digital camera nightmare

Harv · May 17, 2002

A scanned picture would produce a file that would be huge, more than likely much too big to email

Maybe not, Mike. He's dealing with black and white, and that type of image should compress quite well with very little loss of detail.

See attached "X-Ray".

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

...He's dealing with black and white...

Hummm... Are all x-rays b&w... or grayscale...? (or both?)/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

RoyJackson · May 17, 2002

"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."

Maybe not...

This <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/dvimag/softupdates/index1105.html>link</A> takes you directly to some of the Sony drivers required for various Windows OS'es. I'm not sure if yours is there though.

You may have to call or e-mail Sony to find which USB driver you need.

You wrote "Paul,
I think the model I got is the Sony DCR-TRV740. "
which is a Digital 8 camera. Per the Sony site, you can use Windows Movie Maker to stream the video.

There is a wealth of information on the Sony web site. I don't think you'll find the "Image Maker" John mentioned....I don't think you'll need it either...depends on how computer savvy you are.

But, Doc...ya paid for the CD-ROM...I'd dern sure want it if I was in your position!!

Harv · May 17, 2002

Are all x-rays b&w... or grayscale...? 

Well, you're right -- technically I should have said, "grayscale".

When we speak of black and white photos, movies, TV, etc., I think we usually mean grayscale.

That last attachment was "grayscale". /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 17, 2002

...Doc...ya paid for the CD-ROM...I'd dern sure want it if I was in your position!...

Unless... you bought the floor model at some super duper price as is...

I'd return the camera and say you can't download anything to your computer... and that was the purpose of the original purchase...

If they give you a hard time... tell them to hook it up before your eyes (not in some backroom - sight unseen...) and show ya... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

{Richard... if you really want to bust chops... tell them you are using Windows 95 and it must work on that or your money back.... (USB won't work too well on '95, if at all.../w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif)}

(Roy, I believe those drivers are for the digital still cameras... I didn't see any offered for his movie camera)

spencer200 · May 17, 2002

Email a letter to best buy corporate about your disatisfaction.
At the same time include a note about all the people in on this discussion here along with a link to this thread..I would think this would get you some action. Good luck!

Alan L. · May 17, 2002

It seems to me that the still digital pictures are absolutely worthless without the software that enables you to download to a PC. Even if the camera had come with the software, you had taken it out of the box and managed to drop it under the wheels of your tractor before getting it installed, a quick phone call to Sony should have them shipping you a new CD at a nomimal charge. The software has no value except to an owner of the camera, and it makes no sense that they would treat it as the loss of some $120 part that would cost them something to replace.

Bottom line, I would be upset more with Sony - they should furnish the software regardless of the reason you need it. Without it, a part of the functionality you paid for is lost.

I had a Sony 8mm camera years ago and I lost the adapter that played backed through the TV. It was a proprietary connection, so I couldn't just go out and get cables somewhere else. Sony shipped it to me at no charge.

MikePA · May 18, 2002

Good point about B&, er, grayscale, Harv! If the scanner can read the x-ray, that would be an alternative to taking a picture.

I think Teddy has a torn ACL. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

s1120 · May 18, 2002

New Sony camcorder still shots highest res is 1152 x 864 with 1 Megapixels capture 

Is that good? Sorry but I know nothing about these things. This is one of the camaras I have beed looking at. That and the model just below it.

RoyJackson · May 18, 2002

"(Roy, I believe those drivers are for the digital still cameras... I didn't see any offered for his movie camera)"

Concur, John...I didn't see any specifically for Richard's camera either.
But past experience in this kind of thing has resulted in finding the drivers may be more generic....one Win98 driver may encompass more then is specified on the web site. This happened to me when I was upgrading a driver for a sound card that should have been loaded with the correct drivers from Dell.

As mentioned, might take a call or e-mail to Sony to confirm.

Even if Richard got a super deal from Bestbuy, if the camera had been used in any way, that should have been made perfectly clear with one heck of a discount. But I don't believe this was the case. I've had this same type of issue with Bestbuy. It's a cool store, but some of their sales people are lacking...

s1120 · May 18, 2002

Sorry wrong camera. I have been looking at the trv140, and trv240. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

TresCrows · May 19, 2002

You purchased a used and restocked camera--that is what the 15% fee is. Someone bought the camera and used it and returned it and it was restocked--they do that--and they sold it to you. Unfortunately somewhere along the line the software was lost. Take it back--get your money back--tell them good bye. J

cowboydoc · May 19, 2002

That used to work Hayden but now they try it out before they will let you take it back. If they can't reproduce the symptoms then they won't take it back.

cowboydoc · May 19, 2002

I had called Sony and they said none of the downloads would work. Once again though thanks so much for all of you guys time and attention to this matter!!!

cowboydoc · May 19, 2002

Tres,
No the unit was brand new and not sold as their "open box" deal that they do. The 15% is what they CHARGE you if you bring it back!! It's a new policy they have I guess because people would use them and bring them back.

wallysue · May 19, 2002

Bait and switch-Best Buy

The Best here in Omaha also does the bait and switch in their stores. They had memory advertised in their Sunday paper flyer but you could not get any. I went to the strore Sunday when they opened and they were out of stock called the next five days both stores and they were out of stock. Talked to the store manager and still could not get any. Called the corporate office and was told that is how it is. Finally got in touch with state attorney general. In the state of Nebraska they found out that they can't do business in this manner. I got a letter from BB's corporate office and a gift certificate for $25. Now in their ads it states "limited quanity, minimum 10 per store". I never did get any memory from them but they did change their ads. I hate to have to battle outfits like them.

s1120 · May 26, 2002

Just asking how you made out with the camera? Did you get it working? How do you like it so far? I was looking at the same one, and may be picking one up. Is it worth the money? Thanks.

TresCrows · May 27, 2002

No, really, I know they charge the fee when you bring it back which of course supposedly offsets their cost of repackaging it. Yep, there are repackaging centers/warehouses etc that put the returned equipment back into boxes--just like new. I visited the JVC warehouse/showroom/office in Houston, Tx once to get parts for my VCR and I was left to mind my own curiosity so I wandered about the huge building looking here and there and watched them putting returned equipement back into new packaging to be sent back to the retailers for resale as new. I assume that 15% pays for that. I think this electronics stuff has long been a scam on consumers, the extra warranties, the 15% on returns and stuff like that. I am glad I am not there cuz some sucker would be giving me my money back and I would not be paying no 15% fee to repackage the camera for the second time. J

Hoosier_Daddy · May 27, 2002

Last Feb I went to Best Buy and bought a Router.. Then I got to looking at the cameras..... I have kicked around getting one for quite awhile even though I usually use the dig cam corder and just capture the images in the computer. I just wanted something smaller. I did some research through Consumer Reports and places on the web.

So, I talked myself into it, picked one out and was standing there with my Visa Card in hand. The sales clerk went into all the other stuff I needed... I said "No Thanks" just the camera..... After a few more of the "No Thanks" we got to the extended warranty.... "NO THANKS" Just the camera.

" Sir, you get all these cleanings with the warranty".... Ya Right! "And, if you have to bring it in for repair 3 times you get your money back". "Mam, If I have to bring it in for repair more than 1 time I am going to get my money back..... To me, that says you sold me a lemon and you can't fix it. No Thanks, just the camera"

"Sir, I am just trying to help you save money in the long run".

She DID, I walked out of the store without the Camera.....

cowboydoc · May 28, 2002

Paul,
Well I didn't get anywhere with resolving the software issue. I have a call in to their corporate office. We'll see what happens. Evidently they have had alot of problems with people buying a camera for the weekend and then bringing it back. That's why they started the 15% restocking fee on camcorders. The manager said that now they have people bringing them back and saying something is wrong to get their money back. I tryed to tell him I didn't want my money back just the cd. They keep saying it's Sony and not them that has to take care of it. So I don't know. I went in and got my old one fixed, it was $175 to fix it but at least now I have one again. To make a long story short I can't give you much info. I will say it will be a long time before I buy anything from Best Buy or from Sony and I have been a good customer to both of them!