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Best Digital Camera for mac ?

post #1 of 28
1/3/02 at 4:30pm
Thread Starter 
I am waiting until MWSf, but at the moment what is the best digital camera for the mac....I cant find any under US1000 that are firewire (cannon D1h etc) so I guess i am going to be stuck with USB ?

Anyway - for less than 1000, whats the skinny ?

Cheers
adam
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post #2 of 28
1/3/02 at 5:02pm
[quote]Originally posted by Adam11:
<strong>I am waiting until MWSf, but at the moment what is the best digital camera for the mac....I cant find any under US1000 that are firewire (cannon D1h etc) so I guess i am going to be stuck with USB ?

Anyway - for less than 1000, whats the skinny ?

Cheers
adam</strong><hr></blockquote>

Adam, what's wrong with USB for use with digital cameras? For burning CDs Firewire is preferable, sure, but it takes less than a minute for me to offload my camera via USB.
Are you talking about a digital video camera?
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[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: macmaniac ]</p>
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post #3 of 28
1/4/02 at 7:18am
By "digital camera", I think "digital still camera".

If that's what you mean, you can't do much better than an Olympus Camedia C series. I've used the C-2000 (2.1 MP) and now own the C-3000 (3.3 MP) and love both. They have a model that has a huge zoom if you want that, they have a model that has got all the MPs you could ever need for non-pro work, etc. Very mac friendly and they use SmartMedia cards (much smaller than flash cards, and the same capacity).

Picture quality is excellent and color representation is the best I've seen.

As for the camera itself being USB or firewire, I don't think it matters because I suggest always getting an external SmartMedia card reader. It's faster, more convenient, and you can get either USB or FireWire. Right now, I use the (currently semi-supported in X) Microtech ZiO. It's a great device (really small!), but OS X drivers are lacking since Apple broke them. Works great in 9 though.

Anyway, that's probably too much information, let me know if you need any other info.

-Ender
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post #4 of 28
1/4/02 at 9:17am
Well, a digital camera should fit your needs. I bought the Cannon Digital Powershot Elph 100. (I wish now I had the 110 but that is a different story.) The Elph is TINY and is perfect for my needs. Well I don't actually need it for anything, but how many of you actually need all the new bells and whistles on your mac? Any way, back on topic. I can take it everwhere with me, it is just a bit thicker and heavier then my iPod. I think it is the perfect (aside from the changes in the 110) digital camera for the mac. And @ $399, it is not a bad price (you can get it for around $349 if you look on mysimon.com or a similar service).

If you wanna see some of the pics it has taken look @ my website. A good point about pics for the web is that you are going to have to shrink them anyway, so anything over 1 megapixel is PLENTY, (for web work) yet people seem to not understand this.

HTH

-Paul
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post #5 of 28
1/4/02 at 9:51am
Adam you can do this my friends have doen it. you get a sony camcorder with firewire for around $899 canadin that way you can take reg pic's or record stuff on it. shure it sounds like it wont work but it worked good for me.
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post #6 of 28
1/4/02 at 1:58pm
I love my brand new Sony DSC P-30. Retails around $299. For about $150 more (make that $80 after I get my memory stick and online registration rebate), I got a carrying case, a 32MB memory stick, an AC adapter, and a rechargeable battery that works for several hours. It's not state of the art, just 1.3MP, but it looks pretty good, works great with OS X, has some cool features (no taking out batteries to charge, just plug in the camera like all Sonys; output to TV and slideshows; macro, twilight, and several flash modes as well as all of that focusing stuff I don't understand and some digital picture effects; plus 6x zoom). Overall I'm so glad I finally invested in a digital still camera, even if it isn't the most expensive. I've already taken over 450 pictures with this thing, imagine how much that would cost to develop/print! It's pretty hard to go wrong with a brand like Sony.
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post #7 of 28
1/4/02 at 3:21pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks all, i will go down to Akihabara today and try a few out myself. Like the sound of the Camedia and the Sonys. I'll start on their homepages and go armed so that I dont get snowed by the salesmen....... sounds like I need to check up on media readers too if that is going to be more efficient - but it has to be under OS x.

Cheers and thanks
Adam
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post #8 of 28
1/4/02 at 3:38pm
To me, best does not include form-factor, so the Canon Digital Elph/Ixus and Sony DSC-P series are not on my list.

Nikon CoolPix 5000
Olympus C-4040Z
Canon PowerShot G2
Sony DSC-S85

I tend to shy away from the Sony cameras, because i think they are overengineered.

The DSC-F707 would be just fine if it didn't have a video rangefinder and a flash that gets obstructed by the barrel for macros...
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post #9 of 28
1/4/02 at 4:30pm
Thread Starter 
are all of these supported by OS x Capture.... including the new sony F707 ?
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post #10 of 28
1/4/02 at 8:12pm
Unless you're going to need to print large photo-quality pictures (like 8.5" x 11" or more), 2-3 MP is all you'll need. Even that is overkill for web graphics and e-mail. 3 megapixel is around 2048 x 1536. 2 megapixel usually comes in around 1600 x 1200.

My suggestion is to forgo the super-expensive hardware like the C-4040Z if you aren't going to need the quality and go with the affordable cameras that have mostly the same features (like the 3000Z or the 2000Z series from Olympus. I use Olympus as my example because I have very little experience with the Sonys and the Nikons. Plus the product naming scheme is much more clear with Olympus .

If you do go the Olympus route, let me know and I'll go into more detail about the extras that I got (leather case, more storage, and what-not).

-Ender
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post #11 of 28
1/5/02 at 2:41am
Ender, well yeah, but all the cameras I listed are indeed sub-$1000 cameras, and I was just presenting the best-of-the-best in within those limits.

---

Another drawback of the tinier cameras is the tinier optics. Your photos may be less crisp with the pocketable cameras.

Also, I like to print my photos at greater than 250 ppi, so even 3.3 mpixel photos would be smaller than typical 8x10s.
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post #12 of 28
1/5/02 at 5:58am
It all depends what you want a camera for.

If you are serious about getting into photography, and dnon't have loads of money, get a traditional camera. If you want a high-end digital camera to make nice large prints.....it's gonna cost big bucks.

I got the canon digital ixus v, which I love. Lots of functions, beautifully engineered, good pictures.

My entire outlook on photography has changed by owning this camera.

Oh, it works perfectly with image capture too.
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post #13 of 28
1/7/02 at 12:56am
Thread Starter 
Ok, another question - does anyone have any views on the Fuji FinePix 6800Z ?

Ease of use ?
does it work with OS X (capture/Fuji proprietry software etc)
quality of pictures etc

Once again, thanks for the input..... i am starting to firm things up in my mind but Im still exploring a few options.

Cheers
Adam
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post #14 of 28
1/7/02 at 3:12am
I'm not a big fan of the Fuji SuperCCD cameras just because the SuperCCD technology hasn't been the leap forward it was claimed to be. However, I think the FinePix photos seem softer than most photos, so they may be great for people photos on such.
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post #15 of 28
1/7/02 at 2:23pm
I have a Sony DSC-S50 and I love it! It has worked with OS X from the moment I installed X and have had no problems since. I think it takes great pictures and has a lot of good features.

The only two downsides to the camera are #1: The size, and #2: No viewfinder.

It even works with iPhoto. =)
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post #16 of 28
1/7/02 at 2:29pm
any sub $100?
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post #17 of 28
1/7/02 at 3:55pm
A word of warning - the list of cameras compatible with iPhoto is different from that with Image Capture.

Unfortunately, the Canon G2 seems not to have made the leap yet...
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post #18 of 28
1/7/02 at 4:44pm
[quote]Originally posted by jaydog:
<strong>... you get a sony camcorder with firewire for around $899 canadin that way you can take reg pic's or record stuff on it. shure it sounds like it wont work but it worked good for me.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I have a Sony DCR-TRV 520 DV camcorder as well as a Sony DSC50 CyberShot (2.1 megapixels) and they are both great at what they do. The DV Cam has a memory stick just like the CyberShot and it can also store still pics on the tape. The still feature is good, but the resolution can't match the CyberShot's 1600x1200. Also, neither Grab nor iPhoto recognizes the video cam when plugged in to the FireWire port, to transfer photos, I take the memory stick out and put it in the CyberShot. Once I have done that both Grab, as well as iPhoto, work great.

Maybe a return trip through the DV Cam's manual would give me some enlightenment on how to do this, if you know how your friends are using their Camcorder to do it please let me know.
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post #19 of 28
2/17/02 at 2:33pm
[quote]Originally posted by thentro:
<strong>any sub $100? </strong><hr></blockquote>

That's what I want to know, and so I'm reviving this old thread. I need a cheap USB still camera. The pictures don't have to be great, they just need to be recognizable (i.e. "This is my cat, this is my brother, this is my house...").
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post #20 of 28
2/17/02 at 2:46pm
As said before, depends on what you'll be doing with a digital camera...

Best all around IMHO is the Sony Mavica. I've taken one into factories, dropped the silly thing, then popped out the disk and did a quick layout for the customer. Sure, Olympus and Nikon are great, but if your camera has to take as much of a beating as mine does, the Mavica is less $$ and more sturdy. It even works in high-heat conditions that would fry lesser cameras.


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post #21 of 28
2/17/02 at 4:07pm
Well, there's practically no reason for a Mac user to buy a floppy based Mavica...

and as for the CD-R/CD-RW based ones, slot loading drives cannot accept the 3-inch discs...

I would stick to falsh media based cameras since that equates to fewer moving parts and less battery power consumed.
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post #22 of 28
2/17/02 at 10:28pm
those cameras under $100 are really bad. i think you can get a sony for $199 or $249. 1 megapixel. those "cheap" kind are really a waste and lighting is always a problem. i had tried one by logitech once. if you can swing another $100 or so for something better, i would recommend that instead.
good luck!

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post #23 of 28
2/18/02 at 1:35am
Thread Starter 
As a follow up I went with the Fuji Finpix 6800Z..... it is great and flexible. Works great with both capture and iPhoto in OS X.... and I love the charging cradle... really simple.

cheers
adam
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post #24 of 28
2/18/02 at 8:45am
I've got the Casio QV3000 EX which is a great camera - great features, good photos, manual controls etc. My only criticism is the size - very bulky. I finally managed to get it to work with Image Capture, but none of the Casios have yet made the leap to iPhoto. Do we assume that if they work with Image Capture, they will eventually make their way to iPhoto? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
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post #25 of 28
2/18/02 at 2:57pm
Okay, my turn.

The Sony Mavica is really low-low-end. And the pictures...well they're grainy often times and the color is often "reddish." My work has this camera, and it uses a floppy disk.

I did a lot of research before I purchased a digital camera. The deciding factor for me was portability, durability, and high quality. After reading all the reviews, I went with the Canon PowerShot S20.

The Canon PowerShot S20 has been good to me. The pictures are great. It did have to go back to Canon because it jammed, and I couldn't unjam it. But Canon fixed it under warranty and I got it back in about two weeks.

The thing that made this camera attractive to me was there aren't any parts sticking out so I could just put it in my pocket. I didn't need a special carrying case. And when you're a tourist somewhere, believe me the less stuff you have to carry with you, the better.

As for working with OS X, it's flawless with iPhoto.
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post #26 of 28
2/18/02 at 4:07pm
Don't forget the Kodak DX series. The DX 3500 is $219, the DX 3600 is $299. Very good cameras, comfortable to hold and you can get a seperate usb dock for $80 that lets you just drop the camera on it and download at a touch of a button-no card reader needed and the dock also charges the rechargeable batteries that it comes with.............
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post #27 of 28
2/19/02 at 8:46pm
I'am using a CoolPix 990
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post #28 of 28
2/20/02 at 6:27am
There's also the Kodak DC 4800. Full manual controls, and OS X compatible since 10.0. It also has a PC Sync connector for connecting an external flash.

Oh yeah, you can get it for less than $500. 3.34MP. I love mine.
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