This site was last updated 15 September 2008
Sharing tips, sources and resources with owners of Apple's QuickTake 200, Fuji's DS-7 and Samsung's Kenox SSC-350N digital cameras.
IMPORTANT: This site is no longer being updated, because there's no practical way to get images from this ten-year-old camera into any recent computer. The QuickTake 200 software won't run, so you can't connect with a serial cable. And I know of only one source for 5V-compatible SmartMedia card readers (see "What's new, below)—most readers are 3.3V-only, and won't work with the QuickTake 200's SmartMedia cards.
In short, you can take pictures, but you can't do anything with them. If you bought a QuickTake 200 on eBay or at a yard sale, I'm sorry to say that you're out of luck. Unless you have a very old computer running very old system software, there's just no way to make use of a QuickTake 200. The sole exception is using it as a low-quality video camera...but to do this, your computer must have a composite video input, and very few do.
So this site is for entertainment and nostalgia value only. The information is no longer current, some links to other sites may not work, the accessories and software that I talk about here are probably no longer available...sorry, but technology moves on! And I guess I should add that if you can't find an answer to your question here, there's not much use in emailing me—everything I know about the QuickTake 200 is on this site.
—Andy Baird
These cameras, triplets under the skin (see the Miscellany page for details), offer very good features and performance for the price. This site provides a meeting place where QuickTake 200, DS-7 and Kenox SSC-350N owners can swap tips and suggest places to buy accessories.
Attention QuickTake 100 and 150 owners: your camera was built by a different company (Chinon) and has nothing in common with the Fuji-built QuickTake 200, so the only thing on this site that will be useful to you is the Batteries page and some links on the Software page. Sorry, but I don't know of any other online resources for these first-generation QuickTake cameras. Because they don't employ removable storage media, it's difficult or impossible to use them with modern computers.
In addition to this website, don't miss the invaluable Digital Camera Resource Page, which has a wealth of information about all digital cameras—including a message board area where you can post questions and get answers from other camera owners. Be sure to check out both the Apple and Fuji boards!
What's new
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The only vendor I know of currently offering a 5V-compatible SmartMedia adapter is World of Cables. This PC Card (PCMCIA) adapter is available as of September 15, 2008, but there's no knowing how long supplies will last.
You already know that you can get the complete QuickTake 200 manual in PDF format from Apple's website, right? (See the Miscellany page for details.) Well, here's a good online course, "How to Use an Apple QuickTake 200," that will get you started in a hurry if you don't have time to read the whole manual right now. It's simple, clear and well written. Check it out!
I've added several new links to the discussion of web camera software, including one absolutely free program and two inexpensive shareware programs with quite sophisticated features. The QuickTake 200 and DS-7 work just fine for this purpose—in fact, they're good all-around video cameras. You can learn how to use your digital camera for videoconferencing or sitecam applications on the Miscellany page.
An important warning for anyone feeding the camera's video signal into a computer (as in videoconferencing): turn on the camera before you connect the video cable to the computer! Otherwise a startup voltage surge from the camera can blow your computer's video input circuitry. Apple's A/V board in the old G3 Macs is reportedly especially vulnerable.
Thanks to Ray Gannon, we finally have instructions for replacing the trouble-prone DC input fuse. Don't even think about trying this unless you have good soldering skills and a low-wattage iron! If you do—or know somebody who does—the new Fuse page could save you a trip to the repair shop. Come to think of it, even if you do take the camera to the shop, you might want to print out this and the Disassembly page and take them with you to speed things along.
Important news: reader Charlie Teufert has found the cause of the blown fuse problem and how to avoid it. Never plug in an external power source while the camera is turned on! You can read the details on the Troubleshooting page. Please, everybody, read this and take it to heart! It could save you an expensive repair bill.
How would you like to squeeze three to five extra shots out of a 4MB SmartMedia card? The Memory page has a tip that tells how!
One limitation of these cameras is that they don't allow any way to fudge your exposure when shooting a backlit subject. That is, I didn't think they did—until Jerry Farm set me straight! See Jerry's clever trick for controlling exposure in difficult lighting situations on the Miscellany page.
—Andy Baird
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click on any heading to go to that topic)
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AC power
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AC adapters can spare your batteries from an early death.
(updated 8 November 2002)
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Adapters
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Read SmartMedia cards using a card reader, PCMCIA slot or floppy drive—fast!
(updated 15 September 2008)
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Batteries
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Tips for saving money and stretching battery life.
(updated 11 April 2008)
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Cables
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Where to buy them—and how to save money by making your own.
(updated 25 January 2004)
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Carrying cases
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A good case is a necessity, but it doesn't have to be expensive.
(updated 23 December 1999)
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Disassembly
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How to take your camera apart (do this at your own risk!)
(updated 23 December 1999)
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Fuse replacement
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Replacing a blown DC input fuse.
(updated 23 December 1999)
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Lenses
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Wide angle and telephoto lenses for interiors or portraits.
(updated 23 December 1999)
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Lighting
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How to survive without a flash.
(updated 23 December 1999)
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Memory cards
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All about SmartMedia storage cards.
(updated 9 January 2005)
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Miscellany
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Interesting (and possibly even useful) facts about these cameras.
(updated 24 August 2002)
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Software
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Mac software, PC software, web software—find it here!
(updated 18 March 2005)
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Troubleshooting
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Got a problem? Check here for help.
(updated 15 June 2001)
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If you have tips or suggestions about either of these two cameras, or if you've found any accessories I haven't mentioned here, send email to Andy Baird so I can put the information on this page.
This website was made with a Macintosh.
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