17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
On- and off-color remarks for QV-2000UX, September 19, 2000
This review is from: Casio QV2000 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom & Microdisc (Electronics)
I purchased my QV-2000UX early in late 1999 to take pictures of activities with Get Outdoors New England. ...
With Windows 2000 and USB, the camera appears as a disk, so you can just pull the files off using Explorer instead of using CASIO's supplied software. For Win2K use, you WILL need drivers (you may have to dig at the CASIO Japan site if you cannot find them on the USA site---their support folks have not been responsive/helpful when I've pointed out busted links to them via e-mail and site comments).
Problems with the QV-2000UX:
- The CASIO drivers "kinda" work with Windows 2000. The first time I attach the camera to the machine after a reboot, it's fine. After that, the camera comes up as a generic USB device. Workaround: Remove ALL USB devices from the PC and attach only the camera. Reboot if you have to.
- Cycle time (time between taking each picture) is rather long, especially with flash and with the large memory card. There is a mode that lets you take pictures rapidly (limited by the flash).
- I've heard that the AVI (movie) files aren't "really" AVI and can't be played as-is. I also heard there's a converter somewhere to make them real AVI files.
- Reddish hue to many photos, especially those taken inside using the flash. There may be a camera setting here that I can change, but sometimes it's more pronounced than at others. (Very obvious in the New Year's Eve photos at the GONewEngland photo site.)
- When at 2x digital zoom, the photos are generally fuzzy/grainy.
- Operating temperature is a minimum of 0 degrees C (32 degrees F). For an outdoors group which does skiing (among other winter activities), this is quite limiting. (However I've been using it outside at low temperatures, and it has been OK.)
- I wish it had a "pause" feature which let you shut the camera off while leaving the lens out. That may help save batteries (every time you turn the camera off, the lens retracts).
- It does eat batteries, so I keep 2 sets of rechargeables around. I figure I get about 40 pics with downloads (serial) per set. I use the NiMH rechargeable batteries (Maxell sells a set of four with recharger for about $15).
- The case isn't very rugged. I have heard reports that the motors that drive the lens in and out fail (mine is OK so far). Bad design of lens cover (hits the side of the lens when you go to shut it).
- Have had a few burps with the camera. It stops working completely on very rare occasions, but opening and closing the battery compartment fixes that.
Likes:
- I like the media - tiny CompactFlash. I picked up a 32MB card to go with the 8MB one (which comes with the camera). My photos are all at 800x640 at full resolution; I don't need more than that, so I get over 20 pics on the 8MB card and about 100 on the 32MB card.
- Auto-everything if you want it, but you also get manual control. Automatic is GREAT for outdoor events when you don't want to be fumbling with controls. (See the Steves-Digicams web site for info on getting FULL MANUAL CONTROL over this camera!)
- Fast downloads via USB (see note about Win2K above), can also do serial port.
- CASIO software organizes your photo library for you (nice feature).
- Overall photo quality is darn good, but somehow it doesn't look "natural" or "3D" like a real photograph, and several of my photos have come out fuzzy (from subject or camera movement). Also see red hue comment above. I think this is typical of the current state of digital cameras (things will get better). The quality is just fine for my purposes.
- If you run an activities group and want to share photos quickly, this is definitely the way to do it: a good digital camera. Plus it's a blast diddling with this stuff with Microsoft Photodraw (purchased separately as a bundle w/ FrontPage 2000).
Overall I am happy with the CASIO, and it has made a big difference in my web site. I've had a lot of fun with it. I have captured a number of outstanding shots with it, ...
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great pictures / cheap case, January 1, 2001
This review is from: Casio QV2000 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom & Microdisc (Electronics)
I've had the camera for 1 year.
Pros: Quality pictures, good value for the money, USB is fast, good optical zoom.
Cons: Cheap case (my lens cover is now broken), takes a long time to extend & retract the lens, can't get USB to work on Windows 2000.
I believe a durable case is critical which is why I rated the camera low.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love the night shots, September 8, 2000
This review is from: Casio QV2000 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom & Microdisc (Electronics)
I absolutely love this camera. I bought it for myself last Christmas. I live in Europe and it allows me to send email updates of our 2 small children to my parents and my in-laws .
You need to know absolutely nothing about photography to take amazing pictures. I am planning on creating a calendar of the night time shots I have taken all over Europe. The camera does an amazing job of using the ambient light, and everything is automatic. The panaromic feature is nice (comes with software to stitch pictures together).
Another plus is that pistures are automatically loaded onto your PC into an HTML/WEB format.
The only knock on it is that now a year later I could buy a different camera with 50% more resolution. But, that won't be free!
Hope this helps
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