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Digi-cam question?

D

de8212

Diamond Member
I have been in the market for one of these things for a while. Recently I have had my eye on the Nikon 995. THen I learn that you can only open pictures with their included software. So if I were to be out one day and take a pic and try to bring it up on someone elses pc, I could not do it unless the Nikon software was installed. That just seems odd.
Is this how most camera operate? I also looked into a Canon G2 but didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for one. DOes it also have this "feature"?
Thanks for any info.

de
 
many many digital cameras work that way. they come with a proprietary cable that usually plugs into the serial port or something, and then you need the camera software installed to communicate with, and download pics from, the camera. Some also use USB cables, but still require software most of the time

there's a few other ones out there that works different. the two i can think of are

1) cameras that store pics on a 3 1/2 inch floppy disk

2) cameras that use flash memory, and if you carry the flash reader around with you you could probably hook it up to another computer (though there *may* still be software involved, i'm not sure)

that's just the way it works, unfortunately.
 


<< cameras that use flash memory, and if you carry the flash reader around with you you could probably hook it up to another computer (though there *may* still be software involved, i'm not sure) >>


I *think* the 995 will work that way with the flash reader. Since I've never seen one and don't know how big they are, i'm not sure if that would be a hassle. CAn anyone vouch for it either way?


<< that's just the way it works, unfortunately >>


See I was thinkg the exact opposite. But then again, I know little about digital cameras. I really was hoping to get one soon but not if I have to load around software and say "I really want to show you this picture. Hold on while I go install this program that you will never use onto you computer."

Well, if anyone can shed some lite onto this subject a little more I'd be greatful.

de
 


<< [I really was hoping to get one soon but not if I have to load around software and say "I really want to show you this picture. Hold on while I go install this program that you will never use onto you computer." >>



hold on a sec. you DO realized that most digital cameras have an LCD screen on them, right? and that with that screen you can preview all the pictures you've taken?

That way, you can just show friends the pictures instantly, and if they want a bigger version then you simply upload it at home and e-mail it to them or something
 


<< hold on a sec. you DO realized that most digital cameras have an LCD screen on them, right? and that with that screen you can preview all the pictures you've taken? >>


Yeah, I knew that. Believe me I have been into BB, etc. handling quite a few.


<< and if they want a bigger version then you simply upload it at home and e-mail it to them or something
>>


See, that's the problem to me. If I want to give it to them right then, i'm out of luck. There has to be some good cameras that do not rely on their own software solely.

I thought that some cameras could just be plugged into the USB port and they become their own drive letter under My Computer.
de
 


<< [I thought that some cameras could just be plugged into the USB port and they become their own drive letter under My Computer. >>



not sure if those exist, but makes sense that they would. other than that, you might want to look into the ones that use floppy discs...or sony has a new one (expensive though) that actually records onto tiny cd-rs!

hopefully someone else can come into this thread and give you some more suggestions though! or perhaps specific models that will do this!
 
XP contains drivers for most recent digital cameras so if your friend has XP on his computer then all you'll need to transfer the file is the appropiate cable for connection of camera to pc! 🙂
 
I'm now on my 5th digicam . . . they keep getting better. SInce the first one I have never bothered installing any of the camera software or used a cable connection. Just get a reader for your media be it CF or SM. Remove it from the camera and shove it in the reader and it will be read as another HDD.

Camera picture formats are commonly JPG and sometimes the best quality is uncompressed TIFF or RAW. XP can read them all and creates nice thumbnails in Explorer when you access the drive containing the media.
 
de8212,

Probably the easiest way to handle this would be to buy one of the small "zio" compact flash card readers. Unfortunately they need drivers as well, but you could probably stick them on a zip or something or have your friend download them. Then it is just plug and play into any USB slot. You would just pull your CF card out of your 995 (great camera, BTW, I have the 990) plug it into the Zio and then use *any* image software you like to browse the card. On the Zio, the CF will "look" like a harddrive to the computer. It's actually a useful gadget to carry around.

It's not perfect, but it works for me. And no proprietary software needed.

I think the lack of interoperability between the makers of these digicams and the interfaces, etc., is really ridiculous.

Good luck,

fraz
 
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