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Nearly all compact cameras these days either write to a Sony Memory Stick or an sD memory card. I prefer those that write to the latter.

I suspect you'll do best with a Canon Powershot A-series compact, which writes to an sD card and which uses plain AA batteries. It has too many megapixels for you, but there's nothing on the market that will address that issue. Because in addition to your state requirements, you also need a flash and a lens that will focus closely enough to show the details of instruments you post on ebay.

Ebay item 140311616017 is one of the cheaper ones, and it has everything you need. It comes with a memory card. I know nothing about the seller--this is just what turned up when I searched on "Canon Powershot A".

Then, go to the computer store and get a memory card reader that installed in the slot now used by your floppy drive, and plug it into a USB port on your motherboard. It will be even easier than the floppy disks. When you plug in a memory card, the computer will present it to you like a removable hard disk. The floppy-drive card readers support most if not all currently available memory card technologies. You can also buy a USB card reader that is separately wired if you don't want to pull the cover off your computer. Easy, schmeazy.

Downsampling the image to the 700 pixels maximum dimension for computer display is easy with free software. And you can use this camera to take pictures of the tribe, and then plug the memory card into the machine at Wal-Mart, upload the pics, wait half an hour, and then pick up prints.

Similar cameras are made by Kodak, etc., but I doubt they are any better (or any worse).

Rick "good digicams are now cheap" Denney

Try "shopping" at just two places . My daughter just got done looking an finally bought one . Walmart is clearing out it's inventory of cameras and had some really cheap. Between $100 and $200. They are all use a SD memory card and have to be plugge in to the back but are really great cameras. The one that have been reduced will vary from each store . We looked in 6 diffrent Walmarts . She finally decide on a Olympus for $125.00 from Radio Shack. She says it was the best one of all.

Even with the bloke's old computer (I've got the ENIAC in mind, here), I think that ease-of-operation can be achieved with the usage of any acronyms.

My mother purchased a [super ch33p] digicam about three years ago. It's a Kodak "Easyshare", I think. It's a pretty big p.o.s., but it does have a pretty neat feature in that you can connect it directly from the cam's internal hard drive to your computer. It came with a little cable to do just that, and I believe you can just plug it in right on the front of your tower case.

Kodak's "Easyshare" is geared toward individuals who don't want to think much farther than "push buton get picshur plz thx", so it has all that junky, and incredibly not-Easy, software that comes with it, so I wouldn't recommend that line. If you buy new, take a peek into the box before you purchase to see if such a cable-computer connectivity cable is included.

bloke wrote:eek!..."memory STICK/CARD - memory card READER"...mo' junque. ...a'ight, den...

(I'm not really worried about the default size of the pic...Surely, the camera will have a resolution select (no...??), and I can continue to shrink 'em down using plain' ol' "Paint"...(yes...??)

The memory cards are so cheap now just think of it as a floppy, except smaller, more reliable, and about 1000 times bigger. Think of the reader as the box in which the floppies come. It's not much more expensive than that.

Yes, you can usually set the camera to record smaller images. My Canons allow raw, plus large, medium or small jpegs at low compression or high compression. That 1-gig memory card will probably hold a couple thousand of the small ones. I expect the software in an A-series compact has the same basic features.

I don't know if Paint will shrink them, but Gimp will and it's free.

The batteries are a bigger issue than the memory cards. Stick with a compact that uses AA batteries--the smaller and larger Canons (and other brands) use model-specific rechargeable batteries, and as you know, that $1 charger becomes a critical element in the reliability chain.

RIck "who has bought a couple of these for non-techie relatives" Denney

MS Paint can shrink, but in a creepy way. It uses proportions so that, if you wanted an exact shrinkage amount, you'd need a calculator. On top of that, the quality of a shrink image is horrible. There are plenty of free and easy-to-use image programs.

Make sure, when you buy a camera, you get one that reads SD cards. Some manufacturers, like Sony and Fuji, like to use their own proprietary brand of memory card, which no one makes but them, and they are way overpriced. SD cards can be had good and cheap...I recently bought a pair of these:
http://www.meritline.com/kingston-2gb-s ... 18629.aspx
These are selling for $6.45, slightly less than what I paid about a month ago, and come with free shipping.

You will need something to plug into your computer to read the card, however, but this can also be had cheap:
http://www.meritline.com/usb-card-reade ... 34533.aspx

This plugs right into a USB port (you might even have one on the front of your computer), and also has free shipping. Total cost of memory card and reader comes to $11.44. If you take low-res photos, that 2 GB will hold a crapload of pictures (technical term). And, unlike floppies, you will only need one, because they're much less prone to failure.

If you could find a decent camera repair shop, I'd send you my Nikon coolpix. I've only had it for about 1 and 1/2 years and the damn thing stopped working. I can't get it to hold a charge for more than 15 minutes (and I just shelled out for a new battery). But if you had a "friend of a friend" that can fix it for cheap, you can have it. (6 megapixels, 3X zoom, and it takes a standard SD card).
>I'm not offended if you dont want it, it's just collecting dust here.

I got a used Panasonic a couple years ago, and have used it plenty without any such thing as a card reader. USB cable connects to the keyboard on the old Mac G5 (or front of PC), the operating system knows how to mount it as a filesystem, I "drag" files from there to desktop. There is of course a card in there, but the only reason I would need to know this is if I wanted to upgrade internal storage capacity.

Mine has one of those proprietary battery packs, I've heard several experienced users speak in favor of standard AA batteries (or AAA or whatever, the point being a widely available standard size that you may be able to find while vacationing in Kirghizstan.)

I won't recommend any specific cameras since I'm more interested personally in the higher end equipment, but with everyone talking about memory card readers I'm wondering if the smaller cameras no longer connect up directly to your computer via USB?

Every digital camera I've had any experience with would connect directly to a pc with a USB cable and just look like an external disk drive. You can then copy your pictures directly from the camera to the pc that way without having to buy some external card reader (which would also hook up to the pc via a USB cable).

The advantage to an external card reader is sometimes speed and not having to have the camera turned on. The disadvantage to an external reader is having to remove and reinsert the card from the camera so often. And buy the card reader.

Summary and agreement with Rick:

Canon A-Series PowerShot -
-AA Batteries
-SD card, or Compact Flash on older ones
-Can set image size onboard
-Decent optics
-Decent ISO settings

Also, the Canon P&S's come with good software. It is pretty easy to use and manipulate photos afterwards. I use the Canon software almost exclusively in post-processing, since it is about 3x faster and easier than using Photoshop if the picture was well composed to begin with.

BlokeJoe, I would invest in a card reader. They are cheap, and make pulling photos a bit easier. Even if you don't, the Canon will offer USB connectivity, but that consumes battery life.

As far as outlets, I prefer B&H photo. Their customer service is excellent and they are world renowned for both competitive prices, customer service, and depth of stock. They are closed right now in observance of Passover, as they observe all Jewish holidays (cool with me).

The Canon A470 is the $80 unit:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... amera.html

The Canon A590 for $125 is probably a great camera for you:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... gital.html
It offers image stabilization and high ISO which is good for low light usage, and a nice size display. That would be my recommendation for meeting most needs while being affordable.

Here is the card reader ($15):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control ... _Card.html

Compatible Memory Cards
Accept Most Common Card Types

* CompactFlash (type I & II) all types, speeds & capacities
* IBM MicroDrive
* MultimediaCard (MMC/MMC2, MMC Mobile, MMC+ Plus)
* Secure Digital (SD/SDHC) Card all types, speeds & capacities
* Memory Stick/Memory Stick Duo all types, speeds & capacities
* xD-Picture Card all types, speeds & capacities

Matthew Gilchrest wrote:Summary and agreement with Rick:

Canon A-Series PowerShot -
-AA Batteries
-SD card, or Compact Flash on older ones
-Can set image size onboard
-Decent optics
-Decent ISO settings

Also, the Canon P&S's come with good software. It is pretty easy to use and manipulate photos afterwards. I use the Canon software almost exclusively in post-processing, since it is about 3x faster and easier than using Photoshop if the picture was well composed to begin with.

BlokeJoe, I would invest in a card reader. They are cheap, and make pulling photos a bit easier. Even if you don't, the Canon will offer USB connectivity, but that consumes battery life.

As far as outlets, I prefer B&H photo. Their customer service is excellent and they are world renowned for both competitive prices, customer service, and depth of stock. They are closed right now in observance of Passover, as they observe all Jewish holidays (cool with me).

The Canon A470 is the $80 unit:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... amera.html

The Canon A590 for $125 is probably a great camera for you:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 ... gital.html
It offers image stabilization and high ISO which is good for low light usage, and a nice size display. That would be my recommendation for meeting most needs while being affordable.

Matt is right on about all of this...but I would disagree as to his choice of camera for you. A 'Mack Truck' type of camera would seem to be more your speed. Go to E-Bay and check out the prices for Olympus Camedia 4040 used cameras: http://tinyurl.com/ebayC440
They have 4.1 MP, a good zoom, impeccable image quality, SD card storage, and are built to last a lifetime. I bought one several months ago for $75 on e-bay and it has snapped a picture a minute ever since as a 'weather cam' with view of my street out front as seen in the photo in my signature. I think you have a penchant for things that last, and this is a camera that will do so. (If you want to see a larger image, it is the lower one here: http://www.gwwilk.com/patiocam.htm

I recently purchased the Canon PowerShot A590-IS (suggested by Matthew G. above). It's a great camera. I got it on sale from Amazon.com with free shipping. The price now is $124.77 @ Amazon but still offers free shipping. I read that this item was Amazon's top seller for the Christmas season.

Steve's Digicam review

Canon PowerShot A590IS @ Amazon

It comes with a USB cable for easy connection to your computer. My OS (WindowsXP) automatically recognizes the camera when I plug it in and offers to download the pictures thru 'Microsofts Digital Imaging' software.

Matthew Gilchrest wrote:As far as outlets, I prefer B&H photo. Their customer service is excellent and they are world renowned for both competitive prices, customer service, and depth of stock. They are closed right now in observance of Passover, as they observe all Jewish holidays (cool with me).

They don't call it Beards and Hats for nothing. They are across the street from the Jewish Community Center on the mid-town Manhattan west side, about a block west of the Garden. There are lots of black-suited gentlemen with characteristic beards and hats in that neighborhood.

Rick "a long-time B&H customer" Denney

Rick F wrote:I recently purchased the Canon PowerShot A590-IS (suggested by Matthew G. above). It's a great camera. I got it on sale from Amazon.com with free shipping. The price now is $124.77 @ Amazon but still offers free shipping. I read that this item was Amazon's top seller for the Christmas season.

Steve's Digicam review

Canon PowerShot A590IS @ Amazon

It comes with a USB cable for easy connection to your computer. My OS (WindowsXP) automatically recognizes the camera when I plug it in and offers to download the pictures thru 'Microsofts Digital Imaging' software.

Another vote for the Canon A590...

I have one that I carry in the car for work. It is very durable, excellent battery life (and convenient AAs), and takes great photos. I also have 9 other guys that carry the same camera now. Regardless of photo skill, I have yet to see a bad pic taken with this camera.

As far as what you're looking for, the A590 is pretty hard to beat. Durable, cheap, and easy!

bloke wrote:I bought the $99 eBay camera (no shipping/1-gig card incl.) Rick recommended, and the $4.99 (no shipping reader from Hong Kong that Murphy linked.

I should have both in about two weeks, I guess.

I'm sure there are better cameras for only a little bit more dough, but this one already runs circles around my old camera...

THANKS TO ALL !!!

Joe, that will be a great camera. It is the previous generation to the one I linked to, and has 98% of the functionality. The main thing missing is the Image Stabilization, which is only a big deal in low light situations.

I highly recommend reading the manual thoroughly. There are many "a-ha" type things that Canon is pretty good about explaining that will make taking photos a good bit more enjoyable. Also, if you have compatibility, download the Canon software only your PC. It will make getting the photos off the camera much easier and the processing (specifically for resizing) will be much better with the Canon software.

Cameras are great in that waiting to buy the "leftover" previous generations will save a lot of money. Right now you can get a Canon 30D dSLR for $700 and a 40D for around $900. Those cameras were easily double that within the last two years. Once the 50D (with almost no real improvement over the 40D) came out, both prices dropped.

Can't wait for 3 years until the Canon 5D MkIII comes out...

bloke wrote:I bought the $99.99 eBay camera (no shipping/1-gig card incl.) Rick recommended, and the $4.99 (no shipping reader from Hong Kong that TMurphy linked.

(total = $104.98 to my door out in the boondocks)

I should have both in about two weeks, I guess...

I'm sure there are better cameras for only a little bit more dough, but this one already runs circles around my old camera...

THANKS TO ALL !!!

Good luck to you! Shipping from meritline is usually surprisingly quick...I buy all my cables and storage media from them...best prices you can find.

Matthew Gilchrest wrote:Can't wait for 3 years until the Canon 5D MkIII comes out...

I bought my 5D last year. Speculation of its replacement had be rife in ways only internet fora can be rife, but when Canon dropped the price of the kit to two-thirds of what they had been selling it for, I knew the new model was on the way. That's when I bought.

I would sorta like the live-view focusing that is possible with the 5DII (I use a lot of manual-focus lenses adapted to Canon), so I supposed I'm in the same waiting queue as you.

Unfortunately, I'm also in the queue for cheaper prices for the Nikon D700 for my wife. And it's her turn.

Rick "who now can't live without the full-frame sensor" Denney