While these photos are not from a Trafalgar tour they were inspired from an Insight tour we took in August 2001. The Insight tour made us want to see more of London which we had the opportunity to do this past November.

Here is the URL:
http://community.webshots.com/album/61445011lpwhNy

Happy Traveling

Karl,

Very nice! Such good timing as we are currently planning our few days in London this summer. Thanks for helping to keep us in the spirit!

Karl- I couldn't pull this up - ios it still there?

Valencia, it came up okay for me. Maybe webshots was down temporarily. Try it again.

Karl, thanks for the pictures. Makes me want to go to England!

SG

Jaime and Sunshine Girl,

Thank you. This was the first time I got to use my digital camera. So much fun.

Valencia - Hope you were able to get in. Webshots was so easy to use, and the best part it was free. Nice to be able to share pictures of travelling.

Karl

I enjoyed the pics Karl and like the others can't wait to get to London. Did you say you used a digital camera? Can you tell me a bit about that? What type of camera, the resolution, memory, any tips for using a digital camera, that sort of thing. I am looking at buying one for our holiday but I'm not sold on the idea yet.

Cheers

Sirfog

I just purchased the HP620 digital camera at Christmas. Don't know if you have a Staples in your area, but they walked me through everything and even gave me a great discount. Ended out paying $150 US. Great deal. You can order online.

I, also, purchased a docking station (recharge batteries) and a memory stick, which takes up to 1000 pictures. Will take the charger with me on my Britain and Ireland Experience in April and recharge every night.

It still feels a little strange not having to develope anything!

Go for it!

Sirfog

Also bought mine for our November holiday. Bought a Kodak 4.0 megapixal camera. This was the cheapest (at the time) 4 megapixal camera on the market. Also bought a charger and docking station. Charger came with attachements that fit european plugs. Also bought an extra 124 meg memory. This will hold about 120 best resolution pictures. Also had to buy a better printer (HP 7250) to print pictures.

It's probably not the most economical way to go. But what the heck it's new toys to play with. When I got home I downloaded them to my computer. Made a slide presentation on CD that I can play on any DVD player (course have not found anyone that wants to sit through them yet). -LOL- Also printed out about half of what I took (oh yeah - forgot to mention you have to by the 4x6 photo paper and I printed out a couple 8x10's also).

Actually I'm having a great time with my new toy. Just don't buy one thinking it's going to save you any money.

Karl

Karl

It is all about new toys for the boys!! I just wont mention the downstream costs to my wife just yet.

I think it is too early to bring back slide nights but as this technology spreads then perhaps they will back in vogue with the next generation although it may be holographic images rather than slides.

Pat, thanks for your advice and I will try to find Staples online.

Cheers

Karl.. Great pictures. Seeing them makes me anxious for my trip in September. 20 days of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (plus a few extra days in France).

SirFog... I bought my 4 Megapixel camera in September. It�s a Sony MavicaCD 400. Of course, my wife could not understand why I was spending the extra money on a digital instead of a normal point-and-click film camera (I'm a computer trainer who also runs his own computer business so I find needs for lots of toys!). That is until she saw our first pictures from a trip to Yosemite Park in California. Suddenly, she was sold.

Since you asked for tips, this is what I tell my students who ask me about digitals cameras.

1) It's about Pixels. 3 Megapixels are better than 2, 5 better than 4... etc. But even so, these are not for the novice computer person. Novices who like to take a picture and just email it to a friend will most likely make some of them mad. My 4 megapixels images are about 22x33" pictures (about 2MB each). A bit big to email someone who does not have broadband connection. That means they need to become comfortable with reducing the image size in a photo editor, then send them out. If the person is either interested in only taking pictures and emailing them or just posting them on the web (ie.. no real desire to print them) they need to stay away from the megapixel cameras and go with one of the cheaper, low-resolution cameras. However, if the person wants to the flexibility of both great prints and great images to email, then go with a high-resolution camera - 4 megapixels or higher. Most of these camera will *more* expensive that the email-only counterparts, but you will most likely gain some special options - such as the option to take the picture in different resolutions - from highest resolution to email only resolution. Thus making it a more flexible camera.

2) Look at the battery. Some cameras only use AA batteries (if so, I suggest using rechargeable) � some use only proprietary rechargeable batteries � some use both types. AA batteries are nice in that you can buy a new set wherever you are, no worry about being powerless (Worst case on a trip, you may find a kind person to spot you some batteries until you can buy replacements). However, over the life of the camera, those AA batteries will wind up costing you a pretty penny. Proprietary rechargeable batteries are very common. They charge right in the camera. But you will want to have a few extras on hand so you are never left powerless. My extra batteries cost $30-60 depending where you buy them. Plus your camera can only charge one battery at a time so you will need a charger pack � mine costing $80-130 depending where you buy them. More cost up front, less cost over the life. If you can use both � great. But very few cameras can.

3) Look at the storage. Some cameras use Compact Flash Cards Type (I or Type II), Microdrive, CD�s, SmartMedia Cards, or Floppy Disk. Most are not interchangeable. All of these (except floppy and CD�s) come in different sizes 4MB � 1 GB. Now you will only need 1 card if have the ability to take the pictures then download them to a PC/Laptop/MAC. Once the pictures are removes, you are on your way again. If not, plan on buying 1 to 3 extras plus a reader for you PC/Laptop/MAC. That way you can swap and never �be out of film�. Some cameras do use Floppies but often they are low-resolution cameras. I personally opted for the CD solution. Each CD holds 156MB per mini-CD. I have found these on sales in my neighborhood from 19 - 90 US each � depending on sales and whether the CD�s are CD-R or CD-RW. So basically $6.00 US and I have a 1GB of pictures taken on CD-RW. When I am done, I format the CD�s and I can use them again. Eventually I will have to replace them, but that will only be another $6.00. No reader is need as most PC/Mac�s have a CD-ROM or DVD player.

4) Look at your printer. If you want nice color prints, you have to ask yourself � Is my printer capable of doing photos properly. That means printers that are made to print �photo-quality� and have a higher resolution than normal color printers. Normal color printers ($70-100 US) will print the images fairly good when printed on Photo-quality paper. Regular paper � well they look like cheap prints. Often these are what people see when someone shows them the �quality� of a digital camera. Usually they are seeing the �quality� of the printer and its paper. You will need to look into a color printer that can print �photo quality�. Normally these costs on the range of $200 � 300 US (less if you can find them on sale). Most, not all, use 6 to 10 ink colors to print instead of the standard 4. Most, not all, allow you to swap your �Photo� ink cartridge for your �Regular� ink cartridge. Again, using �Photo paper� rather than �Regular paper� will sometime be the difference in an OK printout on a photo-quality printer and a GREAT printout. Personally, I have 2 printers setup at my home office. One for normal color printing (bought it years ago and it still works. I can�t throw out electronics that still works  ) and one for photo printing. I am a computer geek so I can do that. Most people will just want to invest in one single printer.

Now there are lots more issues to consider when buying digital cameras � type of zoom, amount of optical zoom versus digital zoom, aperture setting control (f-stop), shutter speed control, focusing controls, color modes (sepia, black and white, full color), viewer, flash (either built on or hot-shoe compatible), etc. The average person really likes just point-and-click may not worry about these options � whereas the experienced shutter-bug will look into these and more. I can discuss these other option more if people like, but the stuff above is where to start. Also, if we do continue this, I will more likely start a new thread so people will know the post is about picking cameras.

Hopes this helped � at least a little.

IrishBuddha (Scott)

Good morning Irishbuddha....

Collectively, my son and daughter-in-law and my daughter and son-in-law are in the process of making the digital camera (and extra needs) purchase.

Your information is very informative and I will wait to hear more. I have printed out your comments/suggestions.

Our dilema is a common one....do it now....wait a bit until prices and user friendly features are introduced...???

Nonetheless, thank you for your information.

Gloria