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Digital Cameras?

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ORA ORA ORA ORAAAA!!

11:42 / 30.12.06

I've seen them for about $15, here, so they're pretty cheap, but that was a no-name (not that that would matter, really, since it'll either work or not, and if not they'll replace it), and didn't come with specific drivers. I'd say most computer shops would have at least one model, usually, but sometimes they'll be irritating and only have compact flash ones, or XD, or whatever, when you want SD (or whatever it actually is you're using). You should be able to find a decent multi-card reader for about the $15 (au) mark in an independent shop, though. Department stores and big shops are a little less likely to have them and will cost more...
good luck!

Hydra vs Leviathan

11:28 / 31.12.06

Last night i was talking to someone more knowledgeable about it and he recommended a free, downloadable programme called Picassa (sp?), which can do the same stuff as software that comes with cameras but better - he wasn't sure if that was suitable for Windows 98 tho...

Maybe i am just going to have to upgrade Windows (if this old piece of shit computer can take it)... thinking about it i probably know a few ppl with cracked copies of either 2000 or XP... how much does a decent size hard drive cost?

(sorry for hijacking this thread, i know it was supposed to be about cameras, not about my shitness with computers!)

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:10 / 31.12.06

A card reader can cast as little as one or two pounds - old ones will also be more likely to have Win98 driver disks, also - see here for some examples. Because you'll be looking for older, USB 1.1 devices, you'll be at the budget end. You'll need to know which kind of memory card you have in the camera, but that shouldn't be difficult to find out - just pop it out and tell us what's written on it if you're not sure.

Hard disks, incidentally, are running at approximately 20-30p per gigabyte for an internal drive - however, the bigger the drive the more the economies of scale function. Depending on how old your PC is, you may have a proprietary hard drive type, but you're most likely to have an IDE connector. However, the hard drive is by no means the only issue with upgrading to XP, in particular - your processor and RAM might also struggle. 2000 is probably safer, but you ought to check the operating requirements against your system. If the only reason to upgrade is to get this camera to work, then you're using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, to be honest - the risk to your data and your system stability doesn't justify it.

ONLY NICE THINGS

13:14 / 31.12.06

Oh, and Picasa is a Google program - basically an iPhoto analogue for Windows. It's fine for that, but whether it will help your PC to recognise the camera, I know not. It's also coded for Windows 2000 and XP - I don't know whether and how it would run on a 98 machine.

Hydra vs Leviathan

18:20 / 01.01.07

Problem solved!

A google search for "Kodak C433 camera windows 98" found me the 98 compatible version of the software as a free download on Kodak's website... so i am now cropping and editing the photos of me and my friend i took mucking about in the pub the other day, to send them to her...

Thanks for the info, anyway... i might possibly invest in one of those memory card readers as well, as it might poss be useful for stuff like uploading photos taken on other people's cameras...

14:36 / 24.06.07

I want one. Yes i do.

I'm on a budget of around £100-£150, but can stretch a little bit further if needs be.

I'm attracted to the Ixus range and have spotted an Ixus 60 (can't find it on the canon website - it might have been discontinued) for £140 in PC world, though the Ixus 70 looks to be a bit more sexy in terms of photo quality. My friend sells canon products, so may be able to swing me some kind of deal on this, but he's not sure.

The other option would be the Samsung NV10, which looks lovely. Like a old-style film camera. The reviews of it seem pretty positive, and it won the EISA award, which sounds like a good thing. It'll cost a bit more, but it might be worth it.

As far as i'm aware, Canon are the current boss of digital cameras and people frequently recommend the Ixus range. Samsung haven't had a great track record, but are apparently putting a lot of effort into making good quality pieces, of which the NV10 is meant to be one.

What does barbelith know/think?

18:10 / 24.06.07

Both of them look like lovely cameras, and not having used either I can't give a definitive answer. Look at the specs, though, the Canon Ixus range are universally lovely. They handle well, and take very good pictures.

I wouldn't worry about the slightly lower resolution of the sensor in the Canon - neither of the lenses in those cameras will be capable of that much detail anyway. I'd be more concerned with the amount of noise at high ISO. It looks like the Canon wins that, because it can do ISO 1600 vs ISO 1000 on the Samsung, but the Samsung has an F/2.8 lens (really good for a compact - lets in a lot of light) and anti-shake, which should mean you get good low-light performance out of that, too.

I love the design of the Samsung, but I wonder if it looks quite so good in person. Your best bet is to get to a camera shop and have a play with both, then either buy them there or go online/to your friend and get a better deal. At first pass, they both look like great cameras and I'm pretty sure you'd be very happy with either.

19:03 / 24.06.07

.trampetunia, here is a review of the Canon you're talking about, this is for the Samsung. Both of these sites are very helpful in finding information on digital cameras, the dpreview one was mentioned earlier in thread.

19:21 / 24.06.07

Yeah, checking out the reviews of the Samsung and the Ixus 70 show you to be right about the noise. Though i'm still a bit confused about the whole ISO thing. What is the need to change the ISO setting? What does it do?

I actually spotted the Samsung in the flesh before i had read about it online. It might even look better in real life. I really like the curved hand-hold part. As i have quite large hands, i find comact cameras are quite fiddly when shooting one-handed. The extra erg to the Samsung's nomics really help.

On the flipside, the shape of the Ixus makes it perfect for slipping it in and out of pockets and small bags. hmmm...

19:46 / 24.06.07

You could probably Wikipedia search about ISO and speed, but basically, the lower the number, you get proportionally less light sensitivity at the same shutter speed/aperture opening, but more image clarity. I think that's a good way of putting it.

07:52 / 25.06.07

Yeah, high ISO is something to use when you have low light but don't want to use flash.

I've had an Ixus 60 for about a year now, and I like it a lot, though it's my first digi cam so I have nothing to compare it to. I get the full range of picture quality from it: some great, some average and some duff.

Good points:

- Excellent macro. You can get as close as 3cm:

Coconut

Bug

- Simple to use

- Well-built and STURDY. My son dropped it lens-first on a kitchen floor, which caused the lens carriage to get stuck halfway out and unable to retract. On another Lither's advice I got butch with it and shoved it in, and it now works just as well as before.

Minor complaints:

- No anti-shake. If you have steady hands then probably not a problem but I often find pics are not as sharp as I'd like 'em to be.

- Not brilliant with high contrast. Check the light on the side of this chap's face:

Doctor Who Specs

- The depth of focus on macro is TEENY WEENY, and not that great on normal shots, come to think of it. However, this might be true for all compacts.

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