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Thread ID: 23310	2002-08-13 04:31:00	Small cam that is portable, cheap or not?	Chilling_Silence (9)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
70577	2002-08-13 04:31:00	Okay, I'm new to digital cameras. I was gonna buy a pxt capapble fone, but decided that 50C fro each foto was just too much. I want to buy a small camera (about the size of most new phones, like the nokia 3310 size pref) and I would like it to be able to capture a few seconds of video if possible. I am looking for one that has good crisp imaging, and also some good software too. Zoom is not neccassary, but a bonus. Sound with the video would be good, and I also want to be able to use it as a web-cam. Pref USB 1 standard, as I have no other ports, but could invest in a firewire card if need be! What cameras would you guys suggest? Thanks Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
70578	2002-08-13 04:53:00	You may have a conflict of needs. To have one that does good pictures (high resolution) means its rather unsuited to webcam use. I run a 2.3 Megapixel camera, but even at 640 x 480 (minimum resolution) the picture size would kill it for streaming video webcam, needs about 1/2 that size. Webcams are under $75 as a stand-alone USB device	godfather (25)
70579	2002-08-13 04:55:00	Okay, well, I'm not gonna need it as a webcam as much, coz i don't know anybody with one, so, pref all the stuff to do with normal cams. Thanks. What do you use Godfather, and how do you find it? also, what was the pricing? Cheers Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
70580	2002-08-13 04:56:00	BTW, does it do a video like I've seen some can do, like upto 10 seconds with sound.... ??!?!?!? Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
70581	2002-08-13 05:07:00	Mine is a couple of years old now, its a Fuji MX2700. Doesnt do video, but most new ones do. Still very small compared to present ones. Uses SmartMedia memory cards, and they are OK, cheap. I run 3 - 32Mb cards and 1-8 Mb card. Each photo at max resolution and minimum compression is 1 Mb, "normal" compression is 500 kB (1800 x 1200 pixel resolution) At 640 x 480 max compression it will store about 400 photos, but quality suffers. I have had hi-res photos processed at the 1 hour lab, to A4 size with no sign of pixellation. I would look for cost of memory, cost of reading memory into a PC as well. An auto adapter or replaceable batteries for remote use should be considered. Mine uses a replaceable lithium rechargeable battery but they are hellishingly dear. The camera cost me $1800 new, memory is about $70 for 32 Mb I never use camera software, instead I use a USB reader and also a floppy disk adapter for portability. Use it a lot for my work.	godfather (25)
70582	2002-08-13 05:19:00	Kool, I would need to go with small vid shots. It's not gonna need to be huge size, standard foto size is large enough. Size does mater, as I'd like it to be as small as possible. It doesn't really matter how many, at least 30 at a resolution of 640x480 is around what i need. But video, I really would need some video capabilities while it's running on batteries, on the road..... Thanks godfather Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
70583	2002-08-13 05:39:00	Hi C S - In that case my kind of camera would probably do - fits the specs you just said - does vid clips (10 sec,no sound tho, but you can add that!). Its an Intel cs630 it has usb connection and normal AAA batteries too, takes 100 photos @ 640x480, can be used as a web cam too. As for size its not that big probably about the size of a cell phone or a little bigger maybe. But overall for what it is its is quite good i feel!! Would love a nice expensive one like g.f's tho!!!! I think it was about $400 but we paid only $200 in a package deal. Actually it was in imag a while back - November 2001 they rated it 8/10 for webcam use. :-)	J ZEP (336)
70584	2002-08-13 05:41:00	Hehe, sounds great, what about quality of images and also wht make and model is it. Thanks Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
70585	2002-08-13 05:57:00	Why don't you pay a visit to a reputable camera shop, as well as somewhere like Harvey Normans. They have heaps of different makes and models on demo, and you can see them on demo, so you know exactly what you are looking for. I would be inclined to go for a reasonable qaulity digi cam PLUS a cheap webcam. If you buy them as a bundle you will get more bang for your bucks, and in the long run a better quality digi cam. Often, with cameras, when you buy something that does everything, theres a trade-off in quality.	Baldy (26)
70586	2002-08-13 06:00:00	true, web cam is not very high on the priority list, just a little bonus, but taking video on the road is Thanks 4 your adivice Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
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