Affordable Digital Camerasby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 22 May 2008 09:22 PM They might not have big names like Sony, Nikon, Canon or Kodak, but they also don't come with the big price tags either. These days the digital camera market has grown to accommodate lower-priced brands whose products can compete with the big boys of photography. One digital camera maker in particular, Concord, is creating quite a buzz with its new 6 megapixel model, which features a retail price of just $229.99. The Concord 6340z digital camera features a 3x optical zoom plus a 4x digital zoom, a macro feature allowing you to take pictures as close as 2 inches, and the capability to shoot photos with resolutions of up to 2848 by 2136 pixels. It also includes a video mode, which lets you record MPEG-4 movies and sound up to 15 frames per second. The camera also comes equipped with 15 MB of memory built inside, though if you are a snap happy parent you should still get yourself a SD memory card (256 MB minimum) to store your high-resolution photos and videos. The 6340z package comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, an AC adapter, a carrying case, wrist strap, TV cable and a USB 1.1 cable to attach to your computer. It also comes with two CDs full of software for Windows PCs including MGI Photosuite SE, USB mass storage drivers, Apple's Quick Time Pro and the user's guide. Using the 6340z is no more challenging than its high priced counterparts. You simply turn on the camera and the zoom lens pops out and you're ready to go. The settings are pretty standard and there are easy to access buttons controlling the zoom lens, flash, photo playback and all the other features. You have the option to control the exposure manually, but with a camera of this size and quality most hobby photographers should let the camera think for itself. I know what you are wondering: What are the drawbacks? After all, lower-priced brands typically come with a litany of flaws. No so in this case. The Concord is slower than comparable models and could lead to moments of agonizing frustration especially if you are using the camera to shoot squirmy children. When you press the shutter, it takes a second or so for the camera to focus on the subject and another second or so to take the picture. The lag time makes it nearly impossible to capture a 2-year-old's fleeting smile. On a brighter note once the camera is connected to your computer getting frameworthy shots transferred is a breeze. Overall, Concord's 6340z is a satisfactory high-resolution 6MP digital camera that performs well especially when you consider the features you are getting for the price you are paying. Related Articles: Snapping Summer Memories---Going Digital A Digital Camera for Serious Shooters The Difference Between Two Digital Cameras From the Same Company Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras--The Trend Continues Hip and Stylish Digital Cameras for TEENS More Ultra-compact Digital Camera Options The World's Slimmest Digital Camera Digital Photography 101: Choosing The Perfect Ultra Compact Camera Digital Photography 101: Picking The Perfect Camera Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags affordable camera, camera, photogrpahy, photos Discuss this article
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