What Will They Come Up With Next?

As an employee of a major electronics retailer, I get to try most cameras that are presently on the market, for this particular post there are a couple that come to mind: The Canon SD980, Sony T90, Samsung ST550 and the Nikon S230. What do all these cameras have in common? They are all touch screen cameras...Now, what if I was to tell you that Canon, in there infinite wisdom (sarcasm intended) has submitted a patent to the US Trademark Office that involves a touch screen DSLR...that's right folks touch screen...DLSR...

After some intense Googlin' (word), I believe I have found the actual patent that my references have referred to (link posted below). While reading this 13 page patent report, which I've been told is actually quite short for a patent report, I experienced several emotions. At first I was confused, why would anyone need a touch screen on a DSLR, but then I thought about the Canon SD980, which has touch-auto focus, which is actually quite handy. Then I got negative, after trying the Sony T90 and the Nikon S230 and not really being impressed with there response, or lack thereof, I thought that this could turn into that. Finally, I felt hopeful, that maybe a feature like this might just take photography forward.

Bigshot: A Camera for Education

Once in a while, I stumble across something on the internet that really moves me, a vision of sorts that I can whole-heartedly believe to be something that looks to move digital photography forward. It's called the Bigshot, and that's what it turns kids of all ages into. Built on the four basic principles of build, learn, use and share, this camera hopes to give all people of all economic backgrounds the ability to capture moments in their lives.

The camera literally arrives in pieces and is assembled using basic screw drivers and patience, complete with a 2 megapixel sensor and multiple lens options, it packs quite the punch. It even has a flash that is powered by a single AA, but wait, what powers the camera itself, you say? A dynamo motor, that's right, the camera (without flash) can be entirely powered by a few simple cranks of a small plastic winder on the side of the camera. It's an incredible idea. The pictures are stored on internal memory and can be transferred to a computer through a simple USB connection. The lens options that I mention include, not only a "normal lens" but also a panoramic lens with a 72° field of view and finally, and most impressively, the ability to take a Stereo-Prismatic (3D) image. Using those funky blue and red glasses we all know and love, you can view the image in 3D, I know, amazing...