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Disposable Cameras: Unexpected Quality

The disposable cameras offer very basic functions, but its photo quality is decent and sometimes comparable to that of conventional compact cameras. The disposable cameras offer very basic functions, but its photo quality is decent and sometimes comparable to that of conventional compact cameras. Reel cameras resist the onslaught of digital terrain unexpected: disposable cameras, those in which the reel, the lens and the other components are integrated into a housing that is damaged when removing the film for processing. There are few users for an event in which they propose that the camera can be damaged (such as a dinner with friends or a day at the beach) not risk the face and sensitive digital camera and opt for a plastic camera and a cardboard single use. These cameras are very simple: the reel is passed by hand, have not zoom, self timer or aperture indicator. Nor can regulate the amount of light entering the lens or the exposure time. Even those that offer "flash" come with batteries already installed. We certainly do not serve to make professional-quality photos and it would be foolish to use them for a wedding story, but the laboratory test has shown that the quality they offer is sufficient and fulfill their mission more than worthy.

After six drops to concrete all continued to function. We analyzed seven disposable cameras, five conventional and two submersible flash without flash, which cost from EUR 5.50 Lebox and Starblitz Agfa, to 12.75 euros in Fujifilm Fujicolor QuickSnap Marine (submersible). In fact, Agfa is not disposable because it can be reused with a new reel. The best value for money is Fujifilm Fujicolor QuickSnap Jeans, some of the best photo quality (4 out of 5) and among the cheapest. If the user searches for an underwater camera, the best choice is Kodak Ultra Sport, also with a good quality and much cheaper than the other submersible. Technical FACTS: The information provided to consumers is adequate and sufficient in the seven chambers. All marks and inscriptions include those required by law. Agfa, the two Fujifilm, and Kodak Starblitz can do 27 pictures. Atomic Flash announces 24 pictures, but she can make three more "gift" (not taken into account because the price per picture was obtained excluding the "gifts"). The more shots reel allows the Kodak Ultra Compact, with 39 photographs (12 are "free", so this camera has become one of the most expensive per photo, with 41 euro cents).

In a product that is designed to carry in your handbag or pocket is important that weighs little. The submersibles are 50% heavier than normal. Atomic Flash, with 92 grams, is lighter. Agfa Lebox (131 grams) is the conventional heavier and Fujifilm (171 grams) heavier from submersibles. Both teams include a submersible strap to your wrist and grab them avoid falls. Kodak and Agfa Ultra Compact Lebox have a place to attach the strap (not included). The five cameras have a flash light to indicate that it is loaded and ready for use. Acting Fates: The scope of these cameras approach is fundamental: it is the minimum and maximum distance at which objects appear sharp (not adjustable). The two elements even Kodak can shoot 80 feet away (in the rest, the minimum distance is the meter). Fujifilm in the two objects only come out focused to less than three meters, Atomic Flash, Agfa and Starblitz Lebox reach four meters and Kodak Ultra Compact is the best with five meters (all with the flash on).

The focal length is the ability of the camera lens to capture more or less visual field. Thus, a focal length of 28 mm visual field covers more than another 35 mm. This test was done by placing the camera in exactly the same place, making a picture and seeing how much space you get to portray. Agfa, the best by far is the only equivalent to a target of 28 mm. Fujifilm and Starblitz with 35 mm, were the worst. As teams are the beats and falls are likely, their resistance was tested six times dropping from a height of one meter onto a concrete surface. All resist shock and still function, but the Fujifilm ceases to be underwater because it loses its seal. Kodak Ultra Compact, Atomic, Agfa, Fujifilm and Starblitz suffered minor cracks in the cardboard, which do not affect its functioning. The best was the submersible Kodak, which announces itself to be resistant to shock, and showed little damage after a fall. The underwater cameras get their seal with a plastic coating that fulfills its function only near the surface (not recommended for deep diving.) The two were submerged in water for three days and showed that its mission adequately met.

Photo Quality: All these parameters examined in the laboratory of little use if we examine the real quality of these cameras. To do so, were photographed with each different scenes with different environmental conditions. A photo expert compared the images taken by cameras disposable between them, and these in turn with a sample (those taken with a conventional camera.) It isgiven a  value from 1 to 5 sharpness, color reproduction, contrast, aberrations (the lines should be parallel to the edges of the image), cartoons (homogeneous colors are distorted), parallax error (the difference between what is seen through the viewfinder and capturing the target), halos (the mist that is created around an area of contrast), the flash, shutter speed, grain size, glazes (indicate that camera is not light tight), handling, finish and aesthetic appearance of the equipment.

The photos are better quality of the Kodak Ultra Compact (5 points 5), which gets top marks in virtually all elements measured, except in the aberrations (remains at 3 points) and parallax flash power plugging and handling (in all 4 points). The only thing against him is that once activated the flash can not be disconnected. The worst photos were obtained with Atomic Flash, Agfa and Starblitz Lebox with 3 points 5. In all Atomic cameras that were used for this analysis covers the cardboard that come off eventually, so finish suspended. Starblitz was the best in the light leak, but failed the test shutter. Agfa was the best in aberrations, grain, sealing, handling, workmanship and aesthetic appeal, but suspended in color reproduction. The aesthetics of this team, very accomplished, refers to a compact camera and can even operate as such, because you can change the spool. Both Fujifilm and Kodak cameras waterproof got a middle rating (4 out of 5).

The key is in the spool: A traditional camera (not digital) is a dark, airtight box with an opening that lets in light. A lens placed in that opening, the image projected through the lens to the film. The quality of the photographs depends on this mechanism works perfectly and can be modified by the user (shutter speed, lens focus?), But it depends even more on the quality of photographic film. In cameras as basic as discussed here, the quality of the reel becomes essential and is one of the most important criteria for choosing a disposable camera. The sensitivity of photographic film is the speed at which the photosensitive emulsion reacts to light. The higher the value, the film is able to capture more light, so it is sufficient with a lower aperture or a shorter exposure time (in the chambers in which these values can be adjusted.) The brightness is measured with the international standard ASA, in which a 400 ASA film offers twice as bright as the other 200 ASA and half a 800 ASA.

The films of this analysis, taking photos more brilliant, the most sensitive, are the two submersibles. ASA 800 offer reels under water because it is necessary to capture as much light as possible. Kodak Ultra Compact is the only non-submersible with a roll of 800 ASA, which helps explain that it is the best photo quality. The two submersibles have not obtained such good results because its design is likely to prevail in sealing off the optics. The remaining cameras are equipped with film ASA 400, half of the above, but more than adequate to the task: taking pictures both indoors and outdoors. One by one, 7 disposable cameras:

Fujifilm Fujicolor QuickSnap Jeans

* Camera 5.64 euros, 21 cents for each picture
* The best value for money. 27 photos. With flash. The smaller focal range (only focuses on objects between one and three meters away). In the worst optical coatings (35 mm focal length).
* Photo Quality: 4 out of 5. The maximum value in clarity, halos, flash power, shutter, grain size and tightness, and suspended in contrast.

Kodak Ultra Sport

* Camera 7.13 euros, 26 cents for each picture
* The best value for money from submersibles. 27 photos. No flash. The second heaviest (147 grams). With high sensitivity reel films (800 ASA). The most that can withstand drops and shocks.
* Photo Quality: 4 out of 5. Scoring a 5 on all items except for color reproduction, contrast, aberration, parallax error, filling and handling, (in all 4 points).

Kodak Ultra Compact

EUR 10.78 * Camera, 40 cents each photo.
* 27 photos and 12 gift. With flash, but you can not turn off once activated. The broader focus (focus on objects located from 80 cm to 5 m). The only non-submersible with high sensitivity reel films (800 ASA).
* Photo Quality: 5 out of 5, indistinguishable from a conventional compact, probably because the quality of your reel.

Agfa Lebox

* Camera 5.50 euros, 20 cents for each picture
* 27 pictures. With flash. The best focal length (similar to 28 mm). You can change the spool and continue using it.
* Photo quality: 3 points, 5. The best in aberrations, grain size, sealing, handling, finish and aesthetic appearance, but is the only one suspended in color reproduction.

Starblitz 35FN

* Camera 5.50 euros, the cheapest. 20 cents each photo.
* 27 pictures. With flash. Among the lightest (93 grams). Of the lowest optical coverage, worse (35 mm focal length).
* Photo quality: 3 points, 5. Very good in tightness, but suspended in filling.

Atomic Flash

* Camera 7.90 euros, 33 cents for each picture
* 24 photos and 3 gift. With flash. The lightest (it weighs 92 grams).
* Photo quality: 3 points, 5. Suspended in the finish (all samples tested eventually separated the cardboard).

Fujifilm Fujicolor QuickSnap Marine

EUR 12.75 * camera, the most expensive. 47 cents each photo.
* Water-resistant. 27 photos. No flash. The heaviest (171 grams). Photo Reel high sensitivity (800 ASA). The smaller focal range (only focuses on objects between one and three meters away). Coverage of the worst optics (focal length 35 mm). After the fall continues to run but loses its tightness.
* Photo Quality: 4 out of 5. Maximum score halos, grain size, sealing, handling, finish and aesthetic appearance, but suspended in contrast.

The revival of eBooks and electronic readers.

Several initiatives in this area seek to launch a device that replaces the reading paper. The role continues to be main support for reading, but this picture may change if he wins once and for all electronic ink, and therefore the readers of this format devices. The expectations created by the appearance at the end of last year's Kindle electronic book reader from Amazon, linked to the release of other similar devices are being used to users to provide a new opportunity for a reading technology that fails to materialize despite the growth in the supply of digital books. The electronic book is one of the eternal promises that the technology industry and the publisher have been proclaiming for the last ten years. However, the market does not end imposed. Basically, users are portable devices electronic book readers that reproduce excessive price and a very limited number of file formats (do not forget that the electronic book is itself a text file) and a reduced catalog of titles at a price close to the paper version. Because of this, demand for electronic books is small but in recent months, several initiatives are making a resurgence in demand for aircraft force readers.

Expensive and in short supply: Pioneering the development of readers like Sony and Panasonic have failed on several occasions about the lack of editorial collaboration. The e-book potential customers are people fond of reading that are in the comfort of the transport and storage of hundreds of books into a simple memory card one of its main advantages, which in principle should not have trouble getting a solid market, more so considering that advances in electronic ink have given as much definition. But the fundamental problem of the electronic book is precisely the attitude of publishers in creating a digital book market. These electronic editions published at very high prices and DRM restrictions on the type. Pioneering the development of these devices, as Japanese companies Sony and Panasonic, have failed on several occasions about the lack of editorial assistance. In addition, some experts believe that the redistribution in the percentage of the sale of electronic books should be varied so that the author comes out benefited so far, which would affect the publishing business. However, the trend in the future of e-book also are due to Internet connection to purchase and download titles, the availability of the data and the development of social software that allows to annotate shared, and the provision tactile and multimedia functionality in devices.

Amazon Kindle: Kindle is a portable device for storing and reading electronic books launched by the Amazon store in November last year. It has an electronic ink display and connectivity to the Internet has 2.5 G networks, but limited only to access the online store to Amazon to buy and download books. Currently, the catalog of books available for Kindle titles is 100,000, plus special versions of newspapers and popular blogs, including the New York Times. It weighs 300 grams and, according to the manufacturer, the battery can last up to 30 hours of continuous reading. The price is $ 399 and each book has an average price of $ 10.

The 61 Papyre: Papyre is an electronic book distributed by the Spanish company FacThor Innovation, which has an online store for the sale of content associated with the device. Papyre reading formats are the most common, ie PDF, TXT, RTF, DOC, HTML and even can play formats such as MP3 and JPG. Although it has an internal memory of 512 megabytes, you can insert an SD card of up to four gigabytes. According to the manufacturer, the battery is capable of displaying up to 10,000 pages before it is exhausted. This long duration is due to the use of different intensities of electronic ink to display text. The screen has a size of six inches and a resolution of 600 x 800 pixels and four levels of gray. This device weighs 200 grams and a size somewhat less than one A4 page. The price is 350 euros.

iRex iLiad: iRex iLiad is a device that allows electronic reading and editing documents. In Spain it is marketed by Read-E, a pioneer in selling the unit with a range of content. Read-E has a catalog "online" over 500 titles in Castilian and expected to reach 2,000 before year end. The device is capable of displaying PDF documents, HTML, TXT and RTF. Its dimensions are approximate to A5 size and has a prisoner of 390 grams. The electronic ink display has a size of eight inches and a resolution of 768 x 1024 pixels with 16 levels of gray. In order to increase storage memory has several memory card slots CompactFlash and MultiMediaCard. It also has wireless connectivity and network port LAN type. Although the screen is not touch, its handling is done with a pen, like a graphics tablet. It is available from 499 euros in the version without WiFi connection.
Read & Go: read the news on mobile

One of the possibilities offered by these devices is the discharge of newspapers in digital version. Last April, the telecommunications company Orange showed Read & Go, a mobile terminal designed for downloading newspapers daily and constantly updated. To do this, Orange has reached an agreement with five major French newspapers to participate in the experiment. The platform Read & Go has wifi and 3G connectivity and allows storage of one gigabyte of data, some 200 newspapers. The business model is based on the geolocation to show related information and local users to consult the papers are in real time.

E-book technology, closer and closer every day.

In recent months have hit the market several devices for reading electronic books using electronic ink displays
"I can not read a whole article on the screen, if it is long, I print it on paper." This phrase so common among Internet is what has so far protected the publishing industry's stake in Internet, which are succumbing to the music industry and video distribution. The new e-book readers can change that. Books, newspapers and magazines are still sold on paper, especially the former, because reading on a computer screen is uncomfortable. However, the Web is full of electronic books. On one side is a non-profit initiatives such as Project Gutenberg, which offers free titles whose rights have lapsed, or WikiBooks, part of Wikipedia, which provides free textbooks. Furthermore, retailers like Amazon or eBooks.com, offering thousands of titles ready for download. Google Book Search service has also begun offering free book downloads.

But despite the millions of electronic books, and forms designed for this function, such as Adobe PDF, most people on the subway wearing a paper book in your hands. A long way. In the past they have tried to sell several models of e-book, as Rocket eBook, or eBookMan, which have not been successful or have been discontinued.  These devices suffered from a long list of drawbacks. For starters, the price was high for a device with a single function. They were not particularly light, and LCD screens used in black and white, they do not provide enough contrast to read comfortably. In addition, incorporating copy protection systems that made them difficult to use or limited to a catalog titles specific payment. In recent months, has come a new wave of electronic devices for reading books. One of them is manufactured by Japan's Sony, and is called Reader. There are other models such as the Iliad, manufactured by iRex, a Philips company formed, or the Chinese company V2 Jinke. The novelty is that many are using a revolutionary technology: electronic ink.

Although there are two electronic ink technologies, eInk is the first to be available in the market and is using these new devices. It is based on form images with millions of tiny spheres trapped in a thin plastic sheet. The spheres may change color from white to black, and draw letters or pictures. Like paper: The impression eInk screen is to be reading a paper, emitting no light, and the contrast and resolution are much higher. The books are stored in RAM memory device and may carry hundreds of titles in a package smaller than a paperback book. In addition, the touch screen is to take notes, and includes utilities such as phonebook, calendar or MP3 music player, among other things. The electronic ink displays consume very little power, and rechargeable batteries last much longer than a PDA, for example.

What we need to improve: However, these devices are still expensive, between 300 and 600 euros. In addition, the model still includes Sony anti-copy protections that limit uncomfortable formats that can read books, trying to exploit their own store of certificates, with a very limited choice and higher prices. On the other hand, display technology has yet to improve, because the soft drink (change from one image to another) is slow and still no color models. Despite the drawbacks, the electronic book, with screens that will not get the view, is here to stay. In the coming years is expected to arise new and better devices to take the entire library in your pocket.
Why bother to read on a screen? The reason you get tired of reading from a screen view of the resolution. Any hard copy has a resolution of 300 dots per inch or more. The edges of the letters are soft, and can use small sizes, which are perfectly readable.

Computer screens have a resolution of about 70 dots per inch. That means there are 20 times less points to draw the letters. Approaching, one can see the steps in subparagraphs inclined, like the "A". In addition, the screens emit light, while the paper reflects. The contrast on paper is much higher (black is more black and white is whiter). All these factors make the eye work harder to read from the screen, and so is more exhausting.