Top Ten Cheap Digital Cameras

 If you are like me then you love taking pictures of your children, which is more important to you when it comes to buying a digital camera – a cheap price or high resolution. The more pixels a camera can produce the higher the price will be. The same is true when it comes to the camera being user-friendly and lightweight. Here is a guide to the best of both worlds – high resolution at a pretty price and producers of pretty pictures at an affordable price.  

1.         Olympus Camedia D-370 At about 200 bucks. this camera features 1.3-megapixel resolution, 2MB internal memory, 35mm focal length and video output. . It is a leap in evolution from previous Olympus models as the battery lasts six times longer. It offers both automatic and manual controls allowing the user some artistic license. 

2.         Toshiba PDR-M61  This camera has twice the resolution of the Olympus Camedia D-370 but it will also cost you an additional $100. At three hundred bucks this camera features: 2.3-megapixel resolution, and a 38mm-114mm focal range. It is also a lot heavier than other cameras. 

3.         Olympus Camedia Brio D-100  Priced at about $250 U.S. this middle-range point-and shoot camera features1.3-megapixel resolution, a 8MB SmartMedia card, and a 35mm focal length and video output. It is easy to use but not for long as it has a short battery life. 

4.         Kodak DX3500  At $299 this camera produces superb images at 2.2-megapixel resolution. It possesses 8MB of internal memory. The lense has a 38mm focal length. It produces very high quality prints for a point and shoot camera that is so automatic. 

5.         Toshiba PDR-M65 This pricier five hundred dollar camera features 3.34-megapixel resolution, 8MB of memory, a SmartMedia card, 38mm-114mm focal range and video output. It has fewer perks than most cameras in this price range but is easier for beginners to use. 

6.         Olympus Camedia C-2040 Zoom This $500 camera features: 2.11-megapixel resolution, 8MB SmartMedia card, a40mm-120mm focal range; 1 USB and video output. It is heavy at 13.7 ounces. It produces movie quality images associated with $1000 dollar models however it can't capture audio. 

7.         Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P50 At $400 or so this camera is a hybrid between high end and low-end camera. It has 2.1-megapixel resolution, 4MB, and a 41mm-123mm focal range. However it has a poor battery life, which can be upgraded with a lithium battery for an extra $100.  

8.         HP Photosmart 315  This durable, easy-to use camera features: 2.1-megapixel resolution, 8MB of CompactFlash media, 38mm focal length and video output. However this $279 camera  does not have a zoom function. 

9.         Canon PowerShot This $299 camera features: 2.1-megapixel resolutions, a 35mm-105mm focal range and video output however it has a short battery life and the images are of average quality.

10        Ricoh RDC-5300  This 500 dollar camera features: 2.3-megapixel resolution, 8MB SmartMedia card, 38mm-114mm focal range, and video output. It is a heavier and clunkier camera. However it gets marks for user-friendliness and the photo software bundle that comes with it.

Here is a real good store to buy cameras from

Parenting Tips
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Dealing with a Kid with ADD

ADD which stands for Attention Deficit Disorder is a distressing psychological condition which results in all kinds of behavioral symptoms including a lack of concentration, bed-wetting, aggression and compulsive behavior.  It affects both adults and children.

ADD is almost always described as a three-pronged illness that contains three components – irritability, compulsivity and distractibility.  Another form of the disease is ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder), which adds hyperactivity to the mix. Minimizing the provocation of these four mental states can greatly help to minimize the extent to which a person's daily life can be affected by this disease. 

Here are some tips to helping you or a loved one deal with the uncomfortable behavioral and emotional symptoms of this disease. 

First of all Practice HALT.  HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Tired or Lonely. Avoiding any one of these emotional states can help prevent the compulsions, irritability and wandering thoughts that are symptoms of ADD. Low blood sugar is definitely something to avoid so make sure you child eats her meals on time, gets plenty of sleep, has company and is never provoked unnecessarily. 

Make sure that your kid takes all medications as prescribed and exactly on time!  Many of the medications used to treat ADD and ADHD have a short half-life. If they are not taken exactly as prescribed, the sufferer can suffer from a rapid shift in mood that results in aggression or an emotional 'crash.' 

Understand too that a misbehaving kid might also be suffering from the side effects of prescription drugs used to treat the ailment. Make sure that your child can avoid fluorescent lights.

Studies have also shown that ADD sufferers find it more difficult to concentrate if they are sitting under fluorescent lights. Low incandescent lighting of a yellowish quality helps them to focus. Realize that your child may need more exercise than most people. As most ADD sufferers are hyperactive they need an outlet to burn off excess nervous energy.

Make sure that your ADD child takes in at least an hour of aerobic activity such as walking, running or playing an athletic game a day. Take your child to Yoga class with you!  Meditation and deep breathing can help control the speeding mind and distractibility and irritability that are associated with Attention Deficit Disorder. Avoid stimulating entertainment. Movies or video games that are too stimulating can provoke violent episodes and mood swings in both adults and children with ADD. 

It is also a good idea to deliberately steer your child away from any kind of high pressure or competitive situation especially if your child is having problems getting his or her excitability under control. Stick to a daily routine.

Many symptoms disappear if an ADD sufferer learns how to stick to a daily routine that is consistent over a number of months. This includes eating and exercises at the same times every day and not working overtime.  Consistency goes a long way to controlling a child's ADD symptoms.

Parenting Tips
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