Sony MVCFD100 FD Mavica 1.2MP Digital Still Camera w/ 3x OPtical Zoom | List Price: $399.99
Discount Price: $275.00
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Brand: Sony
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: 1 Year Parts/90 Days Labor
Features: - 1.2-megapixel sensor captures 1,280 x 960 images for prints at sizes up to 5 x 7 inches
- Autofocus lens with 3x optical/2x digital (6x total) zoom
- Stores images on floppy discs or Memory Sticks (not included)
- Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port or via floppy drive
- Uses proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable battery(included)
Get the model that doesn't store on floppies. [Posted on 2003-05-09]
I bought this camera because of the great features and used it for around 6 months. It would still be everything I need except that floppy discs are now becoming obsolete. My husband got a new computer that doesn't even have a floppy drive (as most new computers don't), so we can't even use the camera now.
Luckily, I receieved as a gift the similar but newer model that takes mini CDs. I know those will be around for a while!
The camera has good features and Sony is a very reputable brand, but honestly, you'll need to get a new one soon. Get the model that accpets CDs or connects to your computer in a way that won't be outdated soon.
Just Because It's Big...! [Posted on 2003-07-26]
There was a little piece of advice I always gave people upon choosing their first digital camera, that being: 1)Take the megapixel count you are interested in, and 2)Multiply it by 100 3)If you spend within 50 dollars of that, you have basically gotten a good deal. If you pay less, you are probably missing some fundamental feature (a zoom is often the first thing to go) and if you pay more, you are getting more than you probably wanted (some special lens made from a glass that NASA uses to make the microwaves on the shuttle or something like that). With the Mavica FD series, the extra 100 or 200 dollars is going to its method of storing pictures, on simple, inexpensive floppy disks.
If that still does not seem to justify the price, consider this: a floppy disk drive runs anywhere from 40 to 60 dollars, now take that drive and stick it on the back of a digital camera (thus making it self-powered).
And then there is the media itself: Smartmedia and CompactFlash cards are down in price (averaging less than a dollar per megabyte) and are available in sizes in the giga-range. That all seems fine and dandy, until you consider the phrase "don't put all your eggs in one basket." The cards are like any other data storage media, and thus prone to corruption and electromagnetic interference. So, because of a simple error in the camera (it is a computer like any other, and thus prone to all the same weaknesses), a whole 64+ megabytes of memories can be lost forever. And, to add insult to injury, that card was really expensive! Meanwhile, a box of 40+ floppy disks (at about 1.44MB per disc) costs a little less than 10 dollars. Now get out your calculators....Okay....PENCILS DOW--I MEAN, CALCULATORS DOWN!
Of course, the problem with floppy disks is that there are so many of them that lugging them around your vacation spot can be a complete pain. Fortunately, unlike the FD-75, you have the option of using Memory Sticks. In fact, if you take someone's picture on the MemStick, but want to give them one of the photos, simply insert a floppy disk and copy (just like in a computer) the picture to the floppy and give them that disk. Beats making them wait for a print.
Also, Sony's sensibility guided them toward making the FD Mavicas out of HandyCam parts, meaning that some of the accessories you got for/with your Handycam (if you have one)can be used with the mavica, namely the battery (that little crummy one that came with it that you have probably not used since you got that even better 8-hour one!) which is exactly the same as the battery that comes with the FD! So, out of the box, you have doubled the battery life of the camera. Also, the camera has a 37mm filter thread, which allows you to attach neat accessories like color filters and fisheye lenses.
Final word: a little pricey and not much for resolution, but for Handycam owners, it is a new lease on life for those old batteries!
Almost two years and still loving it! [Posted on 2004-03-01]
I bought my Mavica as my first digital camera and have never been disappointed with it. It has travelled everywhere with me and has taken many awesome pictures. It was very easy to learn to use and the manual for it is well written and understandable.
I'm just now getting around to getting a memory stick for it so that I can record my photos as TIFFs. I suspect that after I use that, I will love it even more.
I have learned everything that I know about digital photography with my Mavica by my side. I learned how to set white balance, ISO speed, and spot metering easily and quickly. I would love to have a camera with a bigger resolution and a smaller size, but my Mavica takes such beautiful pictures that I'm not going to replace it.
I use it mostly to take pictures of my daughter and her classmates. The individual pictures taken indoors in UV light with a flash are amazing. In fact, after her class Christmas party (2003) they were so good that I printed them onto photo fabric and made the teacher a scarf with pictures of the children.
I love this camera and have been VERY happy with it. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
Sony Mavica Floppy Disk 100 [Posted on 2004-05-11]
I have purchased this particular camera due to its ability to record images to the floppy disk. I traveled across the country by bicycle and uploaded pictures from public libraries along the way, where computers would not allow to install software and have USB port, but always had available floppy drives. This worked very well! The camera showed amazing performance in representing the colors in its pictures. Focus was always good, images were clear and beautiful. Macro mode worked extremely well. Camera is reliable and battery life is superb.
With 1.3 Mega Pixels, images are perfect for computer use or make print outs of standard size. Shutter delay makes it difficult to shot moving objects unless you are used to guessing the right moment. Sensitivity in dark conditions was very low, on automatic mode at least. I don't know if adjusting white balance or exposure compensation would improve the sensitivity. I always found automatically taken pictures to be of best quality.
If there is a need to use the MAJOR feature of the Sony MVC FD 100 function - floppy drive, then this is the excellent choice.
FD 200 that replaced 100 in 2003 offers 2.0 Mega Pixels Matrix with identical features. Here are few sample pictures taken with this camera: http://www.angelfire.com/linux/mikhail4/travel8/flower_after_rain_macro.jpg http://www.angelfire.com/linux/mikhail4/travel8/sunset_on_trans_canada.jpg http://www.angelfire.com/linux/mikhail5/travel11/nice_mushroom.jpg http://www.geocities.com/pont331/clouds_ahead.jpg All in all, this camera provided exceptional service and I recommend it to anyone that needs to use its ability to save images on floppy disks.
Dark Pictures [Posted on 2005-03-29]
I don't know if three is an accurate rating but almost all of my indoor pictures are dark. I have to be three feet or less to get a good picture. Are all cameras like this?
Otherwise I am completely satisfied with the camera LJM
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