benelli, and Shanghai Automotive, who took over South Korea’s SsangYong.

Tags: MG, Nanjing Auto, Nanjing Automobile, Shanghai Automotive, Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp, SAIC, SAIC Motor, Rover, Roewe, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, China, Chinese auto industry, Chinese automotive industry

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Sugar Ray Leonard at NADA 2007

If you’ve ever liked boxing, chances are you were a fan of Sugar Ray Leonard, who was on both sides of memorable fights in the 1980’s vs. the likes of Tommy Hitman Hearns, Roberto "Mano de Piedra" Duran and even Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Leonard is now a public speaker, sort of on the motivational side. Having been a big fan of his, I was hoping that his keynote presentation at NADA 2007 in Las Vegas would include some of his footage… and it did! What a treat!

Interspersed throughout his speech were some great highlights from the best fights I ever saw.

But his message was also powerful; simple yet inspiring. In fact so much so that it still sticks in my head and pops up any time I start or re-start a project.

I had always thought of Leonard as a crackerjack athlete who based his success on his incredible talent. But he says otherwise. In fact, Sugar Ray only mentioned the word "talent" once and I even got the feeling it slipped out by mistake!

He told of how he prepared meticulously and specifically for every fight, and gave examples for each of his best bouts against such diverse rivals as Duran, Hearns and Hagler.

This is it:

Set your goal, create a blueprint, and stick to it.

Simple.

Tags: Sugar Ray Leonard, NADA, planning

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Chrysler has a buyer?

Brett Hoselton, an analyst for KeyBanc Capital Markets, says via Automotive News that Magna International, a maker of advanced automotive systems based in Canada, is set to make an offer for Chrysler for some $4.6 billion, for a 20-25% stake. The firm would do this together with an equity partner.

Currently, 26% of Magna’s sales are to Chrysler, around $6 billion per year.

Tags: Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler, Magna International, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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Lacoste loses trademark dispute in China

Starbucks may have (logically) won its case against their Chinese copycat, but Lacoste has just lost their trademark suit against "rival" Crocodile International, who has been using Lacoste’s famous crocodile logo for many years.

A Shanghai court has ruled that Lacoste must stop using the logo and pay one dollar in compensation.

Singapore-based Crocodile International says they created the design first, and registered it in 1951. Lacoste says tennis legend Rene Lacoste registered the logo in France in 1933; then in China in 1980.

Crocodile’s CEO, Tan Hiantsin, is a Chinese-born Malaysian and he claims that Malaysia’s adherence to international copyright conventions gives his design blanket protection in China from 1990.

Just another trademark infringement problem in China… there are many of these as you may know. We should soon be seeing if China’s intention of fixing its tarnished image regarding intellectual property rights has any substance to it.

Tags: Lacoste, China, branding, Crocodile International, copyright, intellectual property

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Starbucks wins Chinese copyright suit

Last year I mentioned how Starbucks was suing a Chinese company called Xingbake for copyright infringement. Xingbake happened to be using a very similar name and logo.

Now, after a 2 year fight, a Shanghai court has judged  in favor of Starbucks. The penalty? Xingbake must stop using its name, and pay Starbucks a whopping $62,000 in damages. Boy, that sure sends a message!

Starbucks has 300 outlets in China, and is in China since 1999.

I like Starbucks. Read more about them here.

As the BBC says:

China’s China introduced new laws in 2001 to give Chinese and international companies greater protection for their trademarks.   

Foreign companies have complained for years of rampant counterfeiting of goods including CDs, DVDs and designer clothes.

Tags: China, branding, Starbucks

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ZAP electric concept car

Zap has released drawings of its electric ZAP-X Crossover SUV.

Autochannel reports that the Zap-X will feature all-wheel drive with in-hub electric motors capable of 644 horsepower and a top speed of 155mph. It combines a lightweight aluminum chassis, a new efficient drive system and advanced battery management system. This should give it a 350-mile range, with a rapid 10-minute recharging time.

"We believe that the ZAP-X will become the most advanced, most practical and most appealing flagship electric vehicle to date and will revolutionize the industry providing the driver with the enjoyment of a sports car and the practicality of an SUV," says ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.

Tags: Zap, Zap-X, alternative energy, electric cars, concept cars, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry

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IBM leaving Lenovo

Lenovo is maybe the most widely known Chinese business brand in the world (China’s biggest brand is…), thanks to their acquisiton of IBM’s PC business for $1.25 billion in 2005. As part of that deal, IBM bought a 15% stake in the Chinese company.

Red Herring now reports that IBM is planning to reduce its stake in Lenovo by 3.5% for about $127 million.

Tags: China, Lenovo, IBM

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