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 Posted - October 23 2006 : 08:51:46 AM
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Hey,
Can anyone with some knowledge on the subject make some suggestions to me regarding a decent, but not terribly expensive digital camera buy?
I know nothing about what I need, but know I want one that can take pictures of my trains with some degree of quality.
Not long ago, I bought a 1.3-mega pixel camera and thought it might do the trick. It was junk. Fuzzy pictures...bad focus...and must be in total sun to get even those weak images.
I'd like to spend around $100 and I'd like pictures that can be done in normal room light, provide some focus close up on model trains, etc. Am I asking too much for $100??? What am I gonna have to spend, if nothing in the $100-range will do the trick?
Does anybody have any suggestions???
Thanks
[?]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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 Posted - October 23 2006 : 09:12:41 AM
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hi tony,a couple of bits of advice buying a digital camera,the lens is what all cameras are judged by a 28mm with f2 is much better than a 28mm with f3.6 as it needs less light,steer clear of digital zooms,optical zoom is what counts,and lastly do not get a fixed focus lens go for multi speed ie 100 200 400 asa,which most cameras with auto focus have,should be easy to find for the money you are talking samsung come to mind or even vivitar at the lower end,or canon at around the 120 dollar leve,below is a canon 5 mega pixel $117 in statesl ken
/tyco/forum/uploaded/catfordken/12714_1.jpg
http://www.rainbowtronics.com/products.asp?product_id=12714&engine=bizrate
pps stay clear of the cheaper $50 dallar 7 mega pixel cameras as they are more likely to be interpolated ie 7 mega pixel interpolated=3.2 true mega pixel
Edited by - catfordken on October 23 2006 09:30:19 AM
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 Posted - October 23 2006 : 11:44:49 AM
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Assuming my photos are acceptable, I have taken most of them with a Canon Powershot A85. This is a 4MP 2004-generation camera, and I love it. Takes regular AA batteries (no goofy rechargeable Li-ions) and CF cards which are dirt cheap.
My wife dropped ours on its lens a few months ago, so we bought a used one for less than $50 on ebay (we'd bought several lens accessories for ours that we didn't want to lose).
The model that Ken suggested is a generation up from ours, so based on my experiences I would heartilty endorse that as well. The Canon Powershot series generally offers a lot of settings you can play with to experiment with aperature, exposure, speed and focus settings to teach yourself "real" photography when it matters. Or you can be lazy like me for the purposes of posting here, and just use "auto" (under good lighting of course).
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 Posted - October 23 2006 : 4:42:54 PM
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Hey Guys,
Thanks for the suggestion on the camera. I will seek out this Canon model locally and give it a test snap. The pics I've seen from both of you guys are exactly the type of quality I've been wanting to get but keep coming up way short with my two attempts at buying a digital camera.
Thanks Again
[:)]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 4:45:59 PM
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| hi tony just to prove my point i am using a 3.2 mega pixel olympus but it has a quality lens,and optical zoom,but that canon is still a good buy ken
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 5:03:40 PM
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Forgot to add: a tripod is essential for model photography. If you aren;t using one now, I'd get one before buying a new camera - you might be surprised. (I had a Kodak DC280 that was just as aggravating as what you describe - but it worked OK with a tripod).
You can also find a camera with image stabilization - the Canon Powershot Sx /IS series is good here. My other cam is in fact a Powershot S1 IS, an AWESOME 3MP model with 10x OPTICAL that I picked up used for $100. Used the same CF cards and betteries as my A85, but is the "tweener" step between a point&shoot (A series) and true DSLR (Rebel). Even at 3MP, the quality is excellent, even up to 11x15 prints. And the zoom is PERFECT for spontaneous distance railfanning, with Image Stabilizing to keep the jitters at bay. The current version is the S3 IS, for around $500. But a used S1 is a great deal if you can find one.
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 5:14:28 PM
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totally agree with goingincirclez about tripod even though i have never used one yet,but try resting your present camera on a couple of books,take some photos if its an improvement get a tripod,if not get a new camera,photo below taken of matchbox loco resting on a shelf so a tripod does help,1st is original 2nd cropped 3rd cropped even more,zoom not used this is just plain cropping,on a cheap lens camera you would at this stage be seeing pixels,not the label,ken
  
Edited by - catfordken on October 24 2006 07:04:51 AM
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Posted - October 25 2006 : 08:22:09 AM
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Okay gentlemen, I've talked myself up a notch to the $150-range on my digital camera purchase...but here is the one I think I'm close to settling upon...
It has the optical zoom and NOT digital zoom, which you said to avoid...6 megapixels...and Office Max this week has it for $149 with a FREE 512MB xD card. My quick look at the price for a 512MB card was around $35-$40.
What do you think?
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
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Posted - October 25 2006 : 10:06:52 AM
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hi tony not in the big league (not meant as an insult) but as an allrounder worth checking it out see if it does what you want it to,mine is an olympus (not in the big league),they are very reliable,ken
Edited by - catfordken on October 25 2006 12:55:29 PM
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Posted - October 25 2006 : 1:04:42 PM
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my camera ken
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_c3020z.asp
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