This is excellent! No more green guide cuttings to "catalogue" or disappear into the big black hole.
We still don't have a digital camera - but hey, we've saved lots of money and we'll have the very latest when we can actually make a decision!
I love reading your column, Terry, as I do the Bleeding Edge. Still cross you left 774 though!

Thankyou so much for starting up this site.

The question I would like you answer, is now that I have embraced digital photography with enthusiasm, what do I do with my treasured film SLRs and lenses?!

Duncan:

I wish I knew. When you find a place let me know. I have a beautiful Olympus OM2 plus lenses, flash etc feeling completely neglected in the drawer.

Terry L

I'm quite sure that one day, I'll be GLAD I hung on to that Pentax MZ-5n!

Great site. I'm a very happy owner of a Canon Powershot S50 bought inter alia on the basis of Charles' column mention a couple of years ago and am now looking to buy my next camera to allow better cropping of longer-distance pics - either a camera with many more megapixels for in-computer editing or a camera with 5 mp and a super zoom (like Lumix 20) or both. Will look with interest at your site to help me make the choice.
Your system of stars is a good approach and will make it easier for us to compare the respective value of different cameras.
One story you might consider is on the quality of different CCDs, and why the pixels in a DSLR are different in outcome or image quality to pixel numbers in small 'consumar' type cameras - I haven't seen any stories on this but it is apparently significant.
Good site.

Ironically I have just finished reading an article that explains this at Steve's Digicams. The anwers to your query are in the first 3/4 sections of the article (which bears reading in its entirety in any event)

Regards

John Smith

My previous post seems to have lost a line or two with the article I was referring to being in The "Tech Corner" section under "The Megapixel Race - July 2004"

Regards

John Smith

That's because I edited your post to turn the reference to the article into a hot link to save everybody the trouble of searching for it.

Unfortunately, I forgot that you have to change the configuration of Movable Type to allow HTML in comments. I've fixed it since.

But "John", I emailed you about this, and you didn't get it, so I guess you don't check that address. That's fair enough, given the prospect of spam, but it would be nice to know that the people we're communicating with are real. (You can always turn the @ sign into an at, you know, which foils scrapers.)

Or alternatively, maybe you could send me a private email to reassure me that if we have to, we can contact you somewhere.

HOT NEWS: John Smith does exist, and we've been in touch by email.

Great reading and yes Terry I do remember you before you reviewed cameras.

Nice to hear you again with John Faine this morning.

This site wold be better if it wrapped on a 800 pixel wide screen. I have an old notebook with a wireless card that I use when watching TV with my better half but it's limited to a 800*6000 screen.

Your site at least this part seems to want a minimum of 1024 width.

regards
Graeme
PS trying to make up my mind if I'll get back to SLR photography ($10,000 Minolta kits stolen a couple of years back) with a Canon 350D or Canon 30D I'l leaning toward the 30D based on a few reviews so far. Decision required by end of July.

Graeme:

I sympathise with your display problems. We are using the MovableType blog software which has been created on the assumption that everyone runs to displays 1024 pixels wide. There doesn't seem to be much I can do about it, but it is worth looking into.

Terry L

Hi Terry, I enjoy reading your articles and reviews in the Green Guide - you seem to think along similar lines to myself, so you're obviously very switched on !! I recently recommended a Canon Ixus 800 IS for a friend (which she's very happy with) but I've been holding out for the 850 IS with it's slightly higher 7.1 MP (I like cropping photos) and 28 mm wide-angle lens. I've also got a Konica Minolta A200 digital camera that I'm very happy with except that it's far too large to carry in your pocket for travel & social occasions and it's also too slow focusing in indoor lighting. The Canon 850 IS looks very impressive and, I think, would compliment the A200 perfectly. So, could you please check it out and post a review in the Green Guide or on this site. Incidently, "face detection" which you describe as a gimmick - to the extent that it works - actually makes a lot of sense for this type of point-and-shoot camera. Canon claim that it identifies up to 9 human faces and matches focus and exposure for faces rather than foreground/background etc - exactly what's needed in social situations. Chris Quin.

What to do with your old film slr's & lenses?
Buy some film and take some real photos! ;)

Hi Terry, I'm still saving my dollars to get myself a Canon Ixus 850 IS (to compliment my Konica Minolta A200) and I'm still interested to see what you think of it. As a matter of interest, one of the major camera stores has it advertised in this week's Green guide (page 15) for $719 - admittedly with 'bonuses' (largely a camera course I think!). However, on page 10 it can now be bought for $599 and on page 17 for $598 (and they both assure me that their cameras come with the normal Canon guarantee). Canon have been averaging about three Ixus models each year, so the price may start coming down after Christmas. Speaking of which, have a good one. Chris Quin.

Chris: You won't regret buying the Ixus 850is. Along with the 800is it is right at the top of my list of recommended compacts. Just don't be tempted by the 900ti -- an altogether different kettle of fish.

The 850is is superbly made and takes consistently well processed images. Tell Santa you want one!

TL [aka dpexpert]

Hello,
Wondering if you can suggest / recommend an inexpensive digital camera for a 6yr daughter who really, really wants one
I have an old mavica which she uses that is giving up the ghost and would like a suitable replacement.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
Regards,
ross

Ross: It depends on what you mean by "inexpensive". The best entry level cameras are the Canon Powershot A460 which has a RRP of $149 and the Sony DSCS700 [$179].

They are both excellent cameras but they may be a bit too big for a 6 yr old's hands. There are smaller cameras but they tend to be more expensive and not as good as these two.

TL

Hi Terry & gang,

I read your column(s) in the Green Guide every week; but now I have a doozey question to ask from camera experts.

I have been an enthusiastic user of OMNIPAGE, versions 10 - 15, for many years now. I use it to "digitise" a great many 'current affairs' clippings from newspapers and mzines, and also to take excerpts from a very large library I possess.

The latest version of OMNIPAGE (16) offers something new, which they call "3DC technology". Basically, instead of using a flatbed scanner to take an image of the original document, they use a "standard digital camera", and then process that camera image into OCR for editable text output.

In addition, one doesn't have to "crack the spine" of a book, for this new technology can compensate for the curve of the book page near the central gutters.

I have sent several emails to NUANCE in Sydney, asking if they can recommend a suitable digital camera, and whether additional ("flood") lighting is need for the source - especially low contrast newsprint.

No one in NUANCE seems able to offer any range of recommendations for this "optical setup," and what a "standard digital camera" might be for this task.

Would you and "your crew" care to explore this little wrinkle, and come up with some recommendations ?

Thanks,
Colin KLINE
elklien@vic.chariot.net.au

Colin: Virtually any digital camera will do the job. The problems will be getting the copy flat enough and getting the camera square-on to the page. To get a photo of a page suitable for OCR isn't easy. That's why we have scanners.

There are a few tripods that will put the camera on a horizontal arm in order to be parallel with a flat, horizontal surface. Most that I have seen are expensive. [Check out the Manfrotto models]

When I have photographed book pages in the past I have used an enlarger stand, taking off the enlarger head and screwing the camera, via tripod mount, to the stand.

As for lighting -- the important thing is for it to be as even and diffused as possible. Outdoors on an overcast day is OK.

I am not convinced that Omnipage can cope with extreme page curvature. I suspect they are claiming too much, but who knows? I find that the slightest curve in the page confuses Textbridge, which is the OCR software that I use.

TL

Hello Terry

With in the last few months you reviewed a digital camera and gave it a great review. Can you please point me to where I can see back copies of your articles or I can see your recommendations.

Many thanks

CARLEEN WHEELER

Dear Terry,

I would really appreciate some help in choosing a digital camera.

My wife and I are strictly point and shoot people with a 28 year attachment to an Olympus 35 RC, but the time has come to upgrade, and we would like a compact camera with the following features.

Mandatory Features

Good Picture Quality - straight out of the camera – is of prime importance: definition, detail, colour balance, contrast etc.etc. “Good” to us means 6” x 4”prints or screen display with no obvious faults which would require post camera processing to remove. Any post camera processing will be restricted to occasional cropping or possible enlargement (max. A4). Desirably we would like to be able to use ISO 200 and up to ISO 400.
Optical Stabilisation
Optical Viewfinder (preferably) or otherwise a swivelling LCD screen.
Pocketable – size and weight – but doesn’t have to be a fashion item or ultra slim. (The 35 RC is too large and too heavy – 480 gms)
Zoom lens. As much as possible but without unduly compromising picture quality.
Good instruction manual
Simple Operation – burying frequently used facilities in menus doesn’t appeal to us.

Highly Desirable Features

Wide Angle Lens
Macro mode
Fast operation
Manual control
Focus and Exposure lock
Exposure compensation button
AA Batteries
Price: $500 max (hopefully)

Possibly such a camera doesn’t exist and we’ll have to compromise. Can you help by pointing out what we can reasonably expect and which cameras we might consider. Your comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Finally, many thanks for your articles which, despite my ignorance, I find enjoyable and interesting, and for your radio programmes over many years which I miss.

Regards,

Jeremy

Jeremy:

Boy, you really know how to lay down the specs!

The problem with your requirements are that they include "pocketable" and that, I'm afraid, is incompatible with the very best image quality. However...

You should look at the Sony W300 and the Canon Ixus 970is. Either will come close to giving you what you want.

Hope this helps.

Terry L

Dear Terry,

My husband currently uses a Nikon D80 which he is very happy with. For his upcoming birthday I would like to buy him a macro lens for this camera. Unfortunately I have no idea which one would suit this camera and the several stores I have visited have been less than helpful. Could you please help with some advice on the most suitable macro lens I could get. Thank you.