ePhoto Smile camera review
paul_...@my-deja.com
On Oct. 27 I bot an ePhoto Smile Camera thru a discount outlet for
$59.00. It was easy to use, and the software installed easily.
However, I was unable to download the pictures to the PC (running
windows '98). When I tried, I just got the message to put in new
batteries (I'd just put in new ones) and to exit, reenter, and try
again. I did this several times, with no luck.
So I called technical support (a toll number) and was put on "hold".
Finally, once I'd run up a phone bill, a voice mailbox came on and
promised that if I left a message they'd get back to me within 4 hours.
I did, and tried to stay off line and off the phone all day - but
a week later they haden't called. I called again, and this time
they answered promptly. They had a rough phone line, and seemed a
bit impatient that I never understood them the first time, but took
my information and promised to e-mail me detailed instructions (why
aren't they in the Getting Started booklet?!). They also gave me
their secret toll free number, in case I had further problems.
Before I could get much further, I noticed the batteries were almost
dead, so I had to get new ones. Then I read the e-mail instructions
and nearly despaired, for they were vague and it would take a
real geeky sort of guy to ever try all the things they recommended.
Luckily, I saw one thing even I could do, which was push in the
connecting pin real hard - and sure enough, it clicked in place and
I was in business. I then downloaded the photos from the camera,
which went well except that the batteries (Mallory Super Heavy Duty)
got too weak to continue after 12 photos. So I guess it's new battery
time again!
The postmistress wouldn't let me take her photo, but if you want
to see the picture I took of the post office building, or other
scenery, go to my website:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Bookstore/4583/
Click on "About Me" and then "My Post-Office", "Winter Highway", or
"Winter
Field". It's not great photography, but if you just want a cheap
camera for rough work, I guess it's ok. Sort of reminds me of
paintings
of the Impressionist school, which is beautiful, in it's own way.
To summarize: a good camera for a few photos that don't require much
detail, at a very attractive price. Some hassels in getting set up, and
lots of batteries to buy if you take many pics.
The info they e-mailed me follows:
=============
Agfa DTP Support <agfadtp...@sterling.sykes.com> wrote:
>
> AGFA
> Technical Support
>
>
> Here are some troubleshooting steps to try, Some of the steps you may
have
> tried.
>
> 1.The serial cable may be connected incorrectly. Check the cable and
its
> connections.
>
> 2.The batteries may be too weak. The indicator on the top of the
camera must
> show at least half full. Replace them if it does not.
>
> 3.The serial port setting may be incorrect. Verify the setting using
the
> instructions that came with your Windows software. Try going into
safe mode,
> and removing the Com ports in the Device manager. When you restart,
it will
> automatically find and install the port again. If it does not, refer
to
> step 5.
>
> 4.There may be an internal device conflict in your computer. Check
the
> documentation that came with your computer and/or operating system
software.
> Most often, this is caused by the modem or other external device
connected
> to the Com 1 or Com 3 port. Both use the same resources, and will
cause the
> camera not to connect. Try changing it to Com 2 or Com 4.
>
> 5. Go into the BIOS (setup) and check to see if the serial ports are
> enabled.
>
> 6. Try to connect with the background programs turned off.
Sometimes
> these programs will prevent the camera from being seen. To close
them,
> Press and hold Ctrl and Alt. Tap Delete one time and let all three
up. The
> only 2 required programs to keep windows running are Explorer and
Systray.
> Close everything else by highlighting one of the others, and click on
End
> Task. The window will disappear and you repeat the above steps until
only
> the previously mentioned are there.
>
> ** Caution ** If you Hit the Ctrl-Alt-Delete while the close program
window
> is up, it will restart
> your system, and you will have to start over.
>
> a. If you get a second window up that says "this program is not
> responding", click the end task button.
> b. Sometimes programs will not close the first time you tell
> them to, you may have to end task on them several times before it
closes.
>
> 7. Uninstall and reinstall the Photowise. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del the only
thing
> in there should be explorer and systray. End tasks on everything
else. Then
> uninstall the photowise. To do this, we recommend using the
Add/Remove
> control panel. After it has been removed that way, Do a find on
Photowise,
> Delete all, and do the same with AGFA (unless you have a 2nd AGFA
product).
> Then reinstall the software. Restart the computer and try again to
connect.
>
> 8. Try and use a NON LUBRICATING contact cleaner (television-tuner
cleaner)
> in the serial connector of the camera, and then insert the serial
cable in
> and out a couple of times. This solution is perfectly safe and will
not
> damage the camera in any way. Just a couple of squirts should do it.
>
> ***CAUTION***
>
> Please remember to use only NON LUBRICATING contact cleaner.
>
> 9. Push in the cable all the way in the camera. If you can see the
silver on
> the plug the the cable isnt pushed in all the way. On a 780 and
780c, if
> you leave the camera off, and connect the cable, with the other end
> connected to the PC, The camera should beep twice, and show PC with a
> flashing arrow on the top LCD. If it does not, the cable is not
connected
> all the way.
>
> 10. And lastly if all else fails what you are going to want to do is
> shutdown the computer and attach the camera to the 9 pin port that
the mouse
> is hooked to, Reboot your computer. You will get a message that
windows cant
> find the mouse and that is ok. When the desktop comes up use the
keyboard
> commands to pull up the photowise and try to download the pictures.
>
> ** If you have a PS/2 mouse, and 2 serial ports, connect the camera
to the
> 2nd serial port, Reboot the system, and repeat step 6.
> >
> --
> This email address is used for outgoing messages only. If you have a
> technical support issue please phone into Agfa Technical Support.
> Messages received on this address that have not been asked for will
be
> deleted.
>
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Erik Magnuson
paul_...@my-deja.com wrote:
> http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Bookstore/4583/
> Click on "About Me" and then "My Post-Office", "Winter Highway", or
> "Winter
> Field". It's not great photography, but if you just want a cheap
> camera for rough work, I guess it's ok. Sort of reminds me of
> paintings
> of the Impressionist school, which is beautiful, in it's own way.
Wow. This reminds me of "Marcy's Junk Store Cameras"
http://www.merrillphoto.com/JunkStoreCameras.htm
Favorite quote:
"But focus is so overrated anyway."
At $59/per, it's still a bit pricy for collecting. What other digital
cameras are in this class? Mitsubishi DJ-1000? Kodak DC-20?
--
Erik
Joe Blow
I hate to be brutally honest but you may have been better (MUCH) off
buying a regular 35mm camera. I had bought what I thought was a good
deal ($ wise) on a small digital camera. Even came with a removeable
memory card and laptop adapter. However, I did not like
most of the pictures that it produced. A disposable camera takes
better pictures.