Internet cafe/digital cameras

[Born 2 Cruz]

Does anyone know if we can set up ton download pictures from our camera and burn them to a cd..

Thanks to all...

Dave

 

[PhotoLisa]

From everything I've read and what I've experienced in the past, the computers do not have the necessary components to accomplish this task.

The best advice I can give is to invest in a storage device if you don't have enough memory to last your trip.

I'll be purchasing something prior to my 2/21/04 cruise instead of having to bring my laptop and external harddrive.

Check out My Digital Discount for the best prices that I know of.

Also, for a discussion on the devices available, check out the Storage and Media forum of DPReview.com.

If you're specifically looking for a cd writing device, Disc Steno CP200 is available (scarcely) that can handle disc spanning for higher capacity media backup.

That one won't be what I purchase though -- probably going for a VP300 or an Image Tank 2. Haven't finished doing my research yet.

Lisa

 

[Miss Eeyore]

I don't know what is specifically available on DCL yet, but I imagine our experience with Princess last Febrary would mostly hold true with DCL.

On Princess, in their picture area, we could give them our media card, and they would download pictures onto CD. With these machines cropping up everywhere, I would imagine that Disney would be in the loop too. I know that most of their developing onbaord now is digital, and they offered the digital Christmas cards this year, so I am hoping that there will be digital downloading for a fee available in Shutters. I'll take our extra media cards anyway, and with the three of them I can store 300-400 pictures anyway, and that is way more than we'll take. The reason I would like to download them to CD is simply for security....to have a back-up if the fameria gets damaged or stolen.


Marilee

 

[PhotoLisa]

I'm having the same issues -- I don't want to lose all our memories in case of an accident. I know from experience that images are safe going through the airport scanners (carryon only -- never send it through checked luggage) but you never know what will happen.

I'm still leary about the storage devices too -- I usually take my laptop but going through airport security is such a hassle, I'm trying to reduce my screening time there as well.

Lisa

 

[Miss Eeyore]

Lisa...

We'll just have to ask someone on a cruise before ours to check out Shutters and find out if they have a download service. I'll look around for someone to ask.

Marilee

 

[ELIJAH'S GRANDPA]

When I sailed in December I started to get low on storage space and when I asked at Shutters they said they could burn from MOST cards to a CD. I was using a Kodak MultiMedia card and they said they could burn from it. I never got to that point so I don't know what they would have charged.
John

 

[PhotoLisa]

That is good to know!

I shoot mostly in raw mode so my cards eat up plenty of memory. Even two 1 GB cards don't afford me enough images. I shot at least 500 images during our summer vacation and that was at a dude ranch.

I know I'll shoot plenty more than that on the cruise.

Another reason not to bring the laptop is to reduce the urge to edit my images before returning home. I need to enjoy the cruise and worry about the images once we get home. Old habits die hard - its the photographer in me!


Lisa

 

[smchan]

Did you know the Apple iPod can double as a portable storage device? Specifically, you can buy the Belkin media reader which adds card reading capabilties to the iPod. It can read CF, SmartMedia, SD, memory stick, and MMC. A side bonus is that once the pictures are on the iPod they come off quickly since it's a firewire interface between the iPod and PC.

This is a more expensive solution than using storage units, but having a cool MP3 player like the iPod that doubles as a storage unit is very sweet.

Like Lisa, I shoot in raw and I rip through exposures like nobody's business. Lord help me if I get a camera with a big buffer. I took 100 pictures of my kid blowing out his birthday candle the other day.

Sam

 

[PhotoLisa]

Sam:

It sounds like you photograph like I do!

Do you personally have the iPod? I'll have to do a little research on it to check the specs. I'm a PC user and shoot Canon Raw (Canon 10D is my camera of choice). Any known issues for these?

Thanks so much for the input!

Lisa

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by PhotoLisa
Do you personally have the iPod? I'll have to do a little research on it to check the specs. I'm a PC user and shoot Canon Raw (Canon 10D is my camera of choice). Any known issues for these?

I don't own an iPod but was sort of thinking about getting one for music. I got really interested after I found out about the CF reader accessory. A 15g model is $300 retail. I had been considering buying a few more CF cards, but I really need fast ones and they're too pricey to buy enough to have meaningful amounts of storage.

I just got started in the DSLR realm over Christmas after using a Nikon N8008 for many years. My new camera is a D100 and already I want to upgrade it! So much new stuff to learn that never really concerned me in the film world - WB, workflow, PS, etc.

Sam

 

[psimon]

Actually, using an iPOD as a storage device is a very economical approach. From what I have seen, external storage devices are running $250 and up. The reader for the iPOD is only $99 at the Apple store. You might be able to do better elsewhere (there is a code floating around right now to get 50% off all purchases direct from Belkin (the manufacturer). Check slickdeals.net.... it was listed there.

Just remember, this memory device is only for the latest generation iPODs, the ones with the docking station. If you have one of these, you are all set!

Paul

 

[PhotoLisa]

I just read everything I could find on the link you sent. It looks like a great device and will be able to handle everything to PC for me.

I'll do some searches at dpreview.com and see what users have to say about it.

My first digital camera was a Sony Mavica 1.3 MP. I upgraded to a Canon D60 and then to the Canon 10D. Since my work is portraits and sports photography, I'm always willing to upgrade . . . really wanting to get the Canon 1Ds but at between $7-$8,000, I really need to hold off.

Digital photography is addicting! I've managed to get one sister hooked on a D60 and just gave my D60 to my daughter to photograph my grandbabies.

Thanks for suggesting the iPOD -- I'll seriously be looking at the device to lighten my travel load!

Lisa


Paul - thanks for the money saving tip!!

 

[smchan]

I don't have an iPod yet. Just a darn good excuse to get one! The value in it for me is having a MP3 player that doubles as a portable storage device.

Another way to get them cheaper is to check for discounts through your employer. There's an 8% off discount available through mine direct from Apple.

I agree w/ Lisa - beats carrying around a laptop. The iPods are very compact. I can see readily getting through several days of shooting with 2 (maybe 3) 1G CF cards, a 20 or 40g iPod, and the Belkin CF reader.

Sam

 

[Suzi Q]

My DH just got a Archos AV120 to do this. It's similar to the iPod and has a video screen that you can see the pictures on. It also doubles as a VCR with the proper adapters and can play back thru a TV with the proper adapters.

 

[Eyeeore42]

As my DW Suzi Q posted, I got the Archos AV120 to use instead of carrying a laptop. We're on the 1-31-2004 Western Cruize and will probably take a bunch of pictures. When we took our first trip with the digital camera I think between my son using his Minota and my Olympus we took maybe 2000 pictures. I don't expect to go to quite that extreme this trip but it will be nice not having to keep up with the laptop on this trip.

I looked at the Archos AV120 & AV320 (http://www.archos.com) as well as the SmartDisk FlashTrax (http://www.smartdisk.com) and a couple of other units. I'd have like to had the Archos AV320 but it was just more than I wanted to spend. I didn't realize that the iPod would do the same thing or I'd have definitely looked at it as well.

 

[whytcrystal]

Lisa
We';re on the same cruise!

 

[PhotoLisa]

Eyeeore:

How fast is the download from your camera media to the AV120? Does it have the ability to view Canon raw images?

Any info you can share is appreciated.

Whytcrystal -- I'm studying like crazy getting ready for the cruise! You would swear that I've never been on a Disney cruise before. I just want to be sure to get the most out of the time we're vacationing!

I am a photo phanatic (sp?) --- not as bad as I used to be but still somewhat to an extreme!


Lisa

 

[Eyeeore42]

Lisa, I checked out the specs on the AV120 & wound up looking at the Canon 10D manual as well. That is a very nice camera!. The AV120 only does .JPG (not progressive) and .BMP in 4, 8, and 24bit formats so it looks like the .RAW mode is a problem.

I did find out from the Canon manual that your camera will do a dual record in both .RAW and .JPG (page W-21 in http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/customer/pdf/EOS 10D_Soft_E.pdf) so that could be an option but I suspect that it will use CF memory very rapidly. I couldn't tell from the manual whether you could use one of the CF disks but I can tell you from personal experience with a Minolta DiImage 7 that the CF-HDD (IBM Microdrive, Hitachi, etc.) will eat batteries very fast. The other ptroblem is that the CF-HDD isn't as fast as the new fast CF cards.

I use 64meg SmartMedia in my Olympus 4000. It takes me somewhere between 2 & 5 minutes to power up the AV120 (about 20-30 seconds), connect the SmartMedia adapter, offload the pictures, and then put everything away.

Hope this helps. Have fun on your cruise. I'll proably shoot a bunch of pictures as well.

Al

 

[PhotoLisa]

I could shoot in jpg but I'm a control freak and love shooting in raw for the latitude I have in my final processing. Images that would be totally unusable in jpg format because of underexposure or being blown out can easily be saved in raw format.

I may have to bite the bullet and shoot jpg instead.

I absolutely love my camera! Batteries won't be a problem in my camera and flash -- I have plenty since photography is my "job." I could shoot all day and recharge all night if needed.

I'm looking forward to the cruise just for the photography aspect if nothing else!

Thanks so much for the information!


Oh - did you see that at CES, the AV320 was one of the most promising new introductions! Rave reviews on it!

Lisa

 

[Eyeeore42]

I wanted the AV320 when I got mine but couldn't find the kind of deal that I wanted to get.

I understand about the .RAW format. I shoot mostly .JPG as it generally gets me the quality I want. The Olympus 4000 will go to raw mode but you only get 5-6 pictures on a 64meg card so I don't use it too often. I'd like to get a true digital SLR some day but for now I'll run with the Olympus. I use a Canon A1 film camera and miss the ability to change lenses in digital mode.

Someday.

Have a great trip. We're headed on the Western at the end of the month and can't wait.

Al