My wife and I decided a few months ago to get a digital camera when we had the cash to spare. I spent several weeks looking at various cameras and reading alot of reviews, and eventually decided I wanted to spend around £150 to get a 2MP with 3 x optical zoom. I narrowed my list down to a few ... Read review
Advantages: Price, 3MP Disadvantages: no online documentation, has frozen a couple of times, only 2x zoom
My wife and I decided a few months ago to get a digital camera when we had the cash to spare. I spent several weeks looking at various cameras and reading alot of reviews, and eventually decided I wanted to spend around £150 to get a 2MP with 3 x optical zoom. I narrowed my list down to a few and then saw this. After looking at them all, I decided I'd rather have a 3MP with less zoom, and be able to crop it if I wanted.
My biggest ... ...documentation and that internetcamerasdirect had the only reviews. So here are all the things I'd have liked to have known before:
SPECIFICATIONS:
Lens: f=6~12/24mm
Focus: Macro = 6-40cm, normal = 40cm to infinity
Sensor: 2140 x 1560 CCD sensor with 3.34M pixels
Resolution: 2048 x 1536 (about 750-800Kb); 1024 x 768; 640 x 480; 2976 x 2240 (Interpolation) pixels
Video Resolution: 320 x 240 (takes 8Mb/min) ... more
My wife and I decided a few months ago to get a digital camera when we had the cash to spare. I spent several weeks looking at various cameras and reading alot of reviews, and eventually decided I wanted to spend around £150 to get a 2MP with 3 x optical zoom. I narrowed my list down to a few and then saw this. After looking at them all, I decided I'd rather have a 3MP with less zoom, and be able to crop it if I wanted.
My biggest concern with this camera had been the lack of online documentation and that internetcamerasdirect had the only reviews. So here are all the things I'd have liked to have known before:
SPECIFICATIONS: Lens: f=6~12/24mm Focus: Macro = 6-40cm, normal = 40cm to infinity Sensor: 2140 x 1560 CCD sensor with 3.34M pixels Resolution: 2048 x 1536 (about 750-800Kb); 1024 x 768; 640 x 480; 2976 x 2240 (Interpolation) pixels Video Resolution: 320 x 240 (takes 8Mb/min) (no audio) Compression ratio: Super-fine, fine, normal
OTHER FEATURES (which are common to many cameras, but worth stating explicitly) Scene mode: Portrait, Landscape, Back Light, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Night Landscape (Exposure time 0-4 secs) Exposure compensation: 1/2 steps from -2.5EV ~ +2.5EV ISO sensitivity: auto, 50, 100, 200 Has auto-power-off: 30, 45, 60, 120, 180 secs Can zoom in on images on LCD up to 8x Date/time stamp (optional) LCD brightness: 4 levels Flash: Auto, Forced, None Allows Multimedia cards as well as SD cards. Sharpness: -3 - +3 3 LCD display settings: off, picture only, picture with storage info, picture with settings info Review of photos includes: Index of 6 photos/videos, playback of video, up to 8x zoom on still photos.
Another concern I had was that other people said they had problems with the battery life, but I bought some hahnel NiMH 2000mAh and on first use I wanted to see how they'd do. I had one set in for about an hour and a half before they ran out - and took about 10 minutes of video and about 50 photos. The second set were used on a 'typical use' day out at the zoo (about 5 hours) I took 45 photos and they were close to running out (though hadn't yet)
You definately want to have a storage card with this, I already had a 32Mb which I think is adequate (except perhaps if I was going away on holiday for a few weeks.) It works out well, as near the end of the day at the zoo I'd taken 39 photos and ran out of space, but took the photo card out and had the internal memory to fall back on, knowing I could take another 10 photos.I'm a perfectionist, so the fact that I chose this camera and have kept it is the biggest recommendation you could get from me. Being a perfectionist I want things to be exactly as I'd like, and the only annoyances I've had with this camera are (from most to least significant):
I have had it freeze a couple of times which meant I had to turn it off by opening and shutting the battery case. It doesn't seem to leave any lasting problems and seems to happen when I've pushed a button and it's processing and I push another button which interupts it (usually when reviewing photos.)
Other people have said they don't like the buttons. They do feel 'clicky', and sometimes I think I've pushed one hard enough, but I haven't... but I'm not overly bothered by it.
No AC mains adapter for use at home - incidently, when the camera is plugged into the USB it turns off and uses the USB's power instead of the batteries. If you plug in the USB when it's already off then it turns on, recognises the USB and turns off again, so you do at least need enough battery power left for that.
No webcam function... not that I'd use it anyway though.
My only regret having bought this camera, is I'm not sure if I'd rather have had a 2MP but with 3x zoom as 2MP is fine for printing photos, and the extra zoom could be handy. (The others I was interested in are: RiCoh Caplio RR230, Kodak CX4230, and Trust 770Z Powercam, all about £140-150.) But thats more a matter of my priorities - this cameras great.
...Experience…
I've had the Oregon Scientific digital camera for around 2 years now, and overall I have been disappointed. However I have a little relief in the fact that I paid very little for it through a TV bidding channel, Bid-up TV, I recall that it was about £100 along with an array of free image editing and gallery software. Ever since I received the camera it has gone down hill consistently. I know others have had good experiences with this ... ...the family album world. The Oregon Scientific DS9300 has the potential to cause upset and disappointment, invest a little more cash and buy a decent product.
Round-Up…
I would not recommend this camera to a newcomer to the photography market, a professional could possibly get the best out of a camera like this, knowing what settings and dimensions are needed for particular photos. But the camera has little leeway or automatic capability. ...
liam_coops 22.02.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Oregon Scientific DS 9300
Advantages: Relatively inexpensive, easy to use, 3.3MP, lots of features Disadvantages: No case included with camera, small and fiddly, short battery life
...around I settled on the Oregon DS9300 and am 100% satisfied with this fabulous little camera. I purchased this model through Internetcamerasdirect.co.uk for £148 inc VAT and also received free software, mini tripod, 20 digital prints and free next day delivery.
This digital stills camera is lightweight at 138g (without batteries and SD card) and relatively compact at 101.5 x 55 x 36.8mm. It has many advanced photographic features (listed below) ... ...short videos. I've listed a few details of the specification below to give you a general feel of the camera
Photos can be uploaded directly onto your computer using the supplied USB cable and CD or you even have the opportunity to view images on your TV using the Video cable. The camera comes with 8MB interal memory which I found wasn't enough. This will store approx 8 Super High Quality images and a short movie. I'd recommend getting a minimum ...
oldrosie 12.08.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Oregon Scientific DS 9300
Advantages: Compact and easy to use. Good range of manual settings. Disadvantages: Slow to write to the sd card, but newer speedy cards improve things
As far as I know , this camera is no longer available new, but this review may be of use to a second-hand buyer. I bought one in Nov. 2003 for Just over a hundred pounds. It has been totally reliable, even in the humid weather of Sri Lanka during the monsoon season. At the time, a camera with these comprehensive features and optical zoom was generally a lot more expensive. It is comfortable to hold and ergonomic in use. I like its menu system. Just ...
hellome 29.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Oregon Scientific DS 9300
Product Information for "Oregon Scientific DS 9300" »
Connections
Connector Type
1 x composite video output
1 x USB
Expansion Slot(s)
1 x SD Memory Card
Manufacturer's product description
Oregon Scientific is one of the world's leading designers and marketers of award-winning, upscale personal electronic products in the consumer electronics and toy industries. Exciting, cutting-edge technology coupled with fluid design is the hallmark of every Oregon Scientific product. PRODUCT FEATURES: Resolution 3.3M pixel - 2048 x 1536; Photo preview 1.5" color LCD screen; Macro function; Auto exposure/white balance; Flash 3 modes: auto, on, off + scene selections; Zoom 2x optical 2x digital; User selectable image quality: fine and normal; Self timer; Movie function QVGA (320 x 240) quality; Internal memory 8 Mb; SD card compatible; Video output; Compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP.
