Digital Cameras

[Julia Young]

I realize you probably have talked about this subject. However, I am new to the forum and need some feedback on cameras. I have been using a Kodak 215 for some time but need to buy a new camera. The Kodak 215 eats batteries and the battery holder catch does not want to stay in place.
I am leaning toward a Sony with floppy disk storage. I like the Sony FD97 although it may be too heavy or bulky. The price is now more reasonable. My thinking is that organization might be easier with floppies. I tend to get 30-40 images running together on a sandisk and they want to pop around confusing things when downloaded. The floppy disk seems like it would be easier to store a disk with each file for a permanent photo record without cluttering my hard drive with image files. I need to know how many images can be stored on a floppy using a standard medium resolution format in WinTotal software. If anyone uses this camera or what opinions are in general on camera choices for appraisers. Feedback please?

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

I have had my Kodak 215 since Nov. I bought a battery recharger and rechargable batteries, which would need to be replaced within a few days. One day my rechargable batteries were not available so I put in my lithium battheries like I had used in my old favorite Epson and hated Poloroid. They would last six months in the Epson and less than two weeks in the Poloroid. They are lasting close to two months in the Kodak 215 so far. So I am not going to bother with the rechargable ones anymore! Have you tried the Energiser lithium for digital cameras? That is what has been in my camera for two months.

 

[rtubbs]

Julie, I've been using the Sony Mavica for 4 years; still using the FD71 and have the battery from my first one (FD7). I keep one battery in the charger unit and one in the camera and swap when the one i'm using gets low. the sony is a little bulky but has (knock on wood) never given me any problem. i like storing the photos on floppies; i have a labeled floppy for each appraisal and keep them for 2 years at which time i reformat and reuse them. labeling the floppies gives my daughter something to do.

 

[Ben Vukicevich SRA]

Julia,

I, like Ron, have been using the Mavica since the initial FD7. My FD 7 still works but I couldn't resist getting a new one when I was buying bulk disks for my FD7. Office Max was closing out FD85's for $299. I thought they mismarked them so I bought one right at the check-out counter.

Things to consider:

1)The older Mavicas (FD7) have a very heavy duty battery that lasts much longer than the standard battery in the newer ones. You can upgrade to the heavy duty battery if you don't like the battery life. I use the battery from my FD7 in the new FD85. One thing about the SOny's, you will not buy batteries again. They recharge well. The FD7 battery is going on 5 years old and still holds a long charge, sometimes more than 124 minutes of operation.

2) ALWAYS buy the Mavica model with the 4X drive. Stay away from the 2X drives as it takes them longer to record the photo. The FD7 is a 1X drive (Ron you would love a new Mavica with a 4X drive-it's like having a cable modem versus a dial-up connection-it's fast)

3) Don't be impressed by mega pixel resolution as you will be using 640x480 anyway to keep your email files small. I can get up to 30 photos on a disk. I buy 100 bulk Memorex disks at Office Max for $19.95. The Sony's don't seem to like old disks. I always use a new disk for each appraisal. Each disk is stored with each appraisal for easy retrieval, if needed in the future. Mega pixel photos still don't print-out much better than 640x480 because your inkjet printer can't handle the resolution. If it can, you won't want to wait for the photo to print-out anyway as it will take forever.

Some Sony's,like my FD85, can take 15 second mpeg's which you can send over the internet.

Ben

 

[TC]

I'll put my 2 cents in for the Sony Mavica. The ability to use a floppy disk like a roll of film is a great feature. Back in the old 35mm days I sometimes had a problem identifying all the photos, not a problem with the Sony. 1 property, 1 disk. I would advise you to purchase a wide angle lens to go with it and an extra battery for a backup. It may be a little bulky, but the other features outweigh it.

TC

 

[Julia Young]

Thanks to all who replied to my camera question. Hopefully there will be others register their preferences too. I am thinking the Sony would be a good choice, thanks to your positive response. Julia

 

[Anonymous]

my hat's off to the Kodak DC4800, has extra sharp pictures, takes great pictures in low and poor light, great flash. Great for dark basements.

Picked one up on the kodak site refubished for about $400 or less. NiCad battery lasts longer than the AA tht the 215 uses.

Much tougher is the DC 5000 that's dropable. Friend has one and loves it.

I use a card reader to download, very fast and convenient.

good luck.

 

[David S. Roberson]

One more good thing about the Sony Mavica: if you drop it from a height of 5 feet onto a hard asphalt paved street like I did once, or on a concrete sidewalk like I did another time, you can exchange it at the Mavica repair center in Atlanta for a rebuilt one for about $200. And that's the truth. (They do not bounce well).

 

[Anonymous]

mmmm...Kodak's better--they'll replace yours with a refurbished for shipping. Happened to me. can't beat that.

 

[Don Clark]

8)

I have used the DC5000 since last August. It uses a "Disposable Disk" which is loaded by CD, then a plug in for a SanDisk Card Reader. Once installed you simply use a card insert in the camera. I have 3. One is 8mg and if set properyl is good for 18 photos stored on the card which is smaller than a matchbook cover. I also have a 16mg that allows for about 38 photos on the card. The other is a 32mg and I get about 78 photos on the card. You simply put the card in the camera, take your photos, take the card out, put it into a card reader that is about the size of your mouse. In Win Total/Athena I click on powerview, then photos. From there it is an easy task to download, optimize, enhance, whatever and drag the photo to the form or however else you choose to do it. Since I needed something simple, and at 65 Y/O I need everything simple, this worked best for me. Camera is Cheaper than the one talked most about on this thread(I Paid $500 and bought one for me and one for my Son). The cards can be used over and over with a simple erase of photos, and with rechargeable batteries I save about $500.00 a month that I used to spend on developing.

Don