YOUR "DIGITAL" VACATION

1. Olympus Digital School

2. Images Without Frustration

3. SanDisk MP3 Music Player

Vacation travelers, and even back yard sojourners with digital cameras may like to check out these sites for taking better pictures under a variety of situations. Here are some ideas for keeping the technology human

1. OLYMPUS DIGITAL SCHOOL

I deal with digital images all day. For my just finished book, I have in over 100 CD's with each having a minimum of 6 images and some as many as 125 or so. I see a lot of photography and among the truisms I've learned is that a digital photo isn't any better than a film photo if the photographers don't know what they're doing. Often digitals are worse because of low resolution, or because the photographer thinks the digital camera can do no wrong.

Most images I get are under the category of product photography…sculpture, artwork, people doing demonstrations. Unusable ones may be out of focus, poorly lit, too small for the size of the screen, too low a resolution, a bad angle with the images distorted. Now there is help for those who are photographically challenged. Olympus has an on-line school with "classes" in several subjects. Here are a few of the nearly two dozen courses you can follow at your own pace.

Shooting full length fashions, close up jewelry, shooting firework shows, shooting holdiday globes, taking perfect portraits, telephoto lens and nature photography, shooting glamour in the studio, macro photography, coastal scenes, and more.

Each photo class has at least 6 lessons that you can follow as your own time permits.

Log into the classes at www.webphotoschool.com or www.olympus.com and click on "Photo school".

2. IMAGES WITHOUT FRUSTRATION

Watching people fuss with their digital cameras during a recent cruise, made me check the NET for suggestions for their use. Her' are do's and don'ts for camera and flash card users from SanDisk and other sources.

Get higher capacity cards. Prices are falling so consider doubling previous card capacities especially if you want sharper pictures. Higher Resolution photos require higher memory capability.
Get faster flash cards. Yes, some cards will enable even a slower camera to get better photos of action shots. Buy the faster cards even if you have a less than 5 mega pixel rating camera because you'll probably update to a new camera and you'll welcome the faster card.
Update to a new camera before you go on vacation if your current one is three years old or more. Look for information on the buffer processing times of the camera. Manufacturers now offer digital single-lens reflex cameras that can record higher-resolution images faster than their predecessors for well under $1,000, and many new, small digital cameras of 5-megapixel resolution currently retail for under $300. Most of these newer cameras respond more quickly to the time it takes from clicking the shutter to storing the image. With a new camera and a faster card, you’ll have a better chance of freezing the action.
Take the flash care card out of your camera before passing through an Airport X-ray machine or metal detector, recommends the International Imaging Industry Generally, the full or empty flash cards are safe if you put them in your packed or carry on luggage.
If the flash card gets wet…(people drop them in pools and leave them in pockets when clothes are washed)…don't despair. Let the card dry for a couple of days or use a hair dry WITHOUT THE HEAT ON. Test the dry card in the card-reader of a personal computer before using it in he camera again.
When transferring captured images to your card, be sure to have ample battery power. Low power could cause a couple of images to be dropped. Never remove a card while a camera is writing to it or while formatting the card in a camera. Even though you've removed or deleted images, they can still be recovered using a program such as SanDisk's RescuePro ($40) from their Website, www.sandisk.com. You'll find more suggestions for dealing with your flash cards at the site, too.

3. THUMBS DOWN: SANDISK MP3 MUSIC PLAYER

SanDisk's memory cards are first rate but maybe they should stick to what they do best.

I thought I'd buy my spouse a music player for the gym so he wouldn't have to hassle with a CD unit. He only listens to a few different songs so the IPOD Shuffle category seemed just fine. But the store had the SanDisk MP3 player on sale with a hefty rebate. Plus I liked its other features, an FM radio, and a window for viewing the song titles you might want to hear.

A couple reviewers on the Net gave it creditable marks. I bought one, took it home, and after too many minutes, I got some music on the unit. Then came the acid test. My spouse is not technically oriented plus he has limited vision and poor hearing. First clue that maybe I erred was that the earphones look like they should have come with a kid's toy set; they don't stay in your ears. Second, we couldn't get the volume up high enough so he could hear the music. Sent a note to the SanDisk support line asking about the low volume.

"Take it back" pronounced the help chat person, "it should be ear splitting loud." The second unit was no better; I couldn't get it where I could hear it if I was in a small room by myself. Anywhere else you'd be drowned out by birds in the trees or extraneous noises at the gym. So back it went and for a while I was shy about dealing with another.

I ended up with the Ipod Shuffle on sale for $129. for the 1 gig model. It doesn't have a radio, but it has high volume and it works very well, even if the sound is a little tinny. Certainly adequate for the gym, taking walks, and drowning out the dentist's drill. The next model up is probably the one I see most people have strapped to their arms at the gym. If you're going to buy one, do some research first, or buy it where it is returnable if necessary.

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Dona Meilach is the author of over 85 books with 10 on computers. Her latest book, just out, is TEAPOTS: MAKERS & COLLECTORS from Schiffer books. Other computer organizations interested in running this column should contact the author. The column is also available as a free E-zine. Subscribe DCC: Contact dmeilach@msn.com. Dona’s Computer Capers may also be found at http://www.smalladdictions.com/Skateboard