What do you think of this?

Unspeakable Horror · June 18, 2003, 08:14

Edit: Agh! Wrong title

"Need advice..." should be the thread title... Ming?

I was going to buy it but I´m not sure if it´s good so... what do you think? Should I?
This would be my first camera so I have no idea about the meaning of all this

Camara Digital Galaxy 3 in 1
Especificaciones:

-U$s 34.90
-Color Digital/Video Conference PC Camera
-VGA color digital camera
-Dual-function: Camara Digital/USB PC camera
-Sensor resolution:350k pixels:
-VGA: 640 x 480
-QVGA: 320 x 240
-Status LCD: 2-digit LCD
-Memory: 8M byte SDRAM
-Computer interface: USB
-Temporizador (Self-Timer): 10 seconds delay
-Exposure: automatic
-White balance: automatic
-Viewfinder: optics
-Power supply: 2 AAA R03 R03P
-Shutter speed: 1/5 to 1/2000 second
A picture:

alva · June 18, 2003, 08:55

Can't go wrong for 34$, can you? There isn't that much difference between the very expensive ones and the cheap ones anyone, at least not enough to warrant the extra cost.

Unspeakable Horror · June 18, 2003, 09:12

Thank you, but I wanted to know if the features are good or not, I can´t afford more than that anyway

By the way u$s34.9 = $98 here

Locutus · June 18, 2003, 10:54

Well, I'm no expert but it seems to me that for a webcam the frame rate is quite important, but that doesn't seem to be mentioned...

alva · June 18, 2003, 11:06

Wow, a 100$,

I use my digital cam as pc cam
(well, I could use it if I wanted to, not that I ever did

)
-
Frame rate is important, but so is upload capacity and anyway, the USB is a limiting factor too(not sure on that though, don't know USB speed by heart). Just don't expect too much of those things, there fun, not great.
-
For a digi cam the important thing is tha amount of pixels

Quote:

-Sensor resolution:350k pixels:

That's not much for taking pictues, it will do for distributing them over the net (homepage). Printquality will be inferior though.

Unspeakable Horror · June 18, 2003, 11:07

Locutus: I´m going to ask the site about it, what do do you think the minimum should be?

Alva: what´s a good sensor resolution in your opinion?

Thanks! Sorry for all the questions

Locutus · June 18, 2003, 11:20

For frame rate, 25-30 would give you a more or less fluent image, I'd reckon (make sure to ask for the frame rate at the maximum resolution: 60 fps is nice, but not very useful if it's at 50x100 or something

)

For a regular digital photo camera that's a total piece of crap of course, but what do you expect for $35? A decent digital photo camera will cost you at the very least $200, probably more. (I'm currently waiting for this one to be delivered myself, bought it for €360 -- pretty basic model, but more than good enough for what an amateur like me will ever need)

Locutus · June 18, 2003, 11:24

For a photo camera, a decent resolution would be 2 megapixel at least, but in a year or so 3 will probably already be the standard (so if you want it to be a long term investment... but the cost is about $100 more)

Sava · June 18, 2003, 11:24

look at the max resolution of the pics, and the frame rate...

when it comes to electronic equipment and such, if it's cheap, it usually sucks.

Unspeakable Horror · June 18, 2003, 11:27

... You are right

I think I will save some money and buy another one instead

Thanks!

Quote:

...this one... e360

:envy:

alva · June 18, 2003, 11:49

This is mine:
http://www.fujifilm.com/JSP/fuji/epa...oduct=43860757

I paid a 1000$ for it a year ago, but it is good.

Very good movie quality too

Locutus · June 18, 2003, 11:57

Quote:

:envy:

Well, it's an expensive camera, even a bit over my budget (I was aiming at €330 max), but at least I know it's a fairly good quality camera that I'll enjoy for years to come (barring accidents, theft, etc of course

).

There are also cheaper models in the Powershot series: A300 or A200 (3 and 2 megapixel respectively), which shouldn't cost much more than $200 (maybe those fit your budget better?). Those are pretty good cameras as well but have a lot less options than the A70. They're good enough for snapshots but if you really get into photography and want to do some more advanced stuff, you'll soon outgrow those models. With the A70, I don't have to be afraid of outgrowing it anytime soon. That's worth a few extra bucks to me.

Locutus · June 18, 2003, 11:59

Wow, impressive camera, alva. I take it photography is sort of a hobby of yours? Or did you just have way too much cash to throw around?

Unspeakable Horror · June 18, 2003, 12:04

Alva: I don´t think I´m going to have that much money

I will probably buy this one next month if I´m lucky:
For u$s154.90,

Specs:
1.3 Megapixel Digital Zoom Camera -
• Sensor: 1.3 MP CMOS, 24-bit color
• Zoom: 2X Digital
• Resolution:

1280 x 1024 (1.3 MP Native)
1600 x 1200 (2 MP - using hardware interpolation)
640 x 480

Fixed Focus Lens with Macro -
• Focal Length: 8.5 mm
• 35 mm equivilance: 44 mm
• Aperture: F/3.5
• Focus Range: 8 - 10 inches (macro); 24 inches to infinity (normal)

Exposure System -
• Exposure: Automatic with Manual eV compensation (+/- 2 EV) in 0.3 increments
• White Balance: Automatic with presets for sun, tungsten, fluorescent
• Shutter Speed: 1/4 to 1/2000 second
• Self-timer: 10 seconds

Flash -
• Integral three-mode flash: Auto, Auto with Red-Eye reduction, Off

Display and Output -
• File formats: JPEG, AVI (motion JPEG)
• LCD image display: 1.5 inch color TFT
• OSD Languages (5): English, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese
• Video (TV) output: NTSC or PAL, selectable

Memory -
• Internal: 8 MB built-in (7 MB available for image storage)
• Images Stored in available 7 MB (typical):

-----Resolution: Can´t paste it.
http://argentina.deremate.com/Accdb/...sp?IDI=3689874

• External Memory: Secure Digital (SD) or MMC memory cards (not included)
• Still Image File format: JPG

Movie Mode -
• File Format: AVI (motion JPEG)
• Resolution: 320 x 240
• Maximum Duration: Limited to available memory

PC Camera Mode -
• Live video to your PC via USB for video conferencing or video recording

Included Software (PC only) -
• Arcsoft titles: FunHouse, PhotoImpression, Video Impression, PhotoBase

Computer Connectivity -
• USB connectivity for PC, Mac, and Lycoris Desktop LX (mass storage class)
• PC: Windows 98/98SE/2000/Me/XP
• Mac: OS 8.6 or later
• Lycoris Desktop/LX: Amethyst Update 3 or higher

Power -
• Two AA batteries (included) or one CR-V3 (not included)

Other -
• SKUs 59908
• Additional detail is available in the Product User Manual

Unspeakable Horror · June 18, 2003, 12:10

Locutus: I think that those models will cost a bit more around here

Edit: You were close, A200 u$s250 and the A300 u$s289.

alva · June 18, 2003, 16:30

Quote:

Wow, impressive camera, alva. I take it photography is sort of a hobby of yours? Or did you just have way too much cash to throw around?

Not all unfortunately, and no the hobby either.

But since I didn't have any cam whatsoever and was sick of buing these throw-aways (expensive-low quality-bad for envirionment), coupled with the fact I was in diar(sp?) need to spoil myself (the previous year had been very rough), hadn't bought any thing for my birthday and had just collected my holliday money I just had to have it.