Jordan Independent - suggestions - Comments

Jayne you are a 'DOLL' for

bigbobbob — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:38:52 -0500

Jayne you are a 'DOLL' for the detailed answer (and all the typing) you provided. I have Picassa on my computer but didnot like. I don't remember why. I use 'My Pictures'. But with Picassa, keeping the original image is quite an advantage. You are aware, I am sure, that each time a photo file is 'handled' it degrades slightly and does not reproduce the same 'qualities' as the original. The computer - with a mind of its own - simply sluffs off that which the computer does not feel is necessary.
I have an old Kodak 3400 I bought about 6 years ago (2.0 pix) that provides good pictures and some good 8x10s and adequate 'slide shows' on the TV. But the 3400 ain't no Nikon. I have two 125 mb cards and use the highest resolution (that is part of the answer) available on the camera. I flash everything. Rechargable batteries are a pain in the neck, I use 'Energizer' and keep a spare pack in the glove box.
My old HP 822C printer does a fairly good job (even on 8x10) for home scrap book and 'giveways'. My Dell 964 AIO printer is far less satisfactory, for printing B&W or Color. Text on both is very good, but the HP is the better.
Thanks again. The result of your comments, I can better organize my photo files. My 'old' film camera was a Pentax 6x7, that is like carrying around a cement block.

I have to get in on this

Jayne — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:55:59 -0500

I have to get in on this discussion!
I actually had a job in graphic design for a while and the very first thing the boss wanted was to catalog all the images the company owned... prints, positives, negative, transparencies, and digital. I ended up doing an excel spreadsheet that I was the only one that could read - not really effective. (the company was in the trades and I had to learn all about clamps and equipment and be able to tell at a glance what it was)
But the challenge remained as to how to catalog.
I currently only do digital with a Nikon 8700. Big enough for just about anything but not to complicated to stop me from using it.
First thing I do is copy the images on to my computer. I found Picassa to work for me. There are a lot of image programs out there, but Picassa works fine for me - I especially like the straighten feature. Once Picassa has changed the image it backs up the original in a separate file.(if needed I can retrieve that file) If I want, I can open the image in photoshop. The other nice feature is I can create my own 'groups' of images (say black and white or Pete's wedding)and picassa will keep that group for as long as I want and if I want one picture to work with I can open it in photoshop or if I want to burn a cd - burn just that group. After I have messed with the pics - renames - made my groups, changed - I move the entire file to my external harddrive to get it in a safer place and free up space on my computer. Every once in a while I burn off the images for archive - now that I have a dvd burner I am sure I will do it more regular!
As for printing - I am not a fan of home printing because of the cost - when I print I take my cd to Sams or Office Max and make use of the really good printers and get them at a really good price.
As for digital being the rage - I guess I am excited about the format after years of working with my Minolta 35mm - the Hikon gives me a lot more.
Jayne

Digital cameras are the

bigbobbob — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:37:07 -0500

Digital cameras are the 'rage' and provide opportunity and capability to take many, many more pictures. Here is the question....Print at home -- OR--Get professional printing (at store or drug store) and how are the results? I also need a 'professional' filing system so that I can find the picture I want in my computer files. File by Date?--Subject? -- Event?-- or just file randomly using camera applied numbers on each photo. I use, mostly, the latter, a 'so called' shotgun approach!

I'm a fan of Canon, but I

molly — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:07:15 -0500

I'm a fan of Canon, but I agree with above posts if you have Nikon lenses might as well stay Nikon.

The Nikon d80 is a 'handful'

bigbobbob — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 14:27:00 -0500

The Nikon d80 is a 'handful' of camera and will do anything that you may want (or are able) to do. This is 'professional grade' and would fill the bill for a professionsl portrait photographer. The results will be awesome, enlargable considerably beyond your printers capability.

Various Canon Rebels have

Mathias Baden — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:26:17 -0500

Various Canon Rebels have been my cameras of choice the past 10 years, but outside of work, I'm more of a hobby photographer. It's nice to have the fully automatic options along with fully manual.

To me, the lenses are the important thing, so I can see why you'd want to get a camera that allows you to make use of your old lenses.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)