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mcm Smart Kitteh
Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 2600 Location: w. MA, USA
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 3:29 pm Post subject: Digital Cameras & Printers |
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For those of you with digital cameras, how much printing do you do? Do you have your own printer, or is it more economical to put the files you want on a CD and take them or send them out to be printed?
Some cameras are sold with a printer and I wondered if it was worth it to have a printer. With the cost of ink being so high I would guess not.
The camera I'm considering most seriously (and I've been crawdaddying around this purchase for months) has 5.1 megapixels and 12x optical zoom. For just average use - people, scenery, animals, is 5.1 megapixels "enough"? Would I wish for more? |
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allensco Flight Attendant
Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 823 Location: Alabama, USA
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 3:44 pm Post subject: camera's and printers |
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Mary,
From someone who dabbles in photography on the side, it's much cheaper to take the memory card (or CD) to the photo center and let them print for you. Ink costs too much for just photo printing...unless you get pro quality prints and are selling them to pay for the ink.
I have a Canon 10D EOS Digital with some nice accessories (all Canon) and used to have an Epson Photo printer. The printer eventually gave it up and had to be disposed of.
I do take some photos for friends and family every now and then. I just burn the photos onto a CD and give them the disc so they can do with them as they please.
If you're going to buy a printer, get an Epson. In my opinion, they are the best for photo quality prints. I've compared the HP and Epson prints and the Epson is much better.
Hope this helps! |
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Drew King's Row
Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 1118 Location: Tumbleweed Junction, The Republic of North Texas
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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Yep. Ink is expensive. I take the memory card to the photo center and direct which shots I want printed out. Less expensive. _________________ www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald. |
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Bruce Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 7926 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 7:19 am Post subject: |
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If you must have prints, as opposed to just emailing photos or handing someone a disc, it is so cheap to email the photos to places like Costco (.17 for a 4x6) and pick them up or have them snail mailed back for free, that it almost makes no sense to buy a printer anymore for photos. They also have wonderful software for improving or decorating your pictures.
B _________________ VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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COURVO Even Taller Than He Seems On TV
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1569 Location: Vegas, Baby!
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Alright, I'll be the lone voice, I guess, for printing photos at home. I use HP exclusively, and find that the ink lasts forever!
I like being able to manipulate the photos myself for color, hue, saturation, cropping, red-eye and collaging.
For quick turnaround, I have one of those HP Photosmart printers. I just yank the memory card out of my camera, insert in the printer, select the photo on the printer's own viewer, then crop, set brightness, even cropping, and print on 4X6 paper. I got a boatload of 4x6 HP printer paper on WOOT for next to nothing, and in a cost analysis with the local Rite-Aid, find it much cheaper and convenient to print myself.
I use any number of photo-manipulation software solutions. 'Haven't found one that I don't like yet....but my favorite is PhotoPlus by SERIF.
Each to their own, I guess.
Courvo _________________ Dave Courvoisier - Las Vegas, NV
http://www.CourVO.com
CourVO@CourVO.com
Courvo's "Voice Acting in Vegas" Blog: http://www.CourVO.biz
on your phone at courvo.mobi
702.610.6288
"I'm not a news anchor, but I play one on TV." |
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SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer King's Row
Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 1055 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Glad you're finally going for it!
The maximum print size for a 5 megapixel camera is 10 x 13 so I'm sure you'll be fine there. The only time a problem might arise is if you wanted to crop down to a tiny portion of the picture which you most likely will not want to do. You'll certainly appreciate the 12x optical zoom.
A couple of other things to keep in mind are battery type and memory card. The best battery I think is NiMH Rechargables - look for 2700 mAh or higher. Always carry spare batteries. Make sure the memory card is one of the mainstream cards and not specific to your camera - I think the only ones you have to worry about are Olympus and Sony. You probably should get a memory card of at least 1 gig and it doesn't hurt to carry a spare memory card as well. _________________ Elaine
The Youthful Mature Voice (Emeritus)
Senectitude is not for the faint of heart. |
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Charlie Channel Club 300
Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 356 Location: East Palo Alto, CA
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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I have a Canon G-2. Also, the Epson 1280 Stylus Photo printer. I rarely use the printer. Although ink may be expensive, when I do do pictures, I like it. I can print up to 13" x 19" -- but in the 4 years I've owned the printer, I've done that once. The photo printer is good for one-off custom stuff.
The 1280 includes an attachment that enables printing from a roll of paper. But, it's slow going. I guess I'd say it's several orders of magnitude better than watching paint dry. But, you'll still be looking at it. I rather the local drug store or photo processor do that.
The G-2 is 4 megapixes -- more than adequate even for much commercial grade work (the G-2 was rated as a semi-pro camera by CNET). I recently bought a 1 gig card for it. What a blast. I use the camera almost weekly. I usually send folks images on a CD and let them do the printing.
C |
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Dave Lucky 700
Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 727 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Charlie Channel wrote: | I use the camera almost weekly. I usually send folks images on a CD and let them do the printing.C |
Ditto Charlie!
The days of getting multiple prints made to share are over for me as well. On the last vactation (a cruise) I took over 700 pics! That would have never happened in my 35mm slr days.
Sharing them with the family was too easy. Just burn to CD (I use Googles "Picasa2" a free program) and they can view the slide show or they can choose to print any of them if they want right in the same software.
Digitally delighted Dave _________________ . If at first you don't succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn't for you. |
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mcm Smart Kitteh
Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 2600 Location: w. MA, USA
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 11:56 am Post subject: |
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Many thanks for the input - I appreciate it. |
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mcm Smart Kitteh
Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Posts: 2600 Location: w. MA, USA
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: |
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I finally bought a camera. I think it has been at least a year and a half I've been hemming and hawing over this. Nikon D50.
Wicked. |
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BenWils The Thirteenth Floor
Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 1324 Location: In a Flyover State
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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 11:45 am Post subject: |
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mcm wrote: | I finally bought a camera. I think it has been at least a year and a half I've been hemming and hawing over this. Nikon D50.
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I have a Nikon D70s and I love it. I also have the SB-800 flash, which is tremendous too. You can use the flash on a tripod and shoot it remote from the camera. The D50 is very solid, you will love it. _________________ Ben
"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap." |
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