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January 15, 2002
Digital Cameras: Getting the Perfect Picture
By Al Doyle
Falling prices, higher-quality cameras, and educators' increased comfort with technology have ignited a digital photography revolution in schools. Here, the latest tools for joining the ranks of the clickerati.
Unlike their pre-digital parents and teachers, today's kids have known for quite some time that 35-millimeter film is definitely "old school." It's easy to see why they find digital cameras appealing: no more dropping off rolls of film at the local photo shop, fewer wasted shots, and perhaps most important, instant feedback-snap a picture and view the image almost immediately.
In my classroom, students use digital cameras in a variety of ways. One exercise we do is take photographs of objects such as leaves, trees, and birds, then upload the images to a computer where kids label the parts using graphics software. Digital cameras make it particularly easy to chart these objects as they change over time.
 | | Nikon Coolpix 775 |
For example, my students document plant growth by taking a series of photographs once a week for four weeks; then, after uploading the images to the computer and comparing them, they generate a growth chart. In a recent architecture project, students took advantage of the cameras' digital capabilities to superimpose photos of themselves standing next to famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the pyramids at Giza. Needless to say, kids loved this new twist on virtual field trips.
According to Daniel Grotta, president of Digital Benchmarks, an independent digital camera testing firm, educators can expect the recent trend of falling camera prices accompanied by higher image quality (also known as resolution) to continue. Currently, prices range from $200 for "good enough" resolution to about $600 for megapixel models that include more advanced features such as manual focus and interchangeable lenses. "How good is 'good enough' depends on the user's purpose, budget, and level of sophistication," says Grotta. With those caveats in mind, read on for a collection of resources to help you determine which camera matches your classroom needs and budget.
Camera Considerations
Several factors will influence your decision as to what type of camera is best suited for your classroom or school setting. Here are some key questions to ask before you buy.
In which medium will the photographs be displayed? If the majority of your images are going to be viewed on a computer screen (on the Web or in a PowerPoint presentation, for example), a low-resolution (640 pixels x 480 pixels) camera is fine. For desktop publishing enterprises such as the school newspaper or yearbook, however, you'll want a higher-resolution (3-4 megapixels) model.
Where will the camera spend the most time? Make sure your camera has features that support your specific photography goals. For shooting fast-paced action on the playing field, for example, several digital cameras offer high-speed capture-the ability to take several images in rapid succession. If you plan to snap photos of school plays, other factors such as manual aperture control to compensate for low lighting will be important. If you take a lot of field trips, battery life is an issue to consider-keep in mind that the newer NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries last longer than alkaline batteries.
What are the image storage capabilities of the camera? The latest digital cameras store images to an inserted Memory Stick, SmartMedia, or CompactFlash card and easily connect via USB cable to computers for downloading images directly to the hard drive. If you don't have USB-enabled computers at your school, you can purchase card readers that will allow you to insert the memory card into a floppy disk drive.
Several teachers I talked to prefer the Sony Mavica line because users can save images directly to a floppy disk. This is particularly convenient in schools, where one student can save his or her photos on a disk, pass the camera to another student, and then get to work right away manipulating images on the computer. What's more, some of the latest Mavicas offer the additional option to save images to CD-Rs (CD-recordable), which are inexpensive and can hold many more images (up to 650MB of data) than any other storage medium that's currently available.
Should the camera have optical zoom, digital zoom, or both? Optical zoom is a true indicator of how much you will be able to use the camera's lens to zoom in on a subject. Digital zoom uses software interpolation to achieve a close-up image and is generally inferior in quality to optical zoom capabilities. Most digital cameras offer 3X optical zoom. Several models offer up to 10X optical zoom, allowing close-up images to be taken from very far away.
10 Digital Cameras
The following is a sampling of offerings from some of the digital camera industry's major players. For detailed product information, check out the Web resources cited on the next page.
Entry-Level
Canon's Powershot A20 is a 2.1-megapixel digital camera that offers 3X optical zoom, 8MB CompactFlash memory, and a 1.7-second shooting interval (up to 2.5 frames per second in continuous mode). For printing photographs on the fly, this model works well with Canon's new Card Photo Printer CP-10, which can connect directly to the camera via a USB cable. $283.
 | | Kodak EasyShare DX3600 |
Kodak's new EasyShare DX3600 features 2.2-megapixel resolution, 2X optical zoom, 3X digital zoom, 8MB internal memory, USB interface, and the ability to capture up to 30 seconds of video with audio. Similar to the DX3600, the DX3700 model offers 3.1-megapixel resolution and 3X optical zoom. Both cameras cost about $300 each.
The Olympus D-370 is a 1.2-megapixel camera that includes USB interface, 2MB internal memory (accepts optional SmartMedia memory), and a QuickTime movie mode. The D-370 also comes with Camedia Master software for "stitching" up to 10 frames into a panoramic image. $199.95.
 | | Sony Mavica MVC-FD75 |
Sony's Mavica MVC-FD75 is the most affordable Mavica available, featuring 350,000-pixel resolution, 10X optical zoom with auto focus, and high-speed image capture. Users can save snapshots to a floppy disk, a useful feature for schools with older hardware. $349.95.
Intermediate
The Canon Powershot S110 is a compact, 2.1-megapixel camera that features 2X optical zoom, 2.5X digital zoom, 8MB CompactFlash memory, high-speed image capture, and the ability to shoot 20-frame-per-second movie clips with sound. $429.25.
 | | Casio QV-2900UX |
The Casio QV-2900UX 2.1-megapixel model offers 8X optical zoom, 2X/4X digital zoom, CompactFlash memory, USB interface, plus a "best shot" mode that provides automatic exposure settings for different situations such as blue sky or night. $399.
The compact 2.14-megapixel Nikon Coolpix 775 camera with 3X optical zoom features seven "scene modes" that automatically set focus, exposure, and color balance for different lighting environments. Also included: ArcSoft Panorama Maker software, USB interface, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. $399.95.
Sony's 1.3-megapixel Mavica MVC-FD87 has 3X optical zoom, 6X digital zoom, and supports several optional accessories usually available on more expensive models, including interchangeable lenses. Users have the convenience of saving images to a floppy disk or to Memory Stick media (optional adapter required). $499.95.
Advanced
The 4-megapixel Olympus Camedia E-10 is a good choice for serious teacher and student photographers looking for high image quality and a wide range of capabilities, such as spot metering, manual focus, wide focusing range, and the ability to use either CompactFlash or SmartMedia cards. $1,019.99.
With its ability to save up to 1,000 still images and 90 minutes of MPEG video to CD-R or CD-RW disks, the 3.2-megapixel USB-compatible Sony Mavica MVC-CD300 is great for situations where many images need to be archived and accessed over time. $999.95.
Al Doyle is director of academic technology at St. Bernard's School in New York City.
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