Digital Camera Photo Storage

[susieh]

Have just returned from a weekend away. We took our Sony digital camera with a 128mb memory card and we also took our new 'toy' - a Sony Hard Disk Photo Storage drive (HDPS-M1) which has 40GB capacity.

It was brilliant - thoroughly recommend it just plug in the memory stick and it copied all the photos off it. We could then clear it if we wanted or leave them on the stick too.

See http://shop.sonystyle-europe.com/Son...shop=SST_GB_EN then click on digital cameras then on photo storage

But we got one on ebay for £70 incl P&P

 

[wicket2005]

Sounds a good piece of equipment. Does it take compact flash cards as well?

 

[tyke]

Yes it is compatible with CompactFlash media

This is from the Sony website -

Offering 40GB capacity, the Hard Disk Photo Storage drive (HDPS-M1) is the next logical step in the portable storage genre, providing consumer and business users alike with the ability to store up to 26,000 high resolution digital photos and other data on the go. When on holiday or away from the home or office, precious pictures can now be downloaded to the HDPS-M1 drive instead of being deleted off the cameras storage media in order to free up additional memory. The perfect companion for owners of Sony CyberShot(TM) and Handycam(TM) cameras, the HDPS-M1 comes with versatile multimedia slots compatible with MemoryStick(TM), CompactFlash and MicroDrive media.

tyke

 

[wicket2005]

Thanks tyke.

 

[stevechase]

The only thing is nowadays (not wanting to sound like an ungratful sod for the info) the actual memory cards are probably still the cheapest way. The hd storage devices are still quite pricey, whereas, I bought an extra 2 Fuji XD cards (the little ones) 128mb each from jessops before we went to Cuba in Aug. I got 200+ photos on each card and they were only 15.00 each, plus the 64mb that came with it, i rattled up over 450 pics.

I understand the HD device thing, I'm a bloke and you know what we are with gadgets and that, but I (in my opinion) dont think they are the cheapest way.

Sorry to be a miserable git.

Steve

 

[wicket2005]

I understand the HD device thing, I'm a bloke and you know what we are with gadgets and that, but I (in my opinion) dont think they are the cheapest way.

It is not just a bloke thing, I love gadgets too. I took 512, 256 and 128 mb cards which I filled up. I still had a spare couple of cards too. So I just needed 896 mb of storage at full resolution for a 14 day holiday taking into account I was using the camcorder as well. The cost of the cards was roughly £65 for less than a gb of storage, therefore, the HD at £70 would offer better value for money for 40 GB of storage.

 

[stevechase]

oooh Bev,

A female gadget fan

Thats a fair point, I always take the pics at a resolution that is fine for 7x5 printing. I do up the res if taking pics i know i will enlarge, but why take loads af enormous pictures. 7x5 at boots to be printed cost abou 13.00 per 100 and great to llo through in an album, but also burn to a cd to view on dvd player or on pc they are still great quality.

I love gadgetry debates. LCD or Plasma, My money is on LCD with High Def capability.

Plasma, had its day? or good for the price?

Steve

 

[wicket2005]

I have the pictures set in large resolution because they look particularly good enlarged on the computer as wall paper and screen savers. I do not tend to run that many pictures off but like to be able to enlarge a photo if I wish which is easier to do on a high resolution one if I am cropping it. The larger pictures look fantastic on my 42 inch panny plasma too.

Plasmas use to be the leaders for picture quality though nothing beats crt tv, and for their screen size. I think the general consensus now is that LCD HD is the way to go as LCDs are getting larger. However, there are other developments (as always) in the market. One being SCD (or something like that) which has particularly good picture quality but this is just new and will take a while to come to the market. The other is your conventional crt fitting in a lot narrower casing. I don't particularly care at the moment, I am happy with my plasma till that goes the journey, then will invest in some other delicious thing that has hit the market.

 

[stevechase]

ok Bev, I need a cold shower now.

Another good point with the pics. But if you do take them at the low end of the high re (if you are with me) next settin gup from 800x600 they still fill the pc screen and still look good.

I agree with the LCD with HDTV it looks stunning, the drawback was the screen size, it was only up to what? 30" 12 months back, but they seem to have overcome that, I have my eye on very tasty 37 inch Philips. But again, as you say, I think you will be hard pushed to ever recreate the clarity of a tube, but dont let the LCD/Plasma guys hear you say it.

With my Panasonic DVD/HD recorder and digital DVD camera I just got it would be worth staying in for.

My TV a philips 32 inch twin tuner 16:9 with auto picture adjust was the best I could buy in 1997, set me back a cool 2000.00, wife went bananas, but how people have commented.

We bought a new Iron when we got back off hols, wow what a piece of kit, digital temp readout, automatic overheat cut off, cordless, 35 gramm non stick hot plate, we fight who does the ironing now.

Steve

 

[wicket2005]

Is this the model with the stereo lights? Making it easier on your eyes to view the screen. I read a good report about this.

Glad you like your iron, I will have to get one for my gadget mad son see if he wants to do the ironing whilst I play with his psp.

 

[stevechase]

Yes, it is the one with the backlights, you can switch them to soft blue or lilac depending on your mood.

Also some of these dvds with screensavers on, aquariums and stuff look amazing.

Good idea with the ironing, cant see it working tho

ha ha

Steve

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I have the pictures set in large resolution because they look particularly good enlarged on the computer as wall paper and screen savers. I do not tend to run that many pictures off but like to be able to enlarge a photo if I wish which is easier to do on a high resolution one if I am cropping it. The larger pictures look fantastic on my 42 inch panny plasma too.

Plasmas use to be the leaders for picture quality though nothing beats crt tv, and for their screen size. I think the general consensus now is that LCD HD is the way to go as LCDs are getting larger. However, there are other developments (as always) in the market. One being SCD (or something like that) which has particularly good picture quality but this is just new and will take a while to come to the market. The other is your conventional crt fitting in a lot narrower casing. I don't particularly care at the moment, I am happy with my plasma till that goes the journey, then will invest in some other delicious thing that has hit the market.

Sorry, just cannot agree (well, not with it all) CRT on normal Tv is still the best, but HD ready plasmas running HD blow it out the water. Plus you cannot hang them on the wall
Plasmas are still better than LCD's;
a) on size
b) on fast moving pictures, such as foorball, racing cars etc.. you don't get the streaking you get with LCD's

I think you are thinking about SED panels, which will appear in a few years.

 

[stevechase]

This is where you find out the difference with the different models. The high price end Philips LCD I have seen have not shown any streaking as you put it, but I do not what you mean.

As much as I wanted a plasma to start with, I find atching them a lot more uncomfortable than with lcd. Lets face it, they were never really intended to be a home entertainment display, they were designed for exhibitions and such, to be viewed from a far greater distance than the length of your average living room. A 42" plasma in your avarage house, I think, in my own opinion, is too big and the picture tends to look pixelated, unless, I guess you are still spending 1000's, on which is now considered to be older technology

The lcd is a much more comfortable viewing experience for home use. Also they do run as hot as the plasmas.

I will miss the plasma stage and go to the lcd Hd when it hits the streets, lets face it, there are no (or very little) programs transmitted in HDTV anyway yet. Although on hols recently I did see a couple of movies on HBO shown in it.

Great points tho everyone.

Steve

 

[wicket2005]

b) on fast moving pictures, such as foorball, racing cars etc.. you don't get the streaking you get with LCD's

QUOTE]

Who wants to watch footie or racing cars? Not me.

I would agree about pixelating and smearing with LCDs. I have a cheap LCD in the bedroom which came with the Panny Plasma and though it does have a good picture on fast action bits you do catch the smearing. However, this is me catching it not the normal person, hubbie doesn't see anything. I think I study the screens too hard.

The new HD tvs with HD material will be extremely good. It is about time this country caught up with Japan/USA. However, it will be a while before HD becomes commonplace. Many people are still strugglying to get to grips with digital tv.

Everything I have read has stated that LCDs are the future and plasmas will die out. LCDs are now available at 42 inches.

Yes it was SED. I remember reading about it just after I had invested in my Panny. Typically newer and better technology is always around the corner but you have to jump in sometime.

The recommended viewing distance from a 42 inch tv is about 9 foot. If you sit close you will see pixelating. My lounge is about 22 foot, the plasma is in the corner of the room, everyone gets a good picture. Though I think viewing from further back gives the optimum picture quality. I can sit in the closest seat which is about 4 foot away and the picture is fine. I can occasionally pick out pixels but it depends which Sky channel I am viewing. Personally I think the bigger the better.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Personally I think the bigger the better.

Are we still on about Tv's Wicket??

The big change will come this winter with the new games consoles in 1080 and 720 HD and SKY's HD chennels. If they can get the battle between HDD and Blu ray sorted, that will help as well.

 

[wicket2005]

I know I have got two XBox 360s on preorder. It will be interesting to see which format wins re dvds as long as they are backward compatible which will help people make the switch.

 

[wicket2005]

I understand the HD device thing, I'm a bloke and you know what we are with gadgets and that, but I (in my opinion) dont think they are the cheapest way.

Steve

The Gadget Show is back on tonight on Channel 5.

 

[stevechase]

I noticed, thanks Bev, just picked up a sharip 172 widescreen lcd from powerhouse, for 199, reduced from 399, looks great in the bedroom on the wall

Steve

 

[wicket2005]

Wow, that sounds like a good deal, you must be chuffed.

 

[susan1]

hi
took a 512 thingy xd card, when i had deleted the rubbish and had about 250 left i took it to walgreens and put it it c.d for the grand total of $2,99 they actually take up to 300 per disc. arrived home a few days ago and played it through the computer without any extra plug ins etc, ran as a slide show - dont think i will bother with prints the outcome was brilliant!