Digital Photo Help Needed

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[LonePalm]

I am looking for specific recommendations for scanners and photo quality printers to attach to my home computer and possibly an additional digital camera. My wife is a photophile and I am the computer guru and chef (I know it is an odd compination but it works for me.).

I would like to upgrade the home comuter to allow her to do some of her photo stuff digitally.

I have a 950MHz Pentium 3, w/128Mb RAM, 2 CD ROMs (1 is r/w, the other is CD/DVD), tons of disk space, an Olympus D-320L Digital Camera, and a pitifully slow internet connection at home. We are running Windows ME (Makes Enemies). I already have PhotoDelux 2.0.

I am looking for the most bang for the buck but quality is the first consideration. If necessary, I will buy her her own omputer.

I would also like suggestions/recommendations on where to buy the stuff.

[LonePalm]

Please help so I can surprise her (sort of) for Christmas. I don't know (or care) very much about photography but Mrs. Palm does.

Registered, et al, I need your help.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LoanPalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[LonePalm]

Please Help!

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

I'm interested also,

In the camera and printer!

[greccogirl]

I have a Fuji 1.3 megapixel that does really great shots now, I am in the process of upgrading to the Fuji 4800 or 6900 Zoom, both have 2.5 megapixels that will give you a finished picture equal to 4.5 megapixels. Check out Steve's Digicams for sample pics. It is a tiny camera that fits in your hand and purse, and I love it. Check out Fuji.

[ArrogantBustard]

Camera: too many good ones on the market. You'll have to do your own research.

Printer: Canon S800 six colour inkjet printer. Use Kodak or Ilford paper.

AB

[~Peter]

In MY Humble Opinion
For ease of use, any of the various SONY Mavica digital cameras are hard to beat.

[Jefferson Adams]

I agree, the Sonys are excellent. I bought a Sony DSC-F505V a while ago with a Zeiss lense. EXCELLENT camera :)

Try MySimon.com for comparisons on camera prices. ProVantage.com usually has excellent prices on hardware/software.

[Sidebar Moderator]

http://www.steves-digicams.com/diginews.html is an excellent resource for comparing the current digital camera offerings.

[absalom01]

As far as the scanner thing goes:

I have a Cannon film scanner that I really like. It will scan 35 negs. or slides fairly quickly, and came with a SCSI card and cable and software and stuff. The only problem is that it scans only one negative at a time. If you want the ability to scan a whole roll at one go, Kodak has a small "SOHO" type unit for, I think, about $600.

I like the film scanner 'cause I still get to use my old fav. SLR, and I don't have the ridiculous problem of scanning a crummy 4x6 print, or even worse, having a print made only to scan and then print onto inkjet.

[winged1]

Look to Olympus for their latest digital cameras with all the bells and whistles. For computer and printer/scanner source you can't beat WalMart for the Hewlitt Packard combinations they sell. Best bang for the buck. Kodak 'Soft Gloss' paper for photo printing.

[oc-flyfish]

I personally like the HP PhotoSmart Printers.  Click here for a description.

I would stick with the Olympus brand as I have been very impressed with my D-340R.  Depending on how much you want to spend you can go with the 4 megapixel unit and be in camera heaven.  Olympus has a rebate offer that gives you $300 off if you buy the 4 mp camera and their photo printer.  Click here for details.

[Tijeras_Slim]

If you're interested in small size and big telephoto, the Olympus C-700 has 10x optical and 2.7X digitial zoom, for a ~35-1000mm lens in a very compact package. 2.1 mega pixels. Got one, like it alot. (batteries are the only drawback, the Olympus lithiums are between 10 and 15 dollars each and you need two, for about 150 pictures, it will suck alkaline AAs dry real fast)

[sailrabbit]

Here is your camera drool

[krodriguesdc]

Hewlett Pacard 5100C or such is a good model...

Hewlett Packard makes good quality scanners

[js1138]

First step is to get at least 512 megs of memory while it's dirt cheap. Your CPU is plenty fast, but image editing eats memory.

Get a printer that promises non-fading ink. Check the prices and availability of ink rather than the price of the printer.

Investigate PhotoShop and a plug-in called Real Fractals that will allow you to enlarge digital photos without showing pixels.

[oc-flyfish]

I am not familiar with this model, but I found that the display screen is what really eats into your battery life. I forbid my wife from using it to take pictures and cut the power consumption down tremendously.

[Jefferson Adams]

LACC.com has the Canon S800 for $250.00, according to MySimon. Dang - that does look like a good one. Thanks :) My old HP needs replacing!

[Jefferson Adams]

I found that the display screen is what really eats into your battery life.

Yep, that's my ONLY complaint about my Sony camera - it doesn't HAVE a regular viewfinder. You have to use the display screen, and it eats batteries FAST. The batteries for that cam are $50 each, but they're rechargeable. I have two - I need at least a couple more. Sigh...

[oc-flyfish]

That's one thing I like about Olympus: They use standard AA batteries. I recharge about once a month on average.

[artios]

If I were getting a camera today there is no question I would get the Sony with Carl Zeiss lense.