Gateway DC-M42 4.0 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

by Gateway

Product Details

Product Manual [2.69mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0000W4MW0
• Item model number: DC-M42
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,423 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 6, 2003

Product Description

High quality and easy to use! It¿s time to upgrade your low megapixel camera. The new 4.1 megapixel DC-M42 digital camera from Gateway is compact and stylish enough to carry with you everywhere, yet more than capable of capturing high-quality images. The 3X optical zoom lets you take in the scene with a wide-angle view, or zoom in on the action. Punch the button for Macro mode and you can get up close and personal with bugs, flowers and other small objects. Or get ready for your own close up and take a self-portrait using the 10 second self-timer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Quality, August 8, 2004

By 

Gypsi Phillips Bates "bilbiophile" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gateway DC-M42 4.0 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

This camera was sadly disappointing. It is powered by only two AA batteries, which last only one photo taking and sometimes less. In Gateway's defence, they do provide two rechargable batteries with the camera, but that doesn't make up for having to change the batteries daily.

I have had the camera only a week and have already had trouble with it accepting the memory card. At times, it said that there were no images. . . I jiggled the memory card around a bit and my hundred+ images reappeared. Very annoying!

As for quality. . . No, this is no 4.0 megapixel camera. My older 3.0 camera takes better quality photos than this one. They tend to be grainy and fuzzy, regardless of settings, and close-up shots simply are NOT possible--despite the macro settings.

It does have some nice "bells and whistles" with lighting and color options, but that simply doesn't make up for poor quality photos. If you are taking photos for more than family snapshots, this is NOT the camera for you.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Should be negative stars for this one :(, July 28, 2004

By 

never buying gateway again "never buying gate... (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gateway DC-M42 4.0 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Let's start with the very first issue... batteries. I plugged in the rechargeable batteries that came with it, programmed the time and date, and took seven pictures then the batteries were dead. I am not a new digital camera owner. I have the Hewlett Packard PhotoSmart C215xi 1.3MP Digital Camera. I thought that it was time to upgrade to a camera with more MPs so I bought the Gateway 4.1. I took my HP to Maui and took over 150 pictures on one set of batteries on the medium setting. And I couldn't even get 10 out of the Gateway! Pathetic! Put in some Duracel batteries, same deal... got 5 pics when the low bat signaled.

My next issue with this camera is picture quality. Took some landscape shots to test the "scenic" feature of this camera along with portrait and auto since these are the features that I would use the most. I then downloaded the pics from the camera to the pc *using yet again another set of batteries*. Picture quality at best with the brand new 4.1 MP Gateway was on an equal par with the LOWEST setting on the HP *that was purchased 6 years ago*. Picture quality on all were grainy and poor. Not even the portrait pictures were acceptable. SAVE YOUR MONEY! DO NOT PURCHASE THIS CAMERA!

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a recommend purchase, January 8, 2004

By 

R. J. Harper "rjharper" (Glasgow, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gateway DC-M42 4.0 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Pros:
Easy to connect to PC

Cons:
Terrible grain even at 4.0 MP Fine setting
Poor colour saturation
Auto white balance cant adapt to flourescent lighting
Focus does not work well indoors
Very weak flash
Lengthy delay to achieve focus and between shots
High battery drain (even Ni-MH)

Conclusion:
An inexpensive 4.0 MP digital camera, but one that underperforms in every aspect. I have since returned mine and opted to spend an extra $75 to get an Olympus or Minolta instead. Other buyers would be wise to do the same.