Digital camera question

upnorth

Member since
December 2002
From: Canada / Czech Republic

Digital camera question

Posted by upnorth on Sunday, July 10, 2005 4:39 AM

Hello all:

This post doesn't precisely fit in other categories, but I wanted to keep it out of the off topic section because I know some of you don't go there.

I'm thinking about buying a digital camera for myself, but honestly don't know a whole lot about them or what gear you need to to make them work fully.

I know you need the camera, someway to hook it to your computer, the memory card to store your pics and maybe a CD to burn them to if you want.

I'm not looking for one of those "point and shoot" smaller deals with limited capabilities (my current 35mm is one of those). I'm looking for a serious investment that will be usable for a long time and I can build on over time. Really I want the digital camera equivalent of a 35mm SLR rig. Someting I can buy additional lenses for and filters for and really take my photography up a notch.

Who are making some of the better digital cameras in that range these days?
My current 35mm is a Cannon as was my 35mm before it. I was quite pleased with both and I wouldn't mind sticking with the brand, do Cannon digital cameras work as well as their film cameras do?

I know we're not a bunch of professional photographers here (or maybe some of us are Smile [:)]

) but I know a lot of you use digital cameras to photograph your models for posting here.

If you don't mind telling me what the brand you use is and how you find it to use, I'd really appreciate it. I'd also appreciate it if you could give me some ideas of what brands to stay away from.

Additional question: The "mexapixel" what is it and should I be trying to buy a camera with as many of them as I can get? I've heard that I don't want anything below 3.5 mexapixels, but cameras with up to a 5 mexapixel count aren't uncommon around here.

If any of you can give me a link to any unbiased comsumer review site that deals with this subject, that would also be great. I've found some sites, but they all seem to have at least some level of bias to them.

Thanks in advance

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, July 10, 2005 8:14 AM

Kevan - the digital rebel by Canon is a great camera. I believe it is 6.1MP so that shouldn't be a problem for ya! You want the highest megapixel you can get.

Another good digital SLR is the Nikon offering, the D50, D70 and also the new D100, the they are all 6.1MP but have varying degree of control and functionality (and price Wink [;)]

)

I believe there are a few more digital SLR's out there but these are the ones from the mainstream SLR makers.

I have the Sony DSCF-828 which isn't SLR but comes with the equivalent of a 24mm to 190mm lens so it has everything from wideangle to telephoto on it. It is 8megapixels and has many of the same adjustments as the SLR cameras. (shutter, f-stop etc...) There's a lot more I haven't learned about it yet (including getting the quality of model pics I see from some here) but for landscape, portrait and snapshot it works great! I am sure with a little more time my macro photography will get good, it's already getting better...

Basically the higher megapixels, good macro and high optical zoon is what you are looking for. (digital zoom is an extrapolation of what the camera sees done by the computer, typically it isn't the greatest) You'll want at least 512MB of compact flash or memory for it and an extra battery pack.

With my Sony and the digital SLR's you can buy standard filters from the camera shop. Mine takes 58mm and the others are 52 to 58 mm depending on model.

Good luck!

On a tangent, megapixel is derived from multiplying the width and height of the photo stored in the camera. so 1024x960 = 1MP (approximately)

---edit---

I just reread your question and I was asleep the first time so missed a point. Cameras that are equivalent to an SLR would be the Sony DSCf-828 and the Nikon 8700 and 8800 (almost identical, the 5800 has more optical zoom) both have 8MP as well... of the two I believe the 8800 to be superior.

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Sunday, July 10, 2005 9:41 AM

Someone on Armorama who sells digital cameras gave this advice back in 2003. The information still holds true today:
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=11911&page=1

Reply

rjkplasticmod

Member since
February 2003
From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State

Posted by rjkplasticmod on Sunday, July 10, 2005 9:47 AM

I have a Nikon D70 & like it a lot. The new Nikon D70s is a slightly upgraded version & the D50 a slightly downgraded version. The Canon D Rebel is also an excellrnt choice.

Here's a link for a good site that offers comprehensive reviews of all Digital cameras:

www.dpreview.com

Regards, Rick

RICK

At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...

Reply

tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, July 10, 2005 10:15 AM

Rob - good link, after reading it I wanted to reiterate about the memory. I have a 256MB memory stick and at full MP (8) I only get about 42 shots on it. Something with a high megapixel is going to need at least that or better 512MB which costs no more than about 60 dollars. I am going to make the leap and get the 1GB stick soon which should hold well over 100 shots for me. It's only about $89

It would be a good idea to buy it when you get the camera because typically (like mine) the cameras come with about a 32MB stick which would hold about 9 pictures at full size.

Kevan it also sounds like you already know something about photography so one of the cameras mentioned wouldn't be a prob for you. You can resize the pics for posting on the web with the editing software that comes with the camera or (much better in my opnion) get a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements which comes with a pretty good suite of tools to edit your photos. It's about $99.00

I've seen Rick's (rjplasticmod) model photos and they are right on the money.. very good quality.

---edit---
forgot to add something

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

Reply

Aviator

Member since
March 2005

Posted by Aviator on Sunday, July 10, 2005 2:01 PM

First of all, let me recommend this sight. http://www.pricegrabber.com/home_catpage.php/catzero=76
I think this will answer your questions. You'll probably be able to find any other accessories you need here too. High mp are good. If your just taking pictures of models, a long optical zoom probably isn't that important to you. You might want to stay away from the compact flash (CF) cards though. I have heard that if one of those pins inside the camera gets bent, it can cost a lot (he said about $200) to repair it. Buy as much memory as you can afford. personally, I favor AAs over Li-ion batteries. Anyway, I think this sight is very helpful. Good luck. Cool [8D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 10, 2005 2:41 PM

Listen, you have and have had Canon, so stick with it, there much a much these days, I'm a Nikon guy, so that's all I use.
Canon do a very good "entry" level DSLR, so that you can add your lenses, but in all honesty, if your not using an SLR now, you'll grow to hate carrying round a bag of bits all the time! I use a Nikon D70, but I also have a Nikon coolpix 5700, takes equally great pics and is far less to lug around.
Memory cards are 10 a penny these days, I just got 3, 1 gig cards without breaking the bank. CD writer, well yes, it's a more stable way of keeping them, without fear of hard drive failure. All cameras will come with a method of file transfere to your PC, though a card reader for $10 will do it quicker.
As for staying away from anything below 3meg, really depends what your going to do with the pics? if they will stay on the PC, then 1 meg will still be ok, except the image quality(color etc) will be poor. I have a Sony DSC-S50 2meg! I still use it for night or dark shots, as it produces little or no pixel noise! If I could figure out how to post pics here, I'd post a night shot of Hong Kong harbour that was taken with the Sony to show you.
Generaly, as with everything, the more you spend, the more you get, but you may not need it all!

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Edit

upnorth

Member since
December 2002
From: Canada / Czech Republic

Posted by upnorth on Monday, July 11, 2005 5:34 AM

Thanks for the help guys, I'll check out the links and with any luck, I'll find someone in a camera shop around here who speaks enough English to help me.

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