I need to get a digital camera good enough for some closeup shots for ebay and that breaktime message board thing.
Don’t want all the video stuff, just a photo camera. A greenhorn here asking for recommendations on a basic no frills unit.
Character? I never had any problem with character. Why, people’ve been telling me I was one every since I was a kid.
Replies
I use an HP Photosmart One Megapixel model 250 or 215 - forget which and don't have it here now. They don't make it anymore in that model but the newest ones are supposed to be even better and for only about two bills.
The flash is a little weak is all but I've been real happy with it.
Excellence is its own reward!
looks like a pretty big lens on that camera!Character? I never had any problem with character. Why, people've been telling me I was one every since I was a kid.
I like the olympia $179 office max
Maybe he's just happy to see you......;-)what the heck was I thinking?
Yeah, What the heck WERE you thinking? LOL.
Excellence is its own reward!
It has three settings. That is taken with the middle one. I generally use the smallest for my kind of stuff. High quality shots like a portrait where you want lots of detail would be on the highest setting. .
Excellence is its own reward!
Hey Rez, if you have a minute, show P how to small that picture up. ;-)
I just bought an Hp 320 for about $140 or so. It is ok for me, you would probably be happy with it. Google link
Wow! those prices are really coming down.
I know you were goadinb him into practicing with Irfanview but I posted that picture large so it would show the way it comes out.
Rez
I've heard good about the Olympus cameras too but noit all of them. Get to the library and look at the PC magazines. They do good reviews of the latest stuff out there with recommendations for best value, etc..
Excellence is its own reward!
try the "mall" at nikon.com
they have reconditioned. might have what ya want.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
This topic was up about 10 mo. ago.
Only thing I remember about it was that Kieth C. and I both bought a Kodak DC 5000 as a result of that discussion, cannot recall who recommended it. It is a big clunky camera for a digital, takes great pix, and for us clunky types, is probably the best environmentally secure camera there is. Everything is ruber coated, all the access 'doors' have o-ring seals, etc. You can take it to thebeach or construction site in the rain and it will survive. The pix attached is with that camera at the 45 kB setting (vs. the fine stting, which I think takes 240 or so kB of card memory but has much more detailed pic)
Yup, I love that Kodak. It takes a beating, and is great cause you can actually hold it with your hands, not just the tips of your fingers. Better yet, I can just plug the disk into the printer, and pop them out from there. It was a good deal from an internet supplier.
That is a great clear picture it takes. Is it saved right onto a regular floppy?
Like how Mu$h of a deal?.
Excellence is its own reward!
The disk Kieth is talking about is a flash card (an 8 MB card comes with the camera) with a present day cost about $50 now for a 128 MB card (a thousand pix or so storage at the resolution I posted). The flash cards are about 1-1/2 inches square. The card reader that plugs into the USB (totally separate from the camera)that I have cost me $45 when I bought the camera, think the camera was about $190, may be less now, recall I bought it at buy.com or similar web site (do a search for lowest price), recall Kieth found an even lower price ( was I ever embarrased someone was able to find a better deal!).
Exactly, except in my case, I have a laptop which has a 3 card reading slots, one for each of the different cards available for cameras, so I can pop the card out of the camera, and into the computer to download, or pop it into the slot on the printer to print the pics without modifications. Every camera can do the same thing.
I ordered mine from an outfit in NYC...I'm thinking one of those certain ethnic places big into cameras and such. I could find out from the receipt.
Thanks, mine uses same cards..
Excellence is its own reward!
Convenience should be one of the important criteria. I can just hook my computer's USB cable into my camera (Sony DSC-S85) and the upload is automatic. Don't need a reader or need to remove the memory stick. The more convenient it is, the more you use it.
I have an Olympus C-3040. Probably the next level up from what's been discussed here, but a very, very nice camera. But the lower model Olympus cameras also got great reviews at the time, which was about a year ago. One feature I like is it has a built-in USB and video interface, so all I have to do is plug into my computer and turn it on, and everything appears.
Word of warning on the NYC camera houses... they can be trouble. I'm sure they're all legit, but the rate at which prices and inventory fluctuate leads me to believe things might fall off a truck and into their warehouse every now and again. Either way, expect to pay a LOT less, get terrible service (especially busy signals), be bombarded with pressure to buy extended warranty contracts and other garbage, and have it take forever to arrive. I ordered from http://www.buydig.com, and had a great experience, but I know of others who haven't.
This pic was taken from just north of Arroyo Seco, NM, at high resolution and then dropped down 75% for posting.
Got excited about the durable Kodak DC5000 and found one at $259 but I run Windows ME and that's not listed in their system requirements.Character? I never had any problem with character. Why, people've been telling me I was one every since I was a kid.
Windows ME is listed on the CD that comes with the camera, also the web site below lists ME as an appropriate operating system.
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/software/dc5000/new/dc5000SwWinDetails.jhtml#details
When I looked up the site above, there was a notice that there is a recall out on the DC500 due to ELECTRICAL SHOCK hazard???? I sent Kodak an e-mail asking what to inspect, do not intend to send the camera in because 12 weenies worldwide reported shocks - they propably tried pluging their usb into a wall outlet!.
As Kieth can likely verify, on the DC5000, the computer connected card reader is about 10 times faster at pix downloads than the usb connection via the camera.
Guess we each find different things convenient. Plugging into a cable is easier for me than removing the memory stick and having a reader on my desk. And if speed is critical, get a FireWire camera, rather than USB. And a memory stick that holds 250 pix is FAR more convenient for me than floppies (Apple, for example, hasn't even provided floppy drives for a few years.) Nice to have options and alternatives, so we can each choose what's important to us.
Don't forget about batteries! So many different approaches on batteries. Some make you buy AA's. Some are rechargeable. My camera uses infoLithium, which not only has a built-in recharger, but also tells the camera how many more minutes you have the juice for. I took 150+ pix and still didn't need a recharge. Since I hate running out to buy batteries, or getting caught short, that's the height of convenience for me. Research the battery situation before you buy.
I had the opportunity recently to use a Nikon D100 - it has a Fuji twin; beyond that, accept no substitutes: uses Nikon-mount lenses; vitually the same feel as a F70/F90. Over 6 million pixels, pretty close to Sinar P2 resolution.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Though I'd guess you'd agree that 6 megapix is overkill for an email/ebay application. Overkill for most non-professional uses.
Decent home printers these days produce 4800 x 1200: you do the math. .
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
From Feb 2003 Macworld: "If your final destination is print, you'll need to make a few additional decisions. First you must choose a resolution. Though your printer may claim that it prints 1,440 dpi or more, your images don't need such a high resolution, because your printer uses several different colored dots to re-create the color of each pixel in your image. In other words, there is not a direct 1:1 correspondence between those 1,440 printer dots and the pixels on your computer screen.
"For the typical desktop ink-jet printer, 240 ppi is the highest resolution you need. If you plan to send your photo to an online printing service after editing it, check with the service's Web site for resolution recommendations. In many cases, 300 ppi will suffice."
In the spirit of answering the question that was asked, which referenced breaktime and ebay posting, anything over 3 megapixel is wasted money. In a field where cameras are divided into consumer, prosumer, and professional categories, I've never seen a 6 mp camera in anything but the professional category, and internet/ebay applications warrant neither a professional camera, nor $1995. And to be even more precise, since he's a "greenhorn" by his own description, and didn't even mention printing--only on-screen apps which need only 72 dpi--then even a 3 mp camera is overkill. Rez, unless you wish to venture into fine photography, save the money. Focus on how the pictures will get from the camera to your computer, how you will store and manage them in your computer, and the camera's battery requirements.
Edited 1/18/2003 10:01:13 AM ET by Cloud Hidden
Just like construction, everyone has their own standards on quality..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Ah, Phil, have you priced a D100, lately ? How does $1995.00 grab ya ? And that's just the body ! With none of the wonderful Nikkor lenses. Sweet unit, but, until I hit the lotto.........
I use a Nikon Coolpix 995 for work. It's a 3.3 meg with CompactFlash cards and Li batteries. Fully adjustable, built in flash, also accepts the big Nikon flash units. Runs about $500. Very compact. Can be set for shut priority, ap priority, manual, fully auto plus several focus options and metering options including spot. Builtin zoom lens plus you can add (screw on) wide and tele lenses. It has a connection cable for downloads, but I would recommend a card reader.
carpenter in transition
Just got a Sony Mavica CD-300. Records on little cds. Very nice camera with a lot of 35mm capabilities. I just had to order a new iMac to really make it hum, too bad, huh? EliphIno!
Billy, where you been keeping yourself? You and the missus been smoochin'? Sent you an email a while back, you ever check those? Don't be a stranger.......anymore than you are now.__________________________________________
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Does anyone here know why when an attachment is big like billy's it looks like a Hendrix light show when it comes up?__________________________________________
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Hey Cal, I did get your email. I've been keepin' Mrs. 'Snort warm by cleanin' up brush after that ice storm. And, she totally agrees with you about my big attachments<G>
That pic I put up was straight off the camera. I've got a DSL connection, so pictures load up like carpenters after they get their checks. What's a good size in k's for you modem muggles?
And Cloud is right on about considering computer connectivity in a camera decision. I really am having to get a new machine because I want to play with this camera, dang it...G4, screen on a stick aaarrrhhh, aaarrrhhh, aaarrrhhh) EliphIno!
Well damn if the 5000 watt attachment doesn't look like picasso. Good on you that the missus likes 'em.
I think the email was about that table log thing, maybe I passed on the info to my buddy with the peninsula log thing and forgot. Did I send you a pic of his project?
Man, it was a cloudy holiday season. Best get back on the straight and narrow.
nah..............
Don't be a stranger over at QT. Heck's got some artwork on the auction block. Might be worth a look.__________________________________________
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
C>>> "Don't be a stranger over at QT..."
Nice to see you guys opened the door to non-registered people, you should say that here. The ones that bitched about it are only a small percentage.
If you don't want to, I will, I have nothing to do with that site, and it won't get bumped 'til Tuesday.
Might never get bumped, I've tried and can't get deleted here.
Oh yeah, the table legs. There's been some new developments, I wouldn't advise your buddy to try it at home...I'm a bit cranky about the whole thing right now, but will post the whole story as an exclusive on QT along with huge attachments<G> EliphIno!
Thank you snort, I'm thinking beavers, but will wait to read the report. Don't fergit.__________________________________________
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Looking forward to it Snort.
Send me those attachments, and I will resize them for you.
Quittin' Time
I'll let you mess with my attacments, but only cause you're on the other side of the continent!<G> EliphIno!
Ruth has been taking heat here since before you were in knee pants ;)
Some sony's, like the MVC300 I'm clicking can take other lenses , I'll check to see if there's a wider one...these things are so neat! EliphIno!
Well, yes, BB, I have been around for a while, but I rarely post. If you look at mastheads of the early Taunton magazines, you'll find my name. Ruth DobsevageTaunton New Media
You've helped me out more than once, and I think I know everything<G> EliphIno!
Has anybody seen a unit that mounts to an SLR camera? I have heard about it, but it is perhaps just a prototype at this stage. It includes the "panel" that replaces the film at the film plane, and an undermount unit (mounts as a motordrive would) that is the brains.
I really like the idea, as I can just use my analog SLR Canon gear...all the lenses, etc.Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
You can get backs for serious 2 1/4 and larger cameras fairly easily because you're not too worried about size; 35mm cameras with changeable backs would, IMHO, become pretty bulky on conversion and impossibly expensive compared to buying new..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I got a Nikon CoolPix 4300 and really like it. 3X optical zoom and ~4MB. I can take close-ups from 1-1/2 inches which clearly resolve 1/64" -- see attached. It's what I need for my documentation work. If you don't need this level of resolution then you could probably get by with a cheaper camera.
I had planned to get a camera on eBay but after tracking for a while I decided against it. Finding out that warranties are non-transferrable in most cases sealed it for me. $20 or so more and I have an new, US model camera with full warranty.
Another thing to watch out for -- compatibility of the camera software (and card reader if you get one) with your computer's operating system. I had Windows NT and the Nikon software was not compatible. So I upgraded to Windows XP.
Good luck!
Man that's sweet!Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Yes, Nikon seem to have a good handle on the technology; and if you don't think you'll want to be able to mount different lenses, particularly if you already have an investment in Nikkor lenses; then the Coolpix is ####good camera.
The stupid software consored what I typed (or intended to type) as an "a" ????!
.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Edited 1/20/2003 11:08:13 AM ET by Phill Giles
woody
What I need as many builders do and never seems to get mentioned is a digital that does "wide angles". To take a pic of the whole room. seems digitals havent gone that far yet...at least not under $500. any info on that?
Be wide (digitally)
Namaste'
andy"Attachment is the strongest block to realization"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I'm hardly an authority on digital cameras, but some of them have a mode that allows you to take overlapping shots that can be "stitched" together with software that comes with the camera. So in effect you end up with a wide-angle shot. Ruth DobsevageTaunton New Media
Ruth
No offense but was I on vacation when you came into Breaktime?
Welcome aboard if you are new......
If you havent introduced yourself you might want to as I'm sure er're all dying to hear your bio and placement here at B T.....Actually see the new post in The Tavern
Be new
Namaste
Andy"Attachment is the strongest block to realization"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Thats what I'm waiting for, till then i use my Minolta 9000 SLR with 18mm lens, then process, then scan and so on..................
I don't own one, but have borrowed one from a cousin who has one.
I really like the one he has, which saves pictures in .JPG format to floppy. No messing with cables and such. I was at a farm show with it once, and took a picture for a guy and just handed him the floppy. Lots better than emailing it to him later. That way your picture storage capacity is only limited by how many floppies you can carry.
Driver carries no cash - he's married
Cheaped out compared to some of the recommendations here.
Brother had bought one off ebay for $299. I found same one on sale at OfficeMax for $299 and the dockingstarter kit came with it so I was ready to go. The Sony Mativa FD100 that can take a floppy disc also. Ought to serve it's purpose and too much other stuff on the line than to warrant shelling out the extra bucks.
Thanks to all for your input.
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Edited 1/23/2003 12:56:00 AM ET by rez
For future considerations to any who might be in process of buying a digital camera, spend the bucks to get the extra megapixals for closeup shots.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
rez
Still trying to find a digital for under 5 bills that does wide angle which is what builders need more then close ups IMO
Be wide lol
Namaste
Andy"Attachment is the strongest block to realization"http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Just met a guy that got a real good deal on a camera off of Ebay. That would be the place to search.
Lady wanted a smaller camera. Had taken 20 pics with the one she sold, but I'm a bit hesitant to get pre-owwned techi stuff from the net. A used computer? ya right.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Fuji FinePix 3800 3.2-Megapixel Digital Camera
6x optical zoom lens; external lens adapter ring included to act as a hood or accommodate optional wide-angle and telephoto conversion lenses
Don't know what the lense costs, but the camera's 399.
The one you got is only 1.3 megapix. There are 4.1 megapix cameras for only a hundred dollars more, and they'll give more detail than I can imagine anyone needing for ebay or email. At BestBuy, for example, you can even try them out and then return them if they don't suit your needs.
Ya, I bought it at Office Max and they said no return on opened cameras. They recommended contacting the company direct to see if hey would trade up. That would mean full retail I'm afraid.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Is your camera really only 1.3 mp?
Even so, the pictures should still be ok. It wasn't that long ago that 1 mp cameras were top of the line.
Of course you know how to set the settings, right, master of modern technology? lol
Post an example of something, would ya?
settings? Is that the glass thing on the end of that short tube?
Ya, I'll do it. It's down at the house.
What times the game start anyhow?
it's always a shock when you come out of denial and realize that your genetic disposition shows you're not really adaptable to detail.
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Edited 1/26/2003 12:34:53 PM ET by rez
Edited 1/26/2003 12:40:26 PM ET by rez
Ok. Here's a series at normal zoom as set when the camera comes on. at 20ft 10, 5, 1, then at 1 ft and 1/2 the max zoom and then 1 ft at max zoom. Wants to blur at max. Can it be adjusted for better clarity at 1ft max zoom?
And one for the california folks.
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Edited 1/26/2003 2:43:21 PM ET by rez
Your camera has a 3x optical zoom and a 6x digital zoom. But the digital zoom is an illusion. It's like you put a good picture on your computer and then magnified it x 6. It will result in worse resolution. I've turned off the digital zoom on my camera and live with the optical zoom. See if that helps, hurts, or neither.
When you take a picture, do you have a setting for high/med/low quality? That would be the setting to determine the resolution of the picture you take, the higher the res, (or rez, roar!), and the fewer pics you can save.
It seems your pictures are all small, yet they all show up fine, (except the snow one). Something tells me you have higher quality you aren't using.
Qrt&Cloud-They come up huge on the monitor and have to scroll around to see the perimeter. The pics take in Jpeg about 215 average then resized to 440 at 72 as recommended for download speed time here on Breaktime. Would that effect the final clarity seen here? Standard floppy gets filled at 6 pics.
Is the optical zoom on the camera?
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Edited 1/26/2003 11:18:01 PM ET by rez
Rez,
Do me a favor ???
Go back out and take that picture of the house again. This time leave it large, and send it to me in email.
Quittin' Time
Awaiting an Email address 'cause I don't know how to transfer floppies to anBreaktime address.
Matter of fact a guy just got a little one bedroom cottage a mile down the road which I pass every day.
Left unattended for years and kids attacked it. Broke glass and door. Graffiti. Suddenly a guy puts a shingle job on the roof. Limestones down a little driveway. Puts a shiny mailbox out front with the house number on it. Parks an old utility trailer on there and puts up keep out no trespassing signs all over. Entrance door has PT 2x8s side by side secured upright on inside of door. I know what he's doing. He has established residence now so he can sell tax free later.
Probably got it for the cost of the acre.
Never even dawned on me.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Exactly the sort of thing that I wished that I could have found.
If I ever decide to do this over again, that is the sort of thing that I will be looking for. The structure does not have to be eminently liveable, for me to plop the bucks down. Not even imminently, actualy.
I wanted that picture of your place so's I could see my new home. I'm gonna trade you my place for yours. hehehe
: )
Looks like you have done some pretty good work there. That siding makes the place look like a whole different place from when it was covered with asphalt siding.
I've started to realize that I have come a long way myself. It's beginning to look like I might actualy make it somewhere here.
Quittin' Time
Shoot, and I was wondering if you were going to turn me in to the building inspector. That front half is the actual redwood siding that was under the insulbrick stuff. The front porch was painted pine that I covered with some 1x10 redwood clap that I got off an old timberframe that got in the way off progress. (autoparts store) Used the same claps on the add-on in the back of the photo. Claps still had a Washington state mill stamp on them.
I didn't have anymore redwood siding at the time I did the back of the house so I used some rough cedar claps I got at auction and put a redwood tint oil preservative on them. Still a bit too bright to match the rest of the house. Maybe I'll darken it with some coffee grinds or elderberry juice. Roar!
Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
Edited 1/27/2003 1:55:08 AM ET by rez
Is that half circle window original ?
Quittin' Time
I think the digital photo technology has advanced to the state that I am probably going to give up film altogether in the near future. I can print 4x6 on the one hour film lab at my local sam's for .19/picture. At that size, a good shot from a 1 megapixel camera on good paper with a good exposure is as good as most point and shoot film cameras considering that you can maximize the shot in photoshop and the like. A 5 megapixel shot is indistiguishable from film to the naked eye at 4x6.
Anyone wanting great information and thorough reviews on cameras can go to http://imaging-resource.com/ the best information I have found on the web.
Incidentally, based on their reviews I'm shooting a coolpix 5700 and cannot believe the quality of the shots I'm getting. My only complaint is the lag between shutter release and capture. Makes it tough to shoot the rugrats or any other moving target. I was ready to buck up for the d100 but I think the digital slr offerings will mature rather quickly in the near future. I'm heavily invested in minolta glass and am waiting for their offering.
Tom
No, all the original windows were old pine single hungs without weights. Rot and crooked for the most part. Built in '08 with nothing but basics. No sheathing under clapboard and tongue and grove flooring with no subfloor over 2x8joists spanning 15ft downstairs and 2x6s upstairs. Makes a nice trampoline. Won't be listening to any vinyl up there till I put in some support beams across the joists. Two spanning 11ft.
Anyone know if I can get away with a double 2x6 beam under there spanning the 11ft from central chimney to the outside walls. Trying to keep headspace intrusion to a minimum.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
What's it cost for 2x6's ?
Try it.
No one should be crying "code" on you at this point. The house is built, and has been there for all this time. You don't "have" to do anything at all, do you ?
So give the doubled two by 6's a try. If it doesn't work, or doesn't work well enough, use bigger. Your support beams will only have to be cut shorter for the bigger stuff, so at least you won't have wasted that money.
Quittin' Time
Trying to firm up some of the bounce. When I had it opened I sistered 2x6s crown up to the joists hoping to stabilize it a bit and pounded two runs of bridging between the joists, but 15ft is just too long. No biggie, just another old house woe.Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.
The other...proper application of risk.
It's possible that cutting some of those 2x6's into blocking will help. Block every 16 inches or so.
Also, you can glue and screw 3/4 plywood to the bottom of the joists. (Cieling of the room below.)
Do both, and you should be rid of the bounce. Use a liberal amount of glue.
Quittin' Time