How to replace Polaroid with digital imaging solution, anyone know of any vendors or solutions?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Imaging Resource Discussion : One Thread

We currently use a Polaroid camera to take customer pictures when they attend our events. At one particular event we spent over $8K in film and other associated items. We will attend or host at least 3-4 events a year where we will be having these photos taken.

We'd like to invest in a digital solution that although may cost more in the short term, will pay off in lower costs in the long term.

We'd like to have the same functionality as a Polaroid... Take the picture, it prints, next person. Instead of getting a digital camera, laptop, and photo printer, we'd like to first look for an all-encompassing solution. Does anyone know of any vendors that can provide something like this?

Thanks!

Steve

-- Steve Krengel (skrengel@excelsiorhenderson.com), February 03, 1999

Answers

Although the final output is (I think) slightly smaller than a Polaroid print, the little Oly photo printers might be just what you need. The new model P-330 is particularly nice because you can use it to print directly from the memory cards, meaning your camera won't be tied up while you're printing the previous batch of pictures. (This assumes you can "batch" your work.) Lexmark also makes a printer that can accept digicam memory cards and print directly. Finally, Epson digicams can print directly to Epson inkjet printers. Of all the solutions, the easiest and closest to your current Polaroid approach is the Oly P-330. The only downside is I suspect you may not end up saving all *that* much on media costs, as the dye-sub ribbons and paper aren't exactly cheap. You also have to consider the pace of your shooting - Polaroids let you rip one out of the camera, and immediately take the next picture. All of the digital approaches involve a serial printing process, meaning that the prior print has to finish before the next one can start. If you're trying to shoot a hundred pictures in 10 minutes, this won't work... Hope this helps, let us know what you end up with. (Come back & post to the original thread, to preserve it for posterity.)

-- Dave Etchells (web@imaging-resource.com), February 06, 1999.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ