Re: CHEAP digital camera???

hey ballando
Hey maybe I can help you out for a change :) I use an Olympus 360L
($279.99) and am very pleased with its size and picture output. Check
out www.photoalley.com that is where I bought mine. Whatever camera
you do buy DO get a plug in power supply as mine (and most of them)
do take around 2-3 amps just to run (around $30)! You will need this
powersupply especially when downloading the pics. The 4 double AA
batteries don't even have a chance (brand new standard ones last
around 30 min, you can get Lithum or NiMH or NiCads to increase
time). For only internet picuters you do not need a higher
priced "mega pixel" camera as the computer screen is not good enough
to show it anyway. You could get by with a standard 640x480 camera. I
usually take my picture in the lowest setting for internet pics which
is 640x480 pixel and they come out just fine. Anything above that and
you really can't tell anyway. However, with higher cameras (here we
go :) you will have the choice of taking very fine pictures case you
want to print them out, setting lighting, shutter speed, internal
brightness, red eye reduction, and many other parameters for example,
panoramic pictures- with the 360L you can take 10 picures and put
them together as one photo (I have not tried this yet). The higher
price cameras also come with a LCD screen on the back so you don't
have to look through the view finder if you don't want to. Its VERY
helpful for taking all pictures and a VERY nice feature to have, DO
consider it. Also check out how close you can take the picture with
the "cheaper" camera (this was my #1 concern as I planned to use my
camera for close detail pics mainly) and if this is where your headed
you probably want to pay a little more for a better one. For example,
I can take a picture around 4 inches away from my target and then
still 2X it for even closer viewing! The camera is able to pick up
the grain in the wood and the fibers in plastic. Most cameras will
come with an 8mb memory card (check to see if the "cheaper" one
includes the memory card) and at the lowest setting 640x480 (my
camera) can store 122 images. On the highest setting of 1280x960
pixel it can store 2 on this same card (you can also buy more cards
up to 64 mb) and this setting would be if you wanted to print them
out for example. The only real "downfall" that I have noticed with
this olymupus 360L is the flash is a little weak and only fills in
the center of photos (but I have not played around too much with the
settings). However, adding a little light or taking a photo with no
flash and then adding brightness through the program does the trick.
You can also cut out parts of the picture you don't want, brighten it
up or whatever, add a date, etc. and send it out!
hope this helped.
tauseef

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., Brian Pitt <bfp@e...> wrote:
>
> Hi B.
>
> you could check at
> http://www.cnet.com/electronics/0-1629008.html?tag=dir
>
> probably one in the 150-250 range
> but there are some for 100 or less that might do the
> job ( better than a web-cam but not really great )
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> On Thursday 15 February 2001 22:39, you wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I would like to post some pics. I've done the photo to scanner,
then
> > reduce file size, etc. but it's a PITA, IMO.
> >
> > What is the CHEAPEST digital camera which will give "good enough"
> > photos to be worthwhile to post online.
> >
> > Thank you in advance.
> >
> > Ballendo