Everything Digital Cameras

When looking for a digital camera for a child, what things should you consider? The age of the child, his or her knowledge of cameras and photography, and of course, your budget all factor into your purchase. The various kinds of digital cameras available can make it difficult to choose the right one, especially if you’re shopping for a child. The following guidelines will help you in your search for the right digital camera for your child.

Video capabilities are standard in almost every digital camera these days, take this into consideration as you shop. Nowadays almost all digital cameras have a video function. Your older children will of course appreciate this function more than a smaller child might. Kids who develop a strong interest in video will eventually need a camcorder, but digital cameras can at least introduce them to this exciting field. With the availability of video technology on computers, cell phones etc your kids are exposed at an early age to video streaming. So, when choosing digital cameras for kids you may want one with video capacity.

The toy section is usually where parents start out looking for kids cameras. If you are shopping for a very young child this might work but not for the older ones. With all of the technological advances our kids are exposed to at early ages it’s not a big surprise that toys just don’t keep their interest for long. One other factor to consider is the price, toys are no longer less expensive than real entry level cameras. It may please you to know that you can find these entry level cameras for less than twenty dollars online as well as in discount retail stores. You’ll save some time and money by skipping the toy stage all together and getting them a real one they’ll love.

You will also need to find a camera that is sturdy and durable when shopping for a child. Regardless of their nature, kids tend to be hard on their things. The best kind of digital camera to get is one that is made to take a certain amount of abuse. In case of pool accidents, you should also consider getting one that is waterproof. While you want to encourage your kids to be responsible with their possessions, you can’t expect them to always be careful and paying attention. For this reason, it’s important to get a camera that will stand up to some abuse from the child.

Digital cameras can be a great gift for a child. Learning how to take pictures will not only teach them about technology but they’ll become more observant of the world around them. Keeping these tips in mind will make your search for the best digital camera for your child easier. Just remember that they don’t need the most advanced camera available.

By: John Joe

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Why is so difficult for camera companies to come up with one good all around digital camera that’s perfect for all occasions? I suppose it’s not really in their best interests to encourage consumers to only own one perfect camera, when they can sell them several. If I were more of a conspiracy theory advocate, I’d suggest they do it on purpose. But, I’m not, and I do believe there are other factors at work here. With all that being said, it doesn’t mean we can at least try to find the most likely candidate for best all around digital camera.

The three most distinguishable features or dividing factors when it comes to digital cameras are size, ease of use, and image quality. To lesser and greater degrees, these traits seem to be mutually exclusive when it comes to camera design and build.

Smaller sized camera designs are very portable, but usually affect ease of use and image quality in negative ways. The smaller a camera is, the smaller the controls are, which makes them harder to use. Single control buttons and wheels are often used for multiple functions which can increase user confusion. Smaller cameras often mean, that features like viewfinders get left off in the effort to add bigger LCD screens. Smaller often means zoom lenses are less powerful, and overall lens quality suffers. The most successful small sized cameras I like are the Canon SD1000 Digital Elph, and the Olympus Stylus 790SW.

Ease of use usually means lots of auto settings, which is great for newbie photographers, as little skill is required to snap a picture. But, it also means camera designers are forced to compromise on default settings that are OK for most pictures, but not great for all pictures. Factory set defaults will have to do until cameras become smart enough to detect all the nuances of a particular shot regarding lighting, color, and artistic intention. The Canon Powershot A570IS is one of the better cameras in terms of simplifying things at a reasonable price.

The ultimate in image quality usually means big bulky SLR cameras with a case load of lenses and controlled lighting for different types of shooting environments. SLR photography also involves micro managing of all the various camera settings such as aperture, ISO settings, white balance, f-stop and so on. You really have to know what your doing. The Canon Rebel XTi Digital SLR, or the Nikon D40 are good cameras in this category that don’t break the bank.

By: Chris Campbell

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A digital camera produces excellent photographs. For many years however, professional photographers have discussed the drawbacks to the digital camera from the perspective of image quality which does not always match that available through a traditional 35mm film camera. The convenience afforded by going digital however far outweighs the minor loss in perceptible quality for most consumers.

For millions of potential camera shoppers, choosing the smallest, lightest camera is most important while others may wish to hold down costs or only share photos online where image quality is limited anyway. For these and other shoppers, finding and paying for a more costly camera may be unnecessary. But for those who strive to capture images that record the most accurate and color correct images, there are choices they can make during the shopping process that can help to assure they end up with equipment that will be capable of producing outstanding images.

The primary decision is not about megapixels; or at least not entirely. A digital camera with 10 megapixels does not necessarily produce a better image than a camera with only 6 megapixels. Megapixels are important and a camera must have enough of them to provide adequate image information for the size print being produced so that there is less noise and better clarity in the resulting image. Unless a consumer plans on producing very large images, 5 megapixels is generally sufficient and 3-4 may be enough if prints will be 5×7 or smaller.

The sensor which captures the light entering the camera lens is even more critical however. The sensor stores and displays data, converting the light into electrons. The sensor can be either CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor). CCD is the more mature technology and produces images with less noise. They also tend to be more expensive and consume more power but for those seeking the highest quality images, a CCD is the better choice at this time.

An important aspect of the CCD is the actual size of the sensor. Larger sensors provide higher resolution and less noise. Understanding how the size of the CCD sensor influences the quality of images and knowing what size sensor is adequate requires a bit more study. There are several articles available on line which could prove valuable for those wishing to learn more about this topic. Articles at http://www.photo.net/equipment/digital/sensorsize/ and http://www.photo.net/equipment/digital/basics/ are well written and knowledgeable.

A final consideration regarding the sensor in a digital camera is the availability of 1 CCD and 3 CCD models. As one might suspect more is often better. A camera with 1 CCD picks up image and color information through a single sensor. A model with 3 CCD has a sensor that picks up each of the different colors (Red, Green, and Blue) resulting in superior color reproduction.

Certainly the selection of a CCD sensor over a CMOS sensor, a larger sensor, or more sensors is not required in order to own a high quality digital camera capable of producing very good images. However, these features certainly do significantly enhance image quality and are the focus of attention for those seeking to produce the sharpest and most vivid images.

By: Christine Peppler

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When it comes to a small profile, the Casio Exilim Z1050 has a lot to offer. It was one of the slimmest of its kind and is still competitively ultra-thin. This 10 megapixel digital camera has both style and excellent features for the camera enthusiast. Many users find the ease of use for this camera to be the most desirable feature by far. Some people just aren’t interested in attempting to sift through a complex users manual in order to learn how to operate a camera. A lot of people prefer to be able to charge the battery and have it ready to go in a mode suitable for point and click photography. 3x zoom is a standard feature for this camera but it also features digital image stabilization which compensates for photographers with shaky hands. While reluctant, we will look at the Nikon Coolpix S3000 out of a sense of fairness and because they have made improvements. Nikon has earned the right to be shown some respect, after all, because they’ve been around for awhile. For those you don’t have much of a budget to work with, this ultra compact camera is a good option because it is inexpensive. Unfortunately, the S3000 isn’t much better than average. The features are all standard, including the 12 megapixels. But in sunlight, it can be difficult to see the LCD screen, unfortunately. Because this camera is mostly constructed of plastic, it appears to be cheaply made. The image quality of this camera is average which will only produce average picture quality. You will get the job done with this camera but it is meant specifically for a certain budget.

Last in line, the Canon PowerShot S95 which is has a full complement of manual features for those who like to work with their hands. The photos this little gem produces are gems themselves. This camera is ultra compact and comes with a multimedia card, SD memory card, and a 3 inch LCD, as well as having a more reasonable 10 megapixel resolution. The flash used on this camera is the pop up variety. Because there was nothing wrong with the great features of the S90, they were brought forward to this newer model. One good piece of news is the video resolution is greater in the PowerShot S95 improving to 720p. They also now allow you to capture up to three photos at different levels of exposure. To create a single image with much more detail, the camera process the three exposures. And there are a few of the lower end pocket size cameras. If you’ve never used a digital ultra-compact camera, these would be good ones to test out. They produce decent pictures and are reasonably priced.

By: Neil Rischall

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Here we have some information about what I believe to be the #1 camera repair issue: broken LCD screens.

We live in a throw-away society, it’s a simple fact. You buy that brand new fancy digital camera with all the bells and whistles for $400, and in 6 months to 1 year it’s worth maybe half that, and then the unthinkable happens: you drop it and it breaks. The LCD is cracked, or the lens is jammed; what do you do? You head back to the store with your poor little camera and the guy behind the counter (that knows nothing about cameras except for what’s written on the box, and even less about camera repair) tells you it’s not worth it to fix it and you should toss it in the trash. You feel ripped off and mad at the camera manufacturer and you toss it out and buy a new one made by somebody else.

There are alternatives, there are ALWAYS alternatives to every problem. Honest! Yes, it may cost $100 to fix your camera, and yes you can buy that camera in the bubble pack on the shelf at W**l M**t (they don’t pay my bills… I don’t advertise their name, sorry) for less than $100, but what kind of quality do you honestly expect from a $100 camera? Not very good quality I hope, because you’re not going to get it.

#1 – Broken/cracked LCD screen.

It was hard for me to choose between a jammed lens and a broken LCD screen but I stuck with LCD for #1 because it’s so easy to break your LCD that you don’t even have to touch the camera to do it!

The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is the view screen on the back of the camera that lets you see menus, playback pictures etc. The LCD is very thin, very fragile, and on many many cameras completely UNPROTECTED! Look at the back of your camera, is the screen recessed slightly or is the back of the camera flat and smooth? If it’s flat you have a protective ‘window’ or ‘glass’ over the LCD to help prevent damage and breakage. If it’s not flat, you have nothing protecting your LCD and should put a good quality LCD screen protector on the camera and NOT those thin, flimsy ‘saran wrap’ plastic film screen protectors, they are worthless.

- Don’t leave your camera in your car in summer or winter. Extreme heat can cause expansion of the liquid in the LCD and cause it to ‘crack’, and on the other side of things extreme cold can cause it to freeze!

- Don’t put anything up against the LCD in your camera bag, it will bang against the LCD and crack it (yes, even if it has a window over it, it will break!)

- Don’t put your camera in your back pocket and then sit down!

- Don’t put your camera in your front pocket and then roll over on it.

-… Just don’t put your camera in your pants pocket please. =)

Ok, so it’s broken, what do you do now?

- The manufacturer will just site impact damage and will refuse the repair even if the camera wasn’t dropped etc. You can try, and I wish you luck, but they probably won’t fix it.

- Look for a defective camera on e**y (hey they don’t pay me to advertise for them…) and make one good camera from the two if you are handy.

- Look for an actual camera repair business and not somebody that will send it to the manufacturer and tell you it’s $200 and 4-6 weeks to repair. (IF they tell you this, they are NOT repairing your camera for you, they are sending it to the manufacturer, guaranteed)

Many LCD screens are very easy to install and you can do it yourself and all you need is a small screwdriver. Other LCD’s are very difficult to install, and even professionals don’t like to do them! I can’t tell you Brand…. is the best and Brand… is the worst, it’s really not like that. Certain SERIES of cameras have 1 or 2 models that are difficult to work on, yet the rest of them are fairly straight forward. You need to decide for yourself if you want to open your camera and try the repair yourself or not.

How is an LCD replaced?

With most Canon digital camera LCD screens for example (using them as the example because they have the largest market share) all you do is disconnect the ribbon cable for the LCD and the backlight (the light that shines through the LCD and allows you to see what is on the screen) and then install the new LCD. Some come with the backlight attached, some do not. Some backlights need to be soldered to the mainboard of the camera, some do not.

- Be careful to not touch the flash capacitor contacts! You WILL zap yourself if you do, and it will HURT a bit. You will probably throw your camera across the room when it happens. (Yeah, I’ve done it, I’ve been repairing cameras for 5 years now so….) We have ‘flash capacitor dischargers’ and use them every time we open a camera.

I hope this sheds some light on the subject. You do not have to throw your camera away because the LCD is broken, and you can even fix it yourself!

Thomas Drayton

By: Thomas Drayton

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