Have a question about digital photography? Don't keep it to yourself. Send it to me. I reply to as many as I can--though given the quantity of e-mails that I get, I can't promise a personal reply to each one. I round up the most interesting questions about once a month here in this newsletter.
For more frequently asked questions, read my Digital Focus newsletters from February, March, and April.
I have had a Canon Power Shot S2 I5 for about two years. It's been a great camera and travels with me all over the country. But I'm having some trouble with it. Sometimes the lens does not fully extend. Even if it does, there is no view--and I get the error code "E18." The repair shop tells me that the fee just to examine it will be about $150. I could upgrade to the Power Shot S5 IS for about $300. Should I repair it, or replace it?
Well, you're not alone, Paul. I often hear about the E18 error. In fact, there are a few Web sites dedicated to the issue, and it is reported to affect about four dozen Canon models. As you have probably figured out, the E18 error is related to a problem with the lens extending properly. Generally, it happens when gunk finds its way into the lens mechanism.
If your camera is still under warranty, Canon will probably repair it for free. If not, I've found that repair shops charge between $150 and $300 to correct this problem. You might even be able to fix it yourself. A Web site called e18error has some do-it-yourself steps you can try, but I'd consider this a last resort and only attempt it if the camera is not under warranty.
Here's my advice, Paul: If I had to choose between paying to repair the old camera and buying a new one, I'd try fixing it myself first--and it it doesn't work, I'd invest my money in a new camera.
If you're trying to recover lost data, you are correct when you say that most programs just try to "undelete" pictures and aren't very good at finding data on corrupted memory cards. I've found a program that's different, though. CnW Recovery Software works quite well. I had a corrupted memory card with some once-in-a-lifetime audio. This program went through all the clusters and recreated the audio file for me when I thought all was lost.
Thanks, Bill! This program does look like a viable way to recover lost photos from damaged or corrupted memory cards. You can use the program for 30 days for $15 (handy for a one-time emergency) or get a full license for $29.
In Video: How to Recover Photos Deleted From Your Camera
I enjoy the Digital Focus newsletter, and I would like to make a notebook to store all your articles for quick reference. I wish there was a "printer friendly" version of the newsletter.
I get a lot of e-mail asking about a printer friendly version of the newsletter, so I should probably point out that we offer a way to easily print the newsletter. At the top of every newsletter (right under the headline), you should see a few links--look closely, and you'll see we've hidden the printer-friendly icon (labeled "Print") in plain sight!
My digital camera claims to take pictures at "10M" when set to its optimal quality level. But I'm confused. Shouldn't the JPEG files therefore be 10M in size? Mine come out at 4M.
Those
But pixel resolution doesn't have a lot to do with the actual file size, which is measured in megabytes. The file size will depend upon several factors, including the amount of data compression used to save the photo (this is sometimes called the JPEG quality level). All things considered, 4 megabytes is about what you should expect for photos of this size.
Still confused about the difference? Think of the megapixel resolution as the physical dimensions of a framed photo (say, 8 by 10 inches). The file size is the photo's weight on a scale, such as 14 ounces. As a general rule, the larger the picture is, the more it should weigh, but there's no direct correlation between the two values.
Get published, get famous! Each week, we select our favorite reader-submitted photo based on creativity, originality, and technique. Every month, the best of the weekly winners gets a prize valued at between $15 and $50.
Here's how to enter: Send us your photograph in JPEG format, at a resolution no higher than 640 by 480 pixels. Entries at higher resolutions will be immediately disqualified. If necessary, use an image editing program to reduce the file size of your image before e-mailing it to us. Include the title of your photo along with a short description and how you photographed it. Don't forget to send your name, e-mail address, and postal address. Before entering, please read the full description of the contest rules and regulations.
This week's Hot Pic: "Horseshoe Bend Overlook," by Kristy Cannon, Las Vegas, Nevada
Kristy says she took the photo with an Olympus Evolt-E410 DSLR and a Zuiko 7-14mm ultra wide angle lens. She used Adobe Photoshop CS3 to make some minor adjustments to the exposure.
Kristy writes: "I took this photo while on vacation last summer near Page, Arizona. On this particular day, it was magic hour and a small thunderstorm was brewing about 10 to 15 miles away. I set up quickly
This Week's Runner-Up: "Roswell Plain," by Robert Bartram, Bradley Beach, New Jersey
Robert says that he took this photo about 25 miles northwest of Roswell, New Mexico while standing on top of an SUV. He used a Canon Rebel XTi.
See all the Hot Pic of the Week photos online.
Dave Johnson
