OT ~ Digital camera and/or scanner help needed!

I've gotten to the end of my rope with my search for a reasonably priced
scanner that's easy to use and produces decent scans of the beads I sell on
eBay. I thought I'd solicit recommendations from anyone who absolutely
LOVES your scanner. Also, I might just throw in the towel with the scanner
and switch to a digital camera, but the camera has to have a top notch macro
feature that allows extreme close-ups. I have an older Olympus that doesn't
quite do the job I need. Anyone out there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I use PaintShop Pro to fine tune any images, so image manipulation software
is really secondary. I've gotten to the point where I dread doing the scans
for new items because it's become such a pain in the a$$. I still have
stuff I bought in Tucson that I haven't listed yet because I just don't want
to deal with the scanner. Anyone want to have a go at this?? Please?!?!?!?

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================

I have an older Olympus that doesn't quite do the job I need. Anyone out
there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I'll bite! I used to use a scanner (went through two generations of
Microtek, and they were good for the price). Last summer I got a camera and
I'd NEVER go back! The scanning was slow (given the same PC setup), the
editing was a PITA and there were certain bead colors I just couldn't get
right no matter how hard I tried (Bullseye neo-lavender, and the equivalent
in Moretti). I'd have to flood the entire image with color correction to
make it work (granted, I was just using Microsoft Picture-It, not a better
graphics program).

Now I have an Olympus C-4000. I paid $530 for it with a BUNCH of goodies
like an extra 128 MB memory card, batteries and charger, wide angle lens,
large carrying bag, filters and a mini tripod. I got it on Ebay. G I LOVE
THIS CAMERA!!!!!! There's a macro setting and a super macro, several
built-in settings, and the possibility to set and save 4 custom setting
combinations. I can turn this baby on, go to my M1 setting, and have it all
ready for shooting beads, exactly as I want. The only thing I have to adjust
is F-stop (my choice, depending on whether I'm shooting a single bead or a
set) and the white balance (another maybe, depending on the color and
background I use). I can shoot 8 sets in about 15 minutes, even with a
degree of fussiness and occasional bracketing of shots. Then I upload them
to my PC and just use the Camedia software that came with the camera. I
think the pics I get are pretty darned good.

I do want to get PSP or Corel at some point (I miss Corel!) but it's not for
the photos themselves. The one serious limitation is that layering isn't
possible, but I don't need that for the auction pix, just for setting up
brochures and fancy business cards.

Beyond macro-land, I still love this camera. I took it on an hour-long walk
yesterday to our local riparian preserve. Shot 92 pix in high res and got
some spectacular shots without any editing beyond a little cropping. Here's
4:

http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/PollenBath.jpg (see the bee?)
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/Ocotillo.jpg
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/BunnyLunch.jpg (my lunch companion)
http://members.cox.net/desertdreamer...ricklyPear.jpg (I love this
color!)

Oh, and here's the bead I made based on the Ocotillo pic:
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/OcotilloBead.jpg


I think this camera is an excellent value, and great for all-purpose
photography as well as the beads we need to shoot. I get scolded for not
taking it outside more often. G I've also taken great pix of my kids, a
few night shots, and other odds and ends. It does the job for everything.
I'm even considering selling my beloved Canon AE-1, which I've had since
high school. gasp

KarenK




"Mj" wrote in message
...
I've gotten to the end of my rope with my search for a reasonably priced
scanner that's easy to use and produces decent scans of the beads I sell
on
eBay. I thought I'd solicit recommendations from anyone who absolutely
LOVES your scanner. Also, I might just throw in the towel with the
scanner
and switch to a digital camera, but the camera has to have a top notch
macro
feature that allows extreme close-ups. I have an older Olympus that
doesn't
quite do the job I need. Anyone out there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I use PaintShop Pro to fine tune any images, so image manipulation
software
is really secondary. I've gotten to the point where I dread doing the
scans
for new items because it's become such a pain in the a$$. I still have
stuff I bought in Tucson that I haven't listed yet because I just don't
want
to deal with the scanner. Anyone want to have a go at this??
Please?!?!?!?

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================

Okay - this is good info. My older Olympus doesn't have all the bells and
whistles you mentioned - things I need for the close ups! I looked it up on
CNET and see it gets good reviews from users there too. Your bead photos
are just fine and the outdoor shots were fantastic. My old SLR is an
Olympus so I'm kind of partial to them too.

Thanks for the rave review!

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================
"Karen_AZ" wrote in message
news:PYIfc.41651$U83.31470@fed1read03...

Now I have an Olympus C-4000. I
think the pics I get are pretty darned good.

Beyond macro-land, I still love this camera.

I think this camera is an excellent value, and great for all-purpose
photography as well as the beads we need to shoot.

I have an older microtek scanmaker that seems to do a good job. It does
require separate scans and doing the file , twain, select, twain thing over
and over.
they have a newer model in the 6000s that may have better software. and you
can find it for less than $200.
Just in case you really want to search, the newest consumer reports has
cameras and scanners.

LOL!! Thanks, but it was a Microtek 4900 that went bad on me after only a
year. That was the second Microtek I've had and I didn't like it as much as
the first one, but that one died on me too. Thought I'd try a different
brand this time and am just frustrated as all get out. I looked at the
Consumer Reports article when I got that issue last week. Unfortunately
they concentrate on the way scanners scan *flat* photos or documents - after
all, that's what most people use them for, right? I actually bought a Canon
CanoScan LiDE that did stunning work with photos but had absolutely NO depth
of field at all so my beads were sharp and clear only where they touched the
glass, fading fast to mere blurs. Luckily Costco took it back even though
there really wasn't anything wrong with it! As you can see, I've been
through a few of them lately...

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================
"armand vine" wrote in message
...
I have an older microtek scanmaker that seems to do a good job. It does
require separate scans and doing the file , twain, select, twain thing
over
and over.
they have a newer model in the 6000s that may have better software. and
you
can find it for less than $200.
Just in case you really want to search, the newest consumer reports has
cameras and scanners.

I was perfectly happy with my flatbed scanner (Umax Astra 1220U) which I got
in uh, 1998 or so, and I put up with adjusting the colors in every single
scan --until I got my digital camera. It's a Nikon Coolpix 775, from 2001,
so there are better models for the same price now, it has optical zoom and
macro, and I can do LOTS more with it than I could with the scanner. The
pictures are worlds better;
this is a pretty-good-for a-scanner scanner image:
http://bead-designs.com/assets/carne...t%20detail.jpg
This is a digital camera image:
http://bead-designs.com/assets/carndrop03.jpg

Hope this helps,
Georgia

(BTW, I do not think this thread is OT--you want the scanner/camera to take
pictures of beads, right?)

"Mj" wrote in message
...
I've gotten to the end of my rope with my search for a reasonably priced
scanner that's easy to use and produces decent scans of the beads I sell
on
eBay. I thought I'd solicit recommendations from anyone who absolutely
LOVES your scanner. Also, I might just throw in the towel with the
scanner
and switch to a digital camera, but the camera has to have a top notch
macro
feature that allows extreme close-ups. I have an older Olympus that
doesn't
quite do the job I need. Anyone out there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I use PaintShop Pro to fine tune any images, so image manipulation
software
is really secondary. I've gotten to the point where I dread doing the
scans
for new items because it's become such a pain in the a$$. I still have
stuff I bought in Tucson that I haven't listed yet because I just don't
want
to deal with the scanner. Anyone want to have a go at this??
Please?!?!?!?

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================

Excellent comparison! I looked at the new Nikons on CNET last night too. I
liked some of their features so I'll keep your review in mind. I'd still
like to find that perfect scanner but I don't think any of the manufacturers
realize how many people on eBay and elsewhere use a scanner for their
auction/store items. LOL!! Thanks for answering!

Mj

--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================
"Georgia" wrote in message
news:1vSfc.3585$aM4.11614@attbi_s53...
I was perfectly happy with my flatbed scanner (Umax Astra 1220U) which I
got
in uh, 1998 or so, and I put up with adjusting the colors in every single
scan --until I got my digital camera. It's a Nikon Coolpix 775

There's a bunch of info on different cameras in Bead Notes -
http://www.lampwork.net/beadnotes.html - then scroll down to Photography.

I have a FujiFilm Finepix 2600 Zoom. I love it, but it only has 2.0
megapixels and is a couple of years old, so I might upgrade soon. I am
staying in the FujiFilm line though, because I really like it. Easy to use,
small, has a variety of settings, a macro and is easy to hook into the
computer (via USB). I use Paint Shop Pro for my pic editing. I've
developed a system to take pics that works and is pretty fast. And my pics
are pretty decent, I think.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

I've gotten to the end of my rope with my search for a reasonably priced
scanner that's easy to use and produces decent scans of the beads I sell
on
eBay. I thought I'd solicit recommendations from anyone who absolutely
LOVES your scanner. Also, I might just throw in the towel with the
scanner
and switch to a digital camera, but the camera has to have a top notch
macro
feature that allows extreme close-ups. I have an older Olympus that
doesn't
quite do the job I need. Anyone out there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I use PaintShop Pro to fine tune any images, so image manipulation
software
is really secondary. I've gotten to the point where I dread doing the
scans
for new items because it's become such a pain in the a$$. I still have
stuff I bought in Tucson that I haven't listed yet because I just don't
want
to deal with the scanner. Anyone want to have a go at this??
Please?!?!?!?

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================

Your photos are *always* wonderful, Kandice! And I thought I had looked at
the Bead Notes before I asked everyone here and didn't find what I was
looking for. I'll put the Fuji line on my list to compare later this
weekend. Plus I'm copying and saving the info you left in your reply to
Fran. I Googled the group for info too but couldn't seem to come up with
the discussions that had that info. It was driving me crazy 'cause I
usually can find the stuff I remembered seeing. (

Thanks again for helping out!

Mj


--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================
"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
There's a bunch of info on different cameras in Bead Notes -
http://www.lampwork.net/beadnotes.html - then scroll down to Photography.

I have a FujiFilm Finepix 2600 Zoom. I love it, but it only has 2.0
megapixels and is a couple of years old, so I might upgrade soon. I am
staying in the FujiFilm line though, because I really like it. Easy to
use,
small, has a variety of settings, a macro and is easy to hook into the
computer (via USB). I use Paint Shop Pro for my pic editing. I've
developed a system to take pics that works and is pretty fast. And my
pics
are pretty decent, I think.

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

I've gotten to the end of my rope with my search for a reasonably priced
scanner that's easy to use and produces decent scans of the beads I sell
on
eBay. I thought I'd solicit recommendations from anyone who absolutely
LOVES your scanner. Also, I might just throw in the towel with the
scanner
and switch to a digital camera, but the camera has to have a top notch
macro
feature that allows extreme close-ups. I have an older Olympus that
doesn't
quite do the job I need. Anyone out there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I use PaintShop Pro to fine tune any images, so image manipulation
software
is really secondary. I've gotten to the point where I dread doing the
scans
for new items because it's become such a pain in the a$$. I still have
stuff I bought in Tucson that I haven't listed yet because I just don't
want
to deal with the scanner. Anyone want to have a go at this??
Please?!?!?!?

Mj
--
=================================
Marjean Cline - Certified Bead Enabler
Halsey Trading Company
eBay ID: ladymorgause
http://stores.ebay.com/Halsey-Tradin...ny?refid=store
=================================

I have a Nikon Coolpix and I WUBS IT.

-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

Mj wrote:
I've gotten to the end of my rope with my search for a reasonably priced
scanner that's easy to use and produces decent scans of the beads I sell on
eBay. I thought I'd solicit recommendations from anyone who absolutely
LOVES your scanner. Also, I might just throw in the towel with the scanner
and switch to a digital camera, but the camera has to have a top notch macro
feature that allows extreme close-ups. I have an older Olympus that doesn't
quite do the job I need. Anyone out there who just swoons over the
performance of their digital camera?? If so, why?

I use PaintShop Pro to fine tune any images, so image manipulation software
is really secondary. I've gotten to the point where I dread doing the scans
for new items because it's become such a pain in the a$$. I still have
stuff I bought in Tucson that I haven't listed yet because I just don't want
to deal with the scanner. Anyone want to have a go at this?? Please?!?!?!?

Mj