WrittenPost: My camera

Now and then, someone asks (this time my buddy Russ) what kind of camera I use, so here it is.

First, anytime you ask someone how they like their camera, car, or any gadget they have, their answer is likely to be influenced by how well that device suits their particular needs, their mission. If the fit is good, then I think the answer you get will always be more positive.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

I use a Canon SX20 IS, which I think I got in Summer 2011. The main features I went looking for in a camera were:

· Flip-Out Display: I wanted the rear display to hinge out and rotate, so you can hold the camera high overhead (like when in a crowd), and still see what’s in the viewfinder, by angling it down, or you can angle it up, and place the camera down on the ground. I find both of those angles quite handy, but also will steady the camera against a tree or pole for night shooting (as I was doing for fireworks just recently), and by angling the display, I can see what’s up while holding the camera in just about any odd position.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

· Zoom Lens: The SX20 IX has a 20x Optical Zoom, which is quite handy. I sometimes think I use up the majority of battery power zooming in and out, because you can’t always walk up to, or back away from, a subject nearly as easily as zooming in or out. The SX20 IS also has 4x Digital Zoom, but in general I try not to get into the digital, because you are quickly trading-off zoom for resolution (I don’t think any of the shots on the blog have used the digital zoom). I used to own a full-bore SLR camera, and had an assortment of lenses. But, I always felt that I was carrying too much crap around, always had the wrong lens on and wanted to change, etc. The SX20 IS has enough zoom that I can get along just fine for what I generally need, with just its one fixed lens. I would like to take more super-close, or super-zoomed photos, but that isn’t my current mission, or the mission I selected the SX 20 IS for.

· 4 x AA Batteries: I wanted a power supply that can last all day, and one that does not involve a “special” battery that I will have to go pay $50 bucks for to replace, or worse, one that I will find unavailable one day in the future, and have the inability to find a battery cause me to scrap a camera. Some cameras have 2 x AA’s, but I wanted 4. Also, I like the “fatter” end of the camera where the batteries go, because that fits my hand just right. Most of the time, I am shooting during daylight, so without flash, I can probably get 400 or so images on the rechargeable AA’s that I use, and I carry a second charged set along with me anytime I expect a lot of use. AND, I can pop into any store, just about anywhere in the world, and get 4 normal AA batteries if I need them. So, I have no issues needing to plug in the camera and charge it, I very rarely can’t shoot for lack of power.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

· SD Card: I find the easiest way to get photos off my camera is to pull out the SD card and stick it into the SD port on my little computer. Of course, I also have a cable so I can plug the camera into a USB port, which is handy because my office computer doesn’t have an SD slot, I don’t use it as a back-up often, but now and then I need to. SD’s are available in several Gig sizes, and even the 32 gigs are not so expensive anymore. I use 8 gigs that I've had for a while, and they suit me fine. Micro-SD’s may be the coming thing, but then I’d have to have an adapter to fit into my computer. If I were shopping for a camera today, I would likely stick with SD’s.

· Portability: Finally, I must have great portability. My current situation is full of compromises when it comes to taking photos, I just have to grab whatever time I can find and take advantage of it as best I can. The only way I can do that, is to have a camera that I can easily carry with me wherever I go. For me, most of the time, that means on business, and for that, I virtually always carry a brief case. Whenever I power it off, the SX20 IS automatically retracts the lens to minimum length. It’s only 4 inches (100mm) back to front, and 4.75 inches (120mm) long, and fits just perfectly in the corner of the front pocket of the briefcase. I suppose my lugging it around with no special care for 3 full years now is proof of its durability.

· Cell Phone: Sure, sometimes I use it. My current phone takes rather vivid 12mp photos. But, cell phones tend to have only digital zoom, so as I described above, that presents limits. Still, its handy for taking quick shots and instantly zipping them off to folks.