Digital Cameras and Internet Cafes

Submitted by jaimezee on 4 February, 2006 - 07:52.

I think I will be travelling with a digital camera for my first time. Actually, I'll prob. buy it today or tomorrow.

I had been avoiding it. Since, digital camera + Gringo = target. But, I'm finally giving in.

Anyway, the question is this: Do most internet cafes have USB ports for me to hook up to, so that I can transfer a pic or 2 into my email or website. I know "how" to do it, I just need the USB port and some modern software that will recognize the cam. I'm willing to bet that most decent cafes have something, as they do cater to travellers too.

Also, in the event that I ever go on a long trip (3 weeks isn't long in my book), does it make sense to hit up a cafe to transfer pics from camera memory card to USB stick?

Thanks much techies. And and I work as a web progammer - just not up on this digital photo craze!!

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Things to think about

Submitted by nicaus on 5 February, 2006 - 13:09.

I would look for a camera that is ”all-weather”. I went through two digital cameras in Nicaragua in 6 years. Well they both gave out in Nicaragua) and once I went to an “all weather” I have not had a lick of trouble. Humidity is a killer on electronics. I am not sure that you can find one in the $140-$180 range but it is something to think about.

I currently use a 8.0 mega pixel (stylus 800) and carry a 40 gig “jump drive” (kangaroo) to back up the pictures. The camera cost was $398 and the jump drive was $140.

just a thought . . .

Submitted by arlington on 4 February, 2006 - 11:14.

you might want to transfer the images to a tiny USB drive in the privacy of your room before you go to the internet cafe. They are cheap, and can hang on a lanyard around your neck. Your cameras public exposure is greatly minimized to shooting moments. It never hurts to backup your images off of the camera periodically, regardless. I once dropped a digital camera and, though the camera was fine, the images vanished like an etch-a-sketch image. I just picked a a pocket Ricoh Caplio R3 - 5Megapixel - 28mm- 200mm that measures only 4.3 x 1.14 x 2.2 inches. That's discreet. And it has built in stabilization to reduce the camera shake of tiny cameras. On the previous visit to Nicaragua we used Kodak disposable film cameras but the results were less than satisfactory, so hopefully with this we can have better photos and still not stand out like gringo gawkers . . . ; )

Off load pictures

Submitted by jaimezee on 5 February, 2006 - 13:30.

I work as a web programmer but am DUMB when it comes to these digital camera things. Lets talk about off loading pics onto a USB memory stick.

Now, I know what a USB mem. stick is, and I have seen SD memory card readers for my SD card. But how do I connect all of this up with/without a computer? Hate to sound so dumb.

Now, I can make a web page, search and save all kinds of information. Even create PDFs on the fly and do RSS feeds. But I am digital camera illiterate - but not for long. I now have a Kodak CD33 and am exchanging a 1 GB SD card that I bought last nite for a 512 SD card. I dont need the extra 1/2 gb with a 3 megapixel cam....Wasted mem., until I do a round the world trip, and we will revisit the camera issues at that time.

Do you think Lithium batteries would last me 3 weeks, provided that I dont use the cam. as as video play back machine? It would be nice not to drag a recharger around....Do internet cafes have the SD card readers or do you need to provide your own?

tks much for feedback!!

Off load/ Down load/ Copy over - whatever

Submitted by nicaus on 6 February, 2006 - 01:05.

You will not need another card for the life of your camera. With a 1 gig card and a 3 mg pix camera you will get about 3,500 pictures. But your battery will be an issue. I would get some re-chargeable (if it takes AA’s) but if it is the square kind then it is a choice between remembering to recharge at night when you are sleeping or forgetting it and doing without pictures for about 4 hours. Your batteries should last about 60-100 pictures (with no flash)

You will need to provide your own card reader

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Camera DSL cable

Submitted by jaimezee on 6 February, 2006 - 17:34.

How bout leaving the card reader at home? I certainly have enought capacity at 512mb and just using the camera's DSL cable? If that will not work, I'll prob wait till I get home. I don't want to drag a reader around. I pack VERY light.

My camera takes 2 AA batteries. I think I will buy 4 lithium batteries and leave it at that. I'm only going to be gone for 3 weeks and am not a heavy picture taker.

Leave the card reader at home

Submitted by nicaus on 8 February, 2006 - 00:54.

Not knowing how you use your camera, (for some reason people think they have to take the card out to copy over their pictures) I gave that response. I never take out my card, I use the USB cable (normally not provided with your camera) to copy the pictures to my computer. But with your capacity (the card) I do not think you will need to take you cable with you unless you wish to send a few pictures off your camera to friends during your trip.

Kodak

Submitted by jaimezee on 4 February, 2006 - 08:02.

I think I'm going to buy one of the Kodak cameras between 3-4 megapixels. Kodak is having financial issues, but they have a HUGE presence in cameras. And besides, prob. will not last reall long, costing only $ 100- 140. My cheapo Olympus film camera, died in Leon this past July. I just bought a test roll of film and its a lost cause.

Definitely use rechargable

Submitted by marlies on 6 February, 2006 - 07:49.

Definitely use rechargable batteries and don't forget the charger. I use a zip lock when traveling w/my camera. The price is right!

memory stick

Submitted by Billy Bob on 6 February, 2006 - 22:12.

Have made several 1 to 2 week trips with a pocket size 3.2 Sony I picked up at a local (US) warehouse store for around 200 bucks. (Its memory stick fits in a slot in my Sony 'puter, don't know about interchageability with other brands). The detachable memory card that came with it would only hold about 24 pictures, so I bought an after-market memorystick of 128 MB, which holds over 100 pictures, more than enough for a short trip, especially when you can edit and delete bad pictures so you only bring back "keepers".

So, for a short trip it's easier to just take the digital with the 2 memory sticks and leave the downloading for when I get home. Big bonus by accident on the last trip was that I inadvertantly had some pictures of home and family on the disk and could show them to people I met.

I carry a camera, flashlight, and pocket size radio (Grundig mini-300 series) that all use AA nickel metal hydride rechargeable batterries. I bring along an extra pair of baterries and a small charger, although for a short trip they usually arn't necessary.

Someday I'll do a longer trip or work on some project that might cause me to want to send pictures home and will have to master the internet cafe routine...