[speirsfr]

Hi,

I'm likely going to get a digital (stills) camera sometime between now and August. I'm interested to hear any experiences from anyone that has had success with a digital camera on Mac OS X, where mine will be used most, although I'd like to be able to occasionally plug into a Mac OS 9 iMac.

I'm most interested in which cameras support the more generic protocols and formats (USB Mass Storage, JPEG, etc) so that I have the best chance of compatibility without custom access software.

I don't really know my price range yet, so just let fly with yor experiences and opinions.

Many thanks,
Fraser

[aaanorton]

I'm liking the Sony line more and more, especially the new DSC-S85. I've read that Sony memory sticks just show up on the Desktop in 9.1 like any other drive, which seems like it couldn't be easier. Until OS X. It seems that when you plug the camera in, the files are automatically copied to your Pictures folder and begin playing in a Preview slide-show.
Click here to read comprehensive reviews on most avaiable consumer cameras.
Cliff

[pkatt]

I have a Kodak DC 3400. It doesn't work with os x by itself. That's fine with me. I bought a sandisk sddr- 31 and all I do is put in the card and it launches image capture automatically.The camera itself is great. It does work without the reader for os 9.

I have a canon s-100 digital elph (or ixus if you live outside the US) and a 64 meg CF card and the sandisk pc card adaptor that i use with my Pismo. It work great in OS9 as the CF card comes up as a PC hard disk.

OSX can't see the CF card in the PC Card slot yet. this is a pain but who cares - all my image editing software is for OS9 anyway.

I highly recommend the canon s-100 as it is tiny and takes great pictures. I use it in low-res mode (640x480) for my web pictures.

I'm philosophically against Sony's digital imaging solutions because they're trying to push their non-standard memory stick on us, which is bull$hit cause I don't want yet another overpriced adaptor for my mac.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by <Raman-yeah-i-know>:
<STRONG>II'm philosophically against Sony's digital imaging solutions because they're trying to push their non-standard memory stick on us, which is bull$hit cause I don't want yet another overpriced adaptor for my mac.</STRONG>

I know where you're coming from. I felt the same way. Recently I've done some research and I gotta say, though, that the memory sticks are undeniably quality products. Sony has also granted manufacturing licenses. Notably, Lexar is making them (128MB's available soon). And the capacities are growing with a 256MB on the way, possibly by year's end.
This, in conjunction w/ the fact that no s/w is needed to mount, read/write to and and use may account for memory stick's increased market share - which, I just read, is up to 25%.
If you get a chance, check out the reviews I mentioned above. Look at the Sony 505 and S85. They are very impressive cameras.
Cliff

[speirsfr]

Thanks guys for all your input. DPReview is a great site BTW.

Cheers,
Fraser

[-Q-]

I've had good luck with the Kodak DC-215. It's a nice low-end camera that uses Compact Flash cards to store photos (as JPEGs). I picked up a SanDisk CF Reader and when a CF card is inserted, OS X will mount the card just like a hard drive. It's been a flawless operation so far...

Q

[Justin Morgan]

I have to agree with &lt;Raman-yeah-i-know&gt;. There was already a profusion of compact memory card standards. Now Sony is adding to the confusion. Compact Flash cards, SD cards, SmartMedia cards,Click disks, Memory Sticks...when will it the format wars end?

Last I checked, Memory Sticks had the highest cost per megabyte.

Sony has also granted manufacturing licenses. Notably, Lexar is making them (128MB's available soon).

Even though Sony may been granting manufacturing licenses, it doesn't mean the technology will necessarily succeed (Sony also granted manufacturing licenses for blank Betamax tapes).

Sony makes some good products (and some trashy products), and they have done a good job of adding memory card technology into all their products (kudos to Sony for this)...it's too bad it's a proprietary Sony standard.

My guess is that DataPlay will become the dominant standard in a year or two in digital cameras, MP3 players, portable game machines, etc. DataPlay holds 500MB in a space the size of a postage stamp and are projected to cost $5 each...There is no way that conventional memory technology can compete with this price per megabyte.



I'll bet you that a 500MB Memory Stick, whenever that's produced, will set you back more than $5.

[ 06-19-2001: Message edited by: Justin Morgan ]

[spicyjeff]

I'm beinging to sound like a broken record here...the Apple TIL list for supported digital camera device for the OS X Image Capture application is here.