Converting a Digtital Camera to 35MM

Plugging in...

What looks like a beautiful black leave on a white background? I'll give you a minute to think about this. I've seen two of them this month. Give up? That's what a broken digital camera LCD screen looks like after someone sits on it.

And I can't believe I've encountered TWO of them. The first one educated me. The second one looked very similar to the first one. I instantly knew what happened before the camera's owner could tell their tale of woe (I let them tell me - I didn't want to ruin a good story).

Both cameras were made by Kodak, owned by two different people, and sat on in two unique circumstances (one happened in Australia). One camera is still in use, the other can be used but only by approximating where to hold the camera and take the photo. The camera still in use is in use because it ALSO has a viewfinder. The sad fact is: both cameras can no longer display, delete, or show anything from the menus due to the now permanently resident black leaf on the LCD area. Essentially, both cameras have become 35mm cameras, but with a larger capacity to take photos than with film.

Both camera's pictures can be transferred using the camera's supplied cable, or the memory cards can be removed and put into a card reader, or brought to a digital developer. But the instant gratification of digital photography (and quick picture deletions) is gone. If the batteries fail, the date and time cannot be set. NONE of the camera's features are accessible so whatever settings were in place when they were the recipients of the sitdowns, are there to stay.

There is a lesson here, aside from knowing where your camera is before plunking said posterior down: a digital camera with a view finder is more versatile than one without. The camera without the view finder has been replaced with a camera with a view finder. I hear tell the other camera will continue its life until someone else sits on it and damages the view finder!

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, do you know where the camera is BEFORE sitting down, and is it turned on?

Unplugged