M.A. Hochberg’s Technology for Teaching

Making technology easier for people

Digital Camera Care

1. Camera Care:

  • – Use the wrist strap when carrying or using the camera.
  • – When not using the camera, keep it in the plastic bag.
  • – Keep the camera away from strong magnetic fields.
  • – Keep condensation from forming in the camera when moving from hot and cold temperatures by keeping it in the plastic bag until it adjusts to the temperature change.
  • – If any light is flashing, please wait until it stops before using the camera.
    • o A flashing green light means it is reading or writing information. Do NOT shake or turn off the camera while it is blinking or your photos could be lost.
      o A flashing orange light means the flash light is charging. If you take a photo now, the flash will not work properly.
      o A flashing yellow light means the camera is having trouble focusing. Move the camera slightly so it can see better.

2. Tips and Notes:

  • – The camera uses 4 AA batteries; have plenty on hand.
  • – Please be courteous. Don’t leave your pictures on the flash card; download them to your computer and leave the camera ready for the next user.
  • – The number in the lower right corner of the display is shows many pictures you have left. If you use video, there will be less space for pictures. The flash card holds about 26 pictures.
  • – When turning the camera on or off, hold the button down for about 2 seconds.
  • – In general, digital cameras work slower than traditional cameras. After you push the shutter, it takes longer for the picture to actually record than with a film camera. There may actually be several different light flashes before it takes the picture.
  • – When you push the shutter button, the first click sets the focus and other settings; continue pushing all the way down to take the picture. Don’t move the camera until you hear the “recording complete” sound.

3. Ideas for using a digital camera in the classroom

  • – The Living Alphabet: students form letters using their bodies
  • – Alphabet City: Based on the award winning children’s book, students find the letters of the alphabet in their surroundings.
  • – Field Trip: Designate one or more “official photographers” to photo highlights of their trip; set specific guidelines for the kind of photos you want them to take. A checklist, especially for younger students, can be helpful.
  • – Over the course of the year, have students take turns being the photographer for a day. Again provide guidelines for the kind of photos you want them to take; in particular, avoid having them take photos of only their friends. By the end of the year, you should have a scrapbook of the year’s activities as well as lots of photos to include in their work.
  • – When doing a project, have a student photograph each step of the project; this can be included in a final report or poster and can be used to demonstrate the project to the next class.

4. Where to learn more about digital photography