Digital Cameras!

Planned Obsolescence


What kind of Digital Camera do you have?

Pictures! Who doesn’t have a digital camera these days? It’s amazing how many models and types of cameras come out every year! According to Nikon’s sold 820,000 units of digital SLR cameras in the first quarter of fiscal 2009 (April 1, 2008 – June 30, 2008), and estimate to sell a total of 3.3 million units in the Fiscal year 2009 ending March 2009. The increase is due to planned obsolescence, which the digital camera becomes out of date due to a better model coming out yearly. Looking at the planned obsolescence of the batteries for digital cameras is high in waste and price. You can spend up to 125.00 a year alone on batteries. Think you’re smart and will purchase rechargeable batteries? Rechargeable batteries are made with a significant amount of toxic metals, including mercury. While the NiMH is the least toxic of the rechargeable varieties, they still have more toxic metals than throw-away alkaline batteries. Also, rechargeable batteries lose their charge during long periods of non-use. Another part of the digital camera that creates Planned Obsolescence is the LCD lens. The LCD lens can be broken by just a touch of a finger. Some digital cameras have protectors, and even with the protector the camera manufacture doesn’t warn you that leaving your camera in your car on a hot/cold day might break the LCD lens.

So, to counter Planned Obsolescence you can recycle your digital camera instead of throwing it away. You can buy cameras with software that can be upgraded in the internet, you can be happy with your camera you bought with 12.1 mega pixels and not buy the upgrade a year later that is 12.8 mega pixels. Lastly, by just recycling alone you can prevent 1.2 million tons of electronic waste.

Battery facts

http://www.thethriftygrad.com/rechargeable-batteries-versus-throw-away-batteries

http://blog-topix.com/Digital_Cameras_Planned_Obsolescence.html

http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/top-digital-camera-repair-problem-broken-lcd-screen-1190696.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Recycling-Digital-Cameras-Online-For-the-Highest-Cash-Payments&id=3525764





Ryan Flitcroft