View Full Version : Best Camera
Marty
05-12-2009, 09:36 PM
Wasnt sure the best section for this, but a lot of people post some amazing pictures on here. Our digitial camera is crap and I have been thinking of getting a new one, so my question is,
What camera do you have and what would you recommend?
I am thinking of getting a disposable underwater camera and see if i can use that in the tank thumbs2:
Algenco
05-12-2009, 09:50 PM
the simple answer would be the most expensive digital SLR you can afford
I have a Canon Rebel XSi (450D)
Wild Turkey
05-12-2009, 09:54 PM
I use a refurbished fuji s700 and i love it. It can do a lot more than i can do with it though:hmm3grin2orange: It was 130$ shipped with a load of accessories on e-bay. Since im not very experienced, it serves me more than well, but DSLR cameras are what everyone i was taking advice from uses.
Z Fish Man
05-12-2009, 09:58 PM
I also have the cannon rebel XSi and think it is a great DSLR camera for the price. You don't really need anything more unless you're a professional photographer.
Deleted User
05-12-2009, 10:00 PM
If you have the money.
A Nikon D90. :ssmile:
Gayle
05-12-2009, 10:11 PM
I have a fairly cheap camera but I love it! It is a Cannon powershot A590IS
MCHRKiller
05-12-2009, 10:34 PM
Not the best but I use a Kodak Z712IS, it serves my purposes well...it was moderatly priced(I paid $250) and has alot of manual controls and I really love the super zoom abilities and it has a good lense on it for what I use it for. Plus its really easy to use.
Marty
05-12-2009, 10:35 PM
cool, well it will be a while before i could afford any camera's like that.
Going to get a $5 disposable underwater camera and see if i can take photos that way :P
KatzeSlaugen
05-12-2009, 10:49 PM
what you get with cannon rebel series of cameras is very lush colors and deeper saturation.
the xsi,xti,and xs are all great beginner cameras and youll love the pictures they give you.
on the flip side you have nikon (which i highly prefer) which dont give you quite as much saturation and lushness (the picture is not by any means dull), but they do give you a sharper picture from my experience, which is quite alot
either way make sure when you are taking the picture you have the megapixels set as high as they go, if your taking raw great but if your taking jpeg have it set to fine and if you have the option choose the least compression of data as it will give you a better picture
rich311k
05-12-2009, 11:20 PM
I use a Pentax K10D. Try for camera with as much optical zoom as you can and one with macro and sports mode.
ILuvMyGoldBarb
05-12-2009, 11:21 PM
Personally I use the Sony Alpha 200 DSLR. I love it. After reading some reviews on it, it compares quite nicely to the Cannon XSi. Recently added a new flash to it that really helps make the colors and details explode.
KatzeSlaugen
05-12-2009, 11:35 PM
Personally I use the Sony Alpha 200 DSLR. I love it. After reading some reviews on it, it compares quite nicely to the Cannon XSi. Recently added a new flash to it that really helps make the colors and details explode.
the very nice thing about sony slrs is that the stabilization is built into the body so instead of paying for a 700$ lenses it costs you about 350$. i love that feature. the stabilization isnt suited directly for the focal length but have it certainly helps and makes lenses more affordable.
ILuvMyGoldBarb
05-13-2009, 12:35 AM
For sure. The basic Alpha 200 sells for about $499 most places (might be lower now, I bought mine 3 months ago) and I got the 75-300mm telephoto lens for about $100. The great thing about Sony DSLR's is that you can use a lot of the newer Minolta lenses with them. Makes lenses even more affordable.
Your BEST bet is to start googling! There is a LOT of consumer info out there to be had for the asking!
I also have the Canon Rebel 450D. I'm new to photography, but if I do say so myself, I've taken some outstanding pictures with this camera and just learning on a trial and error method.
There are lots of cameras out there. You probably first need to decide what level of quality you desire, then go from there. You get a cheapo camere, chances are your pics will reflect this.
Do your homework....and good luck with what ever you go with!
KatzeSlaugen
05-13-2009, 08:55 PM
the reason to the minolta compatibility is because sony bought out minolta and sony only makes parts of the camera body.
any camera will work with older lenses , even lenses from film cameras, as long as on the film camera it was automatic focus. if it was on a new digital it will be manual focus ( no problem for me i only use manual). if it was manual focus on a film camera the digital camera wont recognize there is a lense on it and wont let you take a picture.
ILuvMyGoldBarb
05-13-2009, 11:13 PM
the reason to the minolta compatibility is because sony bought out minolta and sony only makes parts of the camera body.
Well aware of that fact. :hmm3grin2orange:
Hard to say what is the best. I can tell you that most folks would agree: You could have the absolutely most expensive, professional grade camera there is and still end up with crappy shots. Conversely, a skilled photographer can get outstanding shots from the worst camera.
I personally use a Canon XTI and love it. I have not however tapped all that it can do because I just don't know enough about photography yet. My wife's Canon SD 1100IS also gets great pictures for a lot less money.
Marty
05-13-2009, 11:45 PM
I will just keep looking at the different ones that fit in my budget, which is little right now, lol.
I am not a bad photographer but nowhere near an expert, and with my current camera ive noticed that i only get clear pictures when the flash works. When its off, its always blurry. Dont understand that one!
Cameron
05-14-2009, 01:09 AM
I will just keep looking at the different ones that fit in my budget, which is little right now, lol.
I am not a bad photographer but nowhere near an expert, and with my current camera ive noticed that i only get clear pictures when the flash works. When its off, its always blurry. Dont understand that one!
Well usually the reason non-flash pictures are blurry is because the shutter speed(time it take the picture, basically) is higher(slower) so any movement isn't caught very well. Thats why flash pictures are better shorter shutter speed, more light for less time for the shutter to be open, which determines how light/dark the picture is. Thats why on shows like TimeWarp that uses high speed cameras, need LOTS of light to capture things so fast(..slow)
thumbs2:
Marty
05-14-2009, 01:39 AM
oh cool Cameron, sadly it doesnt look like my camera has an option to change the shutter speed. :(
rich311k
05-14-2009, 01:42 AM
It sets it by the amount of light it senses. Using the flash will speed it up.Try shooting at an angle to divert the flash away from th ecamera. You could also try a tissue or something over the flash to reduce the glare.
Marty
05-14-2009, 01:57 AM
Yea but if I have no flash then my pictures are blurry, so surely if i want more clearer pictures i need more light?
rich311k
05-14-2009, 02:05 AM
The tissue just diffuses the light a bit to eliminate glare you will still get light and a fast shutter.
Marty
05-14-2009, 02:23 AM
oh ok, i will give that a try!
Fraoch
05-14-2009, 03:33 PM
I was looking for a camera just recently and wanted one that could take good aquarium shots, I got a Canon A1000IS.
Several good things going for it in terms of aquarium shots:
1. It has an "Aquarium" mode.:ssmile: In this mode it uses the flash only when absolutely necessary. It increases the speed to ISO 800, meaning it usually doesn't need to use the flash.
2. It has image stabilization, the cheapest current Canon to have this, which reduces blur.
3. It has a 3.8X zoom, the largest you can get in a camera this size.
4. It takes 30 fps movies, current Canons below this one are now 24 fps!
About the only thing I don't like about it so far is it's very picky about batteries. Only fresh alkalines. I haven't gotten NiMH or rechargeable alkaline batteries to work in it, even though the manual recommends NiMHs!:spam:
My old camera (Canon A75) used 4 batteries, this uses 2. The A75 didn't care what type of batteries I used and got a lot of use out of them, the A1000IS eats up batteries like no tomorrow.
Marty
05-14-2009, 05:15 PM
nice Fraoch - what is it like taking pictures other than aquarium shots?
Does it have a sport function for rapid movement? (i also could do with this feature for my job)
And how much did it set you back?
Fraoch
05-14-2009, 06:26 PM
nice Fraoch - what is it like taking pictures other than aquarium shots?
Haven't used it a whole lot, but I am pleased with it for other subjects. It does faces very well, for example.
Does it have a sport function for rapid movement? (i also could do with this feature for my job)
Amazingly enough (my old A75 did), no. However image stabilization means you can shoot with much less blur caused by camera shake, and high speed (up to ISO 3200) means that the camera can go very fast if the lighting is good. ISO 3200 is very grainy though.
And how much did it set you back?
Only $165 CDN, you should be able to find it for $120 US I'd think.
See [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
I have the Sony a200 as well, awsome camerea, battery seems to last forever. Also got the extra lens
oh cool Cameron, sadly it doesnt look like my camera has an option to change the shutter speed. :(
Marty, a lot of the cameras out there now are very good quality.
Disclaimer: I'm NEW to photography and know very little....
MY opinion is, that the first option you should try and acquire is MANUAL FOCUS! Auto is fine, but manual is MUCH better once you learn how to use it, specially with really close up shots. I have found with my camera that the camera doesn't always focus clearly on a small, quick moving object! The camera has sensors that detect the distance of an object, but when the objects are small AND moving... it's hard for the camera to lock onto it.
I'm getting some pretty decent pictures and trust me, it's not because of my skill... LOL
Marty
05-14-2009, 07:35 PM
lol..
well, this is my crappy camera, [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
lol..
well, this is my crappy camera, [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
Well, 4.1 mp is twice as good as my other camera that took really good pictures! Not quite so good for fish photos, but for everything else, it was fantastic!
Miltonic
05-14-2009, 09:07 PM
Im also looking to buy a digital SLR camera but they're prices are so over my budget right now :/ To think that in my Photography class in HS they had like 20 of them.
Marty
05-14-2009, 11:21 PM
Well, 4.1 mp is twice as good as my other camera that took really good pictures! Not quite so good for fish photos, but for everything else, it was fantastic!
Yea we get nice photos with everything else, except the fish, lol.
I have been playing with it, and there are a couple of settings that I can use that will make the images clearer, just not crystal clear like some on AC can make.
Problem is, now the fish wont stay still hahaha
vBulletin v3.5.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.