I am totally sold on the idea of digital cameras taking over the photo world, leaving film cameras in the dust. I will never buy another roll of film again or pay to have it processed.
Here's what I did, if any of this is of value to you, great
My first digital was an inexpensive Kodak with quite acceptable quality. It has a docking station that you hook up to your computer. When it is "full" of pictures you simply set it in the docking station and it automatically downloads the photos to your computer. Easy stuff.
I really like the idea for many reasons:
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You dont have to buy film or pay to have it processed
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You see what you've taken (or not) right then and there, if you don't like what you see, do it again.
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I can email them (frequently), post them to the website (daily) or print them (rarely), either on my color printer or I can send them out over the internet or take to a local photo lab
But I wanted to get into digital video so I could post video on my website, burn cd's of it and email it.
I turned to Sony who gave me the best of both worlds.
I bought the best one they offered at the time. a Digital 8 Mega Pixel Handy Cam with 420X digital zoom, 15X optical zoom, using both metal particle tape and memory stick recording media.
Wow what a mouthful.
I love this camera and with it I can:
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Take still shots or digital video
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Record the above on a tape or a memory stick
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Take the memory stick and stick it right in Lisa's Sony laptop to download pics'video
Plus a zillion other features I have not even begun (and may never) to use.
It is about as easy to learn how to use as anything like this would be I suppose. I spent several hours reading through the handbook until I realized that I didn't neet to know all that extra stuff right now.
For example, it has all this stuff about how you can focus this and that manually. I have never done that and have never needed to.
It has all the accessories you could as for available to buy. I don't have a flash and probably won't buy one. It automatically adjusts for the lack of light to the point that it can shoot night vision in total darkness.
I have been quite pleased with this. The only thing it doesnt do, that I wish it would do, is make up for me. If you go to my website and look at the digital video there you will see the picture jerks around. Thats not the camera, its the jerk holding it. When I put it on a tripod, no problem. Something about those Coronas and holding the camera steady that just dont mix well.
Oh I can also take video then, as I am watching the video, click stills as I see stuff I want a still of
Now, we've upgraded even further to Sony 8.0 Megapixel digital cameras that are about the size of a pack of cigarettes but do much more than my handicam. I bought 1G memory cards for them and they will simply shoot pictures all day.
Amazing.
