[Indigo Boy]

I have been checking out digital cameras at the $200 to $299.99 range. Among them, [Megapixel] Olympus DL360, Fuji Fine Pix 1300 (new), HP's new 215, and the next HP up, which is also new and has a 2.1 Megapixel resolution. Does anyone have any experience with any of these cameras? Also, recommendations on the least expensive place to buy something like this (with a good reputation)?

Thanks!

[Paul Huang]

It may sound funny, but you should decide which camera to buy based on the storage media, connection method, and battery.

All of the digital cameras eat batteries like there is no tomorrow. The only brand that I know of which has rechargeable battery that's satisfactory is Sony.

That being said, let's look at media. You will see floppy (forget it), CD-R (how silly), SmartMedia (you need to get a reader or floppy adapter), and CompactFlash (higher power consumption, but used in most high-end devices).

If you have a PowerBook already, the BEST choice is the ones with CompactFlash. There is a $10 PCMCIA (PC card) adapter you can buy. Just slide the CompactFlash card into the adapter and insert it into the PC card slot and you are ready to read the files.

If you don't have a PowerBook, then you need to buy a $70 reader anyway. I have found most ADB/serial port devices to be intolerably slow, so buying an iMac ($799) just for the USB port is not such a bad idea, because it also comes with a fast processor (assuming that you have an older Macintosh).

[Indigo Boy]

Thanks, Paul, for your thoughts. I hadn't really given a great deal of thought to the storage medium. I was thinking more along the lines of image quality, but you've given me some food for thought! Thanks.

I have a summer 2000 iMac DV, so it has USB and Firewire, and of course, no floppy. Many of these cameras have USB... does that mean that I can just connect them to a USB port directly to copy photos to my hard drive?

[Paul S]

If you buy Olympus, you will need to buy a card reader for sure. Most Kodak's come with a USB cable and very easy to use software. I have a Kodak DC280 (2 MegaPixel) and it transfers the highest resolution pictures in about 20 seconds each. With a 1 MegaPixel camera, the files would tranfer faster because they are smaller. I have been thinking about buyiung a card reader for convienence, but not necessity.

[Paul Huang]

Nikon wins my vote hands down. However, with sub-$1,200 cameras, you typically are unable to use it as an "action" camera. The half-second delay is enough to drive you nuts. Nikon, to me, gives me the ability to go directly to plate/printer without much color correction.

Olympus has one model that can do simultaneous and continuous shooting and the quality is very good.

I have USB/FireWire on the cameras, but I don't find myself using it. Having more than two cards is a better option--it is just like replacing your film in your old-fashioned camera. For example, you are on a studio set and the camera is mounted on a tripod. Either you have to have a long enough USB or FireWire cable and the computer is close enough, or you have to take the camera and run over to the computer.

I don't like the fact that the model or subject knows that they can see the result instantly. The anxiety or desire to see the image breaks the pace of a shooting session.

[Indigo Boy]

Thanks again for your responses. I'd *love* to be able to afford a $1,200 camera, but that's just not realistic on my budget. (Actually, even $299.00 isn't that realistic, but it's more or less attainable.)

I just need a camera I can use to print out 4" by 6" pictures and use to send pix as e-mail attachments.

Any recommendations on that kind of camera within a budget of $200.00 to $299.99?

Thanks!

i have the Olympus 360 and have been really happy with it. the printouts i get are very sharp and clear, especially at 4x6 inches.