Digital Photography and the 68K Mac: Time for a PCI Power Mac
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.
OWC: Mercury Elite FW800/FW400/USB2/eSATA up to 2.0TB TOP-RATED Solutions offer High Performance, Reliable storage for all your data storage needs. 500GB $159.99, 750GB $199.99, 1.0TB from $299.99
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $98, 2GB $50. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Dan Knight - 2003.02.06
Q: I have a question I would like to pose to you. With you're background of photography I figured you would be a good source of information for a budding Mac enthusiast.
I'm beginning to learn the art of photography. Now I've only been taking pictures for about a year now. I have to say I love it. Now I would like to get a degree of some kind and pursue this as an alternate source of income.
I have a Bell & Howell compact with a 35-70 zoom. It takes excellent pictures; however, it limits your creativity. Outside of Polaroids, I also have an Argus C3 Matchmatic rangefinder. I have a 50mm lens as well as a telephoto lens. I just need the adapter to make it fit on my camera.
I would like to obtain a digital camera. I have an LC 580 with 32 MB of RAM using OS 8.0. Is there a decent digital camera that will work on this wonderful computer? This will allow more opportunities to practice the art without the expense of film developing.
I'm the type of guy who upgrades kicking and screaming. I love this old Mac, and I loath to give it up.
I use an Epson 600c scanner to turn my prints into digital images. Is there a photo printer out there that will turn these images into prints? I use an ImageWriter and a 2400 color scanner at the present time.
As for a good film camera. I would love to get an SLR with a powerful zoom lens. But that will have to wait for a little while. Finances are an issue.
I'm going to try the rangefinder to see if that will help me get by for a little while.
Besides it's fun.
If you can be of some assistance I would appreciate it.
A: Almost all digital cameras today use USB. None of the 68k Macs support USB, nor can they be updated to do so. If you want anything but an older, low resolution digital camera, you're going to have to buy a newer computer.
Ditto for good color printers - they're all USB these days. I'm a big fan of the Epson Stylus Photo printers, but you're going to have to get into a newer level of computing to get USB.
If you're generally content with your LC 580, I'd suggest you try to find a nice used Power Mac 5400, 5500, or G3 All-in-One. These share the all-in-one design of your 580 but include three very important things: a SCSI port for your current scanner, a Mac serial port for your ImageWriter, and a PCI slot that you can plug a USB card into. USB cards are a commodity these days; you should be able to add one for under $30.
You'll also want to have Mac OS 8.6 or later on the newer Mac for good USB support. Although you'll probably be content with whatever size hard drive comes standard with these newer all-in-one models, you should settle for no less than 64 MB of memory - and at least double that if possible.
Because these are older, heavier models, try to buy locally and avoid the cost of shipping. On eBay, 5400s typically close at $50, 5500s at $110, and G3 All-in-Ones are quite uncommon. Locally they may fetch a slightly higher price simply because you won't have to pay to ship a 50-70 pound box.
For the money, the 5400 looks like a steal.
Most digital cameras these days have a 3:1 zoom ratio, roughly equal to a 35-105 zoom on a 35mm camera in most cases. For playing around, you'll probably be happy with a 1.0 to 1.3 megapixel digicam, many of which are available at close-out prices since the entry level has pretty much moved to 2 megapixels.
All told, you'll probably have a couple hundred dollars invested in the new computer, USB card, and camera. Then hold off on buying a photo printer until you need to print larger photos. For the most part, you can get snapshots done at the local Walmart, Meijer, and even some camera shops for only about 30¢ each - and a 1.0 to 1.3 megapixel camera will give you great snapshots. You can't really cover the cost of ink and paper for a 4" x 6" snapshot at that price, let alone justify the initial purchase price.
For a lot more information on picking a digital camera, I suggest you read Picking the Right Digital Camera on Digigraphica. It's a series of helpful articles that explain megapixels, lenses, and other features to help you be a more informed consumer.
This will force you to migrate from your current Mac to something a year or two newer, but I think you'll find it worth the minimal expense (around $50 for a 5400!) to have a Mac that supports today's scanners, printers, and digital cameras.
As for making money in photography, that's a whole nother story. There are good books on the subject, but first start by mastering the basics of exposure, shutter speed, aperture, lenses, and so on. One step at a time.
Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.
Recent Mac Daniel columns
- Bringing G3 iMacs and other G3 Macs into the Tiger Age, Dan Knight, 12.07. Tips on hard drives, memory, WiFi, and getting Mac OS X 10.4 installed on G3 iMacs and other older G3 Macs.
- Multiple users on the same Mac at work, Dan Knight, 11.15. How to set up a Mac so multiple users can log in and use it - and use the same pool of work files.
- 1 working eMac from 2 broken ones, Dan Knight, 11.14. A pair of matching eMacs, each with a different failure, results in one working eMac and lots of leftovers.
- More in the Mac Daniel index.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Mac malware count reaches 3, desktop PCs making a comeback, Mac mini in the living room, and more, Mac News Review, 07.25. Also the 'second coming of Apple' threatens Microsoft, McCain and Obama are Mac users, standing up for Steve Jobs, Apple and Acer tied for #3 in US market, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.25. Used 450 MHz AGP, $79; 533 DA, $100; 733 DA, $199; 1.25 GHz MDD, $375; 450 MHz dual, $200; 867 dual, $300; 1 GHz dual, $395; 1.42 dual, $500.
- Best iBook G3 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.25. Used 366 MHz clamshell, $150; 500 MHz CD, $169; 600, $200; 800, $250; 600 CD-RW, $240; 900 Combo, $299; 14" 600, $360; 900, $449.
- Best Apple TV deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.25. Refurb 40 GB Apple TV, $199; new, $224; refurb 160 GB, $279; new, $322.
- Mac of the Day: 'Mirror Drive Door' Power Mac G4, Aug. 2002 - Dual CPUs from 867 MHz to 1.25 GHz on the most powerful Mac to boot OS 9.
- List of the Day: PowerBooks covers pre-G3 PowerBook users.
- July 25 in LEM history: 97: Dream Machines - 01: I'm not paying $20 for my OS X upgrade - Recording music on your Mac - The curse of being Apple - Guide to rare and collectible Macs - 02: Macs not just for designers - The iTools bait and switch - 03: The many failings of BuyMusic.com - Biking with a 'Book - 06: 2 weeks for repair is excessive - 23 reasons Zune is doomed - 07: iPhone: Apple's $3 billion cash cow - External video for a G3 iMac
- Could a minitower Mac be Apple's 'transitional product'?, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.24. The Mac mini has been on the market for 3-1/2 years, and some owners are ready to move on to something more flexible and powerful.
- The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
- Best MacBook deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.24. Used 1.83 GHz SD, $825; 2.0, $845; refurb 2.1 GHz Combo, $949; 2.4 SD, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1 Combo, $1,019 after rebate; 2.4 SD, $1,212 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
- Best iMac G5 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.24. Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $450; 1.8, $500; SuperDrive, $530; 1.9 iSight, $630; 20" 1.8 GHz, $580; 2.0, $650; 2.1 iSight, $700.
- Best iPod touch deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.24. Close-out 16 GB (2007), $350; refurb 8 GB, $199; new, $289; refurb 16 GB, $299; new, $370; refurb 32 GB, $429; new, $475.
- More links in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts


