Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know anything, or preferably have experience using, the Gateway DC-M42 4.1 megapixel CCD (Fuji) camera? With rebate it's going for $199 (accessories.gateway.com) It has a 12X Zoom (3X Optical/4X Digital) 7.8 – 23.4mm

Why is this so cheap, for 4.1 megapixel? I'm still rather new to the world of shopping for digital cameras...I'd like a 4 megapixel, but have a really tight budget...

Thanks!

Renee

Renee,
I've never used one nor do I know anyone that has. I looked at the specs however and it seems on paper to be a decent camera if all you want to do is point the camera at something and push the button (point and shoot). The only possible drawbacks that I noticed were the use of 2AA batteries and the use of SD cards. The 2AA's probably wouldn't last long if you plan on using the LCD to compose shots and/or use much flash. SD cards are just a personal dislike of mine like the Sony memory stick. I think they along with the memory stick will eventually be a thing of the past as most manufacturers are going with Compact Flash as a storage option. Even the highly touted Sony 828 that will be coming out within the next few days will now accept Compact Flash (Sony has seen the light).
As for your "why so cheap" question. I would venture to guess that Gateway doesn't have a big enough name in the digital camera market to demand the same prices as say a Canon, Nikon or Sony. This doesn't mean it's a bad camera, just a fact of capitalism. Another reason is that as you add more features to a camera such as more user options, ability to add adaptors, hot shoe, etc., the price will go up. As per the specs of your camera in question, it's mainly just a point and shoot camera without much expansion options (no hot shoe, available adaptors, etc.) It is still a four MP camera however and given that it's "in-camera" image processing abilities are up to par and a decent lens, it should still make some fine photos. Hope this helps your decision. Another option is to post your question on a digital camera dedicated site such as www.dpreview.com. Since you say its Fuji Built, I've added the link to the Fuji forums for your convenience. Have fun and Merry Christmas.

Fuji Talk forums - click here

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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

I know that you said that you don't have any personal experience with this particular camera, but just looking at the specs, would it take sharp close ups? I currently have a HP digicam that takes the worse close-ups imaginable, and all I really plan to use it for is to take detailed close shots of my herps (snakes and tree frogs). If you can't really say, then can you recommend another reasonably priced model that will serve that purpose? Also as I love to learn, when searching for a high quality digicam, what are you looking for? I'm computer literate, just not so much when it comes to cameras. Thanks in advance!
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*~~Whitney~~*

Though here at journey's end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars forever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell."

Whitney,
As per the specs on the web site:
Wide and Telephoto - 0.2m~infinity; Tele: 0.4m~infinity focusing distances.
Not that great per say but not too awful bad. As far as Macro goes, Nikon and Sony reign in as the champs even though I'm a canon fan. I really like the Sony’s optics, battery system and picture quality but not their memory sticks storage media. The memory sticks are too much money for what you get as compared to Compact flash. Nikon has by far the best macro abilities, uses compact flash and has decent battery performance. What I don't like about the Nikon's is their chromatic aberrations on SOME of their shots and their lack of a focus assist lamp, beam, laser or anything to help focus in low light. Why Nikon doesn't wake up and add a focus assist is beyond me. That being said, some of the best pictures from dig cams I've seen come from Nikon especially their macro shots. In that price range, for its macro abilities, I'd say the Nikon may be a little over the $199 mark. The Nikon 3100 has good macro abilities at under 300.

Sony has a discontinued DSC S85 4.1 mega pixel that was a great camera with very good macro abilities. If you get lucky you might be able to pick one up on eBay such as the one at the link.

Sony DSC S85

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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Thanks for the prompt reply. I will look into both the discontinued model and the Nikon, which I have heard raves about before. Thanks again, and happy holidays to you and yours!
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*~~Whitney~~*

Though here at journey's end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars forever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell."

take a look at Jason's website (jpenney) and you can see some pictures from his camera. I have a Nikon Coolpix 4300 and it takes some amazing photos, but I do have the problems that Jason mentioned (poor auto-focus in low light). Other than that, it works great. Any of the Coolpix line will take some good photos.

I'm looking into the new Sony F828, however, as well as the new Canon Digital Rebel as they seem to be very good cameras (although expensive).

BTW, you can check out my website for some pics with my camera.
My Online Snake Lifelist (photos, trips, etc)

Eric,
Once it warms up a bit, I'll shoot you an email. Hopefully by then you have your 828 or rebel whichever you decide. I have access to that ranch now (now that it's cold). Let me know which camera you get. Your website is looking good..
Jason
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Just let me know! I bet if there was stuff to flip in southern Texas...or should I say, if I knew where there was stuff to flip, it might prove productive as I can still flip snakes here in San Antonio even though the weather is cooler than in south Texas.

I'm really wanting to find my first live indigo. A milksnake or anything else would be a welcome site as well.
My Online Snake Lifelist (photos, trips, etc)

A little advice on the question about how well a cam will work on close up or macro shots. just because something says it will function well on the spec sheets don't believe it till you tey it hands on. A good example of this is the Minolta dimage A1 which absolutely sucks for true macro work. On paper it should be great but take one out of the box and shoot a dollar bill up close and you will notice a huge difference in what is advertised and what is actually so.

As was mentined earlier the Nikon and Sony dominate the macro end of the digital shooting world with my personal fave being the Nikon. Any of them from the 3100 up do fantastic macro. Before my recent switch in models I was using the 4300 and it can hang with any of the big boy cams in picture quality and smokes a lot of them when it comes to macro.

Phil