[kman1000]

Man, I'm getting a lot of free stuff lately. I guess one man's garbage is another man's treasure. I just received this camera:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...ny_dscw100.asp

It works from what I've been told but right now it doesn't power on. Presumably because the battery is either dead or needs to be recharged. In the camera right now are these two things:
#1. Sony G type lithium ion battery (NP-BG1)
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Lithium-R.../dp/B000BOLHH0
#2. SanDisk Memory stick Pro duo 4GB
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sandisk-PSP-4GB-...es_Accessories

So, what do I need to get this camera up and running? Since I already have $800 worth (so far) of stuff to buy from Amazon in my upcoming purchase, I might as well add whatever I need for this camera to my cart there as well. Please also list whatever upgrades you think I might need to add in addition to or replace with the current setup the camera has now. (i.e. upgrade from the 4gb memory to __ and/or upgrade the battery from current one to __ and/or purchase a battery recharger etc. etc.)

-------------------------

When writing this post, I was actually pondering what essentials I could add to my Nikon D70. Take a look at the below:
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Wireless...f=cm_lmf_tit_8
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7072-Len...d_bxgy_p_img_b

Worth getting? Anything else? (I'm going to be completely broke after this big Amazon purchase)

[leroys1000]

Charger for wall plug.
Don't know if that usb cable is data transfer or just device charging.
With a card reader it would be a non issue.

The remote is probably not necessary as there should be
a timer delay setting on the camera.
The cleaning pen would build up grit over time and could
damage the lens.
Use disposible lens cleaning wipes to avoid that.

[kman1000]

Originally Posted by leroys1000

Don't know if that usb cable is data transfer or just device charging.

It's only for device charging from what I see. So, I need a data transfer cable as well? Can you provide an Amazon link for a good one? I can't seem to find a good one. I found the one below but it received bad reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Shot-DSC...1272435&sr=1-1

Originally Posted by leroys1000

With a card reader it would be a non issue.

Can you provide a link? I found an item below but I'm not sure if it is good, reliable or not:
http://www.amazon.com/TheZipKit-SONY...1272512&sr=1-1

Originally Posted by leroys1000

Use disposible lens cleaning wipes to avoid that.

Do you have a link? I'm not sure but I found this:
http://www.amazon.com/Disposable-Cle...1272653&sr=1-9

[leroys1000]

Looks like an outstanding price for those lens cleaners.

Looks like the zipkit has all you need.
The sd card reader can transfer data to a computer from the card.
So,if you want to use that you don't need the data cable
unless there are firmware updates or something.

[slipe]

I have bought aftermarket backup batteries for every camera I've owned and never found them to be less capable than the factory batteries. For a 4 year old camera that you aren't sure works I think the set with 2 batteries, a charger and card reader would be a better choice for $20 (+shipping) than the $33 Sony battery. Amazon also has a single aftermarket battery for $8 with super saver shipping.

That card reader appears to be dedicated to the Sony cards. I've used those small readers and they have always worked fine and at a reasonable speed. You would not need a data cable with a reader. Meritline often has them on their daily deals for less than a buck with free shipping that will read all cards, but you have to wait a while for it to arrive from China. That might be an alternative if you elect to go with either single battery from Amazon. They have one going today for 69c, but they have one almost every day.

Does your D70 have a sensor for a remote. I noticed the link you provided skips the D70 as useable with the remote.

[wilson44512]

for the price the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote. would be a good purchase for your camera

[kman1000]

Originally Posted by leroys1000

Looks like the zipkit has all you need.

So, I'll go with the zipkit then. I hope the parts are not cheap Chinese crap though...

Originally Posted by leroys1000

The sd card reader can transfer data to a computer from the card.
So,if you want to use that you don't need the data cable
unless there are firmware updates or something.

So, the zip kit has it all or do I need to go ahead and add a data cable as well for firmware updates? By the way, is a data cable the same as a 4-6 pin or 4-4pin ilink cable? I ask because I'm ordering two of them based off of advice in another thread so need to order another for this thread if they are the same...

Originally Posted by slipe

Does your D70 have a sensor for a remote. I noticed the link you provided skips the D70 as useable with the remote.

I don't know. How do I check this? Here are the specs for my camera:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec.../nikon_d70.asp

Originally Posted by wilson44512

for the price the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote. would be a good purchase for your camera

Ok, I was hesitant on whether or not I should purchase that component. But why doesn't the description for the product on Amazon exclude the D70 in the list of cameras that is compatible with that remote? Are you sure that the remote will work with my D70?

[antimoth]

The $27 (after shipping) zipkit includes a useless tripod, and from what I read, that's an SD card reader, not a memory stick reader. You can get a single battery and probably the same charger for $10.95 buy-it-now and shipped from an ebay vendor (just checked). But amazon.com is reputable, so you pay a little more and don't have to worry about scammers.

I've bought a number of inexpensive ebay batteries and chargers off ebay for my inexpensive point-n-shoot cameras and aside from one or two that quit holding a charge after a year, no problems.. For my expensive cameras that I don't want to see burn up, I will buy brand names. If you compare those cheap chargers with the ones that come from Fuji, Sony, Nikon, Canon, etc, they often leave out the third terminal used for temperature sensing. They still work though. Just not quite as safety conscious.

It's amazing how those guys in China can knock off an expensive OEM remote and sell it for $10, but they do. I've bought two of those off ebay and they worked OK.

[kman1000]

Originally Posted by antimoth

For my expensive cameras that I don't want to see burn up, I will buy brand names. If you compare those cheap chargers with the ones that come from Fuji, Sony, Nikon, Canon, etc, they often leave out the third terminal used for temperature sensing. They still work though. Just not quite as safety conscious.

1. Oh really? I didn’t think that quality mattered in this area. That’s what I get for not asking once again. So, instead of buying the zipkit, I should just purchase one brand name battery, one brand name charger, one brand name data cable, and one brand name sd card reader instead, right? Can you post an Amazon link for all them? (for my camera) Just to summarize, I think we were discussing, in regards to my Cybershot, recommendations for a battery, battery charger, data cable, and sd card reader. And we were discussing the wireless remote for my D70.

2. Continuing on with your statement that quality matters, what do you think about this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A3P8TLUFEJW1Y9

This is for my Casio keyboard. I lost the plug for it. I think the plug in the link above is the exact plug that goes with my keyboard. But I’m posting it here for review because that is the only item in my Amazon cart that I didn’t inquire about here on the forum before I decided to purchase it.

[lordsmurf]

Got your PM, glad to give my input.

You've gotten some good advice so far, but I'll expand on it a bit.

That's a pretty sweet camera for the price (FREE$). I need some friends like you have. I have the Sony W120 and totally love it. Nice pocket cam.

For quality lens cleaners, only use PEC and ROR products. Everything else will scratch your glass. I don't care what anybody says, claims, thinks, etc -- they're all wrong. PEC was a godsend for camera cleaning gear.
- PEC pads: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B0001M6K24
- ROR cleaner: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B0002HMRF2
Simply amazing cleaning with this combo. No smearing dirt, no mess, no scratches, no "elbow grease". Just spray a light blast on the glass, use PEC to wipe away, and you're done. Cleaned, with lens coatings undamaged. I use this for lenses that cost $1K+ without any fear.

This wireless remote is fine: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B00007EDZG
Only buy it if you need to shoot with one. I never use one -- not my shooting style.
If you want to do remote shots, then by all means get it.

Only buy OEM batteries and chargers, when available, especially when it's for a good DSLR that costs a lot of money. I know, it costs more, "it sucks", but it's only $20 more.
- MH-18a EN-EL3 charger: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B0009PEU3Y
I could write an essay on bad camera batteries and chargers, and how it can be a nightmare. People who insist it "just as good" probably don't use it enough to observe how all hell can break loose. (Chargers causing fires, batteries exploding, holding almost no charge, etc.) You don't want to screw around when it comes to batteries and chargers. I would further suggest anybody that thinks off-brand batteries are "okay" has never used one long-term in a DSLR.

Don't mess around with USB into the Sony camera. Just get yourself a cheap $5-10 USB stick that "converts" the Duo Pro memory stick to USB slot. I got mine from Office Depot or OfficeMax for just a few bucks. Amazon has them, too from 3rd parties. - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B003C2YEAA

Some of the stuff in that "zip kit" is crap (put the tripod directly into the trash, for example). But for $20, probably a decent price if you're also needing a charger and batteries. There's really no way to buy the OEM batteries/charger for this series of camera, so this will just have to work. DO NOT PLUG IT IN THE WALL AND LEAVE IT THERE! DO NOT CHARGE THE BATTERIES WHEN NOT HOME! DO NOT "FORGET ABOUT" THE CHARGING AND LEAVE IT THERE MORE HOURS THAN IS REQUIRED TO CHARGE! I don't want your next post at TSG to be about how a camera battery burned your house down. I don't know how this particular charger is built, but many OEM ones "shut off" when done charging. Cheap clones may continue to pump juice into the battery, causing heat and other reactions. Nasty stuff. I've seen batteries literally explode from overuse or overcharge. Definitely stick to Amazon here, too, don't stray off to eBay on "kits" (you'll get hosed or scammed). - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B003AZ1XVW

I keep my Sony W120 in this exact cases: http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...t-Camera-Case/
It's not available on Amazon. But Amazon has some similar ones. Few colors to pick from, too.
- http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957

You need to match the power requirements printed on the Casio keyboard with the plug you buy. Simply looking the same isn't enough. I learned that when I was younger, using a Nintendo plug on a Sega. Well, the Sega started to smoke about 5 seconds later and almost caught fire. Oops.

For the Sony camera you have, 4GB is a good bit of space, holds quite a few JPEG images at max size (always use max size, too!) and even some videos. I never need more space. But if you do want more space, it's not expensive. Pretty much any Pro Duo memory card is going to be fine. Buy what you can afford.
A $30 8GB card is probably enough: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B0013AZ19G
All options - http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.ht...reative=390957

Sony batteries die before you'll fill 4GB anyway. So buying that zip kit, for the two extras, is probably a good move in the power department. That's really all that kit is good for: two batteries, the home charger, and the car charger. The SD reader is fine, but not for Duo Pro cards -- wrong tech. The bag may be fine, but CaseLogic neoprene case probably much better. Other stuff will end up in a drawer unused (or better yet, just toss in trash). Be careful with LCD "protection" items -- sometimes those can cause damage, too.

Hope I didn't leave anything out.

Happy shopping.

[kman1000]

For quality lens cleaners, only use PEC and ROR products. Everything else will scratch your glass. I don't care what anybody says, claims, thinks, etc -- they're all wrong. PEC was a godsend for camera cleaning gear.

Darn it!! Exactly what I didn’t want to happen. Well, I have already ordered the lens cleaner that I posted above and I received an e-mail from Amazon that it has already been shipped to me.

Options:
Do I or can I still cancel the order now? OR
Do I return the product as soon as I receive it? OR
Don’t bother, just keep them, and from now on only use the two products that you mentioned in the two links you posted?

I will purchase the battery charger that you listed in your link regarding my D70. Thanks!

Regarding the components for the Sony camera;
- Ok yeah, I’ll go with the zip kit. But I’m sure I’ll have more questions about exactly how long to charge the batteries. If I don’t have clear instructions then I KNOW that I will mess everything up.
- I’ll purchase the $30 8GB card you mentioned.
- With the zip kit, I’ll throw everything that comes with it in the garbage can except the two batteries, the home charger, SD reader, and the car charger.

You need to match the power requirements printed on the Casio keyboard with the plug you buy. Simply looking the same isn't enough.

I rechecked my recent purchases and I have also already ordered the Casio plug that I listed in the link above. It has also been shipped and is on it’s way here as well. So, what are my options? OR Will the plug that I ordered work ok with no precautions?

Darn it! I made something like 6-7 different threads discussing in detail on what I need to purchase specifically and I still somehow seemed to purchase the wrong products. This is frustrating...

[wowzer]

- I’ll purchase the $30 8GB card you mentioned.

Why on earth would anyone put all their eggs in one basket? Silly/stupid in my opinion.

I shoot with a Nikon D2x and use nothing but 1gig cards (half a dozen or so and shoot jpg fine+raw) and a reader.

If I happen to be shooting a ton of images or using burst mode I just transfer to my laptop.

Cheap batteries and chargers are a no no, again in my opinion.

smurfs cleaning suggestions are the way to go without a doubt...

[lordsmurf]

Those "screen cleaning" tissues are always great to laptops, LCDs, etc -- just use it for that. But they will harm good photographic lens coatings quite easily. So not a waste of money, just a good item for other needs.

Compare the plug to the specs required to the keyboard. If it matches, use it. If it doesn't, don't use it (return it).

Most battery chargers light up in increments or change color when done. Just keep an eye on it. Don't leave it in the wall overnight, all day long, etc -- it generally only takes an hour or two max for a full charge.

Go ahead and see if the kit junk is something you want or might like. If it's not, then don't feel obligated to keep it in a drawer like many packrats do. I bought a "lot" of stuff a while back, kept the 4-5 things I wanted, and trashed the 2-3 that I did not. (It was junk, nobody wanted it, even for free.) The tripod might make a nice paperweight, or it might just be in your way. The bag might be good for something, too. Or not. Don't throw it away because I said to do it, but because you find it to be crap you don't want and see no use for (and can't give it away, resell, etc).

Don't be hard on yourself. At least you're asking. You've done well so far.

[lordsmurf]

Originally Posted by wowzer

Why on earth would anyone put all their eggs in one basket? Silly/stupid in my opinion. I shoot with a Nikon D2x and use nothing but 1gig cards (half a dozen or so and shoot jpg fine+raw) and a reader. If I happen to be shooting a ton of images or using burst mode I just transfer to my laptop. Cheap batteries and chargers are a no no, again in my opinion. smurfs cleaning suggestions are the way to go without a doubt...

I think you'll find many older cards are made more poorly than newer/larger cards. The cards now are not just bigger, but more advanced in materials and workmanship. I shoot a D200 and D3s, and my main cards are 4GB and 8GB in size. My 1GB cards are not really all the reliable. I carry about a dozen cards at all times.

Of all my cards, it's the 1GB and 2GB cards that have had the most issues.
And a lot of them are far too slow for the cameras I'm using.

Pro Duo also don't tend to be as bad as SD cards, or even CF cards.

D2x isn't a bad body to have.

[wowzer]

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

I think you'll find many older cards are made more poorly than newer/larger cards. The cards now are not just bigger, but more advanced in materials and workmanship. I shoot a D200 and D3s, and my main cards are 4GB and 8GB in size. My 1GB cards are not really all the reliable. I carry about a dozen cards at all times.

Of all my cards, it's the 1GB and 2GB cards that have had the most issues.
And a lot of them are far too slow for the cameras I'm using.

Pro Duo also don't tend to be as bad as SD cards, or even CF cards.

D2x isn't a bad body to have.

I'm envious of your D3s but until the D2x won't take the images I and the few customers I have don't like them I will keep it. I only wish my body was as good as the D2x.

A good friend has a D200 that I have used a bit and for some unknown reason I just don't care for it...probably just me.

Interesting that you haven't had good luck with the 1 gig cards, I have all Sandisk 1gig cards and 2 Lexar readers and have not had a failure yet... knock on wood

And... I still don't think all the eggs in one basket is a good idea. I realize you can dump the card long before it's full but...the tendency is to fill-er-up...lot of images to lose in one wack