Another Digital Camera Thread - Help needed from the experts

[Fantasia Sam]

As inspired by Hilary...

Well we're going to be doing our shopping for my Digital Camera over the next week or so and well I have no idea where to begin.

Penny very kindly gave me a website - Digital Camera Review which I'm ploughing my way through.

I have some questions:

Should I choose my camera depending on what sort of memory I want to use? If so which is the best Compact Flash, memory Stick or another one?

I'm gonna get a USB hub but I have to ask for a self powered one if my memory serves me correctly is that right?

Is CD burning the same as using a CD re-writer and do I just buy one of these externally and then do I plug that into the USB hub?

Is it a good idea to get a new decent printer to print off quality photos - any suggestions? I know the one we have at the moment doesn't seem to print off different shades of colours.

Software - Suggestions on good photo software would also be good - I have something on my computer at the moment called Picture-It Express but it doesn't let me re-size (pixels) any of my photos that I currently have put onto CD by Boots which means that all my photos at the moment are usually 1mb which is quite a lot especially if I want to display them on other on line galleries.

OK what else do I need to know or have forgotten to ask?

Thanks in advance

 

[FiFi]

Hi - I'm back again! (Long story......all I can say it blooming broadband!!)

We have just bought a Nikon Coolpix 3500 and it is brilliant. Here is a link to the website

http://www.nikon-coolpix.com/index1.htm

We bought a new printer too but haven't connected it yet. It is supposed to be good for digital photos. As well as standard shhets of photo paper, it takes a roll of photo paper which it then trims for you and it also prints directly onto CDs so you don't have to muck about with labels. Also, there are separate ink cartridges so you replace them as each one runs out. Once we get it connected, I'll let you know how we get on with it.


Here is a link to a report on the Epson 950

http://www.dp-now.com/Features/Printer_reviews/Epson_950_preview/conclusion2/conclusion2.html

TTFN,

Fiona

 

[Mpet]

Hi

I can't answer all your questions, but here's some of my experiences.

Photo Printing - Personally, I wouldn't recommend using your home printer for all your snapshots. If you are anything like me, you come back with loads you want to keep. I usually take my Smartmedia chip into Jessops. They download my photos' into their computer, give me my chip back there and then, and I pick them up just like normal photos. The last lot cost me approx £6.50 for 40 snaps - which I think is quite good. If you want to print them at home, you need to take into account the cost of the photo paper and the ink you will use.

I do print some myself - if I want an enlarged copy, or I want to crop the photo.

Photo Software - i just bought Ulead Pictureshow - it is so easy to use. Aside from photo discs you can make video cds, with music which you can play on you DVD (if it plays copies) or on you PC. When I say easy - it is really easy.


Maxine

 

[billybluenose]

I am by no means an expert but I'll help where I can.
Firstly, yes, Cd burning is the same as CD re-writing. You could by an external re-writer but they tend to be more expensive than internal ones. They are quite easy to fit yourself but if you do not want to tamper with the inside of you pc, take it to a shop where they will load it for you. It would probably still be cheaper than buying an external one.
Most new printers will give very good photo quality prints but have you tried adjusting the settings on your current printer, cleaning the printheads etc. Also the quality of ink can determine the quality of photo. If you buy compatible refills, they might not be as good as the manufacturers own brand.
Lastly, when you do choose the camera, make sure that the package includes editting software.
As I said I'm no expert but my tuppence worth might help you out.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Should I choose my camera depending on what sort of memory I want to use?

Memory type is probably not the most important factor. They all do the same job, in the same way. Memory Stick is a format used almost exclusively by Sony, and used to be a little bit more expensive than other types. Best thing to do would be to check to see which type of memory card is cheapest, and then bear that in mind when you're buying your camera. Scan Computers seem to be competitive on memory prices.

I'm gonna get a USB hub but I have to ask for a self powered one?

Yes, a self-powered hub would be better. In addition to providing a way of exchanging data between a computer and an external item such as a camera or printer, USB can also be used to provide a small current meaning that the external device does not need to have its own power supply. An unpowered hub might not be able to do this, especially if you plug a few items into which all draw some power from the USB. Difference in price between powered USB Hubs and unpowered will not be much.

Software

Wait until you buy your camera before deciding if you also need to buy software. Many cameras come with free software which will at least get you started, even if you decide to buy something more powerful in the future. Adobe Photoshop Elements is a good software package for manipulating digital photos at home. It's powerful but is easy to use. If you have a Macintosh computer the best programme to use, bar none, is iPhoto. It stores, catalogues, prints albums, makes slideshows with background music, manipulates images, fixes problems with photos, etc, etc. It is almost worth buying a Mac just to use iPhoto.

Finally, cheapest place I've found to buy digital cameras is Sherwood Photographic in Birmingham (they do mail order). They don't have a very wide range of cameras, but their prices are excellent.

Regards

Rob

 

[BONZO]

Can't really add much to what's already been said but just to add
www.7dayshop.com as another place for cheap memory and gadgets etc.

 

[Goofyish]

Should I choose my camera depending on what sort of memory I want to use? If so which is the best Compact Flash, memory Stick or another one?

- My view is that Compact Flash is the better format. It's readily available and if the camera you chose is Compact Flash type II compatible then you can use the IBM Microdrives.
- Smart Media is the other prefered format, again readily available. Usually around the same prices as CF cards.
- Memeory Stick is the Sony format and can be more expensive than SM or CF.

I'm gonna get a USB hub but I have to ask for a self powered one if my memory serves me correctly is that right?

- Yes, as Rob says i gives you more scope to attach USB devices without draining the USB port on your PC.
Check out the Belkin range. They have them at PC World.

Is CD burning the same as using a CD re-writer and do I just buy one of these externally and then do I plug that into the USB hub?

- Yes, burning is computer speak for CD writing
External CD-RW are more expensive than internal ones. They are quite easy to fit, especially if you are just replacing your existing CD drive.

Is it a good idea to get a new decent printer to print off quality photos - any suggestions? I know the one we have at the moment doesn't seem to print off different shades of colours.

- You will be hard pressed to tell the difference between the photo output of the photo printers made by HP, Canon or Epson. It's really a personal/budget choice. Epson have a reputation for producing good photo print quality, although they aren't so good for general printing. HP Photosmart printers are also good at photo printing and also good for general printing. Canon are getting good reviews as well, and they have the advantage of having individual ink catridges for all the colours (so you don't have to buy a 3-colour cartridge if only one colour has ran out).
Some printers also have the facility to take memory cards, so you can print direct from the memory card or use the printers to upload photos to your PC.


Software - Suggestions on good photo software would also be good - I have something on my computer at the moment called Picture-It Express but it doesn't let me re-size (pixels) any of my photos that I currently have put onto CD by Boots which means that all my photos at the moment are usually 1mb which is quite a lot especially if I want to display them on other on line galleries.

- The two best packages are JASC Paint Shop Pro 7 and Adobe Elements. Both are about the same price and offer similar functionality. Adobe Elements is useful because it has similar facilities as the Adobe Photoshop - the professional photo software, (about £500 if you want a copy!).

 

[Hilary]

Sam -

As inspired by Hilary...

Woo hoo - fame at last! I have only just got around to reading this thread as the bit about 'digital camera experts' in the title made me think it didn't apply to me (and I was right!).

All I can add is that my camera (Olympus) came with some software for downloading and editing my shots - I got the impression that most cameras have something similar.

I haven't changed my printer, as I intend to do as Maxine suggested, and get prints made at Boots / Jessops / independant shop near here where the charges seem very reasonable.

Hope your shopping trip is successful, Sam!

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Thanks everyone for all the tips - I really like the look of the little Canon ones but I'm going into all the camera shops this week to hear all the spiels, hopefully I'll be a little wiser at the end of the week. LOL it is such a minefield
I'll come back here if I have any other quessies