We are in the midst of a revolution in camera technology. Everywhere you look you see ads for digital cameras. I actually don't know of anyone who has purchased a film camera in a long time. I subscribe to a number of camera magazines, and even the most stalwart film advocates are slowly beginning to acknowledge the inevitable change. At this year's worldwide photo event, Photokina - held in Germany, there was only one new film camera announced, but lots of digital technology.
I knew that certain areas of the photography business had "gone digital" but was surprised at how extensive it was. The sports photography arena has been all digital for a while now; photographers need to file photos back to their publications very quickly, and digital fills the bill. Also, the ability to view photos and rapidly make changes if necessary is very important. Ditto for sports cards and high school yearbook photos. But there were some segments of the business that I thought were still traditionally film, mostly due to requirements for very fine, high quality photos. But even here I was surprised.
I had heard previously that digital was not making inroads into wedding photography, except at the low end. I read now that the entire wedding photography business is doing very poorly - not only is a switch to digital happening in general, but also that people are taking his or her own photos, instead of hiring a professional! This is partly the fault of the professionals themselves - recent trends have been much more towards candid shots, rather than posed - almost anybody can take a candid shot. One magazine article said that except for the very low end (read: cheap) and very high-end professionals, the wedding market has dried up.
I was also surprised that medium format film (larger negatives, usually associated with portraiture or landscapes at high quality) is also seeing significant replacement by digital. This is because many of the pro digital cameras now have 12 megapixel or higher resolutions - easily sufficient to replace medium film in quality.
So, let's make the assumption that you or a loved one have gotten a digital camera for the holidays. What do you need? (Also, these accessories can make excellent smaller gifts).
First of all is: more memory. Camera manufacturers never include enough picture memory. Find out what kind of card your camera uses (Compact Flash, Smart Media, XD, Memory Stick, etc.) and shop around. You may find a good buy with rebates at the local stores, or try www.newegg.com or www.buy.com to see what they have. I would not buy anything less than 256MB in size.
Next is a USB attached memory card reader. Your camera probably hooks up directly to your PC, but if you have lots of memory cards full, it's easier to use an external reader. Also, if you camera is only USB 1, a USB 2 reader will read the files in MUCH faster.
If you are going to be serious about your work, a good tripod is important. These can be pretty inexpensive, but make sure your camera has a tripod screw on the bottom - most do, so I would be surprised if yours doesn't. Also consider an external flash attachment if your camera supports it - an external flash will eliminate red-eye and also give you a lot more creative leeway.
Good software is very important. Most of the software that comes with scanners and cameras these days is not top-notch; I recommend JASC Paint Shop Pro 9 or Adobe Photoshop Elements 3. These programs are definitely going to be harder to learn and use than the packaged programs, but believe me its worth the effort for the results you will get.
You can print your photos, but that is not always necessary. There are lots of programs available that will allow you to make a slideshow on your PC or on your TV screen. If you do want to print, you can send your photo files to services such as www.ofoto.com, or even your local Wal-Mart store. But if you want the instant gratification and control of printing yourself, photo inkjet printers are fairly inexpensive. The trick in using these is to have good paper. Good photo paper these days should be very shiny and smooth, and thick or thicker than regular film photo paper. It should cost $.75 or more per 8.5x11 sheet.
Finally, a good paper cutter is a must, so you can trim the larger paper down to the exact photo size. Oh, and don't forget to backup your photos onto CDs or DVDs - its very upsetting to learn that your precious photo library has been lost due to an equipment failure.
I know that I have covered some of these topics in the past, but I have found that repetition is sometimes necessary!
Bob Seidel is a local computer consultant in the Southport - Oak Island area. You can visit his Website at www.bobseidel.com or e-mail questions or column ideas to him at bsc@bobseidel.com. For specific inquiries, please call Bob Seidel Consulting, LLC at 278-1007.