Hey!

I am thinking of buying Canon PowerShot A400.

Does anyone have any experience with it here?

The main questions that bother me are

1. Is it compatible with Mandrake Linux 10.0 ? (-- in fact, I'll go to Mandrake's website and check it out there myself... but if anyone has any stories on this subject, these are most welcome)

2. Do you think it's a good buy? Is there any particular reason as to why I should avoid this camera? Or can you compare it with a different camera that is used by someone you know? (I'll also browse the net for reviews, but again your opinions would be great)

3. I heard that any digital camera can be set up to be used as a webcam. Is that true? Has anyone done that?


Thanks guys!

If your discription is correct and it is the A400 then you may have problems. The main support for digital usb cameras is via gphoto and according to their list (www.gphoto.org) they have no drivers for it. If it is the A40 then go to the L-Q HCL as it is readily supported.

Thanks for the info !!



... The fact that it's incompatible is annoying. But I am thinking of doing a dual boot with Windows anyway.

that question being out of the way, can anyone share anything regarding the other two questions?



Thanks!

Answer to 3 is yes but you are limited by memory. The bigger the memory the longer the avi.

Thanks!

... however, are we talking about the same thing here?

I was wondering if it was possible to use a camera as a WEBcam - for online conversations. Not as a handycam, where you record something as an avi and play it on your computer.

From the manufacturer's description I understand that the A400 can be used as a handycam and make movies of up to 3 minutes.

But can it be used for continuous filming (without saving the film itself as an avi) when connected to a computer.


Thanks!

Sorry I did read your post in depth. I have a couple of cameras and they can be used as webcams using an application called xawtv. I have found it to be a bit unstable with these cameras though.

Thank you very much!

Best,

Grisha.

OK i have a canon powershot a400 works great with pics can i use it as a webcam on yahoo messenger? if so how. i have windows xp. thx for any help