kodak digital cameras

magoogy

is it worth me buying one of these with the docking station? what hidden costs are there with digital cameras? even though you dont have processing and films to pay for - are there costly memory cards and that to buy - and how long do they last? really cant decide whether to upgrade from my kodak advantix or stay with it for now....

thanks

Altarf

Cost of running a digital camera -
Memory card £15* for a 256mb or £25* for a 512mb card to store 100/200 photos from a 5 megapixel camera (more for the 3 or 4 megapixel cameras), which can obviously be deleted once transfered to the PC or printed. Theoretically the cards do have a lifetime, but by the time it stops working (unless you break it) replacements will be peanuts. *from online retailers not shops.

Prints from the camera £5 for 50 6x4 is the high street average. More if you only want a few printed, and again more if you want larger prints. However as you can view the photos on your PC or camera before printing, you will have 50 good ones, rather than 10 good ones which is probably what you average from a 40 roll print film.

As to which digital camera to get, there is a huge variety so I would not be limited to Kodak. Personaly I would stick to the real camera makers such as Nikon, Canon, etc rather than the electronics companies.

The Kodak docking station idea is OK, however it is pretty easy to either plug the camera into your PC with the cable the digital camera will come with, or take the memory card out and stick it in a card reader.

magoogy

thanks - so, it really is worthwhile getting one - i thought it would cost a fortune, but, coincedently they are on about them in one of the sunday papers and that helped too.....ive just had another film returned with only about 4 good pics on it - so annoying....cant wait to get one now...

thanks for your help

Aries

I have a Kodak easyshare camera without the docking station.
What is the purpose of the docking station please?
I manage to get my photos on my PC o.k.
Thanks for your help.

helen21_2

Can anyone advise on the cheapest kodak dig for my dd for xmas, already have new docking ststion so wanted to go for a kodak for her, she is 12 so dont want to spend alot/ or any suggestions for a cheap digi with lcd screen?

Sorry to op for hijacking thread but thought didnt see point in opening new thead for same

helen21

zolablue25

I think the docking station is a simpler way of transferring photos and also, I believe, charges the cameras batteries. The docking station stays connected to your PC and you simply place the camera into it. A lead works fine as well but I think for the real technophobe a docking station is slightly easier.

magoogy

i thought with the docking station you didnt need to use your pc?

CIS

some docking stations are built in to a photo printer, for these you dont need a pc, for the normal docking stations a pc is needed.

Pennywise

We've got a Kodak 5mp digital camera with the docking station.

We only use the docking station for charging the camera (rechargeable batteries come with docking station) and for printing off the odd photo. The photographic quality really is excellent - far better than I've seen from inkjet printers, and just as good as the professional prints.

You need the official Kodak paper and cartridge pack which is very expensive - it doesn't work on normal inkjet cartridges/ink, but a special cartridge which only lasts for the same number of photos as the number of photo sheets in the same pack. The cartridge seems to work on film transfer rather than ink printing. Never managed to find a cheaper alternative - presumably Kodak have the copyright over the cartridge.

We've never connected the docking station to the computer. Camera links directly to computer via USB lead so we upload all photos and then use, say, Truprint, for getting the larger quantities of photo prints at 10p each.

Looking back, I don't think we'd have bought the docking station had we known how easy it was to use the pc and how cheap the prints were via Truprint etc, but now we've got it, it is useful for the odd print between orders or for anything we need more quickly.

Mumstheword

Have to agree the docking station appears to be a way of the stores getting another £50 off you!

My kodak camera works with AA batteries, so I just have spares on charge in a normal charger. (I use the 800 power ones, very weak and not rec for a digi camera, but work just fine!)

The camera plugs into the pc with a usb wire, and when I plug it in and switch on, the pc recognises it and does the upload for me.

magoogy

well - thanks for that - that has made my mind up for me - i wont bother getting the docking station as can use my photo printer via computer cheaper - thanks so much - you saved me cash...