About me:Hello, My name is Charlotte. I am 28 yrs old. I have been married 10 years and have 2 children. ...
Member since:06.11.2003
Reviews:10
Review rated by 9 Ciao members on average: very helpful
This review received a counterstatement by a party concernedRead Comment
I couldnt afford a new camera and after using one of those tiny keyring digi camera this was brilliant. I had priced up a lot of cameras and needed at least £79.99 for the basic one.
My friend then kindly lent me his MX500 and now he has a new camera phone I have brought it off him cheaply. The camera is silver and quite bulky compared to the newer ones. I have put mine into a shoulder strap case.
He did warn me that it eats batteries (4 x AA) and so like a fool went out and purchase some cheap ones which lasted all of about 10 minutes. Hoping to get a recharger for batteries.
As I have not yet had the manual for it I can only tell you what I have learned.
It is a 1.5 mill pixel which is fab. There is an automatic flash. But when you ask people to smile expect a 10 sec wait so not so good for taking childrens pictures.
I have mine set on 680 x 480 pictures and I have a 8mb card which on normal resolution pics I have had 50 pics on there and could still have few more. I have now brought a 32mb (lexar £9.99)and am currently filling it. So will let you know how many I can fit on should be about 90.
When you take your pictures there is a little screen about 2" on back of camera to see your picture after you have taken it. This drains the battery but great for checking for red eye and people who just wont smile. Only problem occurs when everyone want to see the pics you have taken.
If you are in a light room then you can click on the display which will show you the person/picture as you take it. It also allows you to zoom in. This is minimum zoom of 5 metres away in my opinion.
You connect your camera to the computer using a lead (usb) which plugs in. The camera came with adobe photo deluxe and easyphoto. The later is very easy to use but unless you have a 80 gig hardrive like me try to limit the pictures else you will have no space at all. Using these programs you can cut off the backgrounds, change peoples colouring, make blk and wht pictures etc.
Printing the digital pictures - There are many options now your local supermarket, boots, etc. They are printing digi picture in 24 hr or 1 hr and prices are per pic. Starting from 40p and as little as 15p if you have 50 or more pics. This works out at £7.50 for 50 pics on 24hr. Which is alot cheaper than APS and you send only pictures you want unlike the APS/35mm.
Your own Printer - there are special readers for the smart media card which plug into the computer which transfer the info straight to your computer. These are as little as £7.99 on auction. I have yet to purchase but would save batteries too. You can also purchase a printer that has an onboard smart media info transfer on it the cheapest I have found so far is £79.99. Photo paper has come down in price so 20 sheets will knock you back about £9.99 approx.
Disadvantages - Batteries - I am using good quality batteries now but these are lasting a few weeks for taking normal pictures and loading to computer. There is an adaptor to buy to plug in while you load them to your computer. You need a universal adaptor but MUST BE 5V DC supply. Fuji do there own make and have seen these on auction sites for £20 new.
Very slow uploading to computer - I take more than 30 pics each outing and uploading these to my computer to adjust takes ages. I loaded up 43 pics and it took about 15/20 mins. You can plug in and take the pictures while attached so loads one at a time. Short leads make this constrictive.
On the whole for the price I paid second hand this is a complete bargain for me. I am very pleased with its performance.
Obviously if I could afford a smaller camera with rechargable battery like in a phone I would buy one. Fuji film is a good make and quality of there camera just keep getting smaller and better.
good op full of interesting info,dont think this camera is alone in eating batteries i think they all do.when i got my kodak a couple of years ago they salesman put a box of 48 batteries with the camera.I thought he was mad however after a little while you realize why its a good idea getting rechargeables though.craig
26.11.2003 02:48
Excellent opinion, welcome to Ciao. :o) Chris x
25.11.2003 18:56
A very informative and interesting opinion plecostrum! And I agree with smudger1064 about all digital cam's eating the batteries! =Dave=
25.11.2003 09:48
good op full of interesting info,dont think this camera is alone in eating batteries i think they all do.when i got my kodak a couple of years ago they salesman put a box of 48 batteries with the camera.I thought he was mad however after a little while you realize why its a good idea getting rechargeables though.craig