Does anyone know where to find a web-site or source to show specs on upcoming 3.3 megapixel digital cameras? Also, does anyone know a brand of digital camera other than Kodak, that offers a flash cable sync capability for the sub $1,000 range? If not, does anyone know a workaround for the Nikon Coolpix 900 that would enable one to sync in the same way it is possible with the Kodak? Thanks for your help.

Kerry

-- kerry bural (kbural@sebts.edu), January 14, 2000

Answers

One caution about images seen so far from the new Casio and Canon cameras (and any soon to appear from other 3MP contenders): These are almost certainly from prototype units, rather than production models, and companies generally tweak parameters like color and tonal rendition right up to the last possible instant. Thus, a fair bit can change between what's out there now, and what iamges from the final shipping units might look like. (We've been "burned" by prototype units in the past, forcing us to re-shoot *all* our test targets, a matter of no small inconvenience.) I'd say wait to see something from production models before making a final evaluation: It's unlikely the Casio would get worse, but very probable that the Canon will get better.

- And the comment about this going to be an "interesting" year for digicams is dead right: We're going to see some truly amazing things before the year is through!

-- Dave Etchells (web@imaging-resource.com), January 16, 2000.

On the sync question: any decent camera shop can sell you a slave gadget that has a flash socket, and will fire when it 'sees' a flash go off. So if your camera has a flash but no socket, you can use a slave to trigger whatever real flash unit you want.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), January 14, 2000.

I am also interested in any information or sample photos from new 3.3 megapixal cameras. Have downloaded the Canon S-20 and Casio images. The Casio images were very impressive especially the night scene but the Canon S-20 images were disappointing. Would be interested in anything else that anyone has found.

Anyone have any information about the 4 megapixal Fuji?

-- Edward Woods (woods@inkjetdiscounts.com), January 15, 2000.

You can find the press release and specs for the extraordinary Casio QV-3000EX at www.casio.com under the "news" section on the left side.

Someone else on the forum here asked about image quality of the Casio. The press release makes reference to it being of "film-level" resolution, which I at first assumed was PR exaggeration. It's not. The quality is easily film resolution. It is far beyond excellent. I don't work for Casio or anything or anybody connected directly or indirectly to Casio. The image quality is as close to perfect as I've ever seen without even tweaking anything or using ideal light.

-Bob

-- Bob Covington (bobcov@aol.com), January 15, 2000.

Film quality?? The pixel area is appoximately 30% of a digital image from a scan by a 2800dpi scanner. File size = 9Mytes as compared to 31Mbytes from the scan. Film quality yeah, from 110 format.

-- jonathan ratzlaff (jonathanr@clrtech.bc.ca), January 15, 2000.

I have been downloading and printing images from digital cameras for almost a year. The images from the 2 megapixal cameras are good up to almost an 8 x 10 size and than the artifacts really start to show.

The images from the new 3.3 megapixal Casio, however, are really outstanding, especially if you only go to an 8 x 10. I have just found another great image from the Casio at: http://www.digitalkamera.de/Info/News/images/CasioQV-3000EXIr- Sample.jpg

Comparisons between digital cameras and film based cameras are a bit difficult. In my business, I use both and find that 35 mm images, at larger sizes, frequently suffer from film grain which digital images do not have. Until now, digital images have lacked sufficient image size (in the consumer models, not the pro models).

I have downloaded and printed all of the images from the Casio that I can find and feel that they are excellent and of acceptable quality. I have been disappointed with the S-20 images, however.

I plan to buy one of these new 3.3 megapixal cameras. At present, I like the Casio but the new Fuji is another camera that is due soon and should also be a contender. I am looking forward to seeing sample images from this camera. It is supposed to be 4 megapixal and to use the new design of CCD.

Should be an exciting year for digital cameras.

Edward Woods

-- Edward Woods (woods@inkjetdiscounts.com), January 16, 2000.

Ed, I have the Casio. It does not appear to be a pre production model, though it is true that there still may be time to make changes before the March release. It is well engineered, but I wish it had a swivel feature like the Coolpix or some of the other Casios.This week I will try to make some variety of shots with it and you are welcome to have a few from me if you want to look at them. -bob

-- Bob Covington (bobcov@aol.com), January 17, 2000.

Bob:

I would love to see some images from your camera. Please send me or post full resolution images. I don't mind waiting for the best quality images to download.

I downloaded the image from digitalkamera in Germany and it is really excellent. Have you seen it?

I printed the image on my Epson 1520 - it was enlarged to print on a 11 x 17 inch page with no work on it. The result was really impressive. I could see no digital artifacts. Everyone who has seen the image wants to buy one of these cameras.

By the way, where did you get your camera since it won't be out until March?

Also, what other comments do you have about features or lack of features. I was disappointed that it did not offer an uncompressed mode such as a TIFF. Like to avoid JPEG whenever I can although I didn't really see any artifacts in the watch image.

Also, it seems that the Night Mode really works well. Could you shot some nights shots as well so I can see if it is as good as it seemed on the San Francisco street scene.

Thanks much, Edward Woods

-- Edward Woods (woods@inkjetdiscounts.com), January 17, 2000.

Ed, I just found out the Casio does do TIFF by holding down two buttons in record mode. The screen then says TIFF. The files in the camera are 6 megabytes each, but you cannot preview them (they're TIFF) and you have to use the USB software to get them out because they do not open natively in Photoshop. The default iso of the camera is 64. This can be adjusted to 125, 250 or 500. -Bob

-- Bob Covington (bobcov@aol.com), January 18, 2000.

Ed, a correction. You DON'T need to use the USB interface to get the TIFF files out. You can copy them any way you want to.

-Bob

-- Bob Covington (bobcov@aol.com), January 19, 2000.