Simple macro direct to computer

[cteno4]

Ok all you photo heads, has anyone seen in reviews they may have skimmed by a not too expensive compact digital camera with decent macro abilities that can go direct to the computer via a usb cable?

 

i find it tedious to try to shoot little things then have to pull the memory card put it in the computer then back again! also find looking at detail by zooming on the camera screen not as effective with reviewing macro shots at putting it on the computer screen. also easier to compose and light an object or small scene on the big screen then just hit the button to take it.

 

As far as i can tell only the newer canon slrs can do this right now, and didnt bring anything up in a quick poke around elsewhere, so i thought i would see if anyone had leads/ideas here.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[David]

What kind of USB "direct". Do you mean have live view/control over the camera from the computer, or just be able to transfer images over the cable? Take pictures while the cable is plugged in? Lots of point and shoot camera's have a USB interface, it depends on what you expect out of it.

 

I use the entry level Canon A490 (about $99) for macro photos. It's really easy for a beginner thanks to very smart firmware (borrowed from Canon's high end range), and most importantly the macro mode (1cm focal range) beats just about any sub-$250 camera.

[cteno4]

David,

 

yes it would be great to live viewing of the shot, direct store to computer and perhaps take the shot by hitting a key on the computer. not as concerned about controlling the camera functions from the computer. I need to go look at the canon G series as i thought one of those could do time lapse shots like this hooked to a computer.

 

I have had a whole string of canon compacts over the years (mainly S series) and have loved them, but unfortunately when you plug in the usb it goes into total drive slave mode to just have the computer suck the images off the drive.

 

mainly want to be able to compose the scene better on the larger screen, direct storage to the computer is just a would be nice to loose that step (always a pain as things like iphoto always like to check out new flash cards or cameras when attached).

 

cheers

 

jeff

[brill27mcb]

Jeff, my son got my wife a simple Eye-Fi, a memory card for her camera that transmits directly from inside the camera to her photo folder on the PC using our wireless network. If she is out and takes pictures, they upload automatically as soon as she gets home and the camera is within range of the network. She also uses a small stand-alone photo scanner, and we put the Eye-Fi card in it so the scanned photos would upload to the PC painlessly. My son not only set up the default folder for her, but set it to also upload to her online Shutterfly account.

 

Rich K.

[cteno4]

Rich,

 

thanks thought of that, but i would love to also be able to compose the shot on the larger computer screen. this really helps when doing more macro stuff as trying to see the little screen on the camera can be tough in some positions as well. glad to hear the eye-fi is working well, was hoping it would pan out and i could use that as a solution for moving picts easier, but now im also hankering for the on screen composition!

 

an old G5 may do the trick. 5MP, plenty for what i want to do and it has good macro abilities (friend of mine did a lot with his in alaska and loved it years back). also maybe $50 or less to boot!

 

cheers

 

jeff