Entered CNET Catalog: 09/03/2003
SKU: 0827103006353
Manufacturer: Gateway Inc.
Manufacturer description
Give your old film camera the boot! It's time to replace your old film camera with an easy-to-use Gateway digital camera, and forget about the hassles of film and developing - now you can take all the pictures you want! The new 5 megapixel DC-M50 digital camera from Gateway produces high-resolution images with enough detail to make prints up to 11"x14". Learn the ropes of going digital with this camera that weighs less than a can of soda! The 3X optical zoom provides sharp detail letting you take in the scene with a wide-angle view, or zoom in on the action. The digital zoom function can increase the maximum magnification of the optical zoom lens up to two times. Or get ready for your own close up and take a self-portrait using the 10-second self-timer. The date and time are recorded as part of the image information, so you'll never have to guess when your shots were taken. Determine image composition while looking into the large 1.8" TFT LCD monitor or viewfinder. The built-in LCD panel allows you to see the image you've taken, which will show you what portion of the scene will be captured by the camera. The 32MB CompactFlash memory card allows you to store your photos. You can then view your shots and delete the ones you don't want, making room for pictures you want to keep as you take them. And when you are ready, the images can be transferred to your PC to share with your family and friends. Want more than still pictures? The DC-M50 also has a movie mode that lets you shoot video clips. This popular feature lets you record short bursts of video footage and sound, which can be great fun with family and friends. Four exposure modes allow extensive control over general photo taking. White Balance and ISO (adjusting sensitivity to light) can be set automatically or manually. The built-in flash offers a fill-flash mode and red-eye reduction, meaning the camera fires the flash a split second before the image is captured so your subject's eyes can adjust to the light. Featuring software that teaches you how to edit your pictures and create cool photo projects without a lot of fuss, you can learn to save slide shows to CD, print multiple pictures on a single page, or put together awesome videos with ease.Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2003
Upside: While it doesn't offer a very advanced feature set, the M50 covers the basics well, with a 3X zoom lens, four automatic exposure modes and exposure compensation, white-balance presets, and a relatively large 1.8-inch LCD. You can shoot 320x240 video clips with sound and record voice memos with this model too.
Downside: It's cheap, but it ain't pretty. In case you forget you're buying a budget camera, the M50's bulky design and lack of rechargeable batteries in the box will remind you. Its somewhat slow lens, single center-weighted metering mode, and limited light-sensitivity selections (ISO 200 and 400) may have a negative effect on the camera's performance.
Outlook: We couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance between this camera and the Argus DC3810, which didn't fare so well in our tests and sells for $70 less. We'll keep an open mind until we find out whether Gateway spent the difference on firmware improvements to make the M50 a higher-quality option. It's available now for a list price of $300.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21out of 21 user reviews
More Gateway junk
Pros: Can take high quality pictures
Cons: Slow, battery case pops out, takes AA bateries, falls apart quickly, needs duct tape, pauses a while before taking picture
This is official. I now will never buy from Gateway again. A few years ago I bought a Gateway computer, and it crashed within a week. Then I replaced it with an HP, which is still working to this day without having to service it once in all these years.
Overall, don't buy. Look for something else.
out of 21 user reviews
This is a warning to all
Pros: only the price and the resolution.
Cons: the size of the camera. the size of the LCD. The battery level indicator does not work. uses 4 aa batteries. uses compact flash. Very slow menus and shutter delay.
out of 21 user reviews
Terrible Camera!
Pros: There are no pros to this camera.
Cons: The camera is cheaply made, the battery lid breaks easily
out of 21 user reviews
Good Cheap price general camera
Pros: Point and Shoot
Cons: auto focus is lacking.
out of 21 user reviews
This camara is great for the price
Pros: This camera is at least a third cheaper than it's nearest comp. It takes true 5 mpix pictures. With manual controls and a little patients, you can get great pictures.
Cons: It is slow. Its auto focus and aperture aren’t the best; you need to use the manual settings to get the image you want. This can be time consuming. Also it could be a little easier to use in terms of controls and button layout.
out of 21 user reviews
Just OK, if you're looking for great, this isn't for you...
Pros: It's not a bad camera for stills of good quality. It is easy to use and gives you plenty of features for the low price. If you think it will perform as good as a Canon, Fuji or other higher priced camera's then you're in for a big shock. It's not an Fu
Cons: Like any digital camera it eats batteries, and takes a bit of time turning on. Nothing new here, it isn't alone in the world.
out of 21 user reviews
Stay away from this camera!
Pros: You get a camera that says 5 mega pixles on it.
Cons: I have never been able to take a good picture with it since I bought it. It is heavy and uglier than thought. Very loud when functioning. Picture quality is a joke.
out of 21 user reviews
software & camera sucks.
Pros: price
Cons: no service, can't figuer out the photo software, no help from service dept- camped out on phone for hours without hearing a real voice. Don't buy this if you want any help.
out of 21 user reviews
Outstanding 2nd camera
Pros: Bought mine on Ebay, from a unhappy Gateway consumer. This camera is a clone of the Skanhex SX-520Z, Argus DC3810, Jenoptik JD 5200Z3,and Concord Eye-Q 5330Z. With a 512 compactflash card and some skill this is an outstanding value. Fuzzy pictures were ma
Cons: Expect no support from Gateway, this is an Orphan camera from all the clone makers listed in the pro section.
out of 21 user reviews
For the good or the worse?
Pros: The semi-intelligent features--five megapixels for large prints, and price.
Cons: I haven't had one good picture taken with this camera. All of my pictures turn out horrible in auto mode, and shutter and shake-controls are non-existant. I do not reccomend this product. Service and suport is horrible seeing as they have a "take-back" fe
out of 21 user reviews
out of focus!
Pros: At first seems to be a good value for the money, but thats before you take a picture!
Cons: Received as a gift and had problems right off. Most pictures were blurred. Went thru the setups and tried to get an improvement. Called Gateway for help and the person there told me there was a focus problem and to send it back. She said that they would m
out of 21 user reviews
Cheap price, Cheap camera
Pros: Good Close in pictures Cheap
Cons: Blurry pictures on anything but an up close still shot.
out of 21 user reviews
Don't waste your money or time
Pros: There are no pros for this camera
Cons: Pictures were fuzzy, could not get a good focus. Was not as good as the 2.0 that we currently have. I bit the bullet with the restocking fee and returned it the next day. I didn't read these reviews until after I bought it. That won't happen again.
out of 21 user reviews
It's not what you think it is.
Pros: High Mp's for the price.
Cons: Big and on the bulky side. Slow to focus especially with a flash. i wanted it for family pictures and its boots up slowly and its hard to get the instant shots of the kids. Some of my picure were out of focus evenin the best conditions. Very disappoint
out of 21 user reviews
Terrible camera
Pros: Have not found any so far, I thought I was stepping up from my HP 315, but this is not half the camera of my 315.
Cons: Far too many settings for an auto focus camera, eats batteries, could not take a good picture if my life depended on it!
out of 21 user reviews
Sad excuse for a 5MP camera
Pros: price
Cons: Does not take pictures as good as my old HP 2.1MP. I have done everthing I can think of to get a reasonably good picture from this camera. I give up,and will return it.
out of 21 user reviews
Gatway Service is the Worst
Pros: Cheap.......But not worth 10 cents.
Cons: I bought the camra and it was broken, it wouldn't cut on and off and then Gateway store to us we were out of luck. Gateway Policy on returns is wrong, it will the last thing I buy from them.
out of 21 user reviews
For the price you can't ask for much more.
Pros: The software that comes with it is decent. And, surprisingly, the camera takes very good pictures. Anyone wanting to jump into the digital camera world would make a good choice in trying this camera to start with. It's cheap, pics are good quality, and
Cons: The camera is VERY bulky. It barely even fits in the carrying case that it comes with. Also, the weight of the camera is very noticeable even without the batteries in. And about the batteries, it came with four of them but they only lasted 2 days with
out of 21 user reviews
Film is Better!
Pros: The camera is a nice value for 5 megapixels, but falls short of stated performance.
Cons: Service and support are a lot to be desired. Return charges are outrageous. Camera is clumsy and features unecessary.
out of 21 user reviews
Concord Camera Corp
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Slow, two years behind ... Actually made by Concord Camera Corp (www.concordcam.com) ... hence the similariy to the Argus (sp?) cnet reviewers. Curious that gateway is so eager to put their label on this type of equipment
out of 21 user reviews
GREAT CAMERA - BAD FEATURES
Pros: High enough in mega pixels to equal negative film.
Cons: Lacks a simple delete button while in shooting mode. Flash/focus settings too easy to inadvertently alter. Viewfinder is not WYSIWYG. (What You See Is What You Get) which is typical for rangefinder cameras. Viewfinder shows hump from prodtruding lens.
