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Archive through April 02, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: All Things Technical: The Help Desk (ARCHIVES): Digital Camera purchasing help!: Archive through April 02, 2005 users admin

Author Message
Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 8:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
No unfortunately it’s still in the shop. Electrical problems can be hard to figure out.

It’s funny that you mention ThumbsPlus as it never seems to get a lot of publicity. It’s one of my favourite programs and I use it all the time. It’s very reasonably priced, given what it can do. It’s much more of an image organising/cataloguing program than an editing program, but you already have one of the best image editors you can buy (PhotoShop). One of the nice features of ThumbsPlus is you can use it to thumbnail all your images and then launch them into PhotoShop for editing.

Some people like ACDSee, which is geared more to amateurs and novices. ACDSee has a nice fancy interface and it’s relatively simple to use, but later versions have become rather top heavy. I think there is a slightly higher learning curve with ThumbsPlus but it’s a more powerful, stable program. ThumbsPlus also has some very nice people supporting it and they have a nice user group that you can discuss questions with.

Similar to cameras, everyone is looking for something slightly different in a program and what satisfies one person’s needs is different than others. There are many happy users of ACDSee out there, along with the Adobe Album (I think?) etc. There’s also Extensis Portfolio (a really expensive image cataloguing program) that some people love as well, and then there is iMatch (a really complicated but powerful program).

But I find ThumbsPlus suits my current needs very well.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 9:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have Adobe Photoshop Album, but to be honest I don't really love it. It's OK, but I don't love it. I think I'll look up ThumbsPlus and see if they've got a demo.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 9:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yankee, how do you like your new camera? You got the sony, right? Does it focus well in low light? Post some pix if you have any...

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 9:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
yankee-sis, also try jasc's Paint shop photo album 5. i've been very happy with paint shop pro for alot of years (the less pricey version of image editing).

i found that adobe's photoshop was always so complicated. i am going to try adobe's photoshop elements, because of all of the positive things i've heard of it's ease of use, and comparability to it's adobe photoshop CS.


Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 12:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Here is the address for ThumbsPlus:

http://www.cerious.com/

They have a free trial that you can download.

Note: If you want to test ThumbsPlus, I would recommend downloading the full trial version rather than using the "Test Online" approach.

While PhotoShop is extremely powerful, the downside is that it is very expensive and it is not an easy program to learn. It is not at all user friendly for the novice user. PhotoShop Elements is an excellent program for the casual user and remarkably powerful as well.

As I mentioned before, what suits one person’s needs may not work as well for someone else.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 12:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks for the address, Jimmer. Downloadable demos are so helpful...

And just to clarify, I DO use Photoshop for image editing (though I'm sure I use like .5% of its total capability). My photographer husband keeps me straight with it, though. (BTW, he also prefers Epson printers). The Adobe Photoshop Album I was referring to above is a photo organization tool -- a separate program from Photoshop.

Julieboo, so far I LOVE my camera, but to be honest I've been far too busy with work and travel (I'm still on the road) to do much more than point and shoot with it. Once I'm back in my home town (sometime mid-February), I'm sure I'll be able to play more with it.

I did let my 5-year-old nephew take a few photos with it last weekend (under my close supervision of course), and his photos turned out pretty crisp -- so I think the camera has fantastic image stabilization. I was watching him and he did have a fair amount of camera shake when he hit the button and they still came out crisp. That's pretty good! The huge LCD is also amazing.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 3:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yankee, what about your camera do you love the most?

Jimmer, thanks for that link!



Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 8:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You're welcome Julie. Yankee, Which Sony do you have (I remember that your dh is a Nikon guy)?

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 8:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
It's the new 7 megapixel one -- Sony Cyber-Shot DSC V-3.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 9:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
So far, Julieboo, I'm most impressed by the image stabilization on auto -- the following photo was taken with the camera by my 5-year-old nephew.

The only correction I've made to the photo is fixed a red eye.

[Edit -- I had a second photo but it was too big]

photo1


Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 9:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That’s a nice picture (very cute!). Your nephew is a budding photographer! I can’t get over what a good job Sony does with digital cameras, given that they aren’t a photography company like Canon or Nikon.

By the way, I didn’t think that this camera has image stabilization (maybe your nephew is a better photographer than you think!)? More than likely I’m wrong about image stabilization though.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 6:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yankee, nice shot! Was that in auto mode? Are there any things you don't like? So far I think I don't like two things about mine. One is that it takes a long time to actually take the picture. (I press the shutter release and it doesn't take for a second or so.) And in low light it often takes a while to focus....

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 1:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OK, I wasn't sure whether to post these in my folder or in here, but I'm sure a mod or someone will straighten me out!

Here are a few pictures I took yesterday with my "it-still-feels-new" Sony DSC-V3 digital camera. The detail is really amazing -- unfortunately, to get the file size down to 60K or under, you lose a LOT of detail, but suffice it to say I'm happy with the camera...

In the original this photo is very detailed and crisp. I have a close-up filter, but don't have it on for this photo (I need to buy an adapter first). I had it on the macro setting, though -- handheld, natural light. I can't wait to see what the camera does when I get that macro filter on there:
gerber
---------
This photo is also very crisp all the way up to the top of the building in the original -- I was pleased with how the camera handled this shot:
building

And this one I took just because I was happy that my potted lavender has started springing new leaves after being dormant all winter! Yay!
lavender

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 3:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Awesome shots Yankee!!!!

Hippyt
Member

06-15-2001

Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 4:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Those are beautiful!

Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 5:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Very nice images!

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Sunday, March 13, 2005 - 11:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I know that building!!!!!!

Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Friday, April 01, 2005 - 9:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hey TVCHer's....


What do you think about this camera?

Please give me your opinions. Thanks!!

~Eggie


Wendo
Member

08-07-2000

Friday, April 01, 2005 - 11:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Review of the Olympus C-5500 at Steve's Digicams and at Digital Camera Info.

Some discrepencies about specs in both reviews, but they seem to give it a thumbs up for the price.

Currently, I'm using a Pentax Optio 5si for a pocket digital camera and the Nikon D70 dSLR for finer pictures. The only other digital cameras I've had experience with are Canon pocket digital cameras.

HTH.

Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 9:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
As a general statement (which may not be very helpful) all the point and shoot digital cameras are pretty good at this point, particularly if you stick with a name camera brand like Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc. There are some minor differences in features but it all depends on what you are looking for.

Since it’s a pretty level playing field, the real key to getting good results is the photographer. The camera just isn't going to make that much difference.

So if it has the features you want and you've handled the camera and feel comfortable with it, you've found the right one for you.

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 10:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just purchased a Canon PowerShot G6.....love it....here's a sample of one of the pictures for quality, Eggie....

Please note, I really suck at photography!

Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 10:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That's actually a pretty nice picture considering that it was taken by someone who "really sucks at photography".

Seriously, the lighting is very good and it's a nice shot showing your new decor. Nice looking kitchen too, by the way.

Luvmyjrt
Member

09-18-2003

Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Why, thank you Jimmer! There's more in my folder of my decorating. I decorate with quilts!

Egbok
Member

07-13-2000

Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 11:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wow! Thanks so much for all the information and opinions!!

Wendo, I read every single word on the Digital Camera Info link, it was fantastic information!! More than my pea-sized brain could handle, LOL!! Really though, I understood quite a bit of it and it was so thoroughly informative...thank you!!

Jimmer, I appreciate you input as well. Yes, I had an opportunity just by chance to pick up one of these demo cameras and hold it and play with it. Given my limited photographic abilities, the first thing that impressed me was how it fit nicely in my hands! LOL!! Second was the huge viewing screen (2") to see what my picture result looks like...very nice for my "old eyes".

I zoomed in and out and took lots of pictures in the store. I was impressed with the clarity of the pictures, given that I do not have a steady hand. I also took some "action" shots of unsuspecting shoppers as they whizzed on by and once again, I was impressed with the clarity of the picture in the viewing screen!

And now that I'm recalling the moment I noticed the camera, just seeing the camera caught my eye. It's a very nice looking camera.

The price is reasonable....$279.00 until tomorrow and then it goes up another $20.00 tomorrow.

And Luvmyjrt, your sample picture of your gorgeous kitchen is great! If you "suck" at photography, then my pictures should look professional....LOL!! You really took a nice shot there!

I do remember Dra saying something about a preference in getting more zoom option than megapixel option. Did I recall that correctly?

Let me know what you think. As it stands, this camera is pretty much equal with both those elements, so it should be okay....right?

I'm still open for anymore comments if you care to share your thoughts.

I have until tomorrow to decide, especially if I want to save an extra 20 buck-a-roos!

Thanks again everyone!

~Eggie




Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 12:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
With respect to the great megapixel question, IMO you will not see much difference in the print results once you get above 5 megapixels in a point and shoot (certainly not at 8 x 10 or less), though arguably it will allow you to crop your results a bit more without losing as much detail. With respect to zoom range, make sure that you are only comparing the optical zoom range as the digital zoom isn’t very useful. The optical zoom can be very useful, but it all depends on the kind of photography that you like to do.

I think that you are doing a good job now of researching the technical details and actually getting a feel for the camera. Trust me that if you don’t like the feel of it and how the controls are designed, you won’t enjoy using it as much and you probably won’t get as good results. The best example of that are people who get a big expensive camera and then find it too complicated and heavy to carry around and enjoy. Having said that, I have a big heavy complicated camera and I enjoy it very much! So again it is all a matter of what best suits your needs.

And, keep up the great enthusiasm – there is a bit of a learning curve to using these things. Have fun!