How much are you willing to spend? What kind of zoom are you looking for? What pixel resolution? How much storage? How long/how many pictures do you expect to take before returning to your computer? What kind of batteries would you like to use? AA are cheap to get and its worthwhile having a set or two of recharageables around anyway for other gadgets (I try to buy all battery gadgets to use AA). Almost all cameras will have the ability to hook up to a laptop using USB. Since you are running OS 9 you should confirm that your camera is indeed compatible with OS 9. It doesn't really matter if the supplied software works with OS 9 -- all that matters is that you be able to download the photos from the camera. Pixel count. Your choices will be from among 2, 3, 4 and 5 megapixel cameras (MP) 2 mega pixel cameras will give you photos good enough for screen use and for prints. (1600x1200) 3 and 4 MP cameras -- will give 4" x 6" photos from photo printers that are barely distinguishable from film prints at distances of more than a few inches (2048x1536 for 3 MP) 5 MP cameras will give larger prints with equivalent photo quality. >I'm not rolling in dough, so I would be looking at a less expensive >model. However, I do want reliability and one that would last me for >some time. Well, there's the conundrum that every value-conscious consumer faces: how to get reliability, features, longevity and a good price? Most cheaper cameras aren't built to last. Most cameras that are built to last aren't built to be cheap ;-). I'm partial to the Canon Powershot A40/60/70/75/80 series. I saw an A80 in a storefront today for £198 (~490 CAD after tax...it is so nice to have taxes included in the sticker price... that way you can go shopping and not have to do the additional calculation... of course, if this were to happen all the tax payer whiners would complain bitterly that they can't whine about taxes anymore (just ignore them... oh, wait a second, Canadians *did* ignore the nutjob party :) :) :))). If it's at $490 here in the UK I imagine it'll be cheaper back home (usually electronics here are more expensive (e.g. Canon Powershot S1 IS @ £410 ~ $1000 after tax) than back home). One other possibility is the Olympus series. They seem to have released a bunch of new cameras recently (and I'm sure the other manufacturers have done the same). PS If you go with a "small" (i.e. really small) camera (e.g. Fuji 410) you'll be paying a premium for the size. Just try out the cameras and check on-line at Steves Digicams or the Imaging Resource Center. For a 'battery shoot out' check out their link at <http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM>. You'll find that most cameras with similar capabilities will run you about the same price. Canon has a damn good formula with its digicams but that's not to say you won't be equally happy with one of the other brands. They're all pretty similar unless you opt for a camera with a special feature (e.g. speed, high quality lens, size, media options). Eric. >From: Leith Peterson <lpeterso@xxxxxxxxxxxx> >Reply-To: muglo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >To: MUGLO <muglo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [muglo] Digital Cameras >Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2004 16:32:08 -0400 > >I know there was considerable discussion on the list awhile back >about digital cameras, and I've saved all those emails and have them >backed up, but, to be honest, I don't remember around what date they >were. Can someone refresh my memory? Would they be online in the >MUGLO archive? > >I didn't pay much attention at the time to those emails, but now I'm >thinking about getting a digital camera. I don't know the first >thing about them. I would be using it with an iBook, 64 megs RAM, OS >9.2. I have a scanner, which I never used because of buggy software. >I've got some replacement software but haven't tried it yet. My >scanner is a Umax Astra 3450. > >I'm not rolling in dough, so I would be looking at a less expensive >model. However, I do want reliability and one that would last me for >some time. > >I'd like to get the camera by Saturday, so if someone could give me >advice before then, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. _________________________________________________________________ http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines _________________________________________________ For information concerning the MUGLO List just click on http://muglo.on.ca/Pages/joinus.html Don't forget to periodically check our web site at: http://muglo.on.ca/