Re: digital cameras

sandy wrote:
> Looking through All the sales ads in the paper, I've just about
> convinced myself that Santa will buy me a digital camera for
> Christmas.  I want one good enough to take decent pictures (for
> ourselves and to email to friends), but I don't think I really want
> (or want to spend the $$$ on) anything super snazzy.  Looking at all
> the ads ranging from cheapie no-name bargains on up, I realized I have
> no idea what I need or anything else about digital cameras.  I'd
> really appreciate some pointers on what to look for, what brands are
> recommended (or which to steer clear of). Are these cheap cameras
> frugal or just...cheap? Also, do cameras come with everything you need
> to take pictures and save them on your computer or are there lots of
> extras that you really need to buy?  Any web sites with good info also
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Sandy

This is misc.consumers.frugal-living NOT rec.photo.professional.
My comments are consistent with that...be warned ;-)

You want more than one camera.

For closeups and pix to put on ebay, you want a 640x480 USB webcam.
Make sure you get one with focus adjustment and closeup capability.
The Intel CS330 is an excellent choice.  And 'cause they sold a BUNCH
of them,  I've obtained 4 from garage sales at prices ranging from
25 cents to $3.  Also can be used for netmeeting-style online
pix transfer.

From there, it gets fuzzy...pun intended.
What kind and how many pictures do you want to take?  If you already
have a 35mm camera with the accessories/lenses you need, that
can be a frugal medium.  The cost of a quality digicam can buy a lot
of rolls of film.  If you want prints, you might find them cheaper
than the cost of ink for the new printer you'll have to buy.
You can scan prints into your computer.

I bought a digicam and printer 5 years ago.  Quickly discovered that
to get a good print, I had to use the $1 a sheet paper and put another
buck's worth of ink on it.  And if it got wet it ran, and faded in the 
sun.  Printer been sittin' idle for 5 years.

Ok, so you REALLY want a digital camera.  The things to watch out for
are not the things most people think of first.

Do you have the camera with you?  If you don't, it doesn't matter what 
the features are, you don't get the picture.
So why don't you have it?
Too big to fit in your pocket/purse?
Afraid someone will steal it?
Afraid you'll sit on it and break it?
If you're going boating, you'll have lower risk with a cardboard
box 35mm disposable...and get better pictures.

When I pick up my 35mm camera I have a reasonable expectation of being
able to get a picture.  My digital camera always has a dead battery...
or at least will have by time that important shot comes along.
I've got cameras that I've had for 40 years that still take excellent 
pictures.  5 years from now, you won't even be able to buy that
proprietary Lithium battery in your digicam.  Even if you found one,
it would have been on the shelf 5 years and be mostly shot.

Shutter lag is a BIG issue.  When you push the button, you don't get the
picture until some time later.  I NEVER got a candid shot with my 
digicam.  A picture 2-seconds after your kid did the interesting thing
ain't very useful.  Yes, you can get cameras with short shutter lag,
but they're expensive.  Check the spec.  Don't be fooled by the halfway
button press time.  You ain't gonna have it halfway pressed when you 
most want it.

I thought autofocus was a big issue.  But it contributes to shutter lag.
If you have the closeup issue solved with your webcam, it's less a concern.

Zoom is an issue.  I have a friend with an older Mavica with 640x480
resolution and 10X zoom.  It gives consistently better pictures on
anything more than 20 feet away than higher resolution cams with less 
zoom.  3X zoom is too little. 10X zoom won't fit in your pocket...yet.

Another interesting option for some applications is an 8mm camcorder and
a video digitizer.  You have mega-zoom capability and just let it run.
You can capture any frame you want after the fact.  For sporting events
and other far away situations where the megazoom comes into play, the
captured video frames compare favorably to cropping and blowing up the
digital camera image.  For closer objects that don't move, the digicam 
wins hands down.
But when you can get a camcorder for a buck and spend two bucks on a 
digitizer, it's worth a try.

So, I ended up with a Sony DSC-1.  No zoom, focus free, serial 
download...partly cause my laptop didn't have USB and partly because
it was $5.  Somebody paid $800 for that thing not many years ago.
I'm REALLY glad it wasn't me.

So, my photography needs are covered for $8...unless you count the
$200 I made by reselling the cameras I tried and didn't like.
And I can always pull out the 35mm on the rare occasion that I need
a quality photo.

But I am gonna buy a Minolta Dimage Xt as soon as they get below $100.
Anybody got any version of the X for sale?
mike

--
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
laptops and parts Test Equipment
Honda CB-125S
TEK Sampling Sweep Plugin and RM564
Tek 2465 $800, ham radio, 30pS pulser
Tektronix Concept Books, spot welding head...
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/