Tips on Technology By: Bill Michling

Welcome back, last week we talked about putting up your own web pages for the Internet, and also how you can start up your Mac with almost any drive device…

This week We are going to touch upon digital cameras and how you can put the, as Emeril Lagasi would say, “bam”! into them, or in other words “kick them up a notch”.

Remember, this article and all past articles are available online at: ( http://www.mespn.com/techarticles ) as well as the online version of the Saipan Tribune, which you can access by clicking the banner on this page.

** Digital Cameras

As I am sure you are aware, digital cameras are all the rage now. Why are they getting so popular?

Are you tired of buying film, taking the film in for processing, waiting for the film to come back from processing, and then when you finally get them back, are the colors what you thought they should be?

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could take a picture, preview it on the spot, and if you don’t like it take another one right away. Yes I know there are some cameras available that literally develop the film inside. The key word here is “film”. You still have to buy film. Even with this convenience you still have a picture on paper.
What if you want to change it in some way? How about making it larger, smaller, darker, lighter? I think you can see where I am going with this.

A digital camera can provide all of the above and more. Ah, you say, but the price of digital digital camera is high, right? Well high prices are relative, it depends on what you compare with. If you add up all the cost of film and film processing, not to mention all the time spent waiting and driving around to pick up your pictures… All of a sudden the price of a digital camera doesn’t seem so high.

** Prices are plunging
The price of digital cameras are plunging. What used to cost thousands now cost hundreds, what used to cost hundreds, well take my word for it they are a lot less. In fact some digital cameras don’t cost much more than their film counter parts, in some cases they maybe even cost the same or less!

Of course the old adage, “you get what you pay for” applies. If you get a cheap digital camera you can expect you won’t get the highest quality of pictures. Of course you don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive either. You will find digital cameras in all price ranges…..

** Where can I get a digital camera

One of the first places to check is your favorite computer store. They can help you get the right one as well as the right software for your needs. You can also go to most big stores as well as ordering through a catalog. My recommendation is to check with your favorite computer store first….

** Lets kick it up a notch

While browsing the Internet I found out about a service called Ofoto. Ofoto is a unique service that allows digital camera owners to upload their digital images to their servers and order prints of their digital pictures. According to the companies site they use high quality laser printers and film paper to develop your digital images to paper. After the development process is completed Shutterbug will create both an online photo album of your pictures and of course mail you your set of digital pictures to you in paper form that you can add to your real photo album and easily share your photos with family. Pricing will depend on the resolution of your photos and the number of prints you would like.

** Summary

So if you are ready to move on up to the cutting edge of photography, then get a digital camera. Once you do you will never go back!

See you here and on the web next week.
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Bill Michling is a computer professional and welcomes any comments or questions you may have. Just send email to: bill@mespn.com or michling@usa.net.

You may also go to Marianas Electronics and ask help from the friendly staff there, or call them at: 234-5424, Just ask for Annie, Jun or Joseph.

For world access this Wednesday column is also on the Saipan Tribune website at: (http://www.saipantribune.com) or at the mespn.com site at: (http://mespn.com/techArticles/ ), now connected to the Internet via broadband T1+………..