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About TinyCams

www.geocities.com/charles_islas

What's a TinyCam?

My definition of TinyCams is any small, inexpensive ($50 US or less), low resolution, digital camera. These are basic, point and shoot cameras. Many people purchase these gadgets because of the low price and persuasive ads. Unfortunately, buyers try them once and are dissappointed with the results. I want you to pull your TinyCam out of your desk drawer, put in some fresh batteries and try again. Once you understand the limitations and capabilities of these cameras you'll find yourself carrying one with you everywhere. If you visit some of the links on my site I think you will be inspired. And while you're here I hope you learn some new tricks that will help you use your cameras. All the photo images on this site were taken with a TinyCam (with a few noted exceptions). My goal is to help people use their digital cameras, especially TinyCams.

WOOHOO!! TinyCams appeared in an article in a popular Internet Photography Magazine! ePHOTOzine.com published "TinyCams Explained" at http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Tiny-small-digital-cameras-explained-1

Photo Examples

Click the images on the right to see larger versions of the photos taken with one of my TinyCams. Or view more photos taken with other TinyCams by clicking page numbers in the left window.

Some people may consider these devices to be nothing more than toys. But I suggest you visit 640X480.net, and PenCam.org for examples of what other people are doing with these cameras. These things are so small you can often take pictures without your subject or the people around you ever knowing.

Using Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition for Windows XP you can create some fun photo shows. Click HERE to read my opinions and watch my own example photo show.

I invite everyone to join our TinyCams Yahoo Group so you can share your photos, ask questions, and maybe help someone else. Click HERE if you are already a member. This is a great place to ask for help, view and post images, share information, and have some fun. It's FREE!

Click to subscribe to the Yahoo Tinycams Group

Digital Cameras

If you're planning on buying a new digital camera I urge you to read my Buying Guide before you head to the shops. I think it will help you choose the best camera for your needs. And if you like to take your photo tips with you on your MP3 player, check out Tips From the Top Floor by amateur photographer Chris Marquardt. Chris offers his helpful tips in the form of free Podcasts.

High end digital camera makers like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Kodak, and others are pushing the image size of their consumer cameras to resolutions of 2, 3, 4 megabytes and higher, to the delight of amateur photographers. Unfortunately, retail prices begin at $150 and quickly reach $1000 and more. These are great products and they're getting better. Check digitalcamerabasics.com for lots of info and reviews. But what if you can't afford one of these electronic wonders?

AIPTEK PenCams, Intel Pocket Cams, Clever Cams, Jazz Cams, JamCams, Concord EyeQ 3X, iClick, SiPix Stylecam Blink, L'espion, Dolphin Spy Cams, 3 in 1 Cams, Kodak EZ200, Logitech ClickSmart 310, Polaroid Photomax, Vivitar, and dozens of other cheap little digital cameras have flooded the world market. And now, the big camera makers like Kodak and HP have 2 Mega Pixel cameras retailing for $100. To simplify our discussion I have dubbed this category of electronic gadgets "TinyCams". These little plastic TinyCams sold on late night TV, the internet, and even in drugstores, are gobbled up by hopeful photo enthusiasts for as little as $5!

Why are TinyCams so cheap?

According to the Islas (that's me) Law of Electronic Gadgetry: "The more money you spend, the more buttons you get". Conversely, $50 buys you two buttons. ON/OFF/MODE and SHUTTER BUTTON. These are very simple, point and shoot cameras. They have CMOS sensors that are cheap to make and may have plastic lenses that are pre-focused. Few Tinycams have any type of zoom and if there is a pre-view screen it will be the size of a postage stamp.

The Big Secret

The Big Secret is that you use many of the same skills with a TinyCam as you do with a Hasselblad, a view camera, or a pin hole camera. While some of TinyCams are better than others, good photography is not about the camera as much as the photographer's skills.

Are these cameras good?

To be honest, no, they're not the best. Don't expect them to work well in low light conditions. Don't expect to get photos suitable for making glossy 8" by 10" prints for your wall. In fact, don't plan on prints larger than 3-1/2" X 5". The colors are sometimes muted, some images are not very sharp. That doesn't mean that these cameras don't work...they do! With a few photo tips and some software magic with products like DCEnhance, Photo Shop or PaintShop Pro, you can improve your photos considerably.

Most early TinyCams shoot low resolution 320 X 240 or 640 X 480 pixel images. You'll still find these cameras on the store shelves at very low prices. This translates to about 0.07 to 0.3 megapixels. By my definition, TinyCams use a CMOS chip that are much cheaper to make than the CCD chips that first made consumer video cameras possible and are now the heart of the high end digital still cameras. To learn more about the way CMOS and CCD chips work, visit WWW.Howstuffworks.com for an easy to understand article. Many of the low end TinyCams ($20) have plastic lenses but glass lenses are now very common. And since the image files are small, 2 to 16 megabytes of memory will hold plenty of pictures. And today it's very common to find these cameras supporting SD Flash Memory! On the older, cheaper models, there's no flash, no zoom lens, no preview screen, and no user controls. But several makers have added postage stamp sized color LCD's. While advertisers would have the consumer believe these TinyCams are the greatest thing since instant oatmeal. I suspect many of these cameras end up in the junk drawer until they get tossed out or passed over to the kids.

TinyCams use AAA or AA batteries, take as few as 12 and as many as 350 small digital images and attach to your PC using a USB cable (so you'll need a PC running Win 98 or later). A few early models connect to the serial port. Many of these cameras serve dual duty as web cams and can capture short video clips. All of them are packaged with the drivers needed to transfer images, usually in JPEG but sometimes BMP format, to your computer.

"Order Now and..." you get some sort of image software, often from Ulead. You won't get PhotoShop but these programs are functional. What? You didn't get an installation CD? No Drivers? Well just click HERE.

Who buys these cameras?

First time digital camera buyers, who want a cheap entry level camera are attracted to TinyCams. Owners of expensive, high resolution cameras that are bulky and delicate like the idea of having a cheap digital camera they can stuff into their pocket and carry everywhere. Then there's the gadget freak (and other wacko's) who loves to collect interesting and functional electronic devices (aka toys). And finally TinyCams make terrific gifts. They're great for Father's Day, birthdays, and even Christmas stocking stufers!

I'm not a pro. If I can coax some decent photos out of these little machines, you can too. Since these things have no adjustments or controls, I put more effort into thinking about framing my subject, and about composition, angle, shapes, patterns, texture, color. All the details that make good photos. Then my finger gets in the way!

I love the instant gratification when I download my images to my PC. I can see the things that worked as well as what didn't work. And I can see them NOW, while I can remember what I did. The result is I'm learning every day. To my delight, I'm becoming a better photographer.

It's Fun!

I have fun using software to add text, fiddle with the colors, or paint on glasses and a mustache. While I like to take candid photos of people, events, and places, Frank at SkyPenSurferCam has a really unique application for his TinyCam. You can even use software that stitches several images together to make panoramic images. See My Office or Dealy Plaza for examples. TinyCams can also be used to create jumpy, blury videos that are kind of cool. Plus you can make stop action videos to amaze your friends. Using Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition you can create some fun photo shows. Click HERE to read my review and see my own photo show. As you can see, these gadgets can provide hours of cheap entertainment for kids of all ages.

If you own any brand or model of these tiny cameras

I encourage you to join the TinyCams Yahoo Group so you can upload your own photos, ask for help if you're having trouble, or share your experience and knowledge with the rest of us. If you need drivers or if you're having other difficulties try the TinyTips page. Check the TinyLinks page for software and camera links. I also invite you to click through my photo pages. Then after you've reviewed all this material and you still hate your TinyCam, send it to me!