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Digital Cameras: The Top 10 Things You Need to Know

2008-01-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

1) Resolution is less important than you think

There is a popular misconception that more megapixels lead to better pictures. This is not the case.

Sure, higher resolution gives you the ability to crop more aggressively or print large pictures, but only a fraction of digital photographers will benefit from this ability. If you're a casual shooter who won't be printing pictures larger than 8x10" or doing extensive computer editing, then a camera with 5- or 6-megapixel resolution will be sufficient.

More advanced photographers will likely appreciate the flexibility of higher resolution, but a 10+ megapixel camera is by no means necessary to create stunning pictures. Choose a camera you can understand and afford, and don't be fooled by glitzy high-resolution specs.

2) Zoom is more important than you think

Whether you're shooting distant wildlife or close-up portraits, you can never have too much zoom. The majority of digital cameras have 3-, or 4x optical zoom, but you will never regret choosing a model with more telephoto power.

Fortunately 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.

3) Travelers should use cameras with AA Batteries

Digital cameras come in two varieties: those that use AA-size batteries and those that are powered by proprietary lithium-ion batteries. If you are a traveler, particularly someone who enjoys remote or rustic locations, choose a camera with AA batteries.

When a camera that uses proprietary batteries runs out of power, you have no choice but to plug the battery into a power outlet to recharge it. This requires an available outlet, a battery charger, and, if you're in a foreign country, a power converter. If access to an outlet is ever in doubt, or if you don't want the hassle of carrying cords and chargers, then the limitations of this system are obvious.

When a camera that uses AA-size batteries runs out of power on a trip, you can simply throw out the old batteries and drop in a new set of high-performance AAs like the Energizer E2 Lithium line. Two or three sets of such batteries can usually take you through a 10-day trip. If you're out of high-performance batteries, you also have the option of using standard alkaline batteries, which are available anywhere in the world, and make a cheap and convenient source of backup power (though they only offer a fraction of the life of high performance batteries).

Recent trips to Asia and Africa have borne this theory out—after my companions' cameras had been sidelined by dead batteries, I was still happily shooting away with my AA-powered Canon PowerShot.

4) Small cameras get shots that big cameras don't

Sure, that big, black SLR 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. While the photo quality produced by an ultra-compact does not equal that of a large SLR, the ability to whip it out and snap a shot while others are fumbling for their bulky cameras more than outweighs this drawback.

5) Canon makes great cameras

Canon digital cameras receive consistently great reviews, and for good reason: Over the last 2+ years, Canon has time and again proven itself capable of producing well-designed cameras that produce impressive results. From the EOS line of digital SLRs to the diminutive PowerShot ELPHs, Canon invests substantial time in the design process, and the results pay off—photographers of all abilities rave about their Canon cameras.

There have been some mistakes along the way—the Canon A70 was built with a design flaw that produces crippling error messages and black lines on the LCD, but newer models seem to be free of this problem. If you're looking for a great combination of features, price, and performance, Canon will almost always deliver. (NOTE: Digital Camera HQ is in no way affiliated with Canon, nor do we derive any benefit from recommending one brand over another).

6) Kodak makes great, easy-to-use cameras

When I bought my mother her first digital camera, I chose a Kodak, having read countless reviews that raved about their user-friendly controls. The reviews were right—Kodak's EasyShare digital cameras are remarkably easy to use: the menus are simple, the LCD text large and clear, and the controls largely self-explanatory. The results are just as impressive, with attractive, saturated colors and crisp definition. Don't be fooled into thinking that Kodak digital cameras are just for beginners, however—their simplicity aside, many of the high-end EasyShare models offer a full suite of manual controls for ambitious photographers.

7) Digital cameras can and will break

Whether it's due to accidental damage or simple wear and tear, 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. Some cameras suffer from design flaws (like black lines on the LCD screen of the Canon A70), while others fall victim to the kind of mechanical breakdowns that effect every kind of electronic gear.

Does this mean that you shouldn't buy a digital camera? Absolutely not. A digital camera will so fundamentally change the way you think about photography that you will wonder how you ever got along without one. You must, however, be comfortable with the fact that one day your camera will cease to work.

For some, this knowledge may keep them from spending top dollar on a fancy camera; others simply accept it as the sole downside of working with digital. The most important thing is to do your homework before you buy—any fundamental design flaws will be quickly apparent in user reviews.

8) Don't put all your pictures on one card

After returning from a trip to Asia, I eagerly inserted one of my memory cards into a card reader to download my new pictures. For still unexplained reasons (likely a static electricity discharge), a card that should have held over 200 pictures was suddenly rendered blank. Two weeks and $250 later (thanks to www.drivesavers.com), I had recovered about 90% of my pictures, but the rest were lost permanently.

The moral of the story? Like any other technology, flash memory is not flawless. It is very rare to lose images, but it does happen, and the fact that I had spread my pictures between 5 memory cards protected me from the possibility of losing two weeks' worth of irreplaceable vacation memories. Given the choice between choosing a single 1GB memory card, or four 256MB cards, I will always choose multiple cards.

9) Find & use a simple photo editing program

Most digital photographers will never take the time to master expensive and powerful photo editing programs like Adobe Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro—these programs are too complex and time-consuming for all but the most dedicated photographers. Fortunately there are a variety of easy-to-use editing programs that even novice photographers can use to edit, improve, and organize their digital photos.

My favorite program 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.

10) Print and display your pictures

Far too many people take great digital images, only to have them languish in obscurity on their hard drive, never to be enjoyed by others. Don't let this happen to you.

Online image hosting and printing companies like Snapfish or Kodak Gallery can turn your digital images into high-quality prints of any size. You can simply upload your pictures onto the 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.

If you want to see more of your own pictures, nothing beats using them as a screen saver on your computer. Simply right-click on your desktop, choose Properties/Screen Saver/Settings, and you can direct your computer to the pictures you wish to use. Set the screensaver to change images every 10 seconds and you'll have an instant slide show every time your computer is idle.

Source: Digitalcamera-hq

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Digital Camera Basics - The Vocabulary

2007-12-27T07:29:00.000-08:00

Shopping for a digital camera can be a difficult task considering the sheer number of choices out there. The number of manufacturers, models, and price ranges that need to be sorted out make the process difficult enough, but throw in all the buzz-words that need to be understood, and even a short list of cameras can become difficult to analyze.

This Tip will take a look at a few key words that may come up when researching a digital camera, and will hopefully reduce the headaches associated with the process.

Pixels

Digital images are composed of thousands or millions of tiny squares called picture elements, or pixels for short. Each square has its own color assigned to it, and the compilation of all of these little colored squares allows for images to appear smooth when viewed at original size. If an image is magnified several times, the appearance of the pixels can become more obvious, and at high magnifications each colored pixel can be distinguished individually.

Megapixels

Basically, the term megapixel means one million pixels, and it is used to describe the maximum number of pixels found in an image produced by a digital camera. It is generally the criteria used to classify cameras.

Many people assume that because cameras are marketed so heavily by their megapixel specification, that this is the single most important criteria when choosing a camera. More megapixels do not necessarily equal better images; they mean larger images (both in physical size and in file size).

The megapixel count is achieved by multiplying the number of pixels in one horizontal line by the number of pixels in one vertical line. So, if a camera can produce images at a maximum resolution of 1600 by 1200 pixels, it is a 1.92 megapixel (1,920,000 pixels) camera.

It is not fair to assume that the images from the 5.0 MP are automatically better than those from the 4.0 MP strictly based on their megapixel count. All it means is that the maximum image size of a 5.0 MP Camera is 2560 x 1920 and the maximum image size of 4.0 MP Camera is 2408 x 1758. Many other features in the cameras can impact the quality of the images they produce, and may be far more important for the typical user to consider than the maximum overall size of each image.

Larger image size may do nothing for a user who only wants to view images on his computer screen, or for use on the web, but the higher megapixel images are important for those looking to make prints of their images. Generally, higher pixel counts in an image translate to the ability to create larger prints.

Sensors – CMOS and CCD

Digital cameras use a small sensor to capture the image before transferring it to flash memory for storage. Equivalent to a negative in a film camera, these sensors come in a variety of sizes, with most being between 20 and 40 millimeters squared. There are two types of sensors that may be found in cameras: CCD (Charged Couple Device) and CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). CMOS sensors are usually found in cheaper cameras and offer lower image quality than a CCD sensor that would probably be found in a more expensive camera.

There is an exception to the rule that CCD is better than CMOS, and that is with the Digital SLR-type (Single Lens Reflex) cameras. They use a much larger sensor (greater than 300 millimeters squared) and can provide excellent image quality, but the quality does come with a much higher price tag.

Zoom – Optical and Digital

Most digital cameras offer some sort of zoom, but it is important to identify which type is being provided. Optical zoom functions just as on a film camera, where the lens physically moves to produce the magnification. Digital zoom uses circuitry to enlarge a portion of the standard sized image and crops the content outside of the zoomed area. The quality of images produced using digital zoom suffer due to the nature of the process, and optical zoom is a far more desirable feature.

The price of a camera with optical zoom may be a good deal more than one with digital zoom, but the quality of the images cannot be compared. The camera which features both optical and digital zoom is available for $30.00 or more. Whereas, the camera which features only digital zoom is available for less price.

Memory – Digital Film

The two important things to consider when choosing flash memory for a digital camera is that the right format is chosen, and that a quality module is chosen that can record quickly and be ready for the next picture as soon as possible. A photographer looking to snap a rapid series of high resolution images on their Digital cameras has many options in SD (secure digital) memory to choose from but, they would be far better off with something like the SanDisk Ultra II SD card capable of a sustained write speed of 9 MB/s, than with a generic SD card capable of a burst speed rated at only 2.5MB/s.

Aliasing

Even if you think you know the basic definition of this term, it may seem confusing in the context of digital cameras. Aliasing refers to the appearance of jagged edges generally seen on diagonal or curved surfaces in images. This effect is caused by the fact that all pixels are square, and that even non-square shapes in an image need to be created with square components.

The solution to aliasing is not surprisingly called “anti-aliasing.” Through software, the edges generally affected by aliasing are blended and the jagged appearance can be made much smoother. Video game enthusiasts may be familiar with anti-aliasing and the impact the varying levels of it can have on the overall performance of game play. Although the technology is similar, the personal importance of having the best digital images possible makes applying anti-aliasing just about a no-brainer.

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio describes the shape of a digital image, or any image for that matter, where the first number represents the width of the image and the second number represents the height. People may be familiar with the term as applied to televisions (as 16:9 wide screen televisions are now all the rage to replace traditional 4:3 units), and the concept is the same here.

Standard film cameras generally use an aspect ratio of 3:2, but most digital cameras have adopted a 4:3 aspect ratio so that images better fit on a standard computer monitor. Monitors with typical resolutions of 800x600, 1024x768, or 1280x960, for example, all have an aspect ratio of 4:3, so it only makes sense to produce images that will fit well on these screens. Although images can be manipulated to print on any size paper, special photo-quality paper is available to allow for high-quality prints to be made at the correct aspect ratio.

Connectivity

The pictures taken by a digital camera have to be extracted by some means in order to get them onto a computer, or perhaps directly onto a printer. In general, cameras provide a cable to connect to a computer either via serial, USB, USB 2.0, or Firewire.

Serial ports are just about extinct at this point due to their slow connection speeds and lack of plug-and-play support, but some older or lower-end models may still offer serial connectivity.

USB may be the most common form of connectivity, and if speed is important to you, look specifically for USB 2.0 support, as it is up to 40 times faster.

Some specialized cameras may take advantage of the high speed Firewire protocol for connecting to a computer. Just about all modern computers come with at least a pair of USB ports, but not all computers include Firewire. Firewire capabilities can be added to any computer with an available PCI slot by using an expansion card such as this one.

Some cameras don’t require any cables at all, as they can transmit the images to a PC wirelessly.

Even with all the modes of transmitting images listed so far, one other method may serve as a universal replacement for all of them. Many people find flash memory card readers to be a quick and convenient alternative to using the camera’s native means of connecting. You simply remove the memory from the slot on the camera and pop it into the appropriate slot on the reader, and then the computer system can access the card like a local disk drive.

Final Words

Every high-tech field has its own set of specific buzz words, and digital photography is no different. Although by no means an exhaustive resource of digital photography terminology, this Tech Tip provides insight to a few key terms worth knowing in order to make shopping for a digital camera just a bit easier.

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How to choose the Best Digital Picture Frame

2007-12-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

Digital picture frames allow you to display and change your photos at the touch of a button. It's never been easier to display your favorite photos. Digital picture frames became available around 2000. Today, the design of frames has been improved and refined, offering a no-fuss way to display your digital shots.

There are a wide range of models available in different screen sizes. You can get a small model perfect for a desk top that displays at 4x6 inches, or a wall-mounted model that has a square screen of 12 or 14 inches.

Depending on what your needs and preferences are, there are many sizes, frame styles, and features to choose from. Which ones are the most useful?

Photo Transfer

One of the most important aspects of a digital picture frame is how the photos are transfered to the frame. The earliest electronic frames transfered photos either from a computer through the use of a slow serial cable, and/or from the memory card of a digital camera, either in SmartMedia or CompactFlash format.

When transferring from a computer, it's a good idea to get a camera that supports the use of USB. A USB cable will transfer photos much faster than a serial cable.
If you plan to purchase a frame that accepts memory cards, look for models that accept both card types. You never know when you'll switch memory card types, or when a friends or family will visit with photos to share.

Many of today's high-end picture frames make it very easy to transfer photos. With WiFi wireless networking, you can send photos from your computer on the second floor of your house to a monitor that is displayed on the wall in the basement.

Features
A versatile photo frame will display digital photos in formats like JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, GIF,PCX, and TGA. Whatever file format you're dealing with, you'll be able to view it on your digital frame. Many high-end digital picture frames also feature media centers. Enjoy jukebox interfaces that will play your favorite music files in MP3 and WAV format, and movie players that accept video files in MPEG, DiVX, and QuickTime format. The newest models include internet connectivity. This allows you to display the weather, breaking news, or to e-mail photos at the touch of a button.

A quality electronic photo frame should display thumbnails of your images. Sort through your photos with this feature.

Some frames give you the option to add custom filters to your images. This is useful because it allows you to display a color photo as black and white, sepia, or blue in tone.

You will find frames displaying anywhere form 100 photos to literally thousands of photos, movies, and music files. Based on your needs, a digital picture frame should hold all the files you want, with room for more. This depends on your frame's abilities, and the size of your memory card.

If you are into design aesthetics, many digital viewers come with interchangeable decorative frames. This allows you to change a frame according to the decor of a room. The most inexpensive frames are plastic, and the most expensive are composed of fine finished woods and metals with furniture-grade construction.

Source: essortment.com

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Sale Offers and Coupons for December

2007-12-13T12:06:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of some sites with ongoing Sale offers and Coupon promotions for December on Digital Cameras and all things Photography.

Ritzcamera.com

Get 15% OFF on most of the scrap booking products.

Get 10% OFF on stock orders when you use PAYPAL checkout.

Validity/ Status: Ongoing
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Snapfish.com
20% OFF on all gifts and calendars Just enter coupon code BESTGIFTS at checkout.

Validity/ Status: Ends 12/16/07

Category/Products: Cards, stationery, gifts, printers, pc’s
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Photoworks.com

1)15% off Photo Cards from Photo Works. To redeem this offer simply enter coupon code PWCARDS15 at checkout.

2) Free upgrade to second day Shipping on orders over $20. Enter Coupon code 2DAYSHIPPING at checkout.

Validity/ Status: 1) Ends 12/31/07 2) Ends 12/15/07

Category/Products: Photo cards, film, photo books, frames, gifts, calenders
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Kodak.com

1) Save up to $100 on all-in-one photo printer.
2) Get FREE shipping on most of your orders, through 12/23/2007.
3)Spend $400, Save $100
Spend $300, Save $50
Spend $200, Save $25

Validity/ Status: 1)Ongoing
2) Ends 12/23/07
3) Ends 12/13/07

Category/Products: Digital Cameras, printers, photo accessories, printer supplies
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Clarkcolor.com

Validity/ Status: Ongoing

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Cellphoneshop.com
Holiday sale 80% OFF
FREE shipping on all the orders above $30 use coupon code :FREESHIP at checkout

Validity/ Status: Ongoing

Category/Products: Cell phones , cameras, laptops
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x10.com
Daily specials!
Get FREE shipping on orders above $49.
Save up to 80%! On exclusive X10 specials.

Validity/ Status: Ongoing

Category/Products:Home security cameras, automation, entertainment
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Staples.com
1) Up to 50% off on all Cannon products.
2) FREE shipping on all orders through 12/26/2007

Validity/ Status: 1)Ends 12/15/07
2) Ends 12/26/07

Category/Products:All electronics, digital cameras, Office supplies, furniture.
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Sonystyle.com
FREE ground shipping on all the products through 12/31/2007.

Validity/ Status: Ends 12/31/07

Category/Products:Computers, cameras, entertainment, games, movies, music
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Discovery.com

Great Bonus day offer for each 12 days from today the December 13^th till Christmas.
FREE shipping for the orders over $75

Validity/ Status: Ends 12/25/07

Category/Products:Electronics gadgets, health and fitness, games
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Digital Camera Shopping Guide: How to Choose, Review, Compare Prices and Find Deals Online!

2007-12-07T11:09:00.000-08:00

Getting started
Here are some of the trusted sources to get you started with your shopping for a good Digital Camera.
What is of Digital Camera: Wikipedia.org
Types of Digital Camera, Cost and Features: Reviews: washingtonpost.com
How to choose the right Digital Camera : googobits.com
How to choose a Digital Camera for you: about.com
Digital Camera Buying Guide: pcworld.com

Compare Prices
Compare Digital Camera Prices: dealplumber.com
Compare Digital Camera Prices: pricegrabber.com

Reviews
Digital Camera reviews: imaging-resource.com
Camera Reviews The Best Digital Cameras : consumersearch.com

Top Rated Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera
Canon EOS 40D (Body Only) Digital Camera
Olympus Stylus 790SW Digital Camera
Fuji FinePix S700 Digital Camera
Canon PowerShot A550 Digital Camera

Digital Camera Deals, Coupons, Discounts and Sales
Kodak EasyShare M883 Digital Camera:
List Price: $199.99 Deal Price:$149.99
CASIO EX-Z1200BK 12.1MP Digital Camera
List Price: $399 Deal Price:$299.97
Polaroid A550 5.0MP Digital Camera
List Price: $89.99 Deal Price:$69.99
General Electric A730 7.0MP Digital Camera
List Price: $110.99 Deal Price:$94.99

Current Pricedrops on Amazon.com
Check the latest price drops for DVD Players on Amazon.com

Top 5 User Rated Compact & Ultra-compact Digital Cameras!

2007-12-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

1) Sony CyberShot DSC-T100:

SPECIFICATIONS-

Type: Ultracompact

Megapixels: 8.1

Maximum Resolution: 3264 x 2448 pixels

Storage Capacity: 31 MB

Included Memory: On Board

Media Format: Memory Stick Duo

Battery Type Supported: Lithium Ion

Included Batteries: Yes

Interface: USB 2.0

Video Record and Playback: Yes

35-mm Equivalent (Wide): 35

35-mm Equivalent (Telephoto): 175

USER REVIEWS-1) I am so happy that I went with this camera. Sony has finally decided to step up and come out with an ultracompact that is better than Canon. I was set on buying the Canon SD800IS but then came across this beauty. It is not in stores yet but can be purchased online from Circuit City. Sony also has an optional docking station that should be coming out soon which will be nice.This camera has a 5x zoom which is incredible for its size. The new processing engine is noticeably faster and comes from their SLR camera line. Face detection and the 9 point auto focus and big pluses as well. Pictures look great and I have a trip to Hawaii coming up and I look forward to using this camera and comparing my pictures to my Sony H5.

2) The T100 would be my third P&S camera from Sony, and for the past 2 weeks it has performed well above my expectations compared to my past models (DSC-P7 & DSC-T1). I am a House Music DJ in Los Angeles so my camera is always in use and on the road. The slim form factor is a definate must for all clubbers alike. It fits comfortably in my back pocket and is always a thrill to whip it out and get those "OOO's & AAH's" from everyone. Day or night, the 8.1 mp sensor really shines for those up close and personal shots. The 3 inch display is absolutley astounding! Clear and crisp enough so the ladies can review the shots i took. I have not played around with the editing tools built in so I will get back to you guys, but looking forward to playing around with their optional Wide Angle lens conversion kit they got. That's all for now. Hope this helps you all!

2) Canon PowerShot SD870 IS:

SPECIFICATIONS-

Type: Ultracompact

Megapixels: 8.0

Maximum Resolution: 3264 x 2448 pixels

Included Memory: Media Card

Media Format: Secure Digital

Battery Type Supported: Lithium Ion

Included Batteries: Yes

Interface: USB 2.0

Video Record and Playback: Yes

USER REVIEWS- 1) I have been reviewing cameras for about 2 months,bought tz3(without reviewing it,high zoom, compact caught my eye) took it back researched cameras online,in store etc, I have used this one for about 3 weeks.I took over 220 pics and about 10 videos at a local autocross this weekend,battery still reading full,great pics.I am very happy with this camera no complaints.

2) I recently bought this camera and I guess I had to make some sacrifices, but got some good stuff in return. This camera is nice and small and to be honest the 3" screen is amazing. I guess I had to realize what I needed more, and when from there. I mostly use my cameras during snowboarding trips. So I need something small, and with a wide lens to get nice scenery pictures, plus it helps for the self portraits. Low light performance is pretty good, the flash is somewhat powerful, better than the TX1. Colors are kept nice and strong during lower light situations and amount of detail is well kept as well. The BEST option this camera offer is the 28mm lens, it is simply the best. You can get better shots and get a lot more detail than a 35mm, I believe about 33% more detail in each picture.

3) Canon PowerShot SD1000 IS:

SPECIFICATIONS-

Type: Ultracompact

Megapixels: 7.1

Maximum Resolution: 3072 x 2304 pixels

Storage Capacity: 32 MB

Included Memory: Media Card

Media Format: Secure Digital

Battery Type Supported: Lithium Ion, Rechargeable

Included Batteries: Yes

Interface: USB 2.0

Video Record and Playback: Yes

35-mm Equivalent (Wide): 35

35-mm Equivalent (Telephoto): 105

USER REVIEWS-1) I've used both Canon & Sony cameras/camcorders, & feel Canon has a higher quality product. The face detecting technology is amazing! The pictures I've taken are very sharp. The camera, although boxy, is well-designed, so it could be easily held with one hand to take pictures. The only downside is that this model doesn't have the image stabilization as the SD800 IS. Unless you are willing to spend an additional $100 for the SD800 IS, the SD1000 is the way to go!

2) The Canon Powershot SD1000 is a great camera packed into a tiny size. It has a 2.5in LCD with a view finder. The overall set up is very simple and easy to use. It has a power flash and good zoom.
I Highly recommend it. It even tells you how many pictures are able to fit on the SD disk. Even when you are changing setting, which impact the space needed for a picture.

4) Sony CyberShot DSC-W55:

SPECIFICATIONS-

Type: Compact

Megapixels: 7.2

Storage Capacity: 56 MB

Included Memory: On Board

Media Format: Memory Stick Duo

Battery Type Supported: Lithium Ion

Included Batteries: Yes

Interface: USB 2.0

Video Record and Playback: Yes

USER REVIEWS-

1) All in all I think this is a great camera for the money. Spent plenty of time researching cameras. I always tend to lean toward Sony because they always seam to outlast any other brand and are just made well. You can't go wrong with a Carl Zeiss lens either. The brushed aluminum cover is a nice feature for a sub $200 camera. Takes great photos. I am a Chef and needed a camera I could keep in the kitchen to take pictures of dishes that I created. Picked up great detail in the well lit kitchen and dimly lit dining room. Only problem that I have is that there is no image stabilizer. Sometimes hard to hold such a small camera steady at all times but my fine motor skills are below par. Although you can catch some really cool "trailed light effects"! Also pics taken at full zoom tend to be a little blurry and have a blueish halo.Great all around camera for those not looking to spend a fortune!

2) I bought this camera the month it came out since Spring Break was just around the corner. I'm glad I waited for this camera! It did a magnificent job on the cruise I went to. The multiple photos (especially beach and twilight) worked very very well. While the photo modes don't allow a tremedous amount of user inputs, the options that are there are easy to understand and easy to change. I essentially filled my 1 Gb stick and the image quality is outstanding; as long as you stay in the optical 3x range since you'll always lose image quality when using digital zoom. Camera starts up quick to allow you to start shooting and there is little shutter lag or delay between pictures. My battery stayed charged over the 7 day cruise.

5) Canon PowerShot A630:

SPECIFICATIONS-

Type: Compact

Megapixels: 8

Maximum Resolution: 3264 x 2448 pixels

Storage Capacity: 16 MB

Included Memory: Media Card

Media Format: Secure Digital

Battery Type Supported: AA

Included Batteries: Yes

Interface: USB 2.0

Video Record and Playback: Yes

35-mm Equivalent (Wide): 35

35-mm Equivalent (Telephoto): 140

USER REVIEWS-

1) I purchased this camera to replace my old Powershot a75, which was a great point and shoot camera, but getting a bit on in age. My first impressions were this: I love the fact that it takes four batteries, this means more life than many other which only take two. The LCD screen is big, birght, and full of color. The camera fits perfectly in my hand and one hand shooting is very easy with the large grip. The changeover to SD memory from Compact flash was a great choice by Canon, though one of my few complaints about the camera comes from the fact that the SD memory slot is located in with the batteries, which means to change your card you have to open the battery compartment. The picture quality is awesome, even without the flash. The battery ife was great, I took almost 400 pictures and several videos, many of the pictures with the flash on, and the screen on, with one set of rechargable batteries. Overall this camera is a great buy. Once again we get top quality from Canon at an affordable prices, whether you're a point and click shooter, or looking for something a little more advanced. Kudos!

2) This is an excellent camera that has so many shooting options and the fact that the A630 has a 4x optical zoom with no IS should not be considered a "con". This camera offers many ways to take sharp photos at the long end of the zoom or in low light conditions without the need for IS. Overall, a great camera that will deliver great pics.