The point-and-shoot digital camera market has become so competitive nowadays that dealers have packaged camera models with freebies. One of the freebies being handed out today include camera carrying cases or bags. Depending on the camera bag features you're looking for, however, these free camera bags may or may not suit your needs.
Here are three camera bags I have and comparing below. Two of them were actually free when I bought the cameras.
Basic Camera Bag Features for the Digicam
From personal observation, it appears that ladies generally don't use camera bags at all. Most would just insert the digital camera in a side pocket of their carrying bag (or ladies' bag). Others slip the camera unit inside a thin case first before putting in in the bag. Guys, on the other hand, do use camera bags as they typically don't bring other bags. I noticed this in a couple of reunions I attended here and here.Anyway, if you are looking for a camera case for that new point-and-shoot digital camera of yours, you might want to consider the following features.
Tips for Buying a Cheap Camera Bag for the Digicam
So after making digicam comparisons and finally buying your digital camera, what now? Well, unless your brand new digital camera comes with a freebie camera bag, it's now time to be hunting for that carrying case that will protect your new point-and-shoot digital camera. But then again, if you had a free camera bag that came with the digicam like I did, you may STILL want to look even further.
Tips When Buying a Point-and-Shoot Digicam
Point-and-shoot cameras (PNS) nowadays are becoming much cheaper compared to their price levels around 5 years ago. This is a very competitive niche with camera manufacturers. Unlike the the bigger and more expensive DSLR's, PNS cameras are practical, very affordable and highly popular.
Comparing Digital Cameras for Blogging
With my old Sony digicam now useless, I bought a new digital camera right after the holidays. It's a colored blue Canon PowerShot A495 digital camera. Yup, it's another point-and-shoot camera. It took a bit of time before I decided on this particular brand and make. In the end, it was a toss up between this unit and Sony's CyberShot DSC-S2000.
Sony Digital Camera Short Life
Finally, my old point-and-shoot digital camera died and I'm no longer reviving it. For a hefty repair fee of Php6,250, I'd rather buy a new digital camera. Digital cameras, after all, are becoming even cheaper.
You could now buy digital cameras now at a third of their price 5 years ago. And these are popular name brands, by the way.
You could now buy digital cameras now at a third of their price 5 years ago. And these are popular name brands, by the way.
Digital Camera Flexible Mini Tripod Stand
This may as well be my gift for myself this Christmas. Yes, I don't spend too much on myself. It's a flexible mini tripod stand that I bought from CDR-King. At Php120 (less than $3) it's the cheapest camera mini tripod I could find that has flexible gripping legs. I already have a Slik brand camera tripod which I bought decades ago when I went to the US in 1987. I remember getting that camera tripod for a Video8 format Sony video camera (called Camcorder back then).
When that video camera broke I replaced it with another camcorder which also broke. The Slik tripod remained and has served me well. But I only use it occassionaly for our yearly Christmas pictures.
New Cabinet for the Digicam
After much dilly-dallying, I finally had my Sony camera fixed at the Sony Service Center Alabang. Sadly, the warranty is voided coz the technician declared the damage (broken battery cover guide rail) as caused by mishandling.
I think I’ve milked the warranty anyway with at least 2 free repairs already. The extended warranty is for 3 years and will expire this December. That was a good deal for a warranty.
This camera has been worth it since I bought it and has served well all my blogs and websites eversince.
I think I’ve milked the warranty anyway with at least 2 free repairs already. The extended warranty is for 3 years and will expire this December. That was a good deal for a warranty.
This camera has been worth it since I bought it and has served well all my blogs and websites eversince.
El Cheapo Camera Case
No swim today: And I'm glad I didn't go. I drove my aunt from Balintwak all the way to Pampanga and gosh, I was chatting with her basically the whole trip. I felt tired today and as the day wore on, I felt even more tired. My shoulders tell me they need a massage. I'm getting old.
One of my major considerations for buying the Sony new digital camera was size. It should be small enough to be contained in a cellphone pouch but big enough that it's able to use double A ("AA") rechargeable batteries. At first, I thought most digital cameras that used AA batteries were too "tall" to fit in a cellphone pouch. My digicam was not tall but was longer. When I got it though, I realized that it was also "thick" - almost twice as thick as your average cellphone.
Thus the search for the camera carrying case began. I wanted one that wasn't bulky and didn't need a strap around my neck. Most of the camera cases I've seen are nice, comfy, well padded and a little too big and a little expensive for my taste. They also spell "tourist" as one who wears 'em undeniably has a camera inside. Nah, I wanted a case that looked like a cellphone case and with a horizontal profile. That is, I could loop my belt into the case's belt strap and it'll be position horizontally.
Finally I found one such pouch that was snug enough to contain the digicam. Good thing about it is it's made of garterized elastic fabric. And since my Sony digicam is thick, it's snug. That's the pouch and the digicam. Since it's snug, I need two hands to put the camera in and get it out. That's one price to pay for selecting such a small case. I fold the wrist strap on top so it's all neat inside the cellphone case. The case only cost Php150. Cheap?
Here's the cellphone case with the digicam. Really neat, don't you think? If you're wondering how I got a pic of my digicam, well no, I don't have camera-cellphone. I was able to get a pic from my old Casio Exilim digicam when I got to charge its lithium-ion battery. I now have an external charger for the Casio lithium-ion batteries. Mega-thanx to an dear old friend, ex-classmate, ex-dormmate and kababayan Ronnie who got this charger for me. Thanx Ron!
One of my major considerations for buying the Sony new digital camera was size. It should be small enough to be contained in a cellphone pouch but big enough that it's able to use double A ("AA") rechargeable batteries. At first, I thought most digital cameras that used AA batteries were too "tall" to fit in a cellphone pouch. My digicam was not tall but was longer. When I got it though, I realized that it was also "thick" - almost twice as thick as your average cellphone.
Thus the search for the camera carrying case began. I wanted one that wasn't bulky and didn't need a strap around my neck. Most of the camera cases I've seen are nice, comfy, well padded and a little too big and a little expensive for my taste. They also spell "tourist" as one who wears 'em undeniably has a camera inside. Nah, I wanted a case that looked like a cellphone case and with a horizontal profile. That is, I could loop my belt into the case's belt strap and it'll be position horizontally.
Finally I found one such pouch that was snug enough to contain the digicam. Good thing about it is it's made of garterized elastic fabric. And since my Sony digicam is thick, it's snug. That's the pouch and the digicam. Since it's snug, I need two hands to put the camera in and get it out. That's one price to pay for selecting such a small case. I fold the wrist strap on top so it's all neat inside the cellphone case. The case only cost Php150. Cheap?
Here's the cellphone case with the digicam. Really neat, don't you think? If you're wondering how I got a pic of my digicam, well no, I don't have camera-cellphone. I was able to get a pic from my old Casio Exilim digicam when I got to charge its lithium-ion battery. I now have an external charger for the Casio lithium-ion batteries. Mega-thanx to an dear old friend, ex-classmate, ex-dormmate and kababayan Ronnie who got this charger for me. Thanx Ron!New Camera for the New Year
With the way things are around here, I'm not too optimistic that I'll get my camera cradle anytime soon. Some folks at Compex are just too inept if not downright incompetent. I've ordered the charging cradle from them since late November and all I get now are runarounds, excuses and whatnot. Don't deal with them. They're simply masquerading as a service center for Casio and I don't know if Casio's even aware of their so very poor customer service. They couldn't fix my Casio Exilim S3 camera cradle and now, they couldn't (wouldn't?) even order a cradle for me.
I've escalated this to a manager there, so we'll see what happens. The Exilim series' cradle is its waterloo. This accessory seems flimsily built and mine broke in just 3 years. At any rate, I'm not buying a Casio electronic item ever again.
To help me resume my blogging, I bought another digicam but this time it's a Sony. Sony's been touting and hyping so much its supposedly quality products. Hey, it demands so much quality from its suppliers like semiconductor companies that it better come up with good, nay, great products. Anyway, I got me a DSC-S40 model for Php14K from Abenson. It's a small, no-frills digital camera with video.
Basically I wanted a unit that'll use penlight batteries rather than proprietary lithium-whatever batteries. Penlights, like the double A's (AA) you can get from most stores. Proprietary batts, well, good luck if you break 'em and/or their proprietary chargers. I think it's also the smallest camera (so far) that'll take penlights and I'm now scouting for a nylon case with a belt loop like those for cellphones. Any ideas? The carrying case that came with my unit is rather bulky and has "Sony" embossed on it. It simply shouts "Hey, I'm an digital camera, come and get me!!!" to muggers. If I keep the bag under my shirt, it makes me look like a boy scout with a canteen bottle by my waist.
I've escalated this to a manager there, so we'll see what happens. The Exilim series' cradle is its waterloo. This accessory seems flimsily built and mine broke in just 3 years. At any rate, I'm not buying a Casio electronic item ever again.To help me resume my blogging, I bought another digicam but this time it's a Sony. Sony's been touting and hyping so much its supposedly quality products. Hey, it demands so much quality from its suppliers like semiconductor companies that it better come up with good, nay, great products. Anyway, I got me a DSC-S40 model for Php14K from Abenson. It's a small, no-frills digital camera with video.
Basically I wanted a unit that'll use penlight batteries rather than proprietary lithium-whatever batteries. Penlights, like the double A's (AA) you can get from most stores. Proprietary batts, well, good luck if you break 'em and/or their proprietary chargers. I think it's also the smallest camera (so far) that'll take penlights and I'm now scouting for a nylon case with a belt loop like those for cellphones. Any ideas? The carrying case that came with my unit is rather bulky and has "Sony" embossed on it. It simply shouts "Hey, I'm an digital camera, come and get me!!!" to muggers. If I keep the bag under my shirt, it makes me look like a boy scout with a canteen bottle by my waist.
