HELP! Where can I find a good 1.3mp CF camera for PPC?

[Bjorn]

I would like to be able to (under good lighting conditions) take a picture of a typed letter-sized document and have the quality (sharpness and brightness) be so good that it can be easily read later (regardless of whether the image is printed or watched on a screen).

I bought the photosmart 1.3mp from HP but the brightness and sharpness were terrible (a 640x480 camera produced clearer images). After six tries I got hold of the special PDA unit of HP in Toronto. All they support is PDAs. I spent 90 minutes on the phone with a very helpful guy there, and he tried everything he could think of but in the end he too gave up and admitted that it is was a poor product. So... I look for options, but the only ones I found are not in production (and unproven for me...)

http://www.expansys-usa.com/product.asp?code=CF-IO-CAMERA-SVGA (discontinued)
http://www.lifeview.com.tw/html/products/pc_camera/flycam_cf.htm#two (told by distributor they were out of stock and production, but might start producing again in June, but I need it now)

So does anyone know of a 1.3mp CF (or SD) camera that actually works well?

Thanks!!!

Bjorn

[Jason Dunn]

Unfortunately, no - CF/SD cameras are utter crap. They're built to be cheap, not good quality. Your only solution is a small digital camera that actually takes decent pictures...

[Bjorn]

Thanks for the quick reply Jason. Do you think this is a situation that will persist in 2005, or will new cameras (SD/CF) be developed that actually work?

[Bjorn]

But I read somewhere that HP has a multimedia PPC that has a 1.3mp built in, does anyone know if that would be good enough?

[Jason Dunn]

Thanks for the quick reply Jason. Do you think this is a situation that will persist in 2005, or will new cameras (SD/CF) be developed that actually work?

It's tough to say - convergence devices tend to do many things poorly. The add-on camera that you buy for $99 will never be as good as the stand-alone camera you'd get for $99. Frustrating but true. I don't expect this to change for several years, because the add-on market for PDA cameras is very small and not prone to much focus on quality. There are no big names making add-on cameras, just cheap Taiwan knock-offs that produce horrible pictures.

http://www.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.detail&catalog=Cameras&section=EXILIM%20Series&product=EX%2DZ50

My Casio EX-Z50 has a special function for document photographs that automatically straightens the images. I think this is the only viable solution for you.

[Jason Dunn]

But I read somewhere that HP has a multimedia PPC that has a 1.3mp built in, does anyone know if that would be good enough?

Here's a review of the unit you're thinking of:

http://www.pdagold.com/articles/detail.asp?a=199

The camera looks decent, but I don't see any macro photos. Built-in cameras tend to be better than stand-alone cameras, but not by much. ;-)

[Bjorn]

Actually, for me in most cases, I think having a 1.3mp option (not sure if 5mp) cameras come with them, would be good, because these images would all go into a database which will become very large otherwise. In fact, the application is a field data collection tool consisting of nested checklists where images need to get attached to specific questions in the checklist ... and attaching an image from a camera to a database in a PDA seems onerous I was disappointed to hear of the poor quality of PDA phones, so I am trying to come up with something that can capture the full page but still be user-friendly for non-tech savvy users. Thanks!

[radish28]

Personally I'm waiting for a 2mp camera, when thoe start to come out I'm hoping the quality will be much better..

[GSmith]

You might consider a bluetooth PDA and try the Concord Eye-Q Go Wireless. It reportedly does not have stellar picture taking ability, but might work in your application. I don't know how much it can be "automated" to place files (vie bluetooth OBEX profile). But it might be a start.

http://www.dealtime.com/xPO-Concord_EyeQ_Go_Wireless

Another option might be a WiFi adapter (again by Concord) that can transmit photos to an FTP server. But then you'd have to get an FTP server program on your PDA. Not sure of the feasibility and availability of this option.

Let me know if you happen to try any of these solutions out.

Greg Smith
Author, FeederReader - The Pocket PC RSS, podcatcher, videocatcher
www.FeederReader.com - Download on the Road

[Bjorn]

Thanks Greg, I have been eyeing that. Please remind me in a month or two if you'd like to hear how it went. I am watching this topic. It's for an application for the State of Minnesota.