Digital Camera

From time to time, a piece of technology or an innovation comes along that completely changes the whole dynamics of a market place. Almost over night the ways that we have been accustomed to disappear to be replaced with an altogether easier, more embracing way of doing things.

Interestingly, the last thirty years have in all probability witnessed the greatest innovative period in human history. Think about it, we’ve seen the rise of the home computer, the Internet, the mobile phone and of course the digital camera. An almost innocent piece of kit that allows you to take pictures and download them to your PC. So very simple, yet so incredibly well.. Incredible.

I think I’m probably a little biased though, I’ve always been into photography ever since I was a young lad. I remember the anticipation I used to feel as I would rush back to our hastily arranged dark room in our bathroom with several reels of film, we would spend hours developing the pictures only to be disappointed that some ones head had been cut off, or the object de art was blurred or something similar.

That all changed when digital cameras first came out, of course they were expensive and clunky at first. Their battery also only lasted for what seemed to be five minutes, however it was clear that there was definitely potential! My word, how exciting was it to be able to take a picture and see instantly whether it was a good picture or not? Good pictures keep, bad pictures delete and start again, fantastic!

Over the last five years, digital cameras have come on leaps and bounds. Of course, even most new mobile phones include a camera as standard these days, often a very high quality one. Some of the newer digital cameras also allow you to send the pictures directly to other devices via Bluetooth. There’s also a whole industry of peripheral devices being built supporting the growth of digital cameras, such as specialist printers that connect directly to the camera.

It is fair to say, that I am a digital camera convert. I do not leave the house without my digital camera, especially as the storage memory and battery life has improved it so much. I also have a fairly sophisticated editing suite for my PC, I use this to edit and enhance my pictures once I download them. I’m often asked what I think of older film based cameras now, and I must admit I do look back with nostalgia, I do miss the anticipation and the excitement of finishing a film. In fact, I still often use my 35mm, I don’t think I will ever stop. It’s just that in these days of instant results, instant satisfaction, my digital camera is currently rocking my world.

Charlotte Alice is a professional author for Digital Camera Guide and full time Content Writer

Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your handbag or pocket, but I still recommend purchasing a camera case. It will save your camera from unnecessary wear and tear.

What do you put in your camera bag? I place my camera, spare batteries and memory cards, a cleaning kit and any extra lenses or filters I want to take on the day into my camera bag.

Don’t pack everything in your camera bag every time you go out to take photos. Travel as light as possible. Maybe purchase two camera bags - a large camera case and a smaller camera bag for those ‘pack light’ times.

Clean your camera bag occasionally. Dust can accumulate and could cause problems with your camera and equipment by accumulating on your lens.

Keep your camera away from luggage handlers! Most airlines allow one carry-on PLUS a personal item. A camera bag usually qualifies as your personal item.

What kinds of camera bags are there?

A weatherproof top loading shoulder camera bag is the best and most versatile option, because you can place the camera case on the ground and open the lid to retrieve your equipment.

The size of camera bag you purchase will depend on the size of your digital camera. If you have a larger camera with lots of accessories, consider purchasing a larger camera bag that has wheels. The wheels allow you to take your bag with you easily rather than lugging it around over your shoulder. Some bags with wheels can double as backpacks for when you’re hiking.

If your digital camera is a small pocket model, a fanny pack for just your camera will work really well. Keep the pack over your stomach (rather than your lower back) if you’re concerned about theft.

Purchasing a camera bag

When purchasing a new camera case, it’s important to note the following:

- Avoid brand name camera bags. If you have a more expensive camera, try to purchase a camera bag that does not LOOK like a camera bag. Thieves are always on the lookout for bags that look like they contain valuable equipment and nothing says ‘valuable inside’ more than a camera case with a camera maker’s brand plastered all around the outside. Purchase a camera case that’s a little less conspicuous - they’re usually less expensive as well.

- Think of the accessories you’ll place in a camera bag before purchasing. Do you have any other equipment (such as a card reader) you might want to take with your camera? What about accessories you are thinking about purchasing in the near future?

- A camera bag with moveable padded inserts will be more versatile than one without because you can customize the inside of the camera bag to your particular camera and accessories.

- Buy a camera case with lots of pockets and zippered compartments. This way, you can store used digital camera batteries in one pocket and unused batteries in another. The same with your memory cards… I label my pockets with labels like “Batteries - Used” so I can quickly find the correct pocket while out and about.

- Watch out for the prices of camera cases (and other accessories) when purchasing a camera case at the same time as your camera. Many retailers lower the price of their cameras to compete, and increase their accessory prices to compensate.

David Peterson has a great love of photography and has created a series of free tips at http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/ to help digital photography users everywhere take better photos.