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Things to Consider in Digital Cameras
Earlier this week I got an email asking why I don't review any digital cameras. Well it is because I only have one a pretty cheap and simple Kodak EasyShare CX4200 and it works pretty well for me. I mean I have a whole bunch of video games and tend to buy them more but I get good use out of my digital camera and I have been using them since they first showed up. I have owned two digital camera and have used several over the years since the introduction of the Apple Quicktake 100. It was yet another tech innovation where Apple was way ahead and then they dropped the ball and let everyone else make millions of the idea.
The brilliant thing about digital camera is the speed that you can take hundreds of photos and have them in a digital medium instantly. Once you pay for the camera and you load it with a good memory card and rechargeable batteries you never have to spend more money on it if you take a dozen or a million pictures with the camera. Kymberley did not like digital cameras until she hung out with me and then she got "It".
I am a digital dork. In fact last time I was with my Dad I helped him pick out a digital camera so I thought I would share my thought on things you should consider when buying a digital camera.
Here we go:
Do not buy a dock. They are a rip off
Do get an extra memory card. 64 MB to 128 MB is a good number.
Do get a memory card reader. They are only 20 bucks or so.
Use rechargeable NIMH batteries. I pity the fool who uses disposable batteries.
Never buy a camera that you have not physically touched. Form factor is damn important. More important than raw tech features.
Two Megapixels is a minimum but do not obsess over high resolution. Two Megapixels will do just fine
Read actual user review particularly C|Net
good user interface on the camera is important
I like Kodak cameras but I would also buy a Sony.
Good software counts
If you are really obsessed with getting physical prints just get a chemical 35 MM camera and go to the photomat.
If you occasionally want to get a print use a kick ass color printer or go to a print shop.
Use Gimp over paying for a commercial photo editor if you are only going to do home level image manipulation and management.
I would want a good form factor over a super high resolution or larger size.
Get a water resistant camera if you live in a place like Seattle.
Make sure your camera is compatible with your OS, my newer Kodak Camera was not recognized by Red Hat Linux on my old PC.
CDs and Floppy disks for a in camera storage media in a digital camera is just stupid.
Burn CDs of your digital photo backups.
Don't get a Camera that is too small and don't get one that is too big.
Separate your more personal digital photos from your more public digital photo collections.
Don't plan on spending too much money on a digital camera because of the rapid advances in the technology and there will be a much better camera for less money in a matter of months. I would never spend more that 200 bucks on one.
Keep in mind that these are just suggestions and not laws carved in stone. Your millage may very. Wash, rinse repeat if necessary.
Jake at December 11, 2003 
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Comments
Some nice tips, but, I sell cameras for a living, er well, it's a job, anyway.
Some additional tips.
If you want to print your pictures, the more megapixels, the better. 3 at least. If you don't print that often, 2 is fine, especially for web work. If you want 8x10's, at least 4.
Kodak is decent, as is Sony, but for the money you are better off going with a company that has made cameras for years, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, etc.
Rechargable Lithium-Ion batteries last longer (typically) than NIMH AA batteries, and usually the price difference between a camera with them, and one without is about the price of a new set of AA's and a charger.
If you want good prints, take them to the photomat, most of them anymore can take your digital image and print it using a chemical process.
Epson makes damn fine inkjet photo printers, as does Canon. It's not cheaper than having them professionaly done. Inkjet averages 0.60-0.70 a print. Professionaly ranges from 0.20 (Costco) to 0.60.
Ok, uh, that's all I have for now. Thank you for your time, be kind with the flames ;)
Posted by: Barret7sc at December 11, 2003 4:52 AM
Awww Barret7sc beat me to it - I was going to make some of those comments since I'm a photographer. My only other suggestion is to read the manual for the camera - if it sounds to complicate in the store, then it probably is to complicate for you. (I get frustrated when the new photographers at work leave a note saying the camera is 'broke' when they just have it set wrong.)
Posted by: Judy at December 11, 2003 7:10 AM
"Separate your more personal digital photos from your more public digital photo collections."
hehe...ok, i had to laugh at that, only b/c...well...you know...
so, i would agree w/Barret7sc's statements, but i think if someone is looking for something just for fun or those moments when "i wish i had a camera!", then your suggestions are a good guideline, Jake...
Posted by: azure at December 11, 2003 1:55 PM
What ever are you talking about ;)
Well digital cameras are similar to Polaroids where you can take pictures without any third parties involved. But they are much faster, do not need film and have a better picture quality. That is very cool but you have to be careful and responsible with that digital freedom.
My camera is only around $110 that is about the cost of a Gameboy Advance SP.
Posted by: Jake at December 11, 2003 2:05 PM
I have a canon and it is a 3 megapixel model. I love it because with a 128 memory stick it can take short video clips as well. I don't recommend buying one of those photo printers because I think they are a bit too pricey and if you go to fred Meyer's they have a machine in there that will allow you to put your memory stick in and print out selected pictures on high quality photo paper...then again, some of us wan't to use Photoshop or the gimp to edit them first. Like that one time when I made a picture of Jake dressed up like a KKK member and posted it on the inter....uh nevermind.
Posted by: pete at December 11, 2003 2:15 PM
