Gift Ideas Blog

I know recently we’ve been talking a lot about digital cameras, but it’s because I’ve had it on my mind. I just purchased a Panasonic Lumix FX55, and I’ve been fiddling around with it and using it.

It had been high time for me to replace my old digital camera, which I had been using for about six years. It was large and bulky, and one of my friends, when I pulled the old camera out to use, joked, “What is that, your fax machine?”

All jokes aside, I knew I wanted a new camera that was sleek, slim, and good at taking pictures. I’ve always been drawn to the Panasonic brand for its consistently high quality, and here was a new line of cameras from them that were quite sleek (especially in black!), pretty slim, and excellent for photography.

The display LCD is very large, and despite a month of use now, there are no scratches, so the material for the screen is quite strong. Also, the buttons are convenient to use, with an easy button for deleting pictures. The function wheel at the top allows you to switch easily among the various modes, from taking regular pictures, to recording videos, to viewing your pictures.

My only complaint is that when you take a vertical picture, the camera replays the photo horizontally, thus reducing the image size. Some other cameras I’ve seen automatically adjust the playback view depending on whether you hold the camera horizontally or vertically, where if you take a vertical picture, the image is played back vertically when you hold the digital camera that way.

In any case, the Panasonic Lumix FX55 is an excellent camera, and I highly recommend it as a digital camera gift for those looking to give one of these handy pieces of technology this Christmas and holiday season.

As a lot of people go on vacation this summer, a great gift to give is a digital camera. Why let your acquaintances pay so much for disposable cameras and the cost of developing film and getting prints when the eventual cost will add up to surpass that of a budget digital camera?

Digital cameras are great for travelers and those fun summer get-togethers. They can capture fun times at the beach or park or a visit to Disneyland or other theme parks. You can look back on your photos on your computer, burn them onto a CD, or order prints of them online or at your local photo developer.

They also make great gifts for recent college graduates because they will have many memorable experiences on campus and will want to remember them. Be sure to warn them not to post incriminating photos online on Facebook or MySpace because they might regret it later!

Some things to consider before purchasing a digital camera:

- Brand name (may indicate quality)

- Warranty

- Price

- Zoom capacity

- Red-eye prevention

- Screen preview (LCD monitor)

- Resolution (how many megapixels?)

- Included photo-editing software and other accessories (cleaning brush, tripod, carrying case, etc.)

Try Digital Photography Blog, Digital Camera Reviews, or Digital Photography Review for more helpful information about purchasing a digital camera as a gift.

Digital cameras come in various prices, so don’t automatically write it off as too pricey to be a gift. You can find some quality digital cameras without paying too much, and your gift recipient will appreciate it tremendously, too! Help make those memories by giving one as a gift.

It’s that time of the year when students around the country graduate from high school or college. It’s a time for celebration, which means it’s also a time of giving gifts! Here are some great graduation gift ideas:

There are all sorts of fun graduation gifts. There are usually cute teddy bears or other stuffed animals wearing charming graduation caps. Any gift store or stationery store will have little figurines and stuffed toys for graduates.

Graduates will want to cherish their school memories, so maybe a picture frame with “Class of 2007″ on it or a picture album. Maybe give a photo album with a few pictures of the graduate and his or her friends already inserted in.

A graduation gift is also traditionally one that looks to the future. What will your graduate do after he or she graduates? If it’s a high school graduate, he or she will probably need a laptop to use on their way to college. A digital camera is also a great idea for helping the graduate capture new memories made in college. A college graduate will probably be heading out into the working world, so things a professional might need, from briefcases to a new professional wardrobe might be a good gift to give.

And, since it’s a celebration, there’s always the big bouquet of flowers from your local florist. Maybe for a special touch, get flowers in the school’s colors.

There are plenty of graduation gift ideas that your graduate will love. Good luck to the graduates, and to those finding gifts for them!

Digital photo frame

A charming, technology-friendly gift idea is to give a digital photo frame. This is a great way to show off those amazing photos you’ve taken with your digital camera. The digital photo frame will constantly display one image, or rotate through a series of digital photos.

It’s a perfect Mother’s Day gift idea because Mom will love seeing pictures of good times you’ve shared with her on this frame. It will bring back memories that will bring her great joy. Give a digital photo frame pre-loaded with your digital pictures, and it will be that much more meaningful.

Find a digital photo frame via Froogle.

ecember 10, 2005