Digital cameras 101

[Heather Courtney]

 ???I have a digital camera I was given for x-mas last year.  It is a Concord 3042AF with 3.1 megapixels.  I hadn't really used it until recently.  I am a realtor and take pictures of the outside and inside of homes to post on the web.  The few pictures I was able to get came out looking very blurry and dark.  Now I can't even get the camera to go into the mode to take pictures, the screen stays black or sometimes looks like a jumbled screen like when your computer locks up.  I didn't know anything about the camera to begin with and have no idea what is wrong with it and it could be user error.  Either way, I am thinking of buying a new camera, one that will produce great looking pictures as opposed to this and need some assistance as where to start.

Thanks,

Heather

[Deb]

Hello Heather and welcome!

Here are some possible explanations for your camera woes.

The Concord 3042AF comes with 7mb of internal memory. If you're not using external memory (SD memory card), then it is possible that you've filled your internal memory therefore preventing your camera from taking additional photos.

The "very blurry and dark" problem may be an available light issue. Be sure your camera's flash is turned to ON (or auto) when shooting indoors or in dim conditions. You probably need that additional light source for the kinds of images you mentioned trying to take.

I found this link that may be of help to you. It is the FAQ Support Database for your camera: http://www.concordcam.com/support/faq/eyeq_3042af/3042af_picture_quality.htm

I hope these suggestions help. But if your camera is indeed broken, see what kind of warranty came with it. That may apply. If not, there are many digicams on the market that would fit your needs. You may want to check out http://www.digicamhelp.com/buying-digital-camera/index.htm for buying tips. Also, think about your specific needs and price range. These will help with determining the features and models that would best suite you.

Cheers,
DLMST

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi Heather,

Hope you get the problems worked out with your digital camera, but since you're also considering getting a new one, I thought I would offer a few suggestions.

You may wish to consider getting a digicam with a wide angle lens, particularly because you'll use it as a realtor. There are some fine digicams which have a 28 mm equivalent lens. A lens with a wide angle focal length is great for taking photos of the exterior and interior of homes.

We have a few examples here of the same shots taken at different focal lengths:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-a-normal-lens/index.htm

Deb is right about the reason your shots have been coming out dark and blurry. When you back up to take a wide-angle shot of a room, for example, you may be shooting outside the range of the camera's built-in flash. Check your manual for the flash range at varying distances. Some digicams have a hot shoe, which let you add an external flash, though this may be more than you need.

Optical zoom - Your model camera only has an digital zoom which really doesn't do a good job of capturing clear images when used. So you should condsider a digital camera with an optical zoom if you have a need to zoom in to take shots. I have a digital zoom (as well as an optical zoom) on my camera and rarely use the digital zoom because the images look pixelated and therefore blurred.

Here's an explanation of the difference between an optical and digital zoom lens:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/digital-camera-features/digital-camera-lenses.htm

Camera sensitivity (ISO) - I note that your current camera has only an ISO setting of 100. That's typical of most point and shoot digicams. However, many let you adjust the light sensitivity. Not everyone wants to fuss with these types of settings, but it's sure good to have them when you need them!

Here's some more info on ISO.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/advanced-digital-camera-settings/iso.htm

If you have any further questions, please let us know.

Related reading

What is a 35 mm equivalent lens:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-35mm-equivalent/index.htm