digital camera vs 35mm camera
 

I want to take photo of color and blak/white without changing film roles. Is there any 35mm or APS camera that accomodate 2 film roles that can be interchanged. <BR><BR>My budget is around $200. What other accesories I need to purchase? I have windows 95, 200MHz notebook computer and older model inkjet printer.

Why don't you go to a shop, they will tell you everything

Dear John, as a consumer its best to educate yourself before heading to stores. Many salespersons I have dealt in past are not knowledgeable. <BR><BR>By the way, did I offend you anyway, if so, pardon me for posting.

I don't know that there is a camera that can do that for you in the APS or 35mm unless you can settle for a sepia version in which case a high end 35 mm would probably be a good option.<BR><BR>I don't know what you want to do with the pictures you take[ blow them up larger than normal size 4 x 6 pictures perhaps?] All I know is your budget of $200 will probably buy you a 1.3 megapixel digital camera but you would need to add some memory cards as most come with no internal memory and only either 8 or 16 MB memory cards. Depending on the resolution you choose, 8MB can hold about 50 shots at medium resolution. <BR><BR>If all the above language sounds greek to you, perhaps you should start reading on digital cameras first. A good place to start is www.dpreview.com

Hi Peter<BR><BR>I found the perfect digital camera available at your budget. It's a Vivita 3725 at $181.99 at Staples. There apparently is a coupon for a $50 rebate so that makes a $130+ digital camera [has 3.3 megapizels and a 16 MB compactflash memory card].

No, there is no 35mm or APS camera that takes two rolls of film at the same time, and allows you to choose between them, shot by shot.<BR><BR>The latest models of 35mm film processing minilabs (the one-hour kind) have the capability of taking special B&W photo paper, and making B&W prints from color negatives. You will, however, probably have trouble finding a minilab willing to do this for you.<BR><BR>More likely, you can find a minilab that will use color paper and color negatives, and filter out the color, converting the picture into black and white.<BR><BR>However, this usually softens the contrast of the resulting B&W picture (blacks are really dark grey and white is really light grey) and the overall tone may have a bit of a color cast to it. <BR><BR>Professional photofinishing labs can make excellent B&W prints from color negatives using Kodak Panalure paper, but again, you'll need to pay reasonably high prices for this service. <BR><BR>If you really want to take both B&W and color shots, and are willing to put up with the annoyances and inconveniences of using a digital camera and a computer, a digital camera means that any frame, regardless of how you shot it, can be turned into either a color print or a black and white print.<BR><BR>Dollar for dollar, digital cameras are a lot more expensive than real cameras with the same picture-taking ability. For $200 in digital, you will not be able to get a camera that is anywhere near as good, as far as sharpness and picture clarity goes, on prints 5x7 and larger, than you would get with a $100 35mm point and shoot camera.<BR><BR>You might consider buying two bargain priced but high quality (amazingly good for the price) 35mm cameras, and loading one with B&W film and one with color film. My suggestion is the Olympus Stylus camera.<BR><BR>For B&W, unless you know a good B&W lab, use Kodak's specail B&W film for development using the C-41 process, which is the same process as for color.<BR><BR>With C-41 B&W and a good lab, you'll get excellent prints, but you'll need a lab willing to adjust the filtration to get rid of the sepia or bluish toines that careless labs deliver.<BR><BR>BAK<BR><BR>

Peter<BR>My husband's digital allows you to switch from B&W or color. So digital will be your best bet.