Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : WDC/Sandisk Corporation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sunny who wrote (11100)	5/16/2000 10:55:00 PM
From: Rocky Reid	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

The Epson 850Z is ready to go right out of the box with its built-in USB support and with its NiMH batteries and fast charger included. I ordered a 48MB Sandisk CompactFlash card with mine. I haven't needed anything more than this so far. The Nikon 950 takes superior pictures to any other 2 megapixel camera from the reviews I've read. But you need to buy more stuff to get it's features up on a level close to the Epson. The Epson 850Z is the Biggest Bang-for-the-Buck digital camera ever produced, IMO. But shop around (I saw a Nikon 950 for about $580 today. Whatever choice you make among your field, you should be happy with your purchase.

To: Sunny who wrote (11100)	5/17/2000 7:12:00 AM
From: Ausdauer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Sunny, As much as the Nikon CoolPix has been a best-seller, the styling of the camera never appealed to me, personally. It reminds me of the old Kodak 110 cameras, if you are old enough to remember what they were like. My older sister had one. The negatives were so small that it made it difficult for them to be handled. Not every lab was able to do reprints either. I hated the 110 format. The 950 is old news now. I would be looking for a 3.3 megapixel camera now. The Canon S20 is probably the least expensive. It is very small and stylish with a metal case and the features you would expect from Canon. It has had good reviews. From my perspective, the camera is too small and difficult to hold and make adjustments to features. Some may find the size appealing. I like the Epson 850Z because of the feel. It feels like an SLR. I like the photos I get from it. I think the white balance is off at times and some photos have a yellow tint that has to be adjusted in post-processing with a desktop PC. Also, I would definitely look to upgrade to more than 2.1 megapixels if it were available and cost competitive. With digital cameras you are constantly fighting obsolescence. It is worth ponying up the extra money if it is in your budget. I would take a close look at the Canon. Aus

To: Sunny who wrote (11100)	5/17/2000 8:19:00 AM
From: Art Bechhoefer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 60323

Sunny, as an owner of a Nikon 950, I can tell you that it does have an ISO speed adjustment. And as you note, its optics are exceptional. The only operating characteristic that gives me a problem is the approx. 30-second waiting period while the camera electronics write the highest resolution TIFF image to the flash card. The Nikon has so many adjustments that the average user would never need, it raises a question about whether there are better values. Each buyer should study all these features and stay away from the extras that simply increase the price. Second, and this is probably a problem with any small size camera, the built-in flash is not the greatest. The flash on the Nikon 950 has a useful range up to about 14 feet. It is positioned so close to the lens that red eye inevitably results from shots where the subject is looking directly at you. Despite the extra bulk, most people willing to shell out $800 or so for a 950 and accessories ought to buy a more powerful external flash that will reduce red eye and at the same time extend the range to about 25 feet. If you go to an event with news photographers, who typically use Nikon and Canon professional digital models, you will see very, very large flash units, about twice the size of the cameras, with the capability of producing enough indirect, bounce light to create pleasant, shadowless results. They don't carry that extra bulk for their health. Art