[egghead]

Hello,

I've been thinking about buying a digital camera, and I have a dumb question: are there any hardware/software issues that I need to be aware of as a Mac user? too often sales people assume you have a PC, and then you get stuck with stuff that won't work. Net reviews are often misleading because of this.

Thanks in advance.

[Paul S]

As long as the camera is listed as Mac compatible you are usually OK. Check that the camera has the same connection as your computer. Example: most Olympus cameras need a USB card reader for newer Macs, but it is technically Mac compatible. I have a Kodak DC280 that has both USB and Din-8 Serial. It is an amazing camera. I believe it was just discontinued and replaced by the DC3400. I use that camera with an Epson Photo 870 and get prints that look better then from my regular 35mm camera. Their software is incredibly easy to use. I recommend their cameras every time for the general consumer.

[iPaul UK]

I too have a Kodac DC280. And it's a great camera. It's "only" a 2meg pixel camera, but quite honestly, I don't think anyone needs much more than that (You just end up with huge files that can be tricky to manhandle, and ultimately the printed image isn't likely to noticeably improve). I wasn't aware that it had been discontinued, but it doesn't surprise me either. Here in the UK at least, I have still seen them on sale in many stores. So you should be able to get a really good deal on one. And yes, the software is superb. Very straight forward and 100% stable. I'd also guess the software would be largely the same for all Kodac camera's.

[screamingFit]

If you do a lot of transferring of images plus, want one of the best Compact Flash cards out there, make sure you use Lexar Media's JumpShot CF cards. They are faster than standard CF cards and most of them come with the USB JumpShot reader which has great Mac support. And, usually it comes bundled for free with the card.

An external reader is preferred, especially if you are always transferring pictures. Usually, the port on the camera has pins that can be easily bent and the connection can loosen up over time. Plus, with an external reader, you don't need to lug your camera to the computer everytime you want to transfer images.

I use a Nikon CP 990 camera and it preformed flawlessly under OS9.04 using the connection from the camera to the Mac. I also was able to do a firmware download to the camera that worked without a hitch, too.

I would personally stay away from SanDisk readers because of some Mac incompatabilities in the past under OS9 though supposedly fixed now.

-s'fit

[screamingFit]

** repost

[This message has been edited by screamingFit (edited 11-10-2000).]

[bobette]

SanDisk bugs are fixed, works wonderfully.... I have a CoolPix 950, and I've compared it to many other models: two words?

go nikon.

I've taken more than 5-6 000 photos for my work since I bought it last February, and, although it's a little delicate (to temperature extremes and such) the picture quality far exceeds all other models. Sorry to say so but the Kodak, Sony and Olympus just can't catch up.



------------------

want live chat on the Forums? Join other users and I and voice your opinion at: http://forums.macnn.com/cgi-bin/Forum8/HTML/000225.html

Thanks!