digital camera question

[nurseb]

Ok... we are cruising March 29th (yeah). My DH and I just purchased a digital camera. His question is... (forgive me if I word this incorrectly) What do we do when the memeory card is full? is there any way to download the pictures onto a CD while on the ship? I think a memory card holds 60 images...with 4 kids I doubt that will be enough. (or do we just buy more memory cards?...sounds very expensive)

What have you all done? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Betsy

 

[papa]

There are two options. #1 is to take a laptop with you and download the memory card to the laptop. You can then leave them on the laptop or burn a cd in the laptop if it has a cd burner. #2 is to take along a portable hard drive such as a nixvue or other hard drive. Here is a link to a very good digital site. Just click on the forums and go to media and storage. Digital Camera Site Hope this helps.

 

[inkkognito]

My hubby has purchased several spare memory cards. I'm not sure of the exact cost, but I don't think they were too expensive, as I think he shopped around on the internet for the best deal.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[mobetsy]

Hi! I'm another Betsy here

I've been thinking about exactly the same thing...a way of passing the time for the next year until we actually get to go on our cruise! Last week I was looking at the price of memory cards for our digital camera (a Canon A20...uses Compact Flash cards), and was astounded by how the prices have come down. In the Best Buy and Circuit City ads, I saw 128 MB cards for around $40-45. We currently have a 64 MB one in our camera, and using medium resolution setting (looks great to us!), that can hold close to 100 pictures as I recall. Remember also that with a digital you can go through each night and dump all the duds, so you don't need to think of the numbers quite the same way as you would for regular film. So, I'd suggest taking a look at the cost of a second and larger capacity card--the ones that come with the cameras are usually pretty small...I think ours was 16 MB--as you may be pleased at the relatively low cost. Also, review the settings you are using and play with it a bit; medium resolution may be just fine, and you'll get a lot more on than with the highest resolution.

If you haven't done so already, you most definitely will want rechargeable batteries and a good recharger; especially if you use the display for taking the photo (as opposed to using the viewfinder) and have the display on most of the time, digital cameras suck up batteries at a rate you won't believe. We have a recharger we like that also has a car adapter, and carry one set of batteries in the camera, a second set in the case, and then still more for game boys, flashlights, etc. More dollars in the beginning, but way cheaper and more convenient in the end!

 

[disney3144]

We were going through the same issues as you are. What we decided to do was buy a small protable HP130 printer. We got it at Circuit City for only 149.99. It is small enough to fit in my camera bag that I already have. This way every night when we get back to our room, I can print out the pictures from that day, and clear the memery card. We had checked the prices for memery cards, and for a 128MB the price is 80.00-90.00. So we figured, for less the price of 2 memery cards, we got a printer instead.
Just another idea from the peanut gallery.
Jennifer

 

[Jeanny]

we bring our laptop with us also, my daughter downloads the pictures we take during the day, that way we can delete the pictures that didn't come out that well too! Plus we have the laptop to watch DVD's (if we even have the time -- usually on the plane)

We bring a lot of batteries with us too, because yes, the camera sucks up battery life fast!!

Jeanny

 

[GenieDana]

Bringing a laptop with us. Even though our camera has 256 MB storage, shooting with a 4 MP camera consumes storage fast. I have 3 sets of batteries for my camera, but one set only lasts about as long a full memory card - The LCD viewers on cameras eat batteries! I plan to have have at least 1 battery set charging at all times. I shoot a lot, and discard a lot of shots, so the laptop is a must for me.

Since there are 4 families in my party, I plan to burn CD's of all the shots (keepers) before debarking the ship.

 

[Mojomanny]

When we took our 7 day, I brought my laptop. It was great to download the pics onto nightly. We took over 550 pics during the cruise. The great thing about digital cams is the operating costs, so you can take as many pics as you want.

I dislike the printer idea since you cannot email the pics our use them aseasily later, if a print gets damaged, its gone

 

[Werner Weiss]

This seems to be a good time to buy high-capacity camera memory. I just ordered a 1GB CompactFlash card for $219 with free (rebated) shipping from MacMall/PCMall. A 1GB card holds as as many images as eight 128MB cards or sixteen 64MB cards.

If you don't want to spend that much, there are also good deals available on 512MB and 256MB cards.

This seems a lot easier than carrying a laptop computer on the ship.

Of course, the advantage of a laptop computer is that it provides the abilty to burn files onto CDs. That way, if anything happens to your camera or memory card, your pictures are archived on CD-ROMs.

 

[nurseb]

We purchased a 256MB card. How many pictures will that store?
Thanks so much for all the help!!

 

[mobetsy]

Depends on your camera and the resolution you choose how many shots that will hold. Could you find an answer in the instruction booklet, or on-line at the manufacturer website? They should have a pretty accurate answer.

GenieDana mentioned going through a set of batteries (rechargeables, I'm gathering, since it then mentioned recharging) per full card. From the reading I've done, I gather that all rechargeable batteries are not created equal; some last much longer/will recharge more times than others. Same goes for the chargers themselves; they can have various features that will help the batteries last longer. I did a fair bit of reading before getting ours, and ended up with this (actually, our batteries are only 1800 mAh...these are better), for $40, which includes charger, car adapter, and 4 batteries:
http://www.thomasdistributing.com/mh-c204f-4aa200dc.htm

We have been extremely happy with the charger and batteries. For Game Boys, GPS, and other less essential items (though at 30K feet on a 5 hour plane trip, I might not think the GBs are less essential!), I use Energizer or Eveready rechargeables.

I like the idea several people have mentioned about bringing a laptop and burning CD's on the spot; it both protects the photos and, since we will be with friends, would allow us to share them on the spot. Yet another good tip picked up on this board

 

[LVTravel]

When I travel for extended periods of time, even though I carry extra memory (mine uses smart media @ 128 MB max) I also lug the laptop and download each day.

Do not expect DCL's internet cafe to be able to help you in any way. They do not have any access to CD RW drives or anyway to hook your camera up to their systems. You must take your own laptop. Also, on my last Wonder trip (2/27-3/1) found that they can only handle floppys if you want to email any of those pictures off the ship prior to getting back.

I was able to use my cell phone (nationwide access) to dial and email from the upper deck of the ship while we were on our way back to home port. If you want to use cell phone on ship, go toward stern since every time radar came around, it disconnected me near the front of the ship.

As another post stated, the printer idea might be great for home use but I really wouldn't want to have to lug the printer, extra ink cartridges, and paper onto the ship and then have to worry about getting them off the ship again without damage.

 

[winddancer]

I have a 2.3Mp HP camera and we bought 128MB Compact flash cards at Costco for 39.99. We bought 2 of these and at lowest resolution, I can get over 1000 pix. At highest resolution, I can get approx 160 pix. I was planning on mid-level which has approx 320 per card (we have two and I'll get one more next payday) and I also have a 32MB card, and an 8MB card that came with the camera.

My point was that the cards really aren't that expensive if you shop around and its easier than lugging the laptop through countless security stations and turning the darn thing on to prove that it works and isn't a bomb in disquise.

 

[wdwnut76]

My camera (a Canon S30) came with a cable that hooks up to the television so I can view my pictures on the screen. When I'm at the Wilderness Lodge, I go through my pictures every night and get rid of the duds.

Does anyone know if the televisions on the ship will also accept the video cable?

 

[Minnee]

I know alot of places around us now print pictures from the memory card. Does anyone know if this is this possible is shutters?
Thanks

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I was wondering the same, if Shutters would develope, but I am thinking that they might be deluged with too many requests to do this. Sure would be a money maker for them if they would.

 

[kajohn]

it wasn't available in February when I was on the Magic. They only processed regular film. Of course that may change, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Wishing on a star]

We too just got a really nice digital camera. I will never pick up my old canon 35mm again!!!

DH doesn't want to pack and bring his laptop, so we will buy an extra memory card. Never have to worry about running out that way!

There have been a few deals on ebay for these cards. So, that might be worth checking out.

 

[nacnac22]

we are also taking the laptop for downloads and to burn cd's,
also its handy for the kids to watch dvd on the plane

 

[queenof4hearts]

Hi, I know very little about digital cameras. But what great info. on this thread.
We just bought a nice sony digital camera and my question is

1.When you own a digital camera do you still use your 35mm at all?

2.Does it save any money having a digital camera as opposed to a 35mm? It seems to be costing an awful lot of money and I don't even know how to run the darn thing yet!

3.What is the best thing (in your eyes) about digital photography?

Thanks for replies. I want to learn about digital cameras and printing pictures and burning cd's but is is confusing to me!!

I am trying desperately to be 'with the times'