Thursday, March 24, 2011

My first digital camera.

Way back in the day, when Polaroid sued Kodak and won, I had a Kodak and I liked it very much. It wasn’t long after Polaroid won, that I was unable to find any film for my Kodak instant camera. Then, after some time had passed and I ran out of Kodak film, I finally gave in and bought a digital camera. It was a Sony Digital Mavica, and it uses 3.5” floppy disks as its storage medium. It also had a 10X zoom, a built in flash, and all the neat things that made it user friendly. I liked it because it used the floppy discs, and at that time all computers had a 3.5” drive. That way there was no trouble getting picture files off the camera and into a computer. I could go on a trip, take pictures, and show them to people who had a computer.


I had a 3.5” drive put in the last computer I had built. They are not standard equipment anymore. I think that I will buy one of those external 3.5” drive units that use USB to communicate to the main computer. Since I still use that old camera once in awhile and like to have a means of downloading and reading the files.

In March of 2008, when almost to Gallup, New Mexico on one of our trips, the camera quit working. Actually, a full floppy disc was stuck in it and we could not remove the full disc. That was quite a disappointment. We were in some scenic country and would miss a camera. Here is the last picture that the old camera took on that trip:

We were planning on stopping in Gallup to visit my wife’s cousin, so the first thing I did was purchase one of those disposable film cameras. Then a few days later, after getting settled and the first few visits with wife’s cousin, we went to Wal-Mart and I purchased a FUJIFILM FINEPIX Z5. They said that it was on sell, that they were discontinuing that model. Well, it turned out to be a good camera for us and it is still my primary camera today.

I purchased a universal chip reader that plugs into a USB port. It has slots for 4 different size chips. I carry it in the camera bag and thus have instant access to the picture files and it can be plugged into any computer with an USB port. Works for me. . .

BTW, the old camera started working later in the trip. Still has a lot of life left in it.
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7 comments:

  1. Barney, The Old Fat ManMarch 24, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    My cameras get beat on too much to last that long. Keeping up with where I go gets to them. My camera goes with me into the surf or up on the mountain, out in the yak or crawling in the sand. My current camera has two major dings in it where I fell while hiking. Luv the digital format.

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  2. Dizzy-DickMarch 24, 2011 at 11:02 AM

    Yep, Barney, I love the digital format, also. The more bits the larger the file, but you don't need high zoom to look closer at part of the picture. Just clip a part of the larger one. The old camera had to rely on the 10X zoom.

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  3. The Flying TortoiseMarch 24, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    Saw a photo of a van the other day completely covered in cameras... think it was on Amusing Planet... check it out DD, you'd like it...

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  4. JaneMarch 24, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    I recently bought my first digital camera,so far I really like it. Haven't learned all it will do yet,but it takes some pretty good pics,hope mine holds up as good as yours. Blessings jane

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  5. AnonymousMarch 24, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Don't ever give up on old things... every once and a while we get a little energy and start to work again :-)

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  6. Ben in TexasMarch 24, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    yep,I got one of those 4 card reader thingies, found it is faster to access my pictures an videos from my Canon power shot A495

    If I use the camera's usb it takes for ever and uses the camera battery cause you have to turn it on and put it in view mode.

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  7. Dizzy-DickMarch 24, 2011 at 6:49 PM

    Keith, I looked it up. Never saw anything like that, even use cameras to make a big picture of a camera on the side of the van.

    Jane, you will love it and learn to do a lot with it. Even cheap or free programs allow you to manipulate the pictures. Lot’s of fun.

    Ron J. Geezer, yes I know. I had to do a paying job last week. It has been a long time since I quit but started up again. Been there done that, kind of like retired life a little better. Going to pack up the RV and take a short trip. Sort of hide from the customers (grin)

    Ben, that is exactly why I use it. Much faster and less strain on the camera that way.

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