Greetings, Jim et al.--
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Meagher <[log in to unmask]>
> The Sony Mavica camera line is the =only= one that uses PC
compatible
> floppy disks to store the images. I'm not sure what you
consider to be a
> high resolution picture.

Generally, high-res equates with large file size (which, of
course, includes mega-pixel bit depth among other factors).

>My FD-81 takes pictures at 1024x768, as well as
> at 640x480, or 320x240 resolution and it can save in both
JPG or BMP
> format.

At my school, we have the earlier FD-71 which is limited to
.jpg.  The 81 is a newer model, and perhaps its optics are
better.

>With the right printer and glossy paper, 1024x768 prints
can only
> be (visually) distinguished from a real photograph with a
magnifying
> glass.
>

Possibly...my own personal jury is still out on that one
<g>....The one tweak I have many times wished to be able to
successfully accomplish is to increase the sharpness.  I
have used iPhoto, Ulead's Photo Assistant (?), and Alchemy
Mindworks's Graphic Workshop for Windows 95, to attempt
this, and, without exception, the resulting image was
unacceptably dithered, necessitating an undo.

>
> My suggestions for Joan are to look for a camera with
removable storage
> media.  I can't think of anything more frustrating than
missing that one
> last perfect shot because the camera is full.
>
> Another (major?)  consideration should be how long it
takes to transfer
> the pictures from the camera to the PC.  With a "cabled"
camera, you are
> limited to "downloading" the pictures to one PC only --
and with some that
> time can be quite long.  With the Mavica, you can pop the
disk out and
> stick it into any PC (or MAC) and have instant access to
all the photos.
>
>
> Jim Meagher
> =====
> Micro Solutions Consulting        Member of The HTML
Writers Guild
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Association
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Level 2 member
> =====

Concerning the intended use (possibly by a number of users
with various levels of experience), I concur most
enthusiastically with the remainder of your suggestions.
Floppies are easy to carry and universal, and the level of
resolution, while IMHO not high enough for professional
graphic artist works, is certainly adequate for the stated
task.

As other posters have also suggested, invest in a spare
battery.  The InfoLithium (Sony's name for it) is expensive
at ca. $75.00 but, ....miss the shot? (and the info part
reports remaining time--nice)..... They do charge quickly,
but a spare has proved to be very handy for our school
situation (on field trips, etc.).

FWIW,

Paul A. Shippert           Library/Media Specialist
"   . . . and your wise men don't know how it feels
   to be thick as a brick."  Jethro Tull
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