Digital Camera Question...
- Thread starter Blackbich
- Start date
Weird Harold
Opinionated Old Fart
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2000
- Posts
- 23,768
Blackbich said:
No, not all digital cameras are comptible with all computers.
For example, my neighbor's Sony Mavica Cd needs either a USB port or a CD-RW drive that can read Adaptec DirectCD compatible disks.
While I was traveling, I temporarily installed the software for my camera on several computers so I could transfer pictures to floppy disk and clear the camera. (it doesn't have removable storage media) I had problems with every computer using Windows ME, but no problems with Windows 98 or 2000. In one case, I had to disable existing software that was also trying to use the serial port.
Cameras that use flash card memory often require a computer that has a flash card reader to transfer pictures to the computer.
Almost every digital camera comes with driver software to let the computer talk to the camera, and some sort of image processing software. You need to look at the "System requirements" on the box to determine what sort of interface the camera uses and compare that to what your computer has available.
If the camera you're looking at requires a serial port, and you have all of the serial ports on your computer in use, then you aren't going to be able to install the software without a conflict.
If your computer has USB ports, then look for a camera with a USB interface. You might need to invest in a "USB Hub" if you have more than two USB devices to make room to plug it in unless you like crawling under your desk to change cables.
A camera like my RCA CDS1005 has multiple access modes. It will work with either a USB cable or a serial cable, and also has an NTSC video output to preview pictures on a TV with an aux input. The computer sees the camera as a modem and presents the pictures as being stored in a "system folder" like it would a networked drive.
My neighbor's Sony Mavica-CD functions as a CD-RW drive through a USB connection, or the Mini-CD disks can be used in a normal CD-RW drive with an adapter ring to make them compatible in size.
The JamCam I used to have used a standard USB cable and showed up as a TWAIN device (scanner) to the computer. I did like that interface, because any program that can acquire apicture from the scanner could get a picture directly from the camera. Unfortunately, while the JamCam interface was nice, the camera was pretty much useless.
If all other capabilities are equal, choose a camera that uses a USB/TWAIN interface because that gives yuou the most flexibility in using the pictures on your computer.
The one thing I would add to WH's message is that USB interfaces are MUCH faster than serial interfaces. You do, however need to make sure your computer has a USB interface. USB ports have almost become standard equipment in the last year, but prior to that many machines came without them.
The things I looked for the last time I shopped for a camera:
(Note: This was for professional use and the company paid for it, so price wasn't as large a factor as someone wanting one for home use.)
1. Image quality
Sony was tops, with Nikon a close second.
I didn't evaluate a Canon or Fuji. The Kodak I tried sucked rocks.
2. Download interface
If it didn't have USB, it wasn't worth the hassle.
3. Onboard storage
Sony:
Low-end models used floppies. Ick.
Midrange used "memory sticks". Expensive, harder to find.
High end used 3" CDR's. Same problems as memory sticks, only more so.
Just about everyone else: compact flash cards. Nice because you can buy inexpensive (< $30) readers that connect using USB. Since so many makers use compact flash, the price keeps dropping as well.
4. Power
Sony and Kodak used rechargeable battery packs. A pain in the ass, but at least they got good life out of them.
The Nikon I tried used standard AA batteries, but went through them like they owned stock in Ever-ready.
Your criteria will be different, but I hope you find this a little useful. The software you need to transfer pics from the camera to your computer will come with the camera.
http://www.cnet.com has some good camera reviews on their website.
The things I looked for the last time I shopped for a camera:
(Note: This was for professional use and the company paid for it, so price wasn't as large a factor as someone wanting one for home use.)
1. Image quality
Sony was tops, with Nikon a close second.
I didn't evaluate a Canon or Fuji. The Kodak I tried sucked rocks.
2. Download interface
If it didn't have USB, it wasn't worth the hassle.
3. Onboard storage
Sony:
Low-end models used floppies. Ick.
Midrange used "memory sticks". Expensive, harder to find.
High end used 3" CDR's. Same problems as memory sticks, only more so.
Just about everyone else: compact flash cards. Nice because you can buy inexpensive (< $30) readers that connect using USB. Since so many makers use compact flash, the price keeps dropping as well.
4. Power
Sony and Kodak used rechargeable battery packs. A pain in the ass, but at least they got good life out of them.
The Nikon I tried used standard AA batteries, but went through them like they owned stock in Ever-ready.
Your criteria will be different, but I hope you find this a little useful. The software you need to transfer pics from the camera to your computer will come with the camera.
http://www.cnet.com has some good camera reviews on their website.
and then there is W2K
MS decided not to support all the older cameras w/ W2K--which I found out after hours of trying to find an updated driver, etc...So I had to buy a card reader to download the camera (cheaper than buying a new camera).
That Bill Gates...he thinks of everything!
MS decided not to support all the older cameras w/ W2K--which I found out after hours of trying to find an updated driver, etc...So I had to buy a card reader to download the camera (cheaper than buying a new camera).
That Bill Gates...he thinks of everything!
