Ok, I’m sure you have a digital camera by now and
may not be getting the most out of it, so here are a few guidelines
for you:
1) The zoom is more important than you think
If you’re shooting distant volcanoes or close-up portraits,
you can never have too much optical zoom! Most digital cameras
have 3x or 4x optical zoom, but you will never regret choosing
a model with more telephoto power. Luckily the extended zoom
camera category is growing rapidly, and there is a great selection
of models with 8-, 10-, or even 12x optical zoom. For the
ultimate in zoom control and quality, look for an extended-zoom
camera with image stabilization, which will ensure that shots
taken at full telephoto will be tack-sharp, even without a
tripod.
2) AA batteries are a MUST for us travelers
Most digital cameras come either with AA-size batteries or
proprietary lithium-ion batteries. If you are a traveler,
choose a camera with AA batteries.
3) A good small camera can get shots that big cameras can’t
Sure, those big, black SLRs with the long lens may look fancy,
but it won’t do you any good if you’re not carrying
it. Never underestimate the importance of having a camera
that is small enough to fit into your pocket—you’ll
be amazed at the spontaneous pictures you’ll have the
opportunity to take.
4) Sony & Canon make great cameras
Both Sony and Canon digital cameras receive consistently great
reviews, and for good reason: Over the last 2+ years, they
have proven capable of producing well-designed cameras that
produce impressive results.
5) But Kodak makes great, easy-to-use cameras
My folks wanted (finally) to enter the digital age. And we
kids wanted them to be able to send us pictures. After a lot
of research, I chose a Kodak, having read countless reviews
that raved about their user-friendly controls. Kodak’s
EasyShare digital cameras are very easy to use: the menus
are simple, the LCD text large and clear, and the controls
self-explanatory.
6) Ok, digital cameras can and will break!
No matter how careful you are, digital cameras are not as
durable as their film counterparts. Many photographers have
film cameras that are ten or twenty years old—don’t
expect this kind of longevity from your new digital toy. So
expect to upgrade every three years or so.
7) Don’t put all your eggs on one card
I’ve been very lucky. I either always have my trusty
laptop with me so I can download images from the storage card
frequently; or I use a local Internet café, many of
which can download and burn a CD for you. As a result, I’ve
never lost any images (knock on wood).
But remember, flash memory is not flawless. It is very rare
to lose images, but it does happen. But these little storage
cards are pretty cheap now. So invest in several 256MB cards
and relax on your vacation!
8) Find & use a simple photo editing program
Forget trying to master Adobe Photoshop. A favorite program
for many is Picasa, and it is absolutely free at www.picasa.com.
With Picasa you can perform all the basic editing tasks like
sharpening, contrast correction, cropping, and straightening—most
with just the touch of a button. Spend a few minutes on your
best photographs and you will be amazed at the results. Picasa
also make it incredibly easy to organize your best shots so
you don’t have to sift through hundreds of unwanted
pictures to find your prizewinners.
9) Print and display your pictures
PLEASE! Print your best images! It is just plain more fun
to take a book of great photos to someone’s house for
everyone to see. Email is fine for family and friends, but
print is best!
Online printing companies like Ofoto can turn your digital
images into high-quality prints of any size. Using Ofoto is
easy—you simply download a free tool to your desktop
and use it to load your pictures onto the Ofoto website. From
there you can order prints of every size as well as photo
mouse pads, calendars, t-shirts and other gifts. You can also
send a link to friends so that they can view your pictures
online and order their own copies.
