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Posts Tagged ‘photography’

Experiencing a Wonderful Wild Photography is Easy!

Difficult and fascinating at the same time, wildlife photography spices up one’s professional life. It involves a lot of traveling and it keeps you away in wilderness for very long periods of time. Wildlife photography serves for documentaries in magazines and corresponds to what is generally called photojournalism. They are the kind you’ll see on the cover and in the pages of National Geographic Magazine. Animals in action are the subjects of wildlife photography.

Wildlife photography captures images of animals while eating, hunting, fighting, mating or running away. The equipment required for such photo shooting is specialized since one has to rely on a very quick shutter speed and use features that freeze the animal in motion and blur the background. Unlike the small apertures used in landscape photography, wildlife photography creates such gorgeous effects by using wide apertures only. Depending on the distance from the shot, telephoto lenses will be necessary.

Telephoto lenses can only be used with tripods. The longer the lens, the heavier the camera, which makes it difficult to hold and shoot well. Therefore, you’ll need all sorts of equipment items to facilitate the tasks of wildlife photography. Do not overlook the possibility or the necessity to camouflage the camera by using blinds. Such terms definitely make wildlife photography the most challenging of all, but no other type of photography can give you the same thrill.

Wildlife photography enjoys universal popularity, and the quest for the perfect shot can be carried out anywhere, and on almost any kind of weather. There is a huge diversity of subjects, and you could be photographing flies or polar bears with about the same dedication. Wildlife photography is for those that know their profession well, and who love adventure. Keep in mind that the subject of your photos is not that easy to find and capture: sometimes your quarry will be dangerous, erratic and elusive.

Results make any effort worthy, and most professionals will confirm this to you. Unfortunately, there have been cases when photographers have showed almost no consideration for the environment and precarious ecosystems when following animals in the wild. There is a code of ethics that should be followed at all times, or those who break it should suffer the legal consequences. Consider your situation well together with the natural aspects, and don’t cause any damage to the environment just to take some great photo.

Besides photography related information, the author of this review has been published many other information, some of them are about product reviews. If you are interested, you can check out the review, by visiting the special website on ultralight-sleepingbag.com where you can find big agnes sleeping bags and related information.

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Understanding Pinhole Photagraphy

The element that best describes or defines pinhole photography is the absence of the lens in the camera. The image gets formed inside the ‘box’ when the light goes in through a hole. This means that we can make cameras from all kinds of materials. Designed with great care or improvised, such cameras certainly prove creativity and a great love for pinhole photography. Shells, boxes, all sorts of containers, wood and even station wagons can be transformed into pinhole cameras. Image capturing is possible as long as you have a film and some photographic paper available.

Pinhole photography is definitely interesting and fun, no matter if from an artistic or scientific perspective. Just think how great you can feel when taking pictures with a camera that you have invented and created yourself. The potential for pinhole photography, but the potential is great and worthy of appreciation. There are more advanced devices that can capture photos, but pinhole photography can surprise you with some unique elements. One certainly cannot expect the same type of clarity and features in pinhole photography as in traditional images. There are plenty of differences and unique aspects related to it.

Wide angle images for example are completely rectilinear. The colors in the pictures are no longer the same, and the depth of the field is huge. Pinhole photography definitely stands apart. There is no rule about what kind of paper to use: negative, positive, color or black and white. Depending on the device you will have to expose the image for a few seconds, minutes or even hours. The context says it all. Instructions on pinhole photography and step-by-step instructions to build cameras are available on lots of Internet web sites.

Considerable improvements have been made for pinhole photography with the development of the Internet. Yet, there are few chances for you to look into this domain, unless you are a hobbyist. And it’s totally understandable why. Moreover, when you also have a collection of unique pinhole cameras, the interest is all the greater. Have a look online and see what other hobbyists have to say on this topic. There is always something new to find out, which makes the hobby all the more interesting. You will enjoy every challenge all the more!

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You Can Repair Your Canon SD Series Lens Barrier Covers Yourself!

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. Put one spring on each of the flaps, there are little tabs to hold them on. 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. Do not stretch out the springs as they must remain tight or nothing will 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! Now we put the battery in and while crossing our fingers, turn the camera on! Is it working? Did it go flying across the room with a cute little *SPROING!* and all the parts flew across the room? I hope not, but you’re not alone I’ve been there too.

Once it’s working nicely …you’re almost done with your first camera repair!

Next put the dual sided tape on the barrier cover. VERY IMPORTANT: Peel the tape off the yellow backing paper but DO NOT remove the paper from the side that is cut to match the shape of the tape!! Removing the small paper part will cause the tape to fold up on itself and stick together. 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! Congratulations you now know more about Canon camera repair than the Geek Squad, and they told you it would be two hundred dollars and take 3-4 weeks to repair. Whatever Geek Squad… Whatever.

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

Be More Careful With Your Camera and Don’t Break The LCD Screen!

It’s a simple fact that we live in a throw-away society. You buy that brand new fancy digital camera with all the bells and whistles for $400, and in 6 months to 1 year it’s worth maybe half that, and then the unthinkable happens: you drop it and it breaks. The LCD is cracked, or the lens is jammed; what do you do? You go back to there store where you bought it and the kid working there that knows next to nothing about cameras to begin with, let alone camera repair, tells you to throw it in the garbage and it’s not fixable. You feel ripped off and mad at the camera manufacturer and you toss it out and buy a new one made by somebody else.

There are alternatives, there are ALWAYS alternatives to every problem. Honest! Yes, it may cost 0 to fix your camera, and yes you can buy that camera in the bubble pack on the shelf at Wall Mart for less than 0, but what kind of quality do you honestly expect from a 0 camera? Not very good quality I hope, because you’re not going to get it.

#1 – Cracked, broken, smashed LCD screen.

I found it difficult to decide between broken lens repair and cracked LCD screen repair for #1, but I choose the LCD because it can be broken so easily that you can do it without even touching the camera!

The LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is the view screen on the back of the camera that lets you see menus, playback pictures etc. The LCD is very thin, very fragile, and on many many cameras completely UNPROTECTED! Take a look at your LCD screen; is it slightly recessed or does it look like it’s flat and even all the way across? If it’s flat you have a protective ‘window’ or ‘glass’ over the LCD to help prevent damage and breakage. If it’s not flat, you have nothing protecting your LCD and should put a good quality LCD screen protector on the camera and NOT those thin, flimsy ’saran wrap’ plastic film screen protectors, they are worthless.

- Don’t expose your camera to high heat or extreme cold in your car. Extreme heat can cause expansion of the liquid in the LCD and cause it to ‘crack’, and on the other side of things extreme cold can cause it to freeze!

- Don’t put anything up against the LCD in your camera bag, it will bang against the LCD and crack it (yes, even if it has a window over it, it will break!)

- Don’t put your camera in your back pocket and then sit down!

- Don’t store your camera in your pants pocket, it can easily break from the pressure.

- … Just don’t put your camera in your pants pocket please. =)

Ok, so it’s broken, what do you do now?

- The manufacturer will just site impact damage and will refuse the repair even if the camera wasn’t dropped etc. You can still try, but they will most likely not fix it.

- Search for defective cameras on eBay and use one to repair yours and make one good camera out of them.

- Look for an actual camera repair business and not somebody that will send it to the manufacturer and tell you it’s $200 and 4-6 weeks to repair. (If they tell you this, they are NOT repairing your camera for you, they are sending it to the manufacturer, guaranteed)

Many LCD screens are very easy to install and you can do it yourself and all you need is a small screwdriver. Other LCD’s are very difficult to install, and even professionals don’t like to do them! I can’t tell you Brand …. is the best and Brand … is the worst, it’s really not like that. Certain SERIES of cameras have 1 or 2 models that are difficult to work on, yet the rest of them are fairly straight forward. You need to decide for yourself if you want to open your camera and try the repair yourself or not.

How is the LCD screen replaced?

With most Canon digital camera LCD screens for example (using them as the example because they have the largest market share) all you do is disconnect the ribbon cable for the LCD and the backlight (the light that shines through the LCD and allows you to see what is on the screen) and then install the new LCD. Some LCDs do come with the backlight that shines through it attached and others do not. Sometimes the LCD backlight will need soldering to the PCB of the camera or to the LCD ribbon cable, but most often it will not.

- Be careful to not touch the flash capacitor contacts! You will shock yourself pretty good if you do it and it will hurt a bit. You will probably throw your camera across the room when it happens. (Yeah, I’ve done it, I’ve been repairing cameras for 5 years now so….) We have ‘flash capacitor dischargers’ and use them every time we open a camera.

My wish is that I have helped you to understand the subject of camera repair. You do not have to throw your camera away because the LCD is broken, and you can even fix it yourself!

How to Care For Your Digital Camera

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 and class has its own strengths and limitations therefore making the task of shopping for cameras complicated. Camera preference will come down to the features and specifications that the individual desires, there is no one camera that will please everyone.

The best digital cameras will of course cost thousands of dollars due to advanced features and controls. The current leading digital camera brands include Canon, Nikon and Sony.

The two most important and expensive parts of the camera are the lens 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 It is also important to invest in good quality lens cleaning equipment such as a good lens brush, a lens blower and lens cloth. A lens blower can help remove dust and dirt, while a cleaning solution and cloth can remove debris that the blower cannot. Another important reminder is to protect the cameras lens by always putting on the lens cover when the camera is not in use.

Be sure to store your digital camera properly when not in use. It is recommended that the camera be stored in a cool and dry space. Always keep the camera out of the sun and from cold temperature. Digital camera batteries should also be taken out when the camera is not in use. And just as a precaution, magnets of any kind should be kept away from the camera body and definately the memory card.

Besides just the camera itself, you should also remember to take care of your accessories such as memory cards. As these accessories are small, they should always be handled with utmost care. 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 care of your most prized digital camera is imperative to make certain that they will last for a very long time. You should look for overall brand reliability before making your purchase, and Canon has a great rating; but this does not mean that the camera won’t suffer from normal wear and tear just from normal use. As much as possible, to avoid having to find a Canon 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.

Bad Camera Design: Broken Doors, Missing Buttons and Frustrating Design

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 what; that little compact flash card door indicator switch broke off and now your camera won’t power!

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’s frustrating… these flimsy little battery doors made from a tiny glob of plastic are ultra thin and snap like a dry twig, (Canon Powershot SD750 battery door .. don’t get me started!) making your camera useless. What were they thinking when they designed this?? Are you SURE somebody tested this design? 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 DSC-H5 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? Damaged or missing shutter release 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 do you do with your camera when one small piece of plastic is broken or 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…

So you don’t find your door or part there, keep looking, don’t give up yet. Don’t want to repair it yourself, no problem, there are places that will 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 can honestly be that inexpensive as most battery covers are only fifteen to twenty dollars.

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

How It Happened: Brief but Glorious History of Glamour Images

The art of Glamour Photography has come a long way from its very appearance to what we can see today. Like any other genre of photography, it witnessed some dramatic changes, withstood many cultural revolutions to finally emerge in its present state.

I will gladly take you on a short mind trip from the very dawn of Glamour Photographs to their modern state – afterwards we will dabble in foreseeing their probable future.

Childhood. As to the starting point of the history of glamour photo – nobody is certain. Some derive it from so-called “French postcards” which were quite popular in the streets of Paris in the early 1900’s, some address to Victorian pioneers of this art. There are even people who seek the roots of glamour images in Renaissance and Baroque. So, to be honest, glamour photography is a really a child of uncertain origin. I prefer to consider that classic and contemporary fine arts contributed in equal measures to create this unique genre – and it is the melting pot of 1920’s culture that we owe its birth. Also, it is from the first half of 20th century that the history of classic glamour photography can be traced.

Glorious 50’s and Onwards. After World War II, glamour images reached the apex of their glory, closely followed by controversy and outrage. Shining star of Betty Grable was in zenith ever since pre-WWII time; in 1953 Marilyn Monroe emerged on Playboy’s cover and led glamour photography from darkness of controversy and public outrage into the light of recognition. Glamour pictures became more and more popular, as Pamela Green and others helped this young but prospective genre to become widely recognized.

Dawn of Digital Era. Color wasn’t the only achievement that glamour images acquired – they turned into something more creative and provocative. Dita von Teese and Hope Talmons gained young and ambitious competitors like Heidie Van Horne, Lucy Pinder, Bernie Dexter and others. At the same time, film surrendered positions to digital photography. Technical progress improved the visual quality of glamour pictures and made the process of shooting dead simple. Any amateur with a DSLR became a potential glamour photographer. In a combination with Web technologies, this was like a clamor of billions and billions of both talented people and senseless dabblers.

3D – What Does it Bring? At long last, 3D art hits the stage, offering computer graphics as an arguable alternative to photography. This new form of art attempts to challenge the canons of glamour photography. I strongly believe that no artificial computer rendering can ever excel the natural beauty and genuine work of a talented artist. If this is a struggle of old and modern, my side is with the former.

Never-the-less, I gaze in the future with a smile – after all, no art has ever been forgotten; oils and film have an army of admirers, as do many other genres. The art of 3D cannot take over, but rather find its own audience, just like digital and film photography. It is not technology that is behind each glamour picture – it’s the soul, the inspiration and the dedication: that of photographer and the model. A true artist at heart can never forget this simple truth – so you remember it as well.

Beauty Photography Resources

High Quality Shots Everytime With Photography Lighting

World wide popularity is what photography enjoys and by millions as a either a hobby or full time profession. Photographers often times simply enjoy snapping shots of places and friends for keep sakes. Still others are avid photographers or professionals who create those amazing shots of sports events, glamour shots, and other visually stunning images we see in the media and on the covers of high profile magazines.

For photographers who are looking for higher quality results in there images. Photogs can increase photographic quality with studio photo equipment. The fastest and easiest way to create higher quality photographs is with the addition of photo lighting photography equipment accessories such as a light bank, bulbs, and a soft box on a light stand. For photographers, proper photography lighting has every thing to do with consistant production of high quality shots.

For instance, with strobe flash accessories or photography lights a photographer can use a flash light with either a soft box or a photo umbrella on a stand and be able to capture a crisp and clean portrait or product shot in a much more dynamic way than simply relying on the small flash of there camera alone. Photography lighting and accessories can elevate the quality of photo images in the fastest way possible.

If you have been wondering how professional photographers can capture the images that they do and how they breathe life into them. Now you know that it’s in the lighting photography accessories and equipment that they utilize during photo shoots. Photography lighting and angles will make capturing great photos much easier than what the camera can do on it’s own.

Whether capturing photos of products, friends, or family. The quality of the shots can make all the difference in the world. In product photography for example. If the photos of the Porsche in the information pamphlet were dull and lackluster, you wouldn’t necessarily remember the car. The more stunning and amazing that a shot is, the more it will be remembered. in visual marketing, this is why great shots are presented to consumers to engage them viscerally and emotionally.After seeing the gorgeous paint job on the Porsche, you won’t have to worry about forgetting it because you can see yourself driving it. That’s the power of visual and emotional marketing displayed.

Canon PowerShot A Series Cameras: A Super Pick For Any User!

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. Shopping for a new camera can become overwhelming due to the number of models and specifications available today. 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″ LCD screen to frame your photos and review them easily. 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 A1000 IS was designed not only to look nice, but also to be easy to use as well. 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 excellent camera has a 12 MP image size, 3x optical zoom, 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 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.

#2 Broken Digital Camera Problem? Lens Repair!

Digital camera lens repair is as common as LCD repair, but it’s #2 on my list because it’s harder to repair a digital camera lens and there are so many different types of lens problems whereas a broken LCD is a broken LCD no matter how you look at it.

Basic Lens Care Tips:

- Do not leave the batteries in your camera in the camera bag. The power button can be pressed accidentally causing the lens to extend and get jammed because it cannot open properly inside the bag.
- Refrain from dropping the camera when it's on or off.
- Don't ever pull or twist on a lens that is not working 100% properly, you will just break it.

I would have to write a book to fully explain lens problems fully (hmm.. maybe a good idea!) so I will try and keep it simple and informative.

The lens is made up of many different parts… Let’s start with the several pieces of glass referred to as the lens elements. The outer lens element is prone to being scratched and scuffed, and usually has a special coating on it that you DO NOT want to clean off with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol), or Windex or something similar. Nothing to worry about if it’s not there, it’s not a big deal. Just keep the lens clean (why are there fingerprints on your lens anyway??) & free from wear.

The inner-most lens element is responsible for the fine focus and resides directly in front of the CCD. When you press the shutter button half way down to focus, this part moves forwards and backwards till it’s in the correct position and your image is in focus. You won’t be messing with this part of the lens… unless you feel like removing the lens from the camera and then tearing down the lens to get at it’s ‘guts’. It can be pretty fun the first time it happens, but… I wish you luck getting it back together properly. The tearing apart stuff is fun, the putting it back together is a drag!

The lens has two small motors with their own gears that connect to the two main parts of the lens. The larger motor drives the lens barrel in and out when zooming. The smaller motor drives the fine focus element mentioned above and controls the focus. If you get ONE GRAIN of sand in these gears, they will jam and the lens will “error out” as we like to say. Open it up and clean it out if you like, but it’s not easy. Typically the main motor of the lens has 5-6 different gears that must be set and aligned properly to function. If the lens is already jammed up, you might as well try and see if it works, right?

Then there is the CCD, “charge-coupled device” which translates the light that enters the lens into a digital signal that the camera can record.

There was a very large CCD recall for digital camera lens repair over the past few years that covers many manufacturers like Canon, Fuji and Nikon and not just Sony, but Sony provided the CCDs to many other manufacturers for their cameras so they do have a large amount of defective cameras on the list themselves. The defective CCD’s cause the camera to take solid black photos, or purple/pink “dripping paint” photos, or they have repeating white horizontal or verticle lines on the images. If yours has this problem then you can call up the company that made it and ask if they are still honoring the CCD recall even if your camera is 4-5 years old! If your camera is on the CCD recall list and they are still doing the recall, you can get it fixed for free.

Got spots on your images that get bigger and smaller as you zoom in and out? Most likely there is a spec of dust on your CCD. You will need to remove the lens and then remove the CCD from the back of the lens and clean it off. Don’t lose the gasket that goes around the CCD, don’t get any other dirt inside the lens and don’t leave any fingerprints! Tall order I know, sorry, I’m demanding. =)

Let’s see… what else? Your lens is part way out, stuck at an angle because the camera was dropped while turned on. Now please read that carefully; the lens must be stuck part way out or all the way out, and one section of the lens MUST be stuck at an angle. The lens must not move freely at all for this section to apply, and you may follow this advice AT YOUR OWN RISK. The following repair trick works, but I am not responsible for your actions or anything you do to your camera.

Ok, it's stuck at an angle and you want to try and repair your camera lens yourself. No problem.

Hold the camera with the angled part of the lens resting against the edge of a table, and the rest of the camera hanging over the side. Do not place the camera facing down with the “Canon Zoom Lens…" metallic front section down flat on the counter. The round part of the lens barrel is what we want on the flat surface of the table. Now… here is the tricky part… press the angled part of the lens back into alignment by pushing down on the lens on the edge of the table. Put your fingers on the LENS below the angled part to support it and press firmly but still gently (how do I do that? I don’t know.. you just do it) and the lens will either POP!! back where it belongs and the lens will work again or it won’t move and no harm will be done, or worst case scenario one of the guide pins that move inside a small slot inside the lens will break and the lens will be ruined.

I told you it was at your own risk!! Camera repair is fun… right?

Ok, how are we feeling about lenses? I think we have covered most of the basic problems, and possible solutions. If you want to buy a lens for your camera there are several ways to do it which include calling the manufacturer; but they will want 5+ for the lens, guaranteed.

Do a Google search for “digital camera repair” and you will see at #1 the only site that has affordable digital camera repair and DIY parts… Darntoothysam.com!