posted on August 27, 2001 08:27:44 PM
I need to research an inexpensive digital camera primarily to take pictures to upload for auction items with good enough resolution. I'm new to selling and want to try to get by not spending a lot of money without knowing if I'll be good at it. I'm somewhat restricted as I use an iMac. Any suggestions?
posted on August 27, 2001 08:32:29 PM
I'll pass along a recent experience on eBay: I was helping, via email, a new seller who was having some trouble editing his photos down to size. During our correspondence, I complimented him on the quality of his photos and stated that he must have a very nice camera. He wrote back "Fooled you! I use a little web cam!"
Wow! Here I sit with my $400 camera, and he's using a little $40 web cam. I suppose you could try one and see how it works!
posted on August 27, 2001 08:36:34 PM
I do not know what type of merchandise you will be selling, but if it is small enough, you can actually scan a lot of things! I sell pottery, porcelain and other things, and have never had a digital camera: anything which will fit on my flatbed scanner surface gets scanned...
I do, however, have my old, but reliable SLR with many lens attachements, to take pics of large pottery...I take my pics outside, where the lighting is far superior to any indoor light. Still, I rarely use it.
Sorry, that is not what you wanted to hear But thought I would put my 2-cents in...
******** Gosh Shosh! My "About Me" Page
posted on August 27, 2001 09:11:37 PM
I used an Intel USB webcam for auctions before I bought my Fujifilm Finepix 1400. I paid $40.00 after the rebate. It is posible to take decent pictures of small items in natural light with this webcam, but a "real" digital camera makes things so much easier. From what I see in the market any digicam under $1000 will have compromises in quality and features. I paid $280.00 for my Finepix one year ago and it works for auctions and does a good job on snapshots of the family.
posted on August 27, 2001 09:47:09 PM
Staples started a sale Sunday on their Fuji FinePix 2300 for $199.99. If you act fast, you can probably still find one. You also get a free SanDisk 32MB media card if buy from them. A $40 off $200 coupon is floating around the net...
No optical zoom. 2.5x digital zoom at lower resolutions. I'm happy with it. It has a USB interface so you can download the pictures directly to your computer. I took 100 pictures yesterday for my auctions. The picture quality is excellent. And it reduces down from 1600x1200 to 800x600 just perfectly!
2.1 megapixels under $200 is hard to come by. Please don't buy this in bulk. Let the sellers that need a new ditital camera for picture taking buy it!
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
http://techgems.net
[ edited by sun818 on Aug 27, 2001 09:49 PM ]
posted on August 28, 2001 09:00:40 AM
I have a $700 + Epson digital camera for my images but I guess you could say ~ operater failure since my pics don't turn out so great !!
I have seen other pics on ebay were I know they use a less expensive camera and they look way better !!
posted on August 28, 2001 09:10:16 AM
When I started out, I used my ordinary camera and a scanner. Those photos were crisp and sharp, but I got fed up with paying for developing the photos and the time-lag.
I bought an inexpensive Panasonic which was OK in some ways, but since I sell books, in time I had to admit that it was just too fuzzy, and I also couldn't take decent close-ups.
A few months ago I bought a Mavica and it's been wonderful. Maybe that isn't something to run out and buy at the outset, but worth considering if you continue with ebay sales. I wonder if there will be sales this holiday season on nice cameras like that?
posted on August 28, 2001 09:24:58 AM
For the first year + that I was selling, I used a device called Snappy, which connected to my video camera & and transfered pix to my computer. I could edit, crop, resize all my pix and the quality was pretty good. Cost is around $90 (maybe less on eBay)....Great little gadget!
~ Rancher
Take my kids, take my DH, take my pets...but DO NOT touch my Mavica!
I use a Sony Mavica FD-73. You can find them online as the FD-75 has now taken its place.
It is less than one pixel (640x480), however, it has a 10x zoom and a close up where you can get within (I believe) 1/2" from your item.
The Mavica also uses a regular 3 1/2 floppy disk so you just shoot, plop it into your computer, use some ARC software or any other photo software of your choosing and blammo! You are ready to load and go. I have printed out some 4x6 photos and they are as clean as you can get. Now, 5x7 or 8x10 you can probably forget. Hey! I use to be in the bigger is better scene... not anymore since I have my Mavica.
Also . . . check out Epinions.com and look under digital and see what others say about digital cameras. IMHO - the Mavica is the way to go for online auctions and for offline picture taking. I love mine!
I can see if I can include a link here so you can see what I am talking about:
<img src=http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Aug/20018283739646057102624.jpg>
<p>
<img src=http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Aug/20018282949214044289071.jpg>
posted on August 28, 2001 11:51:57 AM
I found the camera I chose by looking at this site:
http://www.megapixel.net/
They have very in-depth reviews on lots of cameras. I ended up going with the Fujifilm FinePix. I'm not sure of the model number, it may be 1400, but it works great, good enough for eBay and family photos, and only about $200.
Be careful about buying a cheap camera. You get what you pay for. I learned the hard way.
posted on August 28, 2001 12:15:03 PMBe careful about buying a cheap camera. You get what you pay for. I learned the hard way.
I think the generalization is "be careful about buying technology which has fallen off the bottom, because there's a reason why no one wants it anymore".
That said, some of the cheap digital cameras ARE perfectly useful for eBay work, and the better ones are getting cheaper all the time.
The only really unique requirement for eBay work is the ability to do closeups. Some cheap digicams can, some can't.
What you do not need is lots of pixels. 640x480 is the largest picture you should ever use for an eBay listing. Buying a 3.3 megapixel camera might make for better pictures of your family, but it won't make better listing pictures.
A major feature missing from the really cheap ones is the LCD screeen, which allows you to judge the picture before you transfer it to your computer. Handy.
posted on August 28, 2001 12:19:57 PM
I agree with Jeff318.
I use the Sony Mavica...
It is so much easier than my old digital... No more plugging your camera into your computer. Not to mention the number of batteries I went through.
Sony has a rechargeable battery.
It's wonderful. For the money I wouldn't trade it for any other!!!
posted on August 28, 2001 12:46:09 PM
rancher24... my brother used a Snappy with his video camera for over a year for his eBay pics, it makes great pics.
The company that made them either went bankrupt or was bought out by another and are no longer making it. You can get one on eBay these days for under $30 ( i "snapped" one up on a BIN for $14.50 + shipping sunday morning).
Search on keywords - snappy 4.0
Some of the auctions have links to some pics taken using one.
posted on August 28, 2001 10:19:55 PM
I started a thread that was pretty close to this one about a month ago. Go to search site at the bottom of the main page and
check the Message Center box.
Use 'diesteldorf mavica digital camera'
as your search string. That said, I recently got a Sony Mavica FD73 from Office Max for the great price of $199.99.
posted on August 28, 2001 10:42:01 PM
Okay don't LAUGH Everyone, but I've been using a little LOGITECH Quick Cam since I started out on Ebay back in Dec 98.
Last November, a friend's Dad, (I help him everytime someone in their household messes up their computer), got an AOL PHOTOCAM, he's been letting me borrow it since then. He paid over $200 for it, it got to a pain as I had to always go "borrow" it. Anyways just picked one up on Ebay for $66 the other day.
I know it's not the best, but it does take really nice Ebay pics. Has a flash, USB interface, no-brainer software, eats batteries, but I got a POWEREX rechargeable powerpack for it, Has a flash, takes about 40 pics w/ the built in 2mb Flash memory (expandable to 32mb) It takes nice pics of the family too, if you just want them for "zapping" to family & friends.
Just my 2 cents on the matter.
I must also recommend the SNAPPY. I never used one, but my cousin has had one for almost 3 years, she really loves it.
All that & a Bag of Chips Too!!
posted on August 29, 2001 06:33:26 AM
tomswift....Thanx for the info...what a shame that a great little device like Snappy is gone...That got me thru my beginning years at eBay...Photo quality was very good, even the closeups....
If you have a video camera, with the prices soooo low, Snappy would definitely be my recommendation for inexpensive digi photos...I don't think there is any inexpensive digital camera that would do what snappy can for the price ($14.50 WOW!)....
Of course, since I got my Mavica, I haven't looked back, but that IS an investment, even on the lower end models....
posted on August 29, 2001 07:45:48 AMsnoozeyoulose
Yeah, those iMacs limit somewhat the peripherals that can be hooked up via USB and FIrewire.....and there's no floppy disk built in either...
We have an all-Mac household on an Airport network so I can use both old technology (pre G3 and iMac) as well as the latest stuff...
I still use the same low resolution (by today's standards) camera that I bought when digital camera's first became poplular, the Olympus D500L...very versitile, with it's SLR lens ( I have both wide angle and telephoto lenses for it)
Here's an example of what it can do (a shot for an upcoming auction) BTW, this was shot under natual light (our cooktop hood) on a paper towel...so much for high dollar sets...*G*...I do use a tripod, especially for closeups...
This digital camera and its companion dye sublimation printer have been the single most useful tools both for my business (not auctions) as well as recording some of the memorable moments in our lives...
For your iMac, if you purchase a used camera with a serial connection, there is a USB to serial box available which you can attach many legacy Mac peripherals to....I've found, with the modern processors, system busses and hard drives, that the restrictions of the old fashioned serial port aren't that big a deal...sure, a Firewire camera would be a ton faster but it also will set you back a bunch more dollars...
In our system, the camera can be hooked to my Powerbook (in the shop) or the 8600 (in the bedroom) and the pictures sent via Airport to the iMac (kitchen) since it has the largest hard drive....and also runs Photoshop the fastest...
It looks as if the Mavica's have it here in this thread.....just wanted to share an alternative...good luck in your search!
posted on August 29, 2001 09:01:57 AM
Thanks so much everybody for your advice and helpful information. I appreciate Camachinist's reply with regard to the Mac environment. This message board has been very helpful, and keep posting!
posted on August 29, 2001 06:39:07 PM
when I started I used a kodak webcam ( i don't recall the model number ) got some great pictures but it took a lot of work with lighting and editing
I bought a mavica fd 73 about three years ago and its great no editing great pictures
But thought I would put my 2-cents in...
