Technobuddy: Don't let digital camera spoil vacation

I don't have enough digits to count the ways digital photography can ruin a vacation.

Don't get me wrong. I have enough digital cameras to start a small store and -- despite my love for film -- I shoot almost exclusively in digital these days. The advantages are great. Besides, the argument -- for home snap shooters at least -- is over. Film is as yesterday as a lime green leisure suit.

But it's important to know that digital cameras have their own set of unique flaws that can leave you holding the bag -- an empty bag. If you understand these gotchas, there's a better chance you'll come home with pictures instead of regrets.

Durability

I remember driving away from a professional photo shoot with my film camera on top of my car. By the time I realized that the camera was missing, it was several miles behind me, happily sharing a roadside ditch with discarded Coke cans and a greenish lizard. I still have that camera. It looks horrible -- scratches and a few dents -- but works just fine.

Digital cameras, on the other hand, are delicate things. They are dropouts from the school of hard knocks. Treat your digital camera to a padded case. And, if you pack one away in a suitcase for a trip, place it in the center of the bag so that clothes and other items protect it. Better yet, carry it on board with you.

Pictures on the fly

Now here's an area where the digital camera shines. Unlike a film camera, there's no danger to your digital camera, or images, going through airport security. However, air travel brings with it a whole new set of problems.

Just as is true with other computerized devices, static electricity can damage both the camera and the memory card. Static electricity thrives in the low humidity of an airline cabin. So avoid changing memory cards while aboard. Otherwise, you can damage the card and ruin the pictures on it.

Power failures

Digital cameras are hungry for power. That's why rechargeable batteries can both save you money and cost you picture taking time. I buy cameras that can use both rechargeable batteries and regular alkaline batteries. The beauty of alkaline batteries is that they can be found in even the most remote locations. So if your rechargeable battery runs out of juice, you can just pop in a regular battery and keep on shooting.

Now remember this

The memory cards in digital cameras are wonderful things. The biggest ones will hold enough photos to last through a two-week European vacation. So common sense tells you one memory card is all you need. Common sense is uncommonly wrong.

Digital cards can go bad with no warning. And the correct card cannot always be found immediately. That's why it makes sense to carry two or even three cards with you whether you're shooting on the tip of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton or at your son's Little League game.

While it is often possible to recover photos from a corrupted memory card, there are times when even the best software fails at that task. That's why -- with really important photos -- it makes sense to immediately download the photos and transfer a safety copy to a laptop, a DVD or to e-mail them home.

Here's a link to a page that provides advice on recovering photos from a damaged card: http://tinyurl.com/ydej6ah.

Speaking of DVDs