camera question

[mishkamushka]

Hi

Hoping you guys can help me as I'm hitting a brick wall here.

I am looking for a camera that has the capability of sending pictures via email -- sort of like you would do with a smart phone.

Now I know you are going to say the same thing my husband has been saying "why don't you just use your smart phone " Simple ... I don't want to even LOOK at my phone while I'm on vacation (and I really don't like the image size shots it takes)

I want a REAL camera. If I can't get one I'll just keep what I have and upload at night but I wanted to be able to instantly send a few shots to my mom or something while waiting in line or on the bus etc.

Thanks

Any suggestions?

 

[Frantasmic]

There appears to be two means to sort of accomplish what you want.

To totally do what you want, you'd need a device that had service like a cell-phone and go tower to tower. I don't think there are cameras devoted to a cellular network in that way.

You could get a camera with built-in wi-fi that allows you to find a hotspot and download you pictures instantly.

http://www.allpointandshoot.com/reviews-7/WiFi-enabled-Point-and-Shoot-Digital-Cameras.html

There is the ei-fi SD card that basically does the same thing. This would be the less expensive of the options since you could use it with a current camera you have.

The problem is finding free wi-fi on your trip to download you pictures. Not much free at Disney. If you are staying off site, you could use that hotels wi-fi.

The new ei-fi cards (www.eye.fi) have a direct mode that can transfer pictures to your iphone, ipad, or android. That would give you what you want: uploading your camera shots via your smart phone.

 

[alloyd1170]

As the other posted said, if your vacation is to Disney World, there is no Wi-Fi in the parks/resorts. You might get lucky in the lobby of the resorts (so I've heard). You also have to pay for internet service in the resorts unless you are a DVC member. Even then, you have to use an ethernet cable to hook into the internet (provided in room). It's bigger than a phone cable and I don't know any camera that can use it.

If you want to send photos right away, then your smart phone is the sure way to go. Turn off the ringer if you're worried about calls (though I find it handy when our family splits up in the parks and we need to regroup). Otherwise, just upload them and night and send them from your room.

 

[photo_chick]

You're hitting a brick wall because it's just easier to upload images taken with a phone. And some of the cameras on higher end smartphones (like HTC and Apple) are really good cameras that offer a surprising amount of control.

An Eye-fi card and a mobile hotspot will do it for many cameras that take SD cards. Or a wi-fi enabled camera. With the hotspot. But you're limited on how you can upload (its not nearly as easy as emailing from your phone) and the data charges will add up really fast... it won't fall under your regular phone plan if you go with a smartphone that has a hotspot like I do. The cost of tethering off my Android phone is like $20 extra a month on my plan. But that's cheaper than the $60 a month for a dedicated mobile hotspot like I used to have. And if you use an iPad or other tablet to do it you will hit a data cap pretty fast, and you still may have to pay for the mobile teathering service so you might as well just use the phone to upload.

 

[mishkamushka]

Thanks guys

I knew I could get a better answer from you all then "because they don't make it" as my husband keeps telling me LOL

I think I"m just going to stick with what I have. If we are sitting at breakfast or something and I want to use the phone then fine but otherwise, I'll just upload at night when we get back to the hotel. We're probably going to pay for internet for at least a couple days anyway so it won't be a big deal.