Anyone have negative experience with a Microdrive?
 

Hey Yall,


I'm planning my next trip around the world now and am looking at taking a much better digital camera this time.

Having one little trip under my belt now, I have a better idea of what I'd like to catch with a cam. It would be nice to get better quality shots next time out, as well as more thought out scenes and maybe even a tripod. ;)

The Sony DSCF828 looks like a good deal and the Sonys have always been very good to me. This particular cam is 8.2 megapixel which is about the best I'm going to get (as far as I have seen....you may know of one that has escaped my research ), without spending $8K on just a cam.

There are many things that I like about the 828 but one big one is that it can use a microdrive. My only hesitation in buying the Sony (as opposed to the Canon rebel ) is that I have heard that the microdrives are VERY unstable in digicams. Both with being bumped and with other electronics erasing their memory.

If I can find some people with good experience with the microdrive in a cam, I'll gamble my trip photos on having it perform as intended. I'd have some backup memory sticks too if I went with the Sony but the big draw is having 4 gigs of space available for photos and MPEGS.

Has anyone had any experience with them, good or bad?

Second question: Does anyone know of a 8MP or higher digicam out there that costs under $3k?

Thanks,

digi-slang

Slang, there are a few SLR 8MP cameras in the sub-$1k range.

Check out Digital Photography Reviews.

Also, you can get 4GB and 8GB cards now that are not microdrives.

Thanks Rich


That link is a great resource. I suppose with so many great cam choices, I'll just throw as much cash into the bank until D day gets a bit closer.

Knowing a bit more about digital cams in general probably wouldnt hurt either. Most of my photo experience has been just for fun whereas my goal for this trip is to take some professional grade images.

You can get external hard drives with media readers that automatically suck out any cards inserted. This'll let you carry one or two 1G cards, and keep 40G in the hotel.

Alternately, you could bring a PDA, and just upload everything to the Cellar every night. :headshake