US$900 used to buy an SLR and scanner will still have the operating costs of batteries, film and processing. US$1000 for a p-n-s digital camera including card readers and bigger capacity storage media still saves you a lot of money - even if you decide to print the photos at US$0.50 per 4x6 print (you get to choose which ones to print and how many).
FYI, some digital cameras have red-eye reduction built-in.
Digital cameras are slowly replacing film in the point-and-shoot category. More people are buying digital cameras for the convenience of being able to send photos to their friends and relatives anywhere in the world either by putting up a website or by attaching it to email. Others who prefer prints can easily send it to online photoprinting sites.
On the more serious side of photography, SLR digital cameras have still a long way to go until it reaches the price level of the SLR film cameras. The Oly 2500 is one SLR camera and the Sony DSC770 is another - but they are still quite expensive considering the film SLR alternatives.
As for features such as aperture, shutter speed, exposure, film type controls, prosumer digital cameras can now do that.
As for 35mm print quality - digital cameras from 2M pixels and higher - can now rival prints from 35mm film at up to 8x10 sizes. Anything higher requires more pixels. Given a print from a photoprinter - you will find it quite difficult to determine which came from a digital camera and which one came from 35mm film camera at normal viewing distances.
The thing with the Nikon D1 is - if you take as many photos as the pros, the cost of film and processing will soon become more than the cost of the D1 itself.
Oh yes they do! I am using a Vivitar 283 flash gun with my Kodak DC290 camera.
The Nikon CP950/990 uses the Nikon flash guns. The Oly 2020/2500/3030 uses its Oly flash guns as well. And so does the Canon Pro 70 with its Speedlite.
Current crop of cameras now allow you to control the aperture, shutter speed and exposure of the image. Check out the Kodak DC290, Nikon CP950/990, Oly 2500/3030.
I don't know who you talked to regarding Kodak cameras but I have not had any bad experiences with their Tech Support.
In choosing a camera, you need to plot your requirements first before you check the available cameras. Do you need to take action shots? Do you need to take long time exposures or time-lapse photographs? Do you need external flash option? Lens attachments? Etc.
Digital prints can last 100 years if properly handled. It may not last as long as chemically processed prints if they are exposure to direct sunlight 24/7, though.
Current crop of digital cameras have large buffers to accommodate at least 3-4 highest resolution photos before pausing to save the images to the CF card. Heck, the Nikon D1, one of the best digital cameras available, takes time to save when in single shot mode.
The Kodak DC260 is a turtle compared to the 265 and 290 and other cameras.
Oh yes you CAN print pictures from digital photographs without buying those expensive printers (and they do exists -- dye sub printers come from US$300 to US$8000!). Try the Canon CD-300 4x6 photo printer and you will see what I mean. OR you can simply go to photoprinting sites such as ofoto.com, shutterfly.com, photoaccess.com, even Yahoo! Photos offer prints at around US$0.50 for a 4x6 print.
I disagree. Digital photography is fast improving and catching up to the traditional film photography. The current crop of professional digital cameras such as the Kodak DCS series, Nikon D1, Fuji S1, Minolta Rd3000, etc., all use the same lenses as the film cameras. It is just that they use a different media for storage.
As for overexposures - the Kodak DC290 can do as long as 16 seconds long time exposure with little noise.
You can produce images from 2.5x3 to 4x6 to as large as you want. Of course, digital images, as you have stated, lose its quality if enlarged. However, 3.3M pixel prosumer cameras can produce prints up to 11x14 without any trace of pixels. You can use software, such as Genuine Fractals, to boost it further with little or no quality degradation. Problem with negatives, the more you produce prints, the more the quality of the negative degrades due to exposure to the chemicals. With digital, the first one almost always looks like the next hundred copies.
Well, first of all, you don't use alkalines with any digital camera - they will eat it up like they were candies. NiMH batteries are very highly recommended. As for the different accessories included - the US package does not include a serial cable (you have to request for that) unlike the European version. It does include batteries and charger, though. I bet that the HK package is far cheaper than the US and European versions. Oh, there is no power cable in the US and European packages as well. It is available as an option. The Serial Connectivity Kit for Win95 and NT was a major issue but was already resolved. That being said, you should have used the USB connection with your Linux setup - provided that you have USB, of course. Corrupt CF cards are usually caused by insufficient power, taking the cards out whilst the LED lights (CF slot) are blinking and problems with the card itself. I have been using a Sandisk CF card along with the Kodak (made by Sandisk) Picture Cards with my 260 and now with my 290 without any problems. Other brands do exhibit some problems, though - but not Sandisk or Lexar. AS for longer picture taking, I don't see why it takes longer - perhaps it is because of the CF cards that you are having problems with. Have you tried using other cards? With DigitaPost, you will no longer have to bring your laptop with you - that is, of course, if you have enough money to pay for the mobile phone link to transfer your photos. =) Cheers!
Slashdot Mirror
FYI, some digital cameras have red-eye reduction built-in.
On the more serious side of photography, SLR digital cameras have still a long way to go until it reaches the price level of the SLR film cameras. The Oly 2500 is one SLR camera and the Sony DSC770 is another - but they are still quite expensive considering the film SLR alternatives.
As for features such as aperture, shutter speed, exposure, film type controls, prosumer digital cameras can now do that.
As for 35mm print quality - digital cameras from 2M pixels and higher - can now rival prints from 35mm film at up to 8x10 sizes. Anything higher requires more pixels. Given a print from a photoprinter - you will find it quite difficult to determine which came from a digital camera and which one came from 35mm film camera at normal viewing distances.
The thing with the Nikon D1 is - if you take as many photos as the pros, the cost of film and processing will soon become more than the cost of the D1 itself.
The Nikon CP950/990 uses the Nikon flash guns. The Oly 2020/2500/3030 uses its Oly flash guns as well. And so does the Canon Pro 70 with its Speedlite.
Current crop of cameras now allow you to control the aperture, shutter speed and exposure of the image. Check out the Kodak DC290, Nikon CP950/990, Oly 2500/3030.
In choosing a camera, you need to plot your requirements first before you check the available cameras. Do you need to take action shots? Do you need to take long time exposures or time-lapse photographs? Do you need external flash option? Lens attachments? Etc.
Digital prints can last 100 years if properly handled. It may not last as long as chemically processed prints if they are exposure to direct sunlight 24/7, though.
You don't need 16000x12000 to produce crisp prints unless they are 36x24 prints.
The Kodak DC260 is a turtle compared to the 265 and 290 and other cameras.
Oh yes you CAN print pictures from digital photographs without buying those expensive printers (and they do exists -- dye sub printers come from US$300 to US$8000!). Try the Canon CD-300 4x6 photo printer and you will see what I mean. OR you can simply go to photoprinting sites such as ofoto.com, shutterfly.com, photoaccess.com, even Yahoo! Photos offer prints at around US$0.50 for a 4x6 print.
As for overexposures - the Kodak DC290 can do as long as 16 seconds long time exposure with little noise.
You can produce images from 2.5x3 to 4x6 to as large as you want. Of course, digital images, as you have stated, lose its quality if enlarged. However, 3.3M pixel prosumer cameras can produce prints up to 11x14 without any trace of pixels. You can use software, such as Genuine Fractals, to boost it further with little or no quality degradation. Problem with negatives, the more you produce prints, the more the quality of the negative degrades due to exposure to the chemicals. With digital, the first one almost always looks like the next hundred copies.
Just a correction - there is no Kodak DC275.
Well, first of all, you don't use alkalines with any digital camera - they will eat it up like they were candies. NiMH batteries are very highly recommended. As for the different accessories included - the US package does not include a serial cable (you have to request for that) unlike the European version. It does include batteries and charger, though. I bet that the HK package is far cheaper than the US and European versions. Oh, there is no power cable in the US and European packages as well. It is available as an option. The Serial Connectivity Kit for Win95 and NT was a major issue but was already resolved. That being said, you should have used the USB connection with your Linux setup - provided that you have USB, of course. Corrupt CF cards are usually caused by insufficient power, taking the cards out whilst the LED lights (CF slot) are blinking and problems with the card itself. I have been using a Sandisk CF card along with the Kodak (made by Sandisk) Picture Cards with my 260 and now with my 290 without any problems. Other brands do exhibit some problems, though - but not Sandisk or Lexar. AS for longer picture taking, I don't see why it takes longer - perhaps it is because of the CF cards that you are having problems with. Have you tried using other cards? With DigitaPost, you will no longer have to bring your laptop with you - that is, of course, if you have enough money to pay for the mobile phone link to transfer your photos. =) Cheers!