Picture This!

Friends! Gather 'round! You'll be amazed by what I have to show you. It will make you happy again! You'll feel great! No, you will feel magnificent! Come on! Ladies and gentlemen I have here before me something that even the least mechanical, the least technical, the least physical, magical, hysterical, popsicle, musical, whimsical, and tropical of us can use with ease.

That's right. Right here and now we are our family photographers who record vacations, celebrations, and elations with digital cameras. Indoors it is a bright colorful screen we view on the backs of our cameras, showing us who or what it is we are photographing. However, once we step outside into a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day that glorious LCD screen becomes reflective. Where have all the flowers gone? You can barely make out if your friend is in the photo so you look around the camera and indeed, she is there. You take the photo, cursing non-Disney words because you can't see what you are doing.

Look no further for I have the answer to your prayers. Boys and girls! Moms and dads! Brothers and Sisters! Cats and dogs! Welcome to the world of Pop-Up Shades.

What is a pop-up shade?
It's made of plastic, folds down to keep your LCD screen protected when not in use and springs up and out when you lift the cover, to provide shading for better viewing of the LCD screen.

How does it stay on the camera?
For a point and shoot, simply pull off the plastic film backing and firmly affix the non-residue adhesive so the window fits around the LCD. You can slide the shade off it's track if need be and put it back on when you feel like it. For SLRs, the shade attaches over the eyepiece and slots surrounding the LCD.

How does it work?
When you're shooting in bright sunlight or anywhere that is casting a glare on the LCD, the pop-up shade surrounds the screen on the left, the right and on top to keep out light. This means you can now clearly view the screen. Doesn't that sound terrific?!

What colors do they come in?
Black and silver for point and shoot cameras and black for SLRs.

What sizes do they come in?
For point and shoots, 1.8", 2", 2.5", 3". For SLRs they are model specific.

Where do I get one and how much are they?
You can purchase it via AllEars.Net's Amazon Store. Prices range from $11.00 and up depending on the seller and model. They are also available at your local Ritz Camera and Wolf Camera stores for $19.99 for point and shoot cameras. Delkin, the manufacturer sells directly to the public.

Professional shades are available for SLRs.