What cameras are being used?

[Tarangela]

I hope this isn't the wrong place to post this!

But, I may be able to get a camera for Christmas The kind I want is like the ones half of you all use here that are used in VERY close up pictures. I mean, like the pictures of T's eyes, fangs, everything!

I have been told that most use Nikon? I want something w/ interchangable lenses I guess. And digital.

So? Whose is the best, where can I get it, and what is the price range??

I hope some of you can help me out here. I really want to take some very detailed pics of my T's!

And is there any place I can go to in a local mall?

Thanks all

 

[priZZ]

Hi,

if You want a compact digicam, then the Nikon Coolpix 8800, or the Canon Poweshot SI IS would do a good job.

If You need a semiprof digicam, then I would suggest the Canon EOS 300D, or the Canon EOS 20D...

Of course all are far more then 500 Euro... I will buy a camera, too. And that would be the Canon EOS 300D... I think... with a very good macro objective.

 

[Tarangela]

Sorry mods!!

Anyway, here is a description of one I just seen:

FinePix 4.0 megapixel digital SLR camera has a huge 10x optical/2.2x digital zoom plus a wide range of shooting options! The 10x optical zoom covers an impressive focal range of 37-370mm 35mm equivalent. And the 4.0 megapixel CCD together with the highly optimized image processor creates breathtaking, detailed images. Autofocus system features AF-Assist Illuminator™ to ensure accurate focusing in low-light situations, 3 continuous shooting modes and manual mode. Also features digital sound movie mode. Boasts programmed AE modes, 4 selectable scene programs and full manual exposure. Equipped with 1.5" TFT monitor, electronic viewfinder, 6-mode auto flash with red eye reduction, voice memo function, USB interface, 3 color modes and self-timer. Includes 16MB xD-Picture Card™, USB and A/V cables, software CD-ROM, shoulder strap, batteries and more. Limited warranty. System requirements for PC: Windows® 98, 98SE, 2000 Professional, Me, XP Home or XP Pro. For Mac: OS 8.6-9.2.2, OS X 10.0.4-10.2.4. For both: Factory-installed USB port and CD-ROM drive. This is a Fuji 4 MP Digital Camera

??


Thanks for the reply I will look up the ones you mentioned!

 

[andy83]

Although I havnt posted too many pics at all on here I'm using a Canon Powershot A85. It's a really good digital camera and you can purchase different lenses as well(marco and such). It takes really nice 4mega pixel pictures and the detail is excellent. One of these days I'm just gonna go picture crazy and take a lot of pics of my T's and put them on here or something.
In my use with digital photography - Canon has some very good lines of cameras and some of them are even affortable!

 

[Sandra]

I have an earlier generation of the Fuji Finepix and have been very happy with it.

 

[c7me]

Great Reviews on Digital Camera’s

If anyone is looking to purchase a digital camera, I would suggest stopping by here. http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/cameraList.php

I just bought the Canon Poweshot SI IS from Dell because of his reviews.

Just FYI

 

[Schlyne]

The SLR style cameras (the ones you can use different lenses on ) run around $700 US and up (for the camera). I think most of the people using the SLR cameras have either Nikon D70 or a Canon Digital Rebel. That doesn't include what you're going to spend on lenses..some of which are really expensive (macro lens).

I had a really great website link that had ratings and reviews and sample pictures, but I can't find the link. :wall:

As soon as I find it, I"ll post it.

And you might want to check out this thread http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=36608 for more details on a Nikon D70 to Canon Rebel comparison.

 

[Schlyne]

Okay, my friend got back to me. The link I used to compare cameras (after getting several reviews/ideas from several different people. It has a lot of consumer ratings and a comparision feature section.

www.dpreview.com

 

[metallica]

for what it is worth.. i use a fuji finepix 6900 zoom. bought it 3 years ago, not planning for a new one yet, it still does the job for me!

Eddy

 

[xanadu1015]

I'm using a Canon EOS Rebel, and I am VERY happy with it. I love the detail I can get with close-ups on this digital camera.



Laura

 

[Tarangela]

Thanks for the replies!! That really gives me something to look for.

What is a resonable price? I want something w/ decent close up abilities.

I really don't want to spend over $500, if I can help it

Thanks!

 

[Crunchie]

I use my Minolta dimage Z3 that I got in the summer. It has a superb macro mode and an anti-shake device. So even if I'm jiggling a wee bit my photos are still crispy

 

[danread]

As someone suggested before, have a look at www.dpreview.com, it is one of the best camera review sites out there. Also try www.steves-digicams.com. With the price range you are looking at i would forget about an SLR, they are far too expensive, and the lenses will cost you a fortune as well. Instead go for one of the prosumer digital cameras. Good makes to look at for macro ability are Nikon, Canon and Olympus. Sony make some very good cameras, but generally the macro isnt so good. The Nikon Coolpix 8800 is a superb camera for macro, but might be too expensive. The Canon 'G' range are all excellent all round cameras (have a look at what one of the older models can achieve on this website), the latest, the G6 has had very good reviews. I personally use the Olympus c-5050z, and i can't fault it, have a search for some of my photos in the centipede forum and see what you think. It would also be available at a very good price now as it is a discontinued model.

The best thing to do is carry out a lot of research on the internet, narrow it down to a couple of cameras that suit your price range and specifications, and then go to a camera shop and see which one feels best for you. The size and shape of a camera will make a lot of difference to each individual. Then go back on to the internet and order it much cheaper than any shop could manage!

Cheers,

 

[Raindog]

I really don't have time to go into this at the depth to which it deserves but this is possibly the best link that I have ever seen on the subject...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/2dig.htm

 

[danread]

I really don't have time to go into this at the depth to which it deserves but this is possibly the best link that I have ever seen on the subject...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/2dig.htm

Thats an interesting link, but the one thing the writer of the article is forgetting is that not everyone is a photography enthusiast. I think if you are interested in photography, but not going to make it your number one hobby, a point and shoot would suit you a lot more that a DSLR, at what ever price range you choose. The cost of lenses for different situations would add a lot more to the cost of the camera. The automated functions of a point and shoot camera allows someone with little experience in photography to take very good photos, not something that could be achieved with a DLSLR and the smae level of experience. Having said that, i would definitely like to have a DSLR camera myself! but i do feel that the writer of that article is too harsh on point and shoot cameras, as they do defintiely have a place in photography, and for the vast majority of people, a point and shoot is the best choice.

Cheers,

 

[gothmog]

One of the best all around ~$500 cameras around at the moment is the Panasonic FZ20, with it's stunning 12x Leica image stabilised zoom lens it received a highly recommended from dpreview recently, not an easy achievement

It has a decent standard macro mode, and will take fairly cheap close-up adaptors for getting really close.

Otherwise, pretty much all the Nikon point and shoots have excellent macro modes, although other manufacturers camera's may have more features/be better all rounders.

-- Jon

 

[Raindog]

Howdy Dan,
I think that Ken's main conclusion is that one should never pay DSLR prices for a point and shoot camera. Sure the D70 is expensive but so is a Sony F-828, the difference is that the 6mp D70 will consistently produce far superior images than the 8mp F-828 due to sensor size and superior optics. And yes, DSLR's have auto functions just like any P/S so thinking that it takes a professional to operate one or capture a great image is groundless. Flexibility is one of the best things about DSLR's, most any factory film lens will also work on a digital... most of the time with great results. I have found used 105mm nikon lenses on ebay for under $100 and the nikor 50mm 1.8AF can still be had for that price brand new.
It all comes down to what you want to do with your images and how much you are willing to pay. Point and shoot cameras are great at what they were designed for. My next point and shoot will be of the ultra-compact variety priced at or below $300, that is absolutely the most that I would pay for a P/S.

 

[gothmog]

Many people have many opinions of Ken Rockwell's articles some take his word as bible, some think he's a total ****hole. I feel the truth is somewhere in the middle (ok maybe closer to the hole), he talks some sense then talks some total rubbish and many of his articles seem to contain deliberate flamebait designed to do little but increase the traffic to his site. This article is particularly full of garbage regarding the current generation of P&S cameras.

I mean:

Correct professional aspect ratio. Almost all p/s shoot in 4:3 (1.33:1) aspect ratio, the same shape as almost every TV and computer screen and closest to professional film and paper formats.

Hmm, ok so my TV is 16:9, my projector is 16:9, most movies are shot 2.35:1 or 1.85:1, even my monitor is 5:4, the A4 paper on my desk is 1.414:1 so this statement is simply wrong.

A Rockwellism is to rubbish a good feature with no justification: Movies with sound. Most p/s cameras let you make annoying movie files complete with sound like this.

See his stunning assault on the RAW image format for another example of this

(Not a strength: long ratio zoom lenses): Yes, you easily can get digital p/s cameras with 6x, 8x and 10x zoom lenses, but likewise you can get 28-200mm and 28-300mm zooms for any DSLR.

Well show me a 37-432 constant F2.8 image stabilised lens for any DSLR and I'll show you my pet unicorn, if one existed it would cost many thousands of dollars. $500 on the Panasonic FZ20 and it's a Leica so it's optically excellent (see the sample images in the dpreview review).

For the P/S weaknesses he draws three weaknesses from one, P/S's are noisy above iso 100 due to the small sensor size, but this implies noisy images and restricted iso range. The noise is, however, what I consider one the biggest weaknesses of small sensor digicams.

Slow operation I don't know how long it is since he used a P/S, but even my ultracompact Canon SD300 is very fast indeed.

The slow viewfinder point is valid, but they are getting faster all the time, but this is another true weakness.

The slow AF is true to some extent, ultrasonic DSLR lenses focus very quickly indeed, they are however expensive

Idiotic motorized zoom lenses Again, the FZ20 has a focus ring, as do several other of the more expensive prosumers. Looks like this article is based on a sample of one relatively poor P&S.

No superwide is valid, the emphasis is too much on length and not width at the moment

Thankfully the summary of the DSLR strengths/weakness is pretty much spot on, but Ken is a DSLR user he's much more experienced in this area. He seems to know very little about the current state of P&S cameras, but that hasn't stopped him writing an article about it. Which is his problem.

My fingers hurt now

-- Jon

 

[Raindog]

Good post Goth but I have to pick you apart on a few issues though, sorry.

First, yes the FZ20 has a maximum aperture of f2.8 at it's least focal length but stretches to f8.0 at zoom, that is nothing to brag about. Leica trademarks lenses built elsewhere under varying conditions just as Zeiss does... a name does not a great lens make, particularly when it comes to the high-stakes game of P/S marketing.

Second, I have a Sony F707 and can say that yes, I lose many shots due to shutter lag, the viewfinder is horribly inefficient compared to an SLR and startup time is annoying.

And lastly, Rockwell's articles may incite some furor among photographers (particularly the RAW enthusiasts) but at least he puts his opinions out there and tries to help amateurs with technique, that's more than I can say for the majority of professionals.

 

[gothmog]

Good post Goth but I have to pick you apart on a few issues though, sorry.

First, yes the FZ20 has a maximum aperture of f2.8 at it's least focal length but stretches to f8.0 at zoom, that is nothing to brag about. Leica trademarks lenses built elsewhere under varying conditions just as Zeiss does... a name does not a great lens make, particularly when it comes to the high-stakes game of P/S marketing.

Oops, made a total mess of that one :8o, optically it is good though, as tested.

Second, I have a Sony F707 and can say that yes, I lose many shots due to shutter lag, the viewfinder is horribly inefficient compared to an SLR and startup time is annoying.

I agree on the viewfinder issue, EVFs aren't great. However the F707 is knocking on a bit, the current generation of cams are much more sprightly in operation.

And lastly, Rockwell's articles may incite some furor among photographers (particularly the RAW enthusiasts) but at least he puts his opinions out there and tries to help amateurs with technique, that's more than I can say for the majority of professionals.

I think he annoys me most because he's too much opinion rather than science, don't get me wrong too much science is just as bad, but there has to be a balance somewhere!

-- Jon

PS Aha, it's not entirely my fault!

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wc...20K&surfCategory=Lumix%AE%20Digital%20Cameras

Panasonic claim an aperture of F2.8-8.0, but a constant F-stop of 2.8, I'll report back when I work out exactly what the hell this really means :? :?

PPS Ah yes, it is constant F2.8 across the zoom range, 2.8-8.0 is simply the range of settable apertures. It was confusing because this doesn't match the review spec here which is correct, I knew I wasn't wrong, honest