digital camera nightmare

RoyJackson · May 17, 2002

"my other Sony Mavica just keeps making a buzzing sound when you put in the disc and says disc error"

Doc, I've got a Sony camera too. I've heard the same noise and it is normally due to:
A) An improperly formated diskette (don't ever believe "pre-formatted" when you buy 'em that way!). Use the FORMAT Tool built into the camera and try again.
B) The "write protect" window blocked.
C) Just a bad diskette..try another one.

As far as your new camera...
A file is a file is a file. Most cameras output .jpg, .jpeg, .bmp or .tif formats. Your cam is video, I believe, so it should be outputing .mpg, .mpeg, .avi, .mov or some such movie file format.

Sony's proprietory software shouldn't be required to view or edit these files. One free download (<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.irfanview.com>click here for Irfanview</A>) can be used to view and do some minor editing.

When I bought my Sony, I installed the software long enough to look at it, then I un-installed it.

You will have to download the files from your camera to your computer...via cable or adapter, I suppose. And you did get that with your camera, correct?

So, download the files to your hard drive (just know where you put them) and see what you get.

I do hope you return your camera to Bestbuy, though...I think they screwed you.

MikePA · May 17, 2002

Richard, just to verify...you need to send still pictures, right, and not movies?

Also, what model Mavica do you have that is not working? I ask because I was concerned that the resolution of the still pictures from your new video camera might not be as good as the resolution from your Mavica.

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

… Will that work in lieu of the Sony software? Sony said I had to have that software to make it work….

Richard,

You will need the Sony CD for the camera’s USB driver if using WinME, Win98SE, W2K on the computer.

If you are using WinXP… it will automatically recognize the Sony Camera when plugged into the USB port.

You will need the Sony CD for the mpeg movie management software…think it’s called “ImageMaker”…? But you would also have to “cable” the camera to the computer to use all these features.

If you only wanted to use “stills” and the memory stick… then you can use a third party memory stick/usb computer adaptor and any other 3rd party software you wish. (you wouldn’t need the Sony CD)

Your Sony camera has a zillion bells and whistles… hope you have lots of time to learn them… /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

How are you sending pictures of X-rays with this Sony camera? Are you mainly using this Sony camera as a super duper “still” camera…? Or are you also using the “movie” mode for other things?

Good luck Richard… /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

New Sony camcorder still shots highest res is 1152 x 864 with 1 Megapixels capture vs… 640 x 480 older Mavica (I believe Richard has?)

Why couldn’t he just scan the x-rays for the highest “transfer” no-loss resolution and email the images instead of taking a “snapshot”… seems like a lot of extra work for the same end result… (and perhaps a poorer image…a picture of a picture…?)

cowboydoc · May 17, 2002

Yes they are stills Mike.

John,
I'm using the camera in B&W mode and as a still camera. Basically what I do is take a pic of the x-ray on my viewbox and if I need immediate confirmation of something. I have a friend who is a radiologist and I just email him the pic and he gives me a second opinion right away and then I send him the original films or run them over. I doubt I'll ever figure out all the bells and whistles on the thing, LOL. The lady that brokers my horses has wanted me to get a digital camcorder so I can send her video of the different horses and she can either do still shots from that or use the video to show them. This is all really new to me and I'm trying to learn as I go with all of it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

...take a pic of the x-ray on my viewbox...

Wouldn't you miss the subtle details of the x-ray that way?

I would think... you'd get a clearer and more finely detailed picture by scanning the x-ray and emailing instead... also the scan takes but 30 seconds or less and it's essentially almost 1st generation resolution...

cowboydoc · May 17, 2002

John,
I can't scan as they have to be on the viewbox to take the pic.

Harv · May 17, 2002

I can't scan as they have to be on the viewbox to take the pic

Sounds like what you want is a flatbed scanner with a transparency adapter (overhead light source), if such a scanner would be big enough. Been a while since I've shopped for such things, but many scanners offer that option.

And, no, you can't just use a desk lamp, light fixture, etc. Get the real thing.

MikePA · May 17, 2002

Why couldn’t he just scan the x-rays for the highest “transfer” no-loss resolution and email the images instead of taking a “snapshot”…
It depends how big the X-ray film is. I assume we're talking about something like 8.5" x 11" film, doc, versus something like a tooth x-ray? A scanned picture would produce a file that would be huge, more than likely much too big to email.