BOB EPSTEIN ON VACATION PHOTOS

The Joy Of A Digital Camera

EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob Epstein of River Ranch, Florida, has worked as a professional photographer and outdoor writer for years. He also represents Olympus Cameras. He speaks throughout the nation on how to take better outdoor photographs. This week, Epstein will tell us all how to take better vacation and outdoors photography.

When using a 35 mm camera to take pictures, you purchase the film, take the pictures, take the film to the drug store or processing place, pay for the processing, then return to pick up your pictures and hope that they turned out ok.

But today's digital cameras eliminate several of those steps. With digital cameras costing between $69 to $2000, you can take great images. The more-expensive cameras with higher resolutions make the better-quality shots. With the digital cameras, you don't have to worry about film and processing, which you can do at home with a computer or with inexpensive printers, such as Lexmark and Kodak that allow you to make your pictures without using your computer. So why would you buy a film camera today if the resolutions on most digital cameras allow you to get your photos? You basically can have your cake and eat it too.

Today, in 2002, you can buy digital cameras from many manufacturers, especially Olympus, which has the most models of digital cameras available of any camera company. With a digital camera, you can shoot pictures until your heart is content and delete what you don't like. If someone blinks his or her eyes at the wrong moment, you didn't just waste 46 cents on the photo. Why do it any other way? Take advantage of the modern photography that is now available for the public.

The minimum resolution is a 1.1 mega-pixel camera. You can get nice 3x5 prints with that number of mega pixels. You can get a nice digital camera with 1.1 mega pixels for under $200. The Brio made by Olympus is a great little camera. It has a zoom lens, and it comes in a full kit for less than $250. This 2.1 mega-pixel camera allows you to make a 4x6 print or higher. That camera is all that the average vacationer will need. If you plan to buy a decent film camera, it will cost you between $250 and $350, plus you'll have to buy film. So you'll save money with a digital camera.

For more information on Bob Epstein's book "How To Take Your Best Shot With A Point-and-Shoot Camera," e-mail him at bobepstein@aol.com. The book costs $4.95 with postage included.

TOMORROW: FIVE TIPS FOR SHOOTING BETTER DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE OUTDOORS