TCS - What you really need to know before you buy a digital camera
What you really need to know
before you buy a digital camera
The Complaints
by Carla Cawlfield
HAL PC Users Group
From the October 2002 issue of the I/O Port Newsletter
Less is More
I don't fly a jet plane to the grocery store; all I need is a car. Don't buy more
camera than you need. I almost bought the biggest, baddest, finest that Nikon makes, and it would
have been a BIG mistake. It is a fine, fine camera, but all its features got in my way. These new
super megapixel cameras have their uses, but they also suffer from feature bloat. I test drove
one of the cameras on a recent trip, and I hated it. By the time the camera had gone through all
of its "automatic" adjustments, setups, and balancing, my photo opportunity was 30 seconds down
the road. I kept punching the shutter button, and the camera would finally accept my command, but
not in the split second I wanted. I need something much faster and simpler. Then I tried a
cheaper Nikon model with mid-range megapixels, and was very pleased. It took great pictures fast.
Setup hassles
Many of the newer models of digitals, and some film cameras, use a menu-driven
setup screen visible on their back LCD viewers, rather than just push buttons. Sometimes when I
turn the camera(s) off, the settings are lost.
Trust me, this is a big deal. It means I have to constantly check and reset the date, degree of
resolution, flash options, and other features. This is a major pain, and it eats up valuable time
to use a menu. Push buttons are faster. It is bad enough if you have to reset all this stuff when
you change batteries, but every time you turn the camera OFF? Too much hassle; throw that camera
out of your life.
Batteries
I have tried several kinds of digitals and their batteries. These things eat batteries
like 35mms eat film. Some are now using newer generation batteries, and/or are rechargeable
overnight in a cradle like your cell phone. To conserve power, you learn to turn the camera off
when you know it will be a while between pictures. Like laptop computers, these cameras have been
built with power-saver features, standby modes, and will automatically turn themselves off after
a few seconds.
Inserting these batteries can be a pain. Of the last three digitals I used, only one battery
compartment was easy to open. All three were designed with a spring-loaded release on the battery
hatch cover. I have small fingers, and even I found the releases to be tiny and difficult,
resulting in broken fingernails, and/or me looking for a pen point or Palm stylus to get the
hatch open. This is frustrating and wastes time. To add insult, I could not always easily find or
see the positive/negative terminal indicators.
Whenever I get ready for a shoot, I make a trip to WalMart to load up on film and AA batteries.
Most cameras take 4 AAs. This adds weight. I jumped for joy when I got a new camera that took
only 2 AAs. But alas, my joy was short-lived. It meant I had to change batteries more than twice
as often (see Setup hassles above). Not only that, when your digital camera won't run anymore
because it says the batteries are low, there is still enough juice in those "dead" batteries to
power clocks, flashlights, and small California cities.
Camera cases/Buttons
How the camera fits into a protective case is actually a big deal. Most of
these digitals do not come with more than a wrist lanyard. A case is a must (take care not to
scratch that back LCD screen!, and bumping and jostling) Most of these cameras will fit into a
universal digital camera case that sells for about $10.
Caveat Emptor! Due to the location of their buttons, some of these cameras can be accidentally
turned on, draining valuable battery power. I had this happen with two different cameras. The one
with a combination lens cover & On/Off switch on the front got the switch slid to "On" as it
entered the case.
The second one had a totally different form factor, with the On/Off switch up on top near the
shutter button. Same problem.
As it entered the case, the handle on the switch caught on the case inside liner fabric and
turned the camera on. So when you go shopping, mind how easy it is for the camera to accidentally
turn itself on.
Cheeky Nose interference
Yes, you read that right, I said "Nose", not Noise. When I put my eye up
to the viewfinder, the LCD screen is in the way and my cheek skin oil gets all over it.
FYI - I have a small nose. Somebody with a magnificently large proboscis would have a big problem.
It is hard to review your shots or use the LCD viewer for macro shots when it has oil,
fingerprints, and makeup all over it. This is a problem no matter which camera I am using.
Zoom ain't Telephoto
Those digitals with 3X optical zoom and 2 or 3 digital zoom can't reach
anywhere as far as a big, ol' telephoto lens. 'Nuff said.
Carla Cawlfield is a long-term HAL-PC member and volunteer. She welcomes you to join her
conversation by emailing her at carla@hal-pc.org.
For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here
Tulsa Computer Society 10/02/2002
Don Singleton, President