Buying a second digital camera

[chim666]

I have a Nikon Coolpix 3100 which was my first digi camera - and have been quite pleased with it as a general-use camera (I have a couple of traditional SLRs as well).
I want to buy a second camera for general family use (children's school stuff etc) and don't want to spend too much.
So my question is, if I bought a budget digital camera would the utilities supplied conflict with the Nikon software? Or maybe, I could use the Nikon utilities with another camera.
I assume that each camera will have it's own standard USB cable, therefore I would have either two cables, or have to switch cables to download images.

[simpo two]

chim666 said:

So my question is, if I bought a budget digital camera would the utilities supplied conflict with the Nikon software? Or maybe, I could use the Nikon utilities with another camera.... I assume that each camera will have it's own standard USB cable, therefore I would have either two cables, or have to switch cables to download images.

You're right in that different makes of camera will come with different software. Drivers will be specific, though image manipulation programs I expect will work with any jpg file.

However, you don't have to use the supplied software, and one cable is all you need. I have a USB lead permanently plugged into my PC, with the end emerging next to the printer, and it is quite happy whether I stick an Olympus Mju300 or a Nikon D70 on the end of it. It's only a lead.

My PC then sees the camera as a removeable hard drive ('G' in my case), appearing as a standard window, and I can take the files from it in the normal way.

So I don't htink you need to worry, or let your existing set-up influence what you buy.

[LongQ]

simpo two said:

However, you don't have to use the supplied software, and one cable is all you need. I have a USB lead permanently plugged into my PC, with the end emerging next to the printer, and it is quite happy whether I stick an Olympus Mju300 or a Nikon D70 on the end of it. It's only a lead.

Basically true EXCEPT the USB cables may be different sizes at the camera end. My Pentax S5i has one of the tiny sockets whereas my Sony DSC U30 has an intermediate size.

But, that apart, in principle a cable is a cable is a cable.

Although of course there are some cameras that only connect via a docking station unless removong the memory card.

[chim666]

Thanks for the replies.