Help with a camera

[LLAngus]

I am looking to buy a digital camera to take pictures so I can put them on the forum. The camera does not have to be a professional model but something that will shoot good pictures. I need to get my projects on the forum so I can maybe get advice on several things. My son is starting on my daughter's Miget and my MGB GT needs help again. Any suggestions or advice.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[SilentUnicorn]

How about something like this? Tigerdirect



mark

 

[jlaird]

That should work just great, I too have a Kodak. Cheep, easy and good pics. Check below for what you get.

 

[Rob_P]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif

The cheapest camera you can find will be fine for posting pictures online.

The higher mega pixel cameras are necessary for printing the photos.

(posters or actual photo's need almost 5 times the resolution of a computer monitor)

to simplify, a computer monitor displays at 72 dpi (dots per inch) which is all that you need. printing at 72 dpi is grainy, these require 150 - 300 dpi.

my first digital was a 1.3 megapixel. and that is a relic now. if you can get a 3.2 mega pixel for under 100 bucks, that would be the way to go.

(if it comes with a recghargable docking station, even better as the batteries for these things can be a pain)

Rob

 

[Rick_Stevens]

I've got a nice Sony camera that was inexpensive and works very well. Nice toy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I take and upload pictures with my cell phone. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

R.

 

[JamesWilson]

I started with a mid-priced Kodak, not their cheapest, but not the most expensive either. I wanted something cheap and easy to use to see if I like it better than my old Olympus SLR. I ended up using it practically all the time, and have since gotten a better one- for not much more than the first one.

FWIW, I found that having some good photo editing software helped a lot too....

 

[Baz]

If you'll be using it for mostly car related pics and 'in-progress' project pics, bear in mind dirty fingerprints and oil all over it so something like what Mark suggested would be ideal.

 

[jlaird]

Dirty fingerprints and oil? Not on my car you don't. Just like an operating room, all nice and clean and neat. Oh you mean the tear down, gesh, Gloves, think Gloves.

 

[Gearhead]

What ever camera u choose get one with rechargable batterys or a battery pack its well worth the extra cost buying batteries all the time will pay for itself quickly my Nikon has held up rather well. Mark

 

[JamesWilson]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif

Two sets of rechargeables are useful, or carry a back up set of batteries for when the rechargeables need recharging....

 

[Guinn]

Believe it or not, but one of those kids cameras available at Ritz or Kits Camera stores for under $50 can do everything you need for the purpose you have stated. My personal cameras run from $700 to $900, but the camera I use to post car pix on the forum is my wife's $100 camera - and that is over-kill. The small size is a plus as you can use it to take pix under the dash and other places where you can't get behind the camera to focus, etc. Just take the pix "blind".

Guinn

 

[Nunyas]

speaking of cameras... I'm a bit miffed that Windows XP 64 doesn't like my Sony "Cyber Shot" and Sony doesn't provide 64-bit drivers for the dang thing to let me use it with said OS.

Maybe things'll be better for Vista 64... I'd have switched to Linux a long time ago if I didn't have this terrible habit of wanting to play video games on my PC...

 

[mgb4tim]

As a side note, if you want to take your pictures to the next set up, especially when doing close-ups (for those "what's this part' pictures") or low light shots, get-and use- a tripod.

It doesn't have to be expensive, but will make your photos sharper. Like this one - https://www.surpluscomputers.com/store/main.aspx?p=ItemDetail&item=CES10311

I have a couple assignments with my students in which I recommend tripod use. When we look at their work, you can see who did and didn't use a tripod.

 

[Nunyas]

I just read this on Sony's product support FAQ:

[ QUOTE ]
The USB driver is currently not compatible with computers running 64-bit operating systems. This applies to factory installed 64-bit operating systems as well as operating systems that have been upgraded to 64-bit.

The issue is currently being investigated by Sony. If a 64-bit version of the USB driver is developed, it will be posted to the Sony® PC Support Web site at https://www.sony.com/pcsupport

[/ QUOTE ]

currently investigated they say... heh... no driver support for an OS that's been around since late 2005. This does not make me a happy camper.

errrrr... This nonsense probably doesn't help any of you, unless you're currently considering upgrading to a 64-bit OS. If you have to have Windows, it looks like Windows Vista 64 will be the 64-bit OS to go for. Since it seems that more companies than just Sony have shunned Windows XP 64 as a platform for them to make money on or worth supporting their current products on.

On the flip side, I kind of find this humorous. I can remember back when Linux was the "neglected" OS. Seems Windows XP 64 is the step child of the computing world these days.

 

[mgb4tim]

Rob,

Have you tried an inexpensive USB card reader, or a printer with a card reader on it?

I'm not familiar with the quirks of a 64-bit system, but if you can use a USB flash drive, you should be able to use a card reader.

 

[Nunyas]

I gave up on it after I read that stuff last night. I just used my workstation to upload a couple of pics I wanted to show some people.

 

[DrEntropy]

Linux.... linux..... linux.... You're getting sleeepy..... linux...

 

[jaybird]

I've had 2 Canons and have been extremely pleased with them, basically 'point & shoot' with some added features if you so desire.

Bought mine here, was the cheapest place at the time for the camera I wanted:

https://shop1.outpost.com

 

[Rob_P]

i had an old pc that i wiped out and ran Linux on. Now i get my Linux stability in my mac. best of both worlds, IMHO.

 

[Nunyas]

my linux box only has 2 USB ports on it... WTHeck was Apple thinking when they put Gigabit LAN and only 2 USB ports on a G4?!?