Tech Tip 26 - Digital Camera Accessories:

A card reader may be just the accessory to consider for use with the new, high-capacity flash memory card you picked up with your digital camera. These devices can either be installed internally or externally to your computer, and provide a convenient way to get the files off of all the common flash memory formats used in cameras, digital audio players, and PDAs. Internal ones are great for use with systems that you know will always need these features, but external readers are just as handy, and can be taken with you for use on any desktop or notebook computer with an open USB port.

Not only do these devices provide a convenient interface for accessing the various types of flash memory you may use in a camera, they may be able to do so quicker than using the standard cable provided with a camera. Most card readers take advantage of the high-speed transfers afforded by USB 2.0, and even if your camera supports USB 2.0, the camera’s User Interface may slow you down. The card reader will treat any flash memory inserted into it as a disk drive and allow you to browse the contents and copy what you want onto your hard drive quickly. Some cameras use a proprietary software interface that may slow things down or otherwise be inconvenient, but if you can use Windows Explorer (or the equivalent in other operating systems) you can get your photos from a card reader with ease.

Many cameras come with rechargeable batteries included, which can make life much easier (and less expensive). Cameras can drain batteries quickly thanks to the larger, color LCD screens that they now need to power, as well as the flash and the other usual functions.

If a camera does come with rechargeable batteries, it may be worth investigating whether or not it uses a proprietary format, or one of the more common battery types (like AA or AAA). Proprietary batteries may have their advantages, but in general, a camera that accepts a commonly available battery may be the most convenient for two reasons:

First, if the rechargeable batteries should happen to run out of charge and you have neither the time nor facilities to recharge them, you can easily pop in common disposable batteries just to keep the camera up and running. This may prove to be particularly helpful while traveling when there is either no outlet for recharging, or you only have access to a foreign power source which requires an adaptor you don’t happen to have.

Secondly, the benefit of using a standard battery type comes when the batteries eventually die all together. Rechargeable batteries can only be charged so many times, and as they age, their performance may begin to fade before they die all together. Replacing batteries of a standard format is easy and relatively inexpensive, while sourcing a replacement proprietary battery may be much more difficult and much more expensive.

Rechargeable batteries are generally sold based on their capacity, measured in units of mAh (milliAmp hours). Although real-world performance will vary among cameras and how they are used, a battery with a higher mAh value will generally be able to hold a greater charge and last longer between charges than a lower-rated battery.

The previously mentioned 3.2 MP camera I own came with four rechargeable AA batteries rated at 1600 mAh. Although they last for a respectable amount of time between charges, replacing them with something like this four pack of 2300 mAh AA batteries may provide a noticeable boost.

Not all tripods are huge contraptions you would expect professional photographers to carry , as there are miniature tripods that may be just as useful and easier to carry as well. The typical digital camera user may not think they have use for a tripod, but they can come in quite handy for a couple of reasons:

First, depending on shutter speed, an image may become blurred due to even the slightest movement. If you don’t have a steady hand, a tripod may be just the thing to ensure that your important shots are crystal clear. Close-up shots in particular may benefit from the steady support provided by a tripod, and anyone who operates their camera in “macro” (extremely close up) mode on a regular basis may be pleased with the outcome once a tripod has been added to their cache of accessories.

Second, tripods can also prove quite handy for travelers. If there is no one around to take a picture of you posing with a historic landmark or lounging on the beach, a tripod and a camera with a timer is all you need. The UltraPod is one of the miniature varieties of tripods that folds up to make it convenient for travel, offers the typical features of a tripod, and as the image on their homepage indicates, it has one other interesting feature: an integrated Velcro® strap allows the tripod and camera to be strapped to any narrow diameter object for even more self-supported photo opportunities. As a long-time owner of an UltraPod I, there have been numerous street signs, fence posts, saplings, etc., that have helped me get a picture I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to take without such a device.