eyeguy6
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:02:51 PM
Tommorrow is the big day. I'm taking the Sony plunge. Which one do I get? The FD-73 is $399.00. The FD-85 is $499.00. I'm buying it mainly for eBay use but wouldn't mind springing for the extra hundred bucks if I could use it as my family camera too. What are the important differences between the two? Thanks for any help!
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:06:05 PM
I paid $500 for the FD-73 and if you can get it for $399 that's a great deal! This is the best camera I've ever had (I've had 5 digital cameras). It takes AWESOME pictures. Close ups are unbelievable. This is a great camera for ebay AND personal use. I couldn't recommend it any higher.
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hhonp
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:06:29 PM
I also am considering the FD73, what I am wondering is where you are getting it for 399.00. Cheapest I can find right now is 448.00. Just wondering if it is a chain or your local store, if at a chain I might find it around my town.
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rancher24
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:10:08 PM
I got a FD83 last year...haven't use my 35mm since then...Use it for eBay & everything else!...Great savings on film & great fun creating family photo colages & albums!...
Advice: try & get the best zoom you can (mine is OK, but I wish it was closer) & think about getting an extra battery!...
Enjoy it!!!
~ Rancher
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eyeguy6
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:11:04 PM
Wal*Mart has it for the FD-73 for $448 and the FD-85 on sale for $499. Unless I've lost my mind (which is totally possible) I think Circuit City and Best Buy dropped the price to $399 last week. I know they dropped it $100 from whatever it was.
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hhonp
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:11:56 PM
EG: Just wondering if it is very hard to learn to use the FD73, I have a VERY easy Polaroid 640 and it's like point and shoot, my husband gets irritated with my ordinary 35mm when I am taking print pictures as I have to set lighting, distance, etc.and he thinks it takes forever, is there much of that with the Sony, the Polaroid doesn't have a zoom which is why I would like to upgrade.
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hhonp
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:14:35 PM
Wal-Mart is where I was referring to, Staples has it for 449.00, they had it for 399.00 but the sale was over on 1/6 and I didn't see the flyer till today and they wouldn't honor the sale price just because I missed it, I know, I asked. Unfortunately CC and BB are 260 miles from here.
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magazine_guy
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:14:52 PM
I think the differences between many of the models is slight.
Mine is an FD83- here's what it's got, and my view on the importance of the features for online auctions:
MegaPixel 1216 X 912: Don't get swept up in multi-megapixel mania. For web applications, most of it is overkill, and not worth paying for. Resolution for web pics is limited, and any of the Mavica's is fine. (If you wanna use it for other uses, that's another matter).
6X Zoom: Some zoom function is a good idea. You don't need 10X zoom for auction pics (I rarely use mine, and 4X would be fine because you're usually close to your subject).
Macro: Good feature for closeups.
MPEG movies: Unneeded for online auctions. Fun toy- you can take video clips with it.
4X Drive: THIS is an important feature. This is the drive speed for the floppy- if you have a 2X drive, it will take longer before the camera is ready between pics. The 4X seems to take about 2 seconds to record the image to disc, before the camera is ready again.
AV out: Never use it.
I think most of the rest of the stuff is the same between the models.
Good luck!!!
Steve
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ExecutiveGirl
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:15:48 PM
hhonp: I upgraded my Sony Mavica from the Polaroid 640! This camera is very easy to use. Actually, it's easier than the PDC640 because there are no cords, etc. It just uses 3.5" floppy disks. The quality is SO much better than the Polaroid. You won't be disappointed with a Sony Mavica.
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hhonp
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:21:24 PM
EG: Thanks, knowing that gives me more confidence, since you know what I am talking about. I had pretty much decided on the FD73 because I didn't think I needed ALL the stuff the other models had, just want to get some good closeups, but sure wish I could have gotten it at the 399.00 price, maybe I'll wait a week and see if Staples comes down again to compete with CC and BB. thanks to everyone who posts about this stuff, it's where I learned about the different models in the first place, this is great!
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magazine_guy
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:23:55 PM
I've never read the instructions for mine. 
Very intuitive on-screen menu. Just point and click.
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eyeguy6
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:33:10 PM
I've never read the instructions for anything. Could be why I can't work half the things I own. Thanks for the help everyone!
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Empires
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:37:50 PM
How come no one is looking at the Olympus cameras? I'm guessing they must be coming up to Sony competition level by now? Any thoughts?
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wildanteeker
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:38:28 PM
Remember to set the EV to 1.5 if you are taking pics indoors for auctions.Each time you charge the battery you have to do this(if you wish to but it helps).You will know if the pics are dark that you need to bump this setting up,play around with different light situations but it seems to do best at the highest setting for me anyway.Good camera for auctions.
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If I had money I'd be rich!
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My Bit
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:42:09 PM
Having just spent $597 on a MVC-FD85....
From what I've heard the one REL advantage of the FD85 over the FD73 is the fact that with the FD73 you have a maximum resolution of 640 x 480. This is perfect for eBay and any other computer-based use. But if you want to be able to print out images and have them look decent, you really need to be able to take them at higher resolutions. With the FD85 you can take images up to 1280 x 960.
Good luck!
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
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sharkbaby
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posted on January 12, 2001 06:55:18 PM
I HAD the FD73 and upgraded almost immediately to the FD90 because the FD73 didn't offer the resolution to meet my needs. LOVE my FD90! It's an awesome camera. Pd $650 for it (free ship) and never looked back!
I also invested in a floppy disk adapter and some sony memory sticks and a reader. Was well worth it!
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krs
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posted on January 12, 2001 08:07:14 PM
Good choice, sharkbaby. The FD90 has their vastly improved optical system that has finally solved one of the very few problems that Mavicas have had, that of low definition at any resolution and frequent blotchy appearance of various colors in multicolored images when taken indoors.
And you got an excellent deal as well. Smart!
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sharkbaby
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posted on January 12, 2001 08:28:51 PM
Thanks, krs, for the reassurance! And I bought it on ebay too! Brand new and factory sealed. Unfortunately I didn't do enough research before, so I kept trying dig cams til I ended up with this one. But the good thing was that I sold each one along the way on ebay for a profit!
One of my fav things about my FD90 is that I can focus within 1" of my subject for great macro! That in itself is worth the price of admission.
And when I take it outside to take pics (beside ebay pics) I get awesome shots!
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darcyw
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posted on January 12, 2001 10:02:34 PM
My first Mavica was the 91.
I now use the 90 and the 91 is a backup just in case.
You need to fiddle with your settings before taking photos to list on ebay. Take some test photos so you can adjust the lighting and such.
Closeups are fantastic. Increased bids for better photos pays for the camera real fast.
Darcy
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ts43
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posted on January 13, 2001 04:19:35 AM
SONY MVC-FD90------$508.00 at Technet America Phone1-800-320-0337 or www.technetamerica.com
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krs
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posted on January 13, 2001 06:43:21 AM
ts43,
good site! FD95 is awesome, but the Nikon at about the same price! I'll buy two.
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