Liz Hunt, Primary Hands On Support (HOS) Consultant, has been researching digital cameras from Fuji and Canon and offers some useful tips before purchasing.

Are you thinking of buying a new digital camera for use in school? 

First of all consider who will be using your cameras.  Most schools will probably require them to be very simple to use – a classic point-and-shoot if you like.  They will be required for use by both the children and staff.  The camera must be robust without being too chunky and big enough for little hands to get around without touching the lens and yet still reach the button to take the photograph.  A good-sized LCD screen is worth having although batteries need to be considered since the screen reduces battery life when it is being used.  Some cameras come with rechargeable batteries.

How easy it is to download the photographs is important in a school – time is precious.  Most software these days fires up automatically when the camera is attached to the PC via a USB cable.  Some PC’s have a slot in the side for the media card to be taken directly out of the camera and placed in this slot for a quick download (as is the case with the last round of Laptops for Teachers.  These machines will take SD cards directly from the cameras.)  You can buy dedicated CD writers that allow you to place the memory card into the machine with a CD and your photographs are written directly onto the CD at the touch of a button.

So which cameras actually take good photographs?  Here are two to consider.

Special offer – purchase a Fuji Finepix A350 through the ICT Team at CRC for £100 + p&p
Or a Finepix A345 for £90 + p&p
Fax an official order form to  Christine Ruane 01865 - 428030