Cameta Camera

Cameta Camera is a true brick-and-mortar camera and photography equipment store in Amityville, NY. For over 25 years, we have offered photography tips and equipment advice for pro photographers and novices alike – all in a friendly, relaxed environment. We strive to do the same online, offering the same helpful guidance for customers near and far.

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To the complaint, 'There are no people in these photographs,' I respond, There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.

Ansel Adams

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A bird in flight is a beautiful thing. Getting a great action shot of a bird, as with any moving target, can require patience, persistence, and maybe an early wake up call.

To capture great bird images, we recommend starting early in the morning, because the old adage about birds is true – most are active in the morning, and the lighting is softer too.

You’ll want to bring a wide or telephoto lens to capture timid birds from afar. With patience and time, you will likely have a chance to get a closeup shot. When the opportunity presents itself, aim to get at least one of the bird’s eyes in focus, so viewers can connect with the subject.

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The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.

Andy Warhol

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Don’t miss out on the gorgeous scenery and color in your own backyard this fall. Take your camera, the kids and the dog outside for the special events, such as hayrides and pumpkin patches that only autumn can offer.

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We hope this Acan coral was ready for its extreme close-up! Our own Mike M. shot it on a Nikon D600 with a 200m Nikon micro lens. And no, he did NOT take his D600 under water. He shot into a fish tank. How do you get such great images when shooting into glass?

“Never shoot on an angle to the glass, always shoot straight to the glass,” Mike says. Also, “try to light the tank enough so you can shoot at a higher f/number while keeping ISO as low as possible."

To capture this image, Mike set his camera at f/11 and 3200 ISO with his shutter speed at 125th of a second. Of course, he anchored his camera to a tripod – how else would you get such a crisp, clear, stunning image? Congratulations Mike!

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If I could tell a story with words, I wouldn’t have to lug around a camera.

Lewis Hine, documentary photographer, who’s work is being shown at the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY through September 14.

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Shooting Sunsets

As the sun sets on summer, we celebrate the classic photographic trope – the sunset! To take great sunset pictures:

1. Compose - Choose a landmark to compose your image against. This way, you’re not just taking a photo of a sunset, you’re taking a photo of a sunset in a particular time and place.

2. Expose - Because the light changes rapidly when the sun is setting, don’t waste a lot of time playing around with shutter speed and f-stops. Simply switch between aperture-priority and shutter-priority on your digital SLR and see which mode produces the best results.

3. White Balance - Try switching off your auto white balance mode in favor of the cloudy day or shade modes, manipulating your camera to favor warm color tempratures, which will warm up the image in the process.

4. Filter - Use a UV / Haze filter to filter out any environmtal haze.

5. Shoot…Everything - The sun doesn’t have to be the subject of every sunset picture. Take a few photos of the sun’s effect on the landscape, sans sun, noticing how the sun colors everything in its reach.

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Happy Labor Day weekend from the Cameta Camera family! 

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In photography, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.

Alfred Stieglitz

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Do you have unsightly dark spots on your photos? If your lens is clean and free of dust, and you still have dark spots on your images, you may have a dirty sensor.

Because your camera’s sensor is sensitive to scratching, cleaning a sensor is serious business. Learn how to clean your camera’s sensor by watching this video. For more information, check out this blog post.

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The sun sets everywhere, every day. How can you make your sunset shots unique?

Try bringing aspects of the foreground into the image – capturing not only the sunset, but the place itself.

The image above, shot by our own Mike M., captures the sunset as viewed from a dock at Fire Island. Although the sun has long set, the dock lights perfectly illuminate the scene, making for an atmospheric – and enviable – shot. Congrats Mike!

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Worthing Beach, June 2014

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Beautiful B&W!

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Happy Summer everyone! Enjoy the long days and nights, and almost endless photo opportunities in this beautiful place we call home.

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Traveling this summer?

Consider pocketing a point-and-shoot to easily capture all of the great shots between destinations. With crazy high mega pixels and the ability to shoot in low light, the new generation of point-and-shoot camera runs circles around your camera phone. For a camera you can slip right into your bag or pocket, we love the Fuji X100S, a compact and feature-rich camera with the ability to shoot 16.3 megapixels and 6 frames per second.

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Have you heard of Phoot Camp? It is a creative retreat for photographers. Applications are due at midnight, you should apply, it’s just a self portrait and a brief description of why you would be good for the group.

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“Let's just forget about the flash built into your camera. That thing is for emergencies only.”

-    Nick, Cameta’s resident photography purist, on taking photos at night.

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Quick Tips: Buying a Refurbished Camera

Want a great new camera but short on cash? Go refurbished! (Seriously!) Refurbished cameras offer a great, affordable alternative to buying new, and because they’ve gone through a thorough inspection by the manufacturer, they’re often a better bet than buying new.

When buying refurbished, make sure you’re buying the U.S. model, and not a foreign one, as the compatible parts may be different. Want more tips on buying refurbished? Check out this blog post.