One discovery I have made is that DSLRs are perfect for portrait photographers and wedding photographers. Why is it then that they are slower to switch to digital SLR cameras? It seems that commercial photographers learned about and started using digital cameras long before the average portrait photographer.

My thought is that possibly they are afraid? Afraid of the learning curve and afraid that the quality just isn’t there unless they spend an ungodly amount of hard earned cash on some scary looking gigantic array of confusing and awkward, let alone “how am I going to learn how to use this stuff” equipment.

The truth of the matter is all you really need is a 5MP digital camera. Digital SLR’s have the quality needed and I’ve seen many photographers with amazing results. Yes, even if you have only a 5 or 6 MP camera.

There are many reasons, here are 5 good ones.

1- Service

These days a real camera repair shop is very hard to fine and service for film cameras is evaporating even more rapidly. Most shops that say they will repair your camera will instead send it to the manufacturer and charge you for something that you could do yourself for less. yourself. If you look online you can still find a real digital camera repair shop including ones that specialize in digital SLR camera repair and charge much less than the $250-300 flat rate repairs that the manufacturers offer.

Many digital repair parts are replaceable by the consumer such as battery doors, memory card doors and other body parts like zoom switches. There are plenty of people who want to repair their own camera and replace the LCD screen or lens, but many prefer to leave the repair to a professional service instead.

The real problem with finding good Canon digital camera repair for example is lack of knowledge. Most any store you go to and ask about repair will tell you to throw the camera in the garbage and buy a new one. A retail store has no idea that there are actual affordable camera repair options available, including parts for the do it yourselfer! A couple simple searches on Google will go a long way to help you find a reputable repair shop for your Sony digital camera repair.

2- Quality

The quality of images captured with a high quality lens, properly exposed and well posed is more than enough, even if you shoot JPEGS. Yes, JPEGS. Over 90% of the more than 30-40,000 exposures I put through my camera every year is shot in JPEG mode. Why would anyone in their right mind shoot in such a “low quality” mode? The reason is simply because it works.

Portrait photographers do not need to create the very sharpest, highest resolution images available. If they have in the past, they’ve always degraded the image through retouching and other means. It’s ironic if you think about it? You can still shoot in RAW mode if you wish, but it isn’t really needed.

3- Control

People want their photos fast. We live in a drive-through world and minutes count. In our studio we create a slide presentation for our sessions and we show them to the clients within 20 minutes of every shoot. Customers love it. Customers get the results instantly. If the customer is there waiting to view the shots from the shoot is already planning on spending money then sales will go up. Their is ample evidence that when you show the images sooner, and you create large projected images, which is a cinch with digital, sales go up. Using a DSLR it gives portrait photographers greater control over the sales flow and this means and increase in profits.

4- Retouching

Let’s face it, people want to look good. What used to take hours and whole lot of aggravation with spray booths, smelly and dangerous lacquers, is now possible with absolute ease. Farming out all retouching took weeks and sometimes months to get back and we incurred huge retouching bills.

Not to mention the loss of control I had over the retouching aspects. It was up to the subjective interpretation of the retouching artist to enhance the images the way I wanted them retouched. Now, with a few basic skills, and all those years of retouching experience all transferred over to the new darkroom, my computer, I can easily retouch to any degree I like. In mere minutes. With fantastic results. This ultimately translates to satisfying a basic need that needs to satisfied in our clients, their vanity. Customers want to look good and they want to see the results right away.

5- Innovation

I could go on for days when it comes to what new products, ideas, services, sales processes, packages, etc, etc. . . I have created due to using a digital camera instead of film.

I am once again excited about photography and the new possibilities. When you apply the power of digital, and get a handle on it in your workflow, you can create new and exciting products like never before.
I’ve seen it and experience it every week in our busy little small-city studio. The proof boils down to the quality of the product, which is shown by your net profits?

After all, we are in business first, and creative artists second, right? We are in business to make money and survive. We need new and exciting angles, ways to stay afloat, so we can pay our bills, keep the bankers happy and provide for our families. No one can predict how digital photography will ultimately evolve, but my bet is with it all the way.

Anyone remember when color film and paper was introduced as a mainstream commodity? I don’t, I was just a wee lad, but I heard stories about the many studio owners closing their doors and packing it in because they didn’t want to keep up with the demand and latest craze that color film and color paper had created.

I have always been a fan of photography and shot many rolls of film over the years. I never thought I would switch to digital, but once I gave it a try I was sold and haven’t looked back.

Has your digital camera battery door broken off and is missing? Or your battery door has broken tabs on it and no longer holds closed tightly so the batteries don’t make contact and the camera won’t turn on?

Maybe your battery door is removable on your SLR so you can add on a grip with extra batteries… and where exactly did you put it down?

I know; the tiny little piece of plastic on your CF (Compact Flash memory card) door broke off and your camera won’t turn on!

Oh man… how many cameras out there will not turn on because your memory card door is open, or the battery door is open, even though there really seems to be no reason for it? It can be annoying… the thin plastic battery doors are molded from one small drop of plastic and some are so thin that they break extremely easily, ( Canon SD750 broken battery door.. don’t get me started!) making your camera useless. What were they thinking when they designed this?? Did ANYBODY test this thing? Why didn’t anyone ever stop and ask why it was that way?

I could work for ANY major digital camera company and tell them exactly what is wrong with the design of any new camera they release and save them hundreds of thousands of dollars in warranty repairs and upset customers! Think they would hire me? No way; I don’t have an Engineering Degree or a PHd is Physics so what do I know, right?

But just look at the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2 shutter button , I would never have let them put the camera on the market if they had only asked!!

Well I know plenty having fixed THOUSANDS of cameras over the past 5+ years, I know what is wrong with your camera if it is a certain model before you even tell me.

Sony H2 or H5? Broken shutter button. Canon SD850? Jammed lens Canon SD750? Broken battery door… I’m not going to list dozens of cameras here, that’s not what this is about.

What can you do if your camera has a small broken part or a door is missing? You paid hundreds for it and once again the guy at the store tells you “Throw it in the trash, this one is better, it goes to 11.” (A little movie humor there, hey it’s 1:30am I’m entitled) Tell that guy at the store a resounding “NO!” and walk out. Go home, get on the computer and get surfing.

Back we go to eBay… just search for your camera model number along with the word ‘door’ or ‘parts’ and you will be amazed at what you find!

As a side note here, I was the first and only digital camera parts store in the world on eBay. I bought cameras by the 100’s and repaired what I could and then parted out the rest. I sold all those annoying little parts that you cannot buy anywhere for dirt cheap! ten dollars for a battery cover that can be installed in 5 seconds by just snapping it into place… and that “geek” at the store told you it would be $175 to send it in to Canon or Sony and have them do it for you…

Even if you don’t find the item you need right away don’t quit, keep searching. Even if you don’t want to try repairing it yourself it’s no problem, there are still places that can do it for you. Hopefully you will find one with decent prices; don’t pay anyone $50 to install a battery door for you… please.

(Google: “affordable digital camera repair” and you will find some help with your camera!)

Broken battery doors and memory card doors are very common. I think we would see a lot more customers asking for them if only they knew they could actually repair it and get their camera back working for less than $25-30! It really is that cheap, with many doors for only $15-20.

I hope this helps you find your camera repair solution and running again for very little money!

We all know how important it is to have a quality camera to capture life’s memories, and a Sony camera is a great choice with which to do it. Sony is one of the pioneers of excellent digital camera technology. Sony has provided consumers with an excellent line of digital cameras that is equipped with the best optical and imaging technology that can capture your most prized memories with more detail, color and precision imaginable.

All Sony digital cameras are designed with ease of use and quality photography in mind. This line of Sony digital cameras allow high digital processing that reduces picture noise and delivers smoother and more detailed images. One very popular series of Sony digital cameras are the ‘H’ series line.

The DSC- H1

The Cybershot DSC H1 offers a 12x zoom which is wonderful for close-up shots. The camera is well designed for ease of use and has features and performance that allow it to be used for most any photographic situation. The DSC-H1 is a slightly larger body camera and this gives it a good sturdy feeling in the hand.

The DSC-H2

The DSC H2 comes with a 6 megapixel imager and a 2″ LCD. This model incorporates Sony’s SupersteadyShot optical image stabilization that is very helpful in reducing image blur caused by hand movement. It also offers a high-light sensitivity setting of up to ISO 1000 which is very ideal for capturing moving objects and people with less blur and graininess. The shutter lag at both wide angle and telephoto zoom settings is very good in addition to the prefocus time (half-pressing and holding down the Sony DSC-H2 shutter button before exposure) which is very fast.

The DSC-H3

This Sony H3 model is a super compact 8 megapixel camera that has a powerful 10x optical zoom lens that is perfect for close-up shots. The ‘Sports’ shooting mode of the camera combines a high shutter speed along with continuous auto-focusing which allows you to capture every moment of that special sporting event or kids playing in the yard. This aspect helps reduce shutter lag by quickly focusing on fast moving objects.

The DSC-H5

The DSC-H5 has a 7.2 megapixel CCD imager and a three inch LCD screen and it comes equipped with a huge 12X optical zoom. It is capable of capturing distant shots and easy to use like a point-and-shoot camera. Additionally, the Sony anti-blur system provides the noise reduction technology that helps minimize picture noise which makes it easier to shoot at a faster shutter speed. This is very advantageous especially if you are taking a shot in low-light conditions.

Sony has always been known to offer a quality product and their digital cameras are no exception. Not every Sony camera will suit your needs but there is bound to be at least one camera that will, and Sony is a name you can trust.

If you do decide to purchase a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H series camera, make sure you do some research on Google first regarding the Sony DSC-H2 shutter button repair first! The models after the DSC-H10 and up do not have this Sony shutter button repair problem.

Today’s digital camera technology offers consumers an irresistible range of camera options coming from different top brands. The choices in digital cameras today ranging from small point and shoot pocket cameras to large professional digital SLR’s can be overwhelming and seemingly endless. Each of these choices boasts of its own specifications that can make camera shopping more difficult than it should be. So how can a consumer end up picking the cream of the crop?

While there is no single best digital camera (since choices vary according to each person’s unique needs and preferences), your best bet is of course to study the options available and rely on one of the top brands in the market today.

Canon Digital Cameras

What is the brand with the largest market share today? Canon! Canon is well known as a supplier of quality digital cameras. Canon point and shoot cameras as well as digital SLR cameras have always received high ratings from users and reviewers alike.

Of course, not everything that Canon produces is flawless as there have been issues along the way; nevertheless this company enjoys a good reputation and an outstanding track record when it comes to high quality digital cameras.

These days price is a concern to us all when buying a new Canon digital camera but thankfully they have many affordable digital cameras available. The Canon Powershot A470 is a top-selling camera for good reason. This compact and portable digital camera offers a 7.1 MP image size, 3.4x optical zoom, and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor for your viewing pleasure. Quality and user-friendliness are combined in this piece of affordable camera.

Canon also recognizes the fact that digital cameras have also become a fashion accessory today and people are looking for beauty and style aside from excellent performance. The Canon A1000IS with its elegant, two-toned look is certainly appealing to most people’s eyes. Even with its modern style, its features do not take a backseat. It comes with a 10MP image size (honestly all you need), 4x optical zoom and impressive image stabilization.

For adventure seekers, Canon created an action-packed camera called the Canon PowerShot D10, which is waterproof up to 10 meters, freezeproof from -10 degrees Celsius, and shockproof up to 1.22 meters. This superlative camera comes with a 12 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom lens, 2.5″ LCD screen and the very important image stabilization.

Proper Care and Maintenance

Just like with any other brand of digital camera, it is imperative that you take utmost care of your Canon digital camera repair. Even if Canon is known for its quality, it is still not invincible to wear and tear. You should always keep the camera protected from dust and sand. Avoid dropping it or subjecting it to impact.

If you suspect any malfunction in your digicam, bring it immediately to a service center that has experience with Canon digital camera repair. If you prefer to do it yourself, look for a vendor selling genuine OEM Canon digital camera parts.

Producing high-quality photographs is not at all difficult with the excellent line of Canon PowerShot series. To ensure that you end up with the best choice that will meet your photography needs and requirements, review and compare different products before buying.

The continuing development of digital camera technology offers near limitless choices for the professional and amateur alike when looking to achieve the best photographs possible. There is a wide array of camera options ranging from compact digital cameras to large DSLRs. Each type of camera available has pros and cons associated with it, so shopping for the right camera can be confusing. Nevertheless, it will still boil down to the type and specifications that each person is looking for.

With any digital camera, there will be an assortment of features and utility levels which will make a good camera well above a thousand dollars. The current leading digital camera brands include Canon, Nikon and Sony.

Probably the most essential parts of a digital camera are the lens, viewfinder and the LCD screen. These parts should be regularly cleaned and maintained. These sensitive components such as a camera LCD screen should never be bumped or have a battery put against it inside the camera case; you don’t want to have to pay for a digital camera LCD screen repair Purchasing some good quality lens cleaning items such as a brush or blower and lens cloth and cleaning solution can be important. A lens blower can help remove dust and dirt, while a cleaning solution and cloth can remove debris that the blower cannot. One simple way to protect your camera lens is to always put the lens cover back on when you are done taking pictures.

Be sure to store your digital camera properly when not in use. Always store your digital camera in a cool, dry space to avoid extreme tempertures and condensation. Always keep the camera out of the sun and from cold temperature. Always remove the batteries from your camera when it will no be used for any length of time. Also keep in mind that magnets of any kind should also be kept away from the camera.

Besides just the camera itself, you should also remember to take care of your accessories such as memory cards. These are small accessories, so you should take care to not lose or damage them. It should not be taken out while in the process of transferring images from the camera. It should be stored appropriately to prevent misplacement and ensure safety.

Taking good care of your camera is important so that it will be with you for a long time. Even if you purchase the most reliable brand, which in my opinion is Canon, there is still no guarantee that your camera won’t have problems due to the normal wear and tear of usage. As much as possible, to avoid having to find a Canon digital camera repair shop you need to protect it from impact damage, water exposure, sand and dust and extreme tempertures.

If you notice any damage or malfunction to any part then it is important to find someone who can affordably provide you with reliable camera repair services. Remember that your camera cost a lot of money and it certainly pays to take good care of it.

Many people have asked about repairing their front covers/flaps on their Canon PowerShot SD series cameras, so I’ve written up some instructions. The barrier kit on most Canon PowerShot SD series cameras is a little tricky but not impossible to replace yourself. You will need patience, a good eye and a steady hand as well as a small screwdriver. We use dental picks, they work great!

To get things started, turn on the camera to extend the lens and then open the battery door and remove the battery so that the lens stays out. This allows you to easily work on the lens barrier assembly.

First the part we need is the ‘barrel drive ring’, it’s the ring with the small piece that sticks down into the lens. Most cameras have a drive ring, but some do not. If you don’t see one in your kit then your camera does not need one. Make sure it rotates slightly once it has been inserted, otherwise it’s not in properly and can jam the lens.

Next are the springs and flaps. There is a small little tab that holds the spring in place when you put it on the ‘flap’ or ‘barrier plate’ as they are actually called. They are TINY, they are hard to hold and if you drop it… lets just say DON’T drop it on the carpet, ok? If you do lose some springs, we have them available on their own in our store for you to purchase.

Carefully put the cover or ‘flap’ in the hole with the spring pointing towards the post where the other end will connect, and then with something with a tiny and pointy tip (we use dental picks!) gently grab the loop of the spring and stick it on its post.

If you do this with the lens covers or ‘flaps’ in the open position they will stay in place once you get them properly seated. If everything pops off, just start again. Try not to stretch out the springs, they need to remain tight for the assembly to work properly.

Then gently put on the barrier cover, it’s a flat plastic ring. The tabs on the outer barrier cover match up with small slots in the lens housing and it will lock into place. Be gentle, don’t force anything too hard or you will break it and the parts will not hold it place.

Now you may test your repair prowess! Put in the battery (cross your fingers) and press the power button! Did it work? Did it go flying across the room with a cute little *SPROING!* and all the parts flew across the room? Yeah I hope not, but I’ve been there myself so you’re not alone.

Once you have it working smoothly …you’re almost done with your first digital camera repair!

Next put the dual sided tape on the barrier cover. CAUTION: Make sure to take the tape off of the backing paper but DON’T remove the paper that matches the shape of the tape on the other side!! If you take off the small paper part it will ruin the tape because it will fold and stick to itself. Bye bye tape!

The tabs of the tape fold over the edges, if they stick out the lens cover will not fit properly and can jam up the lens. Line up the tape tabs, starting at the 11 o’clock position and then fold down the tabs and press them in.

Now put on your chrome or black lens cap, line up the cap with the small indentation at the bottom, you’ll see how it goes on easily.

Fire up the camera again and admire your handywork! Good for you! You now know how easy… and yet still hard Canon digital camera repair can be, and the “Geek Squad” said that it was either unfixable or would be two hundred dollars and take several weeks to complete. Whatever Geek Squad… Whatever.

Hmm… I think I’m seeing the beginning of something big here; truely affordable Canon digital camera repair