Kodak v550

I've been looking around for a replacement for my really old HP 120
(it's 1 MP). I was thinking of getting a kodak v550 or v530. I was
wondering if anyone knows much about them. Are they very tough and
strong enough to survive being knocked around a bit? Would you
recommend them? Out of those two which would you choose, or would you
stay away from them altogether?
Any advise would be very much appreciateed.
Thanks

wrote:

I've been looking around for a replacement for my really old HP 120
(it's 1 MP). I was thinking of getting a kodak v550 or v530. I was
wondering if anyone knows much about them. Are they very tough and
strong enough to survive being knocked around a bit? Would you
recommend them? Out of those two which would you choose, or would you
stay away from them altogether?
Any advise would be very much appreciateed.
Thanks



Greetings Ben,

I have been experimenting with this model as it has some very attractive
features, i.e. you can take movies and capture stills from the movie.
Pretty nice feature. Of course, it is not as good as taking a still
picture normally, but then you do get a movie. Personally, I like it a
lot. It not only does the movie feature but it is quite compact, easily
fits in your shirt pocket, has a very big viewscreen, and the controls
are done well. I suggest you review the camera online for additional
options and make a trip to a local store so you can get a hands on
review. For me, how you it feels in your hands is 50% of the choice.

For a 5 megapixel camera the camera is really nice.

Talk to you soon, Ben, let me know if you have any questions.

Ron Baird
Eastman Kodak Company

The movie mode is pretty good. In bright light, the pictures are great. In
dim light, the pictures are ok. Camera is fast and easy to use. There is
not much user control but plenty of picture modes that resolve alot of the
problems created by lack of manual mode. The LCD is gorgeous and much
better than most of the compitition. Easily fits in a shirt pocket.

Over all, works like an instamatic that takes very nice pictures most of the
time.

Biggest downfall. A really pitiful little battery that can only be charged
in the camera. Kodak should be ashamed. On the upside a second battery is
reletively cheap. I do wonder If I will need a third.


"Ron Baird" wrote in message
om...
wrote:

I've been looking around for a replacement for my really old HP 120
(it's 1 MP). I was thinking of getting a kodak v550 or v530. I was
wondering if anyone knows much about them. Are they very tough and
strong enough to survive being knocked around a bit? Would you
recommend them? Out of those two which would you choose, or would you
stay away from them altogether?
Any advise would be very much appreciateed.
Thanks



Greetings Ben,

I have been experimenting with this model as it has some very attractive
features, i.e. you can take movies and capture stills from the movie.
Pretty nice feature. Of course, it is not as good as taking a still
picture normally, but then you do get a movie. Personally, I like it a
lot. It not only does the movie feature but it is quite compact, easily
fits in your shirt pocket, has a very big viewscreen, and the controls
are done well. I suggest you review the camera online for additional
options and make a trip to a local store so you can get a hands on
review. For me, how you it feels in your hands is 50% of the choice.

For a 5 megapixel camera the camera is really nice.

Talk to you soon, Ben, let me know if you have any questions.

Ron Baird
Eastman Kodak Company

Why is charging the battery in the camera such a crime?

Kodak have done this since year dot. And I'm no Kodak fan...

T.

On 17 Nov 2005 20:09:13 -0800, wrote:

Why is charging the battery in the camera such a crime?

Kodak have done this since year dot. And I'm no Kodak fan...

Kinda hard to charge batteries if you want to continue taking
pictures. A sad solution would be to buy a second backup camera and
use it as a battery charger.

Well you got me there...

When I was using my Kodak I always charged it the night before to make
sure it was fine for a days shooting.

I use an SLR now that takes ordinary AA nimhs...

Still... if you use your brains and plan a bit.

T.

On 17 Nov 2005 22:24:36 -0800, wrote:

When I was using my Kodak I always charged it the night before to make
sure it was fine for a days shooting.

That's usually what I do, and it's the rare day that I'll need
more than a single set of batteries. But it does happen.


I use an SLR now that takes ordinary AA nimhs...

Just a lowly Fuji P&S here, but it also uses AAs. I tested it
earlier this year and found that the batteries lasted slightly
longer than specified in the manual (couple hundred with alkalines,
double that with NiMH, and this with heavy use of the flash). I
just checked the manual for the latest version of the camera and see
that battery life has increased to 500 shots per charge for NiMH.
If lithium batteries were as inexpensive (and available in standard
sizes) I wouldn't mind using them, but cameras have improved to the
point that they're not really needed any more in many cases. If
flash isn't used, btw, I estimate that the NiMH batteries should be
good for about 2000 shots per charge. Not too many years ago there
were much simpler cameras that couldn't reach 20 shots.


Still... if you use your brains and plan a bit.

I had to keep the neurons firing with my old camera. With the
exceptional battery life of my current one that's hardly needed any
more. It's virtually idiot-proof.

The battery will not work for a days shooting, THAT is the problem. A
pitiful little battery and no easy way to keep extra charged batteries. You
have to charge the battery in the camera the night before, take out the
charged battery and put it somewhere safe, put in the second flat battery
charge it the remember to bring the first battery when you leave. A bigger
battery would have been great, a seperate optional battery charger would
have been awsome.

If Kodak would have planned a little bit, I would have to use my brains as
much.

Shame on you Kodak.

Other than that, I do really like the camera.

My old camera used AA's, life was easy. I had three sets. One in the
camera, one in the pocket and one in the charger. Each set lasted several
days of heavy shooting (for me) and I never had a problem. The kodak
battery only lasts a few hours of heavy shooting and then they are done. I
don't take many pictures (kids getting older) so not a huge problem but it
would have driven us crazy a few years ago.

Now having a camera that is convenient is the most important feature and the
v550 fits the bill.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Well you got me there...

When I was using my Kodak I always charged it the night before to make
sure it was fine for a days shooting.

I use an SLR now that takes ordinary AA nimhs...

Still... if you use your brains and plan a bit.

T.

Also I'd imagine Kodak charge a king's ransom for their batteries???

T.

wrote:
Why is charging the battery in the camera such a crime?

Kodak have done this since year dot. And I'm no Kodak fan...

T.

Given an option, I would rather charge the batteries OUT of the camera
so I can take pictures while a battery is charging..


--
Ron Hunter