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digital camera choice, QTVR
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
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I am currently looking to get an entry level digital camera to supplement my film-based SLR. I want to be able to do small high-quality paper prints, so 2MP resolution is a must. I also have aspirations of doing QTVR panoramas. Here are my thoughts so far.
My current favorite is the Canon Powershot A20. At $399 it fits my budget perfectly. The A20 comes with some good software and Photoshop plugins, including Stitcher, which lets you make QTVR panoramas. On the downside, it doesn't have a wide angle lens option and has no special Kaidan panorama head.
I am also tempted by the Nikon Coolpix 950. It is currently available for about $450 from buy.com (with various buy.com discounts and a $150 mail-in rebate from Nikon). In addition, the Coolpix 950 has a 24mm wide angle lens option ($150) and Kaidan currently has a special $100 deal on panorama tripod head designed specifically for the 950. On the downside, the Nikon comes without any QTVR software, which would cost me about $150 more. The Coolpix 950 also only has a serial connection.
One last concern is OS X compatibility. It sounds like certain Kodak cameras are compatible with the native Image Capture app. (See Kodak's OS X compatibility page for details.) Besides connecting the camera directly, I can always get a USB or PCMCIA card reader, although most of them don't seem to be working with OS X yet. Finally, Lexar Media sells a FireWire CF card reader, which according to DP Resource works with OS X.
What digicams are you guys using? How are they working? Have you done QTVR movies with you camera? What about OS X compatibility?
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
[This message has been edited by escher (edited 04-22-2001).]
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
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I just found out that a 24.5mm wide angle lens adapter is available for the Canon Powershot A20 as well. This gives the entry-level A20 a feature that is not available on the S-10, S-20 or S-100 Digital Elph! I'm more and more impressed with the A20.
Browsing around, I also found the Kodak DC 4800, which apparently works with the Image Capture app in OS X. At $499 after a $100 rebate from Kodak it's is quite affordable for a 3MP camera too.
Nothing but choices... so I still need your thoughts and recommendations.
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
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Steve's Digicams has apparently received a Canon Powershot A20 and is planning on posting a review this week. I can't wait to hear the verdict. See http://www.steves-digicams.com/diginews.html .
I have also found several good reviews of the Kodak DC 4800 around the web.
Finally, Kodak today announced the DX3400 and DX3500 2.1MP (2x zoom) cameras (see link above). Both have a "dock" option that connects via USB and allows for simultaneous image download and battery charging. However, they look a little cheap to me.
Are there really no digicam users on this board?!?
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
[This message has been edited by escher (edited 04-23-2001).]
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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SpinyNorman
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Buy is currently out of stock on the Kodak DC4800, but they're getting more in. It's listed at $510, pre-rebate and discounts.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
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Originally posted by SpinyNorman:
Buy is currently out of stock on the Kodak DC4800, but they're getting more in. It's listed at $510, pre-rebate and discounts.
That's nuts! And quite tempting. This means you can get a 3MP camera for $370! ($100 from Kodak, $10 and $30 off from buy.com.)
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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PO'd
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I would advise against getting the Kodak DC4800!!! It sounded like a good deal to me too. I did plenty of research, read a lot of good reviews (supposedly from Mac users). However, I've had nothing but headaches since getting the gd camera. When I install the Kodak software to hook up the camera to the computer, the Finder crashes. Ane NOW I've found other forum posts from people who've had the same problem. Supposedly, the Kodak Software only has problems with OS X, see http://www.kodak.com/global/en/servi...tib4287.shtml, but I have OS 9.1 and I'm still having probs!!!
Good luck! And if anyone out there has a solution for me, other than returning this camera (cuz I can't) please let me know!!
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PO'd
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Well, I've learned of a (temporary at least) solution to this problem. Kodak says that if you create a new Extensions set from your base set, install the Kodak software on that, and then only run the Kodak software from that set everything will run fine.
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PO'd
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In case anyone is curious, Well, I heard (finally) from Kodak. They have a (temporary at least) solution to this problem. They say to turn off the following extensions off from the Kodak Digital Camera Software package:
USBKodakDC4800Driver
KodakDC4800CameraLib
KodakDC4800 Camera Mounter
Kodak Camera Menu
Kodak Pictures Registrar
Duplicate the Mac OS Base set and turn on the following packages:
Kodak Digital Camera
Microsoft OLE
Quicktime
This set needs to be used when running the Kodak software. They also say that they hope to have this problem resolved shortly. Huh!
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SpinyNorman
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Why not get a $22 compact flash reader instead? Screw the Kodak software.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Sep 2000
Status:
Offline
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Speaking of compact flash readers: they range in price from 20 to 100 bucks. What's the difference betweenthem? What do you look for? Do you go on price only?
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
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After doing some more research, I still like the Canon Powershot A20. But after reading today's review at Steve's Digicams I fear that the minimal manual functions will not satisfy me.
The Nikon Coolpix 950 still looks good because I can get a special Kaidan stand for it.
Finally, the 3MP Kodak DC 4800 (see this review) is very tempting for $370 at buy.com. Also, the DC4800's lens is 28-84mm, which would presumably be better for QTVR out of the box (i.e. without a wide angle adapter) than the A20's and 950's 35-105mm lenses.
Why is picking a digital camera so darn difficult?
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
[This message has been edited by escher (edited 04-24-2001).]
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
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euro: As for the CF card readers, I understand that the SanDisk USB one works with both 9.1 and OS X and costs about $29. I imagine that the $100 reader you saw is the FireWire one from Lexar. If you will be transferring a lot of large images, i.e. if you take pictures at maximum resolution in uncompressed format, the FireWire reader is the only way to go. USB is faster than serial, but nothing beats FireWire.
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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PO'd
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Originally posted by SpinyNorman:
Why not get a $22 compact flash reader instead? Screw the Kodak software.
What is that? Where can I get one? Can I use it with the Kodak flash cards I have now?
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
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I finally settled on the Canon Powershot A20 because I was able to get it for $353 shipped with a mother's day promotion at PhotoAlley.com. We'll see how good it is when the FedEx guy drops by tomorrow.
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
|
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Status:
Offline
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Got my PowerShot A20 today. It's just as great as I expected. Good sharp images with no post processing, solid build, just enough functions not to confuse a digital photography beginner like me.
The Canon software is basic, but functional. I haven't used it for retouching pictures yet. But I have used PhotoStitcher to make my first QTVR panorama. QuickTime panoramas rule!
Can't wait to get my larger 128MB CF card, NiMH batteries and charger on Friday.
Escher
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Let's have a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook with AirPort and 5 hour battery life now!
|
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"The only laptop computer that's useful is the one you have with you."
Until we get a 3 lbs sub-PowerBook, the 12-inch PowerBook will do.
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