[HomeMac] Inexpensive digital camera

[Charles Turner]

A few weeks ago on one of the Mac oriented lists that I read (this one 
perhaps) there was some discussion about low end digital cameras, 
something suitable for a gift to a young person. That gave me a 
Christmas present idea.

After a bit of research, surfing and looking for product reviews and 
owners comments, I decided to buy a Fuji FinePix A101. This is a basic 
1.3M-pixel non zoom automatic camera that uses SmartMedia storage and 
connects to a computer via USB. The picture format can be 1280x960 or 
640x480, saved as a JPG in "fine, normal, or basic" compression. It 
uses two AA batteries and has an optical view finder plus a 1.6 in. LCD 
screen which may be turned on or off.

It also has a full motion video mode for use as a web cam but this, 
unfortunately, is only supported by PC software.

For my OS 10.2 and conventional still pictures I just plugged the 
camera's USB cable into my keyboard and a new drive appeared 
representing the memory card in the camera. I just drag//dropped the 
pictures over to another folder and then deleted them from the camera. 
For OS9  USB extensions are supplied; I haven't booted OS9 and tried 
these yet.

So far the pictures I've taken have all come out OK. The automatic 
flash and exposure setting seems to get it right.

Here's a review: <http://www.steves-digicams.com/2001_reviews/a101.html>