posted on February 10, 2001 04:59:12 AM
I am going to be upgrading from my dinosaur digital camera soon. I notice that many, many ebay sellers use a Sony Mavica. Why do so many sellers choose this camera over others?
posted on February 10, 2001 05:19:36 AM
No cables.
No expensive memory cards.
Just pop floppy out of camera into computer. Especially easy if you are at some other person's computer with all the connections you need in the back, and it is a big pain to get at them.
You can just send a floppy to someone without putting the files in your computer and making the floppy.
You can make an extra floppy right in the camera and give it to someone out where you are using it - say at a park.
Ability to take extreme close up without special lenses or equipment.
Company that has a good established service for repair.
Metal hydride battery that does not suffer loss of capacity from partial discharge.
Resale value is good when you want to upgrade.
Fairly good instructions if you will take time to read them.
posted on February 10, 2001 06:44:29 AM
Everything that gravid said and:
If you go the FD90 route you can add a wide angle lens and take great pictures of things like a full size quilt without backing up to the neighbors lower 40.
My FD 90 is my third digital and I am extremely happy with it. I take shots of everything from tiny jewels to huge quilts and they are all sharp and detailed. You can read hallmarks on jewelry in my pix.
posted on February 10, 2001 07:14:03 AM
I agree, the FD90 is the best! If you're in the market for a Mavica, www.buydig.com has great prices and I was very impressed with their service - I paid for 2 day delivery and received it in 1 day, plus they called to confirm my order and shipping address.
edited to fix the URL
[ edited by joanne on Feb 10, 2001 07:53 AM ]
posted on February 10, 2001 07:46:13 AM
Add me to the FD90 fan club!! It is my third dig cam and is everything I was looking for.
*Awesome close up ability
*Recharg lithion batteries!
*Floppy disk & mem card capability
*Great resolution & zoom
*Super easy to use...Still haven't read the book!
I could go on and on! I got an extra battery and a wide angle/macro lens for mine. Also mem cards & the flop disk adapter so I can take zillions of pics at a time. The mem card reader is great to have if you do this too for ease of downloading.
posted on February 10, 2001 07:56:25 AM
Ditto to what the others have said. I have had mine for almost two years and it has performed beautifly. It's well worth the money...you won't be sorry.
posted on February 10, 2001 09:21:33 AM
Sorry toke I have no idea about the Lithium batteries. It is the Ni-Cd (Nickel/Cadmium that degrade)I will have to find out before I upgrade to any camera that uses them. I have old fd-7 and am going to get a newer one soon and keep the old one as a back-up. It is the only piece of equip I have that has no back-up.
[ edited by gravid on Feb 10, 2001 04:48 PM ]
posted on February 10, 2001 11:02:06 AM
Thanks, gravid. That wide angle lens is sounding good. I have an old 71, bought in '98...still working like a champ, but for how long?
TRSbooks...
Here's an example I took a while back, (old Mavica F71) with only a 75watt bulb in a bridge lamp for lighting, plus a little natural light from our windows. The colors came out true. I swear...a good picture is what sells your item.
posted on February 10, 2001 04:57:51 PM
Toke - I just bought a Mavica myself and I have the very same question. I couldn't find the answer anywhere in all the paperwork that came with it either. If you figure this one out, can you let me know?
posted on February 10, 2001 05:43:21 PMToke, what did you use for the background on the pic (the black)? It's a big part of what makes that a truly excellent photo! I'm just getting started with selling, and I think (from a longterm buyer's standpoint), the pic is key! But I don't know how to do a background like that with my camera (FD-83).
Beth Madness takes a toll. Please use exact change.
posted on February 10, 2001 06:02:25 PM
Hi Beth...
I bought several lengths of matt jersey, in different colors. You want a fine weave so you don't see the grain of the fabric in closeups. Cotton and poly blend to avoid wrinkles. I have a couch that works perfectly for most items, if I drape the fabric on the back and seat. That bowl was just sitting on my couch, with a bridge lamp overhead. My methods are all make-do...a good photographer would cringe...
posted on February 10, 2001 06:42:01 PM
I LOVE mine. It's old. An FD51. But it takes good, not great, pictures. The removable floppy is my favorite feature. You can store pics easily, use somebody else computer and not need cable or drivers and as long as you have a pocket full of floppies and ample batteries you can take pics all day. Most digitals would be a MAJOR PAIN for vacations and such since you either need pricey mem cards or a place to upload your pics to.
Come to think of it.......does anybody else even make digital cameras
The statement below is TRUE
The statement above is FALSE.
posted on February 10, 2001 07:07:09 PM
This closeup was taken with an FD73. The face of this ring is about the size of a dime. The colors came out just about perfect. This camera is wonderful & you won't be sorry if you choose a Mavica. I have to agree with everyone about this. I bought mine because of what I read on this board and am very glad I did.
posted on February 10, 2001 08:25:20 PMMcJane...that is a WONDERFUL picture!!! Wow! I remember when you were deciding on a camera, and it doesn't seem very long ago? You sure did get "good" with it very fast!!!
Thanks, Toke! Do you think black velvet would work? I have some I was saving for my career as an 'Elvis on Velvet' painter (a hot ticket here in TN), but I've lost interest... Seriously...I do have some lengths of velvet in several colors (the ambitious makings of a quilt that won't happen)...might have too much 'sheen' though. What does "bridge lamp" mean? What is the angle of the lamp vs. the object? And I'm assuming this is 'no flash'?? Learning, learning, learning...all I can!
Beth Madness takes a toll. Please use exact change.
posted on February 10, 2001 09:45:00 PM
Hi, all! Love this thread.
I've been thinking Sony Mavica 73, from all I've been reading on past threads. I do not intend to be a power seller, or do this full time, but right now I'm having a wonderful time selling family stuff that no one wants (inherited stuff, silver, odds and ends, collectibles). I'm also selling autographs for a friend.
So far, I've used my scanner! Everything that's flat or not too bulky or too long can go on there, with cloth covering the not-flat items, and I've been getting some very satisfactory pictures. I decided to cruise our house, top to bottom, for flat stuff--like silver pieces, cloth dolls, and so on. It's getting to be a sickness with me, I fear.
So, to get to my question, do you all think I need a higher-priced Mavica or would a 73 do me just fine? Any hint as to the major difference between the 73 and the 90? Thanks in advance! Adele
posted on February 11, 2001 12:20:30 AM
Guess I'll be the lone dissenter here...
I recently decided to get a digital camera after a co-worker came in waving his shiny new Mavica. I've read the glowing reports here and elsewhere on the Mavicas, so I went to C/Net and started looking. But cameras aren't the only thing to have come down in price; so has the memory. Looking at other cameras I settled on an Olympus D-490 zoom. 2.1 megapixel, not cutting edge, but very nice high quality pics in their various resolutions. C/Net didn't care much for this camera but the people who went and spent their own money sure did! Also a comprehensive review at megapixel.net helped solidify my choice.
I picked up a set of 8 Nickel metal hydride batteries and a good charger for under $40, and a 64mb memory card will cost me under $100. A lot of money? I don't think so. that one card is worth 44.44 floppies....you want to carry these around? Plus at the higher resolutions, , the ones that make such clean prints when we're shooting regular pictures, a file can easily exceed 5mb. Beats me how anyone can stuff 4 floppies into a camera at one time!
Finally, some careful hunting of eBay and Yahoo auctions got me my excellent 2.1 megapixel for little more than the popular Sony, at 1.3 megapixels is still selling for (bought mine on Yahoo, BTW, the seller also had auctions on eBay typically bidding $40-$60 higher).
Now I can take superb shots of stuff I'm auctioning at a browser-friendly resolution, then step up all the way to a 5mb plus TIFF mode to get those great 'keeper' photos to view or print. I'm glad I took the time to visit the different sites prior to buying. You can pretty much tailor the camera you buy to your personal needs this way.
posted on February 11, 2001 07:21:40 AM
The major dif between the FD73 & FD90 is RESOLUTION! There are some other feature differences but, to be honest, I don't remember them as I only had the FD73 for a few weeks before I traded up. Wasn't happy with the lack of resolution in the 73 at all. It is, however, a very good dig cam but the FD90 was exactly what I needed.
posted on February 11, 2001 07:22:23 AM
roadsmith - I think the FD73 would do you just fine. The main difference between the FD73 and FD90 is that the 90 can take "mini-movies" and also can take the Memory Stick, which is a memory card type thing. I had the FD71 for a couple of years and it worked just fine for eBay!
edited to add...
If you are only going to use the camera for eBay then the resolution of the FD73 is more than enough since the web doesn't need the high res. However, if you want to print your pictures you will want the FD90's higher resolution.
posted on February 11, 2001 08:56:56 AM
I have an Fd73 but am unable to get good closeups such as the ring shown in the previous post. Whats the secret of getting good closeups? Mine come out blurry. Also does this camera need any kind of cleaning done to it periodically? Thanks, dixiesgranny
Bridge lamps were floor lamps that were popular approx. 1920s to 1940s...looked like an upside down L, with an adjustable arm. I point the light more or less at my item. I'm sorry to admit I honestly don't remember where I had the lamp. I always just move the light source until it looks right...
The nice thing about your Sony is that you can just experiment all you want...keep reusing the same floppy. I often take several pics before I'm happy. So...try your black velvet...see if you like it. Experiment with the lay of the nap...you'll probably see no gloss against the grain.
Gloss isn't necessarily bad...I've seen satin used to great advantage on "fussy" and/or elegant things. You can also drape the fabric, for a different effect...
Here's a great link on lighting I recently got from an AW thread...
posted on February 11, 2001 03:22:48 PMToke, thank you so much for the link! Excellent information! And I really appreciate your putting up the additional picture with the satin, showing both a different color, and the 'drape' effect. I think one of the most effective things in the second picture is that the silvery satin picks up the 'leaves' in that vase, and really highlights the piece! Since I have dozens of fabrics and remnants here, I'm positively inspired by the uses of different fabrics for backgrounds in my 'studio' (AKA, the guest room)!
And you're right, of course! One of the things I like best about the Mavica is that if I don't like a particular picture, I just delete it, change a few things, and do it again! I'm just hoping to get much better at it, not only so my items will have that advantage in selling, but also so that it takes me less time to take the pics.
Dixiesgranny, I don't have the FD-73, but if your Mavica has a "macro" function, I think that is the best setting to use for those great close-ups. And some of these other folks can probably advise you better about cleaning...I just clean my lens and LED screen (viewer) with a little lens cloth, but I don't try to clean anything else.
Beth Madness takes a toll. Please use exact change.
posted on February 11, 2001 04:31:44 PM
Hi all...I also have a mav-73...my brother offered to sell me his at a great price...but being me I spent about a month and a half researching different digitals...mainly because I did not want to have to upgrade upgrade, upgrade...like so many digital camera users have seem to have done.I sent my brother $250 cash express mail and got this great camera a few days after....that was only 2 months ago, since then....our auctions and ratings only go up...from about 75 at the beginning of december to 231 today...and I only worked about 2-3 hours a day this last month. I am a bored EBAY homebody.....and I like it....Anyway, I was originally replying to this thread intending only to ask if anyone has a copy of sony-mav 73 instruction booklet....I only have camera....was planning on looking into this before now, but....or if somebody would even be willing to make a copy for me, that would be great! I am willing to pay of course....appreciate any help....Thanks!!
posted on February 11, 2001 04:43:36 PMUsed2better (love it!), I have an instruction manual for an FD-83/FD-88. If you don't get someone with an FD-73 instruction manual who can pass along a copy, I'd be glad to help, if you'd want it. I don't know the differences, although I'm sure there are some...
If you decide you want a copy of mine, just let me know...[email protected].
posted on February 11, 2001 04:52:48 PM
I personally use a Mivica (FD91) and believe it is a great camera. However, I also sell great Digital cameras such as those of the Olympus line and Nikon line which out do the performance of any mavica and are cheaper. Yes there are cables and cards, but the kits I sell, or people buy from the store come equipped with everything one may need. Just my 2 cents...
Seriously...I do have some lengths of velvet in several colors (the ambitious makings of a quilt that won't happen)...might have too much 'sheen' though. What does "bridge lamp" mean? What is the angle of the lamp vs. the object? And I'm assuming this is 'no flash'?? Learning, learning, learning...all I can!
