RCA CDS 1005

This camera has been sold in various stores for probably a little over a year now, and it''s "old" technology by digital camera standards. No removable memory cards, for instance, means that when you fill up the camera with photos, you MUST connect it to your computer, download the photos you wish to save, and then erase the camera''s internal memory in order to take more photos. All photos are at a 640 x 480 pixel resolution, which is ok for on-screen viewing, web pages, or email, but too small and poor of quality for any type of prints over 2 x 3 inches. You have a choice of "fine" or "normal" compression levels which will allow you to take either 16 or 32 photos, but I''d suggest keeping it set to "fine" to get the best photo quality you can. Instead of a higher quality "CCD" sensor which is what many digital cameras use to take photos, this camera uses a "CMOS" sensor, which is what you find in lower cost web cams (those little video phone devices you see hooked up to the computer, for you newbies). As a result, images are much lower in quality, faded in color, and lack sharpness compared to more expensive digital cameras. They can be "fixed" using image software, however. For the price if you find it on sale, this can still be used for "fun photos". If your subject is between 4-10 feet from you, and you know how to "tweak" and adjust color, contrast, and sharpness in any image editing program, you can somewhat improve the images that come out of this camera. The flash is VERY strong, and will flush out anything closer than 6 feet, so close indoor or night shots at let''s say, a party, will most likely not turn out. Many cheapo cameras of this type don''t even have a flash, so in that respect, the RCA does well just to have one, but just keep in mind it''s a VERY basic flash with flaws. The lens is glass, but again, basic. There is a fair amount of "barrel distortion" on close photos - this is an effect where straight lines and objects may appear slightly "bowed" and curved, due to the cheap lens. For kids age 8-13 or so, or someone needing a VERY basic camera who doesn''t require A+ quality shots, this should be a decent cheap buy. If you want printable photos or super sharp shots - spend more money.

Small size. Easy to use. Good deal for the price if you can get it on sale under $60.00. Comes with extra cables for TV viewing of photos - not commonly found in cheap cameras like this.

Poor on battery life for such a simple device. Buggy and hard to use software if a newbie buys it. Lower quality photos due to CMOS (web cam type) image sensor. No removable memory. No color LCD to preview photos taken on back.

Varied Olympus models, Kodak models, and Sony Mavica models.

Decent, third-party service. Answers phone quickly, but if you''re missing any parts (like a wrist strap or cable for instance), they try to get you to go back to the place of purchase first, rather