One of the important phases of shooting a good photo is focusing on the photo's objects. Photos that are out of focus look bad and blurry. Sometimes shooting out of focus objects is done on purpose as an artistic effect, but in most cases a sharply focused object is the photographer's goal.

Black-and-white photography has become increasingly popular once again. When color photography first burst upon the scene, black-and-white photography fell out of favor. It was seen as "old" and "out." But in recent years, we are rediscovering the beauty of black-and-white, and today we admire the power and purity of black-and-white images.

Nikon recently released it's latest dSLR, the Nikon D80. It sports an impressive 10.2 Megapixel CCD imaging sensor and several notable upgrades from the D70. For one, the D80 has a brand new 12- bit high-resolution image-processing engine that combines color independent analog pre-conditioning with improved image processing algorithms.

The D80 can also start up in a flash; from off to fully responsive in only 0.18 seconds. The camera can shoot continuously at up to 3 frames per second, producing 100 consecutive JPEG images. When fully charged, the lithium ion battery can support the storage of up to 2,700 images.

Canon recently unveiled its latest prosumer dSLR camera, the Rebel XTi. The new camera is designed with entry-level photo enthusiasts in mind, with a lower price tag ($775 for the camera body) than most comperable models currently available. 

Canon has released two new EF lenses 
- the powerful EF50mm f/1.2L USM and the versatile EF70-200mm f/4L IS USM - to be used by advanced amateurs and professionals currently using Canon's digital EOS line. This brings the total number of available lenses by Canon to over 60.

The three big names in digital SLRs, Nikon, Canon, and Olympus, have all taken a significant market share hit in Japan as Sony and Matsushita advance. Both companies are brand new to the SLR market; Sony released its first SLR, the alpha DSLR-A100, in July, and Matsushita joined in with its first model only a day later.

Once again there are unsubstantiated rumors floating around that Canon will soon be introducing their latest dSLR: The Canon EOS 400D (XTi). There is word that Canon has placed some information about the camera on its Chinese website. If the reports are correct, the successor to the highly popular Canon Rebel XT will have a new 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with integrated dust removal system, a larger 2.5-inch LCD display, a 9-point AF system (also found on the XT), and a standard ISO range of 100 - 1600.

Mel McGee of Digital Camera Help offers some helpful answers to common digital camera FAQs. Note that most of these questions will pertain to digital camera beginners, and point and shoot users.

What is the difference between optical and digital zoom?-Optical zoom on a digital camera works the same way a regular 35mm camera's zoom works, the lens physically moves in and out using the optics (lens) to bring the subject closer without sacrificing quality. These moving lenses allows a range in optical magnification that runs anywhere from 2.0x to 10.0x. The higher the optical zoom on a camera, the farther away you can be to take a photograph and still get a clear, close image.

Shooting close-ups (also known as macrophotography) usually entails taking photos of objects such that they appear larger on film than they do in real life. This allows the photographer to bring the beauty of small or otherwise inconspicuous subjects into focus. It is both a fun and rewarding way to take pictures that can be enjoyed all year around.

The Sony α (alpha) DSLR-A100 is Sony's first camera in the rapidly expanding SLR market. The camera features a 10.2 megapixel 23.6 x 15.8mm APS-C-size CCD imager and Super SteadyShot® in-camera image stabilization system for high-sensitivity shooting. The camera also has a Dynamic Range Optimizer that automatically improves detail in unusually bright and dark areas of the photo.The Alpha usually ships with a 27mm to 105mm midrange telephoto lens, allowing for a fairly wide range of photography.  The current retail price is $999.

Key Features:

• 10-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
• Kit includes 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 lens
• In-camera image stabilization and anti-dust vibration systems; Eye-Start Autofocus system
• 2.5-inch LCD display; 9-point autofocus system; 40-segment multi-pattern honeycomb metering
• Powered by lithium-ion battery (supplied); stores images on CF I/II and Memory Stick Duo card