Journal: News & Comment

A wife knows her gadget boy

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In the two years and a bit since I bought my first digital camera, it has been dropped, the rechargeable batteries have started failing, and I've noticed its many flaws. It was getting time for a new one.

There were two choices: a similar small point-and-shoot model like the Konica KD-300Z I have already, or a much more expensive and capable digital SLR (DSLR) like the Nikon D70, used by professionals such as Alastair.

My wife made the choice even simpler by going out and buying me a new point-and-shoot for our ninth anniversary, which is Thursday. The camera is a basic Kodak EasyShare CX7330, a new model this summer. Like my old Konica, it is a 3-megapixel, 3X optical zoom model, which is about all anyone needs for snapshots. But it uses more normal AA batteries (nickel-metal-hydride rechargeables are cheap, and in a pinch I can use regular lithium or alkaline AAs), and so should have a longer life.

Plus we're avoiding putting expensive gadgets in our kids' hands after too many "butterfingers" episodes.

The EasyShare has a fine little lens and takes very good photos, with excellent automatic white balance. It has a good movie mode, with sound, and movie length limited only by the size of the memory card. Though it's a bit larger than the Konica, it fits in the little camera bag I have just fine. There are almost no manual controls, but that's okay. It's easy to use, and it works. Snap snap.

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