I spoke with Drew Mays, an ophthalmologist at UAB, about the stresses of residency and a career. Drew won the Van Cliburn Amateur piano competition a few years ago while being program director of the UAB residency. He is tangible evidence that you can allocate time for your hobbies. To those of you who are unfamiliar with this venue, it consists of a gathering of would-be classical pianists who decided to pursue a career outside of music. Drew assured me that there will be a time after my training where I will find sufficient time to pursue my hobbies. He tells me that during residency, we have to prioritize our options to create the maximal ‘amount’ of happiness.

Not too profound advice, but it is indeed a fact that we lose sight of (no pun intended). The next time you feel lost in the midst of your training, think about Drew’s reassurance. It can help get you through the day.

What camera is suitable for the medical professional?

If I wanted a quality enthusiast camera, I’d have gone with a DSLR. For about $1000, you can have a hobbyist set, with maybe even two lenses. I don’t need that for everyday use. For the average medical professional (or resident), a point-and-shoot camera needs to meet these three criteria: 1) portability 2) functionality 3) price.

I wanted a point-and-shoot camera that I could easily carry around the hospital. One with manual controls would be nice, but is not necessary. This would be a camera that I could use to photograph clinical pathology in the hospital and to use for recreation. If you’re in the market for a new camera, read on.

Portability

Most digital cameras in the market today are sufficiently small enough for purses and jacket pockets. Even the modern successors to my bulky Canon A60 are well-designed. A crude means to gauge the size of a camera without holding it is to look at the zoom power and battery use. Cameras that use AA batteries tend to be slightly larger than those with proprietary lithium ion cells. Two AA batteries will also weigh more than a block lithium battery. Cameras with greater optical zoom will likely be larger (many exceptions however), owing to the lens architecture. Ultra-compact cameras are generally more expensive than compact cameras. Popular ultra-compact cameras include the Sony Cybershot TXXX series, Canon Powershot SD series, Panasonic FX/FS series. Other manufacturers also have cameras that are about a tenth or a fifth of an inch longer than these. Just be aware that a camera with a 12x optical zoom will be bulkier than one with a 3x zoom.

Functionality

Functionality is one of the distinguishing features among a set of equally priced and sized cameras. The basic features to look for include zoom capability, resolution capability (megapixels), and preset modes.

Almost all cameras will have at least a 3x optical zoom. Kodak and Olympus cameras will likely give you a 4x optical lens for the same price as a 3x lens camera by another manufacturer. While a 3x optical zoom is perfectly adequate for most needs, having a 4-5x zoom lens enables you to generate a wider array of perspectives. Those of you who are interested in a 10x lens, I’d recommend the Panasonic Lumix ZS3 or Canon Powershot SX110IS.The Lumix ZS3 is a continuation of the TZX series. Both of these are power cameras with manual mode functionality. The Lumix has a Leica (German) lens while the Canon uses its proprietary lens. Both are excellent choices.

The counterpart to zoom is wide-angle capability. The option of wide-angle is less common, but enables you to capture a larger field of view. This feature is useful when you are taking self photos with other people. The standard digital lenses usually allow for 38mm angles (measured as a 35mm film equivalent). The Panasonic Lumix ZS3 combines a 28mm wide-angle lens with its 10x zoom. I also recommend the Canon PowerShot SD880IS if you are in the market for a wide-angle ultra portable.

Resolution of the camera should be considered, although you will rarely need any images with greater than 5MP resolution. Anything greater is unnecessary. It is perfectly fine if your camera has a 8 or 10MP sensor–just be aware that a higher resolution doesn’t automatically translate into better photos.

Preset modes are common features that allow proper exposure of common scenes, such as night scenery, landscape, or portraits. In a way, these options are perks that potentially allow crisper photos that you’d otherwise produce with Auto exposure control. I’ve found that having these options can be useful at times, but the lack of them in a camera should not dissuade you from purchasing it.

Price

Unless you have an unlimited budget, I’d not exceed a $250 budget on a point-and-shoot camera. This is a generous price, and should include most of the cameras that you would want. Remember that camera models cycle as quickly as computing power, and you may see two or three revisions of the same camera in a given year. This also indicates that you don’t need to have the newest models to have a functional camera. If you intend to replace your cameras every 2 years, you may want to opt for a less expensive model. I’ve noticed that Kodak and Olympus cameras offer more features than an equivalently priced Canon or Sony. Nikon also has many mid-range cameras that work well. Keep your eyes open for clearance sales with older models. You may be able to save $20-$50 on an older model.

Overall

You don’t need to be an expert photographer to enjoy digital photography. Remember, you are a busy resident working long hours. Having a camera in the hospital can actually save you in a pinch. I’ve emailed photos of rashes to the ID consults for spot consults. Have some cool pathology that could be used for grand rounds? No problem. Have a funny moment with your friends at the bar after work? No worries.

Which camera did I choose? I ended up with a Panasonic Lumix FX500. Its pertinent features include an extra-wide 25mm-125mm Leica zoom lens and a generous 3″ touch sensitive LCD. It also sports aperture and shutter priority modes, which aren’t as common in mid-range cameras. It currently sells on Amazon.com for around $200. A complete review of the camera can be found on Imaging Resource.

Other cameras I’d recommend include the Canon SD series cameras, the Fuji F60fd, and the Nikon CoolPix S610. The Fuji J20 is also a great entry-level camera. Again, go to the electronics stores and see which models appeal to you. Watch out for ergonomics and build-quality. If you have large hands, a sub-compact camera may be more difficult to navigate. One common flaw in cameras is the location of the power switch in relation to the shutter. I’ve seen many people inadvertently power off their cameras with the intention of taking a photo. Some cameras will have a more “plasticky” feel than others. Others will have brushed metal finishes. Buy the camera that suits you. Remember, you will [hopefully] be using it frequently.

Happy Photographing! Contact me if you have any questions.

For the longest time, I erroneously assumed that the vanes rotate because of the impact of photons. However, a more detailed explanation can be found on Wikipedia. A more proper explanation for the radiometer phenomenon lies in the energy gradient between the black and white surfaces. Osbourne Reynolds theorized that gas particles tend to migrate towards area of greater heat. In the radiometer, cool particles travel from the white to the black side through the edges, creating a pressure gradient. This gradient drives the vane forward, with the black side trailing. The orientation of the four vanes allow for rotation of the mill. Physics is like magic. I’ve made a video of my radiometer in action:

A portion of travelers will likely have a data plan on their cellular phones to push email anyway, especially with the growing popularity of phones that mandate a data plan agreement with their providers. With some technical expertise, you could tether your phone to your laptop and surf off of a 3G data network or Verizon’s DataConnect.

What about the average Joe who has a cellphone mended together with electrical tape (certainly does not have a data plan) and usually gets caught up in 2-3 hour layovers at airports? Here are some tips that can help maximize your chances of getting some free airtime during your layover:

1. At one point, Boingo‘s wireless service had a holey firewall that didn’t really block any outgoing traffic to the web. I was able to append something like `?.jpg’ to my web addresses and jump the wall instantaneously.  I believe that they have since “secured” their services, and this trick no longer works. Interesting idea nonetheless.
2. If you subscribe to AT&T‘s DSL service at home, you are actually entitled to use their airport wireless networks by simply using your login, provided that they are the carrier for the airport. I believe that Seattle, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Raleigh, and St. Louis are just some of the airports that use AT&T.
3. Some airports have an unencrypted, unbroadcasted networks for their internal use. You can fire up Netstumbler or Macstumbler, identify the SSID, and connect away. I’ve never done this, for ethical and legal reasons.  This should NEVER be done, and is listed for academic purposes only. In fact, any business that does this needs to fire its IT department. Security through obsfucation is no security at all.
4. If you are a member of an airline lounge, you get free wireless inside.
5. Actually, if you’re NOT a lounge member, you can STILL get free wireless. This is where the money is.  Some wireless signals of the exclusive airline lounges extend right outside of the entrance doors. Just park outside the Gold Club lounge and fire up your wireless card. Sure, you won’t get the free booze, food, and leather chairs that airline lounges offer, but you’re also not paying for membership. There are some strong signals outside the club lounges at O’Hare, Midway, San Francisco, Dulles, and Narita. If you have a laptop with an antenna built into the screen (IBM Thinkpad or MacBook are two that do), you will get an even stronger signal.

Be forewarned, if you connect on unencrypted wireless networks, be sure to lock down your system with a good firewall, and be wary of sending sensitive data. You could also route your traffic through a secured VPN. If you stick your hand in a honeypot (or sugarcane), do not be surprised if you get stuck…

Note: The aforementioned information is listed only as a theoretical exercise. Ophthosurgery.COM holds NO responsibility for the content listed here.

As usual, the name-brand product was about 2.5x as expensive as the competitive equivalent. At first glance, it was clear that the cardboard packaging on the Reynold’s wrap was sturdier. The perforated sides of the box was cut with precision, allowing smooth unraveling of the roll while creating sufficient tension to keep the roll inside the box. The serrated edge of the Reynold’s box also appeared more substantial. However, I was able to cleanly tear a specified length of foil from both boxes, unlike with the saran wraps. Mostly likely, it’s due to aluminum’s tensile strength. The Reynold’s foil was at least 50% thicker than brand-x, which helps minimize risk of perforation by heavier foods in the oven.

For food preparation purposes, I feel comfortable in using a cheaper brand,  as long as the aluminum doesn’t melt in the oven (that should NEVER happen anyway unless there are impurities in the roll). My baked chicken tasted no different with either brand.

Of course as a techie, I also use my aluminum foil as a reflector material for increasing gain on satellite discs.  More on that subject in another post…

I have a shoddy bookshelf that I keep many things on–books, papers, trinkets.  I had a bookshelf. I’d say a third of its objects were important, like bills, receipts, and keys.  I have 2 boxes of books conveniently supporting the bookshelf on both sides.  Why that is, I don’t know. Perhaps that’s all $20 will buy these days. I was digging around in the boxes when I heard a crack. The next thing a pile of rubbish was all that was left.

pile of rubbish

Ironically, my little fuzzy blue e. coli remained unscathed on the top. Bacteria always win.  The mess took me about 3 hours to clean up, most of which involved rearranging garbage to other parts of my apartment.  Somehow in the process I moved my keyboard into the space to fill the void.

the aftermath

Great, I just rearranged a pile of garbage into less noticeable corners of my living room, while replacing the space with furniture.  I guess no matter how hard I try, I will always be a pack rat.

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