Digital Cameras

[Anonymous]

I will buy a digital camera soon. What about this one (http://www.circuitcity.com/ewebIMa/frame1.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1690127318.1005668015@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccdiadcdijigeficfngcfkmdffhdffg.0&upper=head.jsp&lower=frame2.jsp&left=leftchildcat.jsp&department=Cameras+%26+Imaging&right=productsearch.jsp&category=Digital+Camerasone?)? It comes with a 4MB Memory Stick. Should I add on the 32MB Memory Stick? I can upload pictures to several free sites, but can I upload the slideshows? I believe the format is MPEG. I want to email and post pictures more than print them out so I don’t think the Megapixel size will be that important. What advice can you give me?

[Anonymous]

In case the link doesn't work it is the Sony 1.3 Megapixel 3x Digital Zoom Digital Camera.

[glenn]

I recently read a similar question on a webmaster forum I belong to. The consensus from the pros seemed to be that you should buy a digital camera from camera manufacturers (as opposed to computer manufacturers). Apparently Kodak and the like have a better handle on the technology.

[Han Solo]

I have a Sony, it's actually a pretty good camera. I'd get more than the 4MB stick though. Depending on how large a size you make the pictures, you can't fit very much on 4MB. I got the 32MB stick and it can hold the equvalent of over two rolls of film.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Try pcworld.com for digital camera ratings. I have a Kodak 3500 that I'm pretty happy with.

[Anonymous]

I have looked at a Best Buy and a Circuit City (http://www.circuitcity.com/). The Circuit City link has a Kodak 2.2 Megapixel Digital 2x Optical/3x Digital Zoom Digital Camera.
Bring your pictures to life with this 2.2 Megapixel Digital Camera! The 1.8’’ LCD and 2x Optical/3x Digital Zoom allow you to set up and take memorable shots for emailing or printing up to 8 x 10 inch photo-realistic prints. You'll enjoy easy picture transfer and battery charging with Kodak’s Easy Share Dock (not included). You can also record continuous audio and video to capture the fullness of the moment! Comes with 8MB internal memory and a CompactFlash expansion slot.
Does anyone have this camera? Continuous audio and video is appealing. I’ll stop by the stores again this afternoon. It seems like the optional items on this camera are really required items for efficient use. The sales clerk steered me away from Kodaks and HPs on my first visit to Sony and Nikons.

[Anonymous]

http://www.photo.net is a great site for finding opinions about photographic stuff. It may be more "techie" than you'd like. Many of these folks are very hard-core.

I'm a film guy, so I haven't used digital much. (I have my slides developed, and then scan them.) I have tried a Sony Mavica and played with it's MPEG video recording. I wasn't impressed at all - tiny image size, jerky motion, etc. - but maybe that's just the Mavica.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

That Kodak sounds like the one I've got. Don't waste the money on the optional dock. You're essentially paying for a card reader and a battery charger, which you can buy separately for a lot less than Kodak wants for the dock.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Obi-Wan Kenobi on 2001-11-13 16:05 ]</font>

[Shrek]

You can put me in the "go with a camera maker" camp. I still use the 35mm when I want the highest quality shots, but my Kodak is pretty darn good. Intended use should also be a consideration...if you're only going to use it for sending electronic copies to friends and family, don't let them talk you into more than 2mp. And if they haven't told you, optical zoom is the important one.

[Damn, Dirty Ape]

If you are only going to use pictures for web pages, and if you like full motion video, AND if you don't already have a camcorder, you should look into spending a more to get a digital camcorder.

I bought one last year, and I am super happy with it. Some come with a flash card to store digital stills, which would be high-enough quality for web applications.

The video is extraordinary. Very crisp and clear (close to DVD quality). Plus you can do all your editing on your PC, including titles, music, sound effects and star wipes (I know, there are other wipes, but why have baloney when you can have steak?) You can save movies as MPEGs and e-mail them. It's really versatile.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Good point from the space ranger. Digital zoom is bogus. Optical zoom is what counts.

[Anonymous]

The 1.8’’ LCD and 2x Optical/3x Digital Zoom allow you to set up and take memorable shots for emailing or printing up to 8 x 10 inch photo-realistic prints.
So is this good or bad, optical/digital?

Thanks for the heads up on the optional dock. What does a card reader do? Is it necessary?

I don't have a camcorder of any kind. I'll give those a look tonight.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

2x optical is not bad for a relatively inexpensive digital camera. The thing about the digital zoom is that it's not doing anything you can't do, with much finer control, using image editing software. (I strongly recommend Photoshop Elements, BTW.)

A card reader is designed to read your removable Memory Sticks, Compact FlashCards, whatever, without the camera attached. Sometimes they're faster, too, I think, and are probably more convenient if you have multiple cards. I don't have any expansion memory yet anyhow, so I haven't researched the issue in-depth. I know they aren't necessary.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Obi-Wan Kenobi on 2001-11-13 21:51 ]</font>

[Shrek]

I went without a card reader for about a week, then realized what a drain on my batteries it was. The card reader is cheap, and much faster. I would recommend it without hesitation. One note of caution, make sure the software works with your operating system. I was ready to make the leap to xp, then I found out half my drivers wouldn't work, including my disk reader.

[Anonymous]

Digital zoom isn't totally useless. Mrs. Pseudolus has used a digital camera to take progress pictures at her job and throw them immediately onto a website. She doesn't want to bother at all with editing software, so the digital zoom helps her compose in-camera to capture just what she wants. If you're going to do any post-processing at all, the digi-zoom won't be worth much.

Another software suggestion: Paint Shop Pro, a complete version of which you can download as shareware. (It stops working after about 3 months, at which time you can pay for it, get rid of it, or delete and reinstall from the downloaded zip file.)

[Anonymous]

Okay, I’m set to buy the Kodak DX3600 this afternoon and report back tomorrow. I’m checking on the requirements for the laptop that will be the primary system. There is no price difference between Best Buy and Circuit City. I will wait on the camcorder for now. The camera is $300. The 32MB Memory Card is $40. I’m set on these. The Kodak Easy Share Dock is $80, but if it is both a card reader and battery charger that seems to be recommended here, then I may pick it up. I’ll ask about Photoshop Elements.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Ordering from Dell, a flash card reader is $32.45 (+ S&H). My battery charger was about $20. Before you buy the camera, or talk to the pushy (even though he's supposedly not on commission) salesman, scout out the price for the separate pieces, and then decide whether the extra convenience of the camera dock is worth the extra $30 or so.

(Edit for stupid typo)

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Obi-Wan Kenobi on 2001-11-14 10:18 ]</font>

[Ron Weasley]

If you have any interest in video as well as still shots, do give consideration to a digital video camera with still shot capabilities. I'm always trying to figure out if I want to be using my 35mm or my camcorder and having them in one device would be nice. Sometimes I only get to take the shot once, and that's with whatever I have in my grubby little hands at the moment.

[Shrek]

I'd echo Obi. If you're going to be working on a laptap, I'd be sure you have the necessary ports available.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Status?

[Anonymous]

I bought the camera (Kodak DX 3600), memory, and the easy thing-a-ma-bob. They didn't have Printshop Elements at Circuit City.

I have taken pictures, videos, and set the time. I haven't transfer anything to the laptop or television. The video plays back on the camera with full audio with impressive quality. I'd like to see it on the laptop and television before I rave too much.

[General Kenobi (ret.)]

Photoshop, not Printshop. I'm not trying to be snotty, but (depending on the quality of the help) it's possible a store could have what you actually wanted and not tell you.

[Anonymous]

I’ll check it out again. It was probably my bad. A cute little girl helped me out. Perhaps I subconsciously wanted a reason to go back.

[Ammie]

Sucker :grin:

[Hagbard Celine]

LOL!

Things like that happen to me all the time!

[Effa]

I'm surprised no one suggested the Mavica line from Sony - any thoughts on those? I had the chance to borrow one for a vacation over the summer and it took some fantastic photos - and the ability to store directly on floppies made the whole "memory stick" thing obsolete. Each disk held 18-25 shots, already in .jpg format. For convenience, I don't think it can be beat...