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I just love computers . . . I went back into my email and dug up a note I wrote to my brother related to digital photo processing. While I don't specifically have camera recommendations, I do hope you find the following information to be useful.
BTW, I use a 2.1 Mpixel Kodak DC3400 and LOVE IT! See some of my pictures here . . . http://64.212.178.30/ella/index.html
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Prints destined for the refrig:
Purpose: To get the images off the computer and onto the refrig/pocket/cubicle/floor of car/etc.
Method: Inkjet . . . Epson does it best
Downside: unless you get a "natural dye kit," you can kiss color and image quality goodbye after a short while (year or so).
Standard inexpensive prints:
Purpose: Get the digital shots to a medium that is pleasing to look at and that won't fade in a matter of months or even a few years.
Method: Ofoto (Kodak), Photoworks, and approximately 100 other sites take your shots (uploaded) and process to paper. Some use Kodak (or other high quality) paper, some don't. Prices vary as does image quality. I've settled on Photoworks because they're the cheapest around ($.45 for 4x6 prints), they use Kodak paper, and their customer service is very good. Turn around time is also admirable (get prints usually within a week of upload). Image quality is also good. I wish I could tell you how they transfer the digital file to paper, but I'm just not sure. The images end up looking good, but not perfect. I've shown pics to strangers before and they swear they can't tell the difference between film processed and digital, but you'd be able to tell in a heartbeat. Image just looks flat.
Bottomline: This technology works, but the limitation is in the processing (i.e. there's no difference between 5x7's from a 2.1 mpixel camera and a 3 or 4 mpixel camera using this printing format). At $.45 per print, I'll continue to use this technique without hesitation.
Prints for those special shots:
Purpose: You've got a great shot and you want a kickass printout on high quality paper for display or long term storage
Method: There's really only one true tested and tried way to do it right. We're not talking dyesub, or inkjet, or laser. Three words . . . Fujix Pictrography 3000. This printer rocks the house!! I've only recently discovered it's potential when I wanted a 5x7 made of Ella and Janet for Valentine's day. My local Ritz camera has one of these printers so I brought them two of my black and white files taken at highest res. The printouts are phenomenal!! There is absolutely no way I can tell the difference between a Fujix printout and regular chemical processing. Most importantly, these printouts demonstrated to me that the camera (2.1 mpixel) is fully capable of producing 5x7's of the highest quality. I'm curious to see what it can do with an 8x10 frankly.
Bottomline: It's not cheap. Printouts are priced by the sheet and Ritz gets $10/sheet (that'll get ya two 5x7's or one 8x10). However, the output is well worth it. Printouts take all of 5 minutes to make. Although I haven't looked into it, I'd be interested to know if they're doing this online yet.
Have fun with the camera and snap away!
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Based on my experiences, I don't see the point in a camera with higher than 3 meg res unless you plan on printing 8x10's and larger.
Best of luck,
-mark
posted by 64.212.1...
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