Author Topic: Digital cameras (Read 1877 times)

CaptMoto · « **on:** 28, December, 2007, 09:13:11 PM »

This is a request for advice from those of you who are more in the know about digital cameras and photography as such, cause that is one topic I am totally ignorant about.

I need a new digital camera and wow I went to a few shops and came home camera-less! Also very sad that for a moment I thought I had stepped out of a plain into a country where they speak a language I am not familiar with.

1) megapixels - how much is enough for a decent quality pic? Some cameras go totally crazy at 12mgpxls or more, some of those I have been recomended average 7.2 or 8.2, but I have also been told that the more the mpxls the larger the file and the need for a large memory card and space on the pc to store them. Also that affects the price a lot.

2) shutter speed -

3) Iso values ??
4) Smart zoom ??
5) digital zoom??
6) aperture ??
7) exposure??

I am lost....

£200 budget, what do I really need?

Darkmonster · « **Reply #1 on:** 28, December, 2007, 10:34:30 PM »

All I can say is....

http://www.dpreview.com/

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trouty · « **Reply #2 on:** 28, December, 2007, 11:39:22 PM »

Quote (CaptMoto @ Dec. 28 2007,21:13)

£200 budget, what do I really need?

you could commission an artist to follow you round for that sort of budget!

Mr Rizla · « **Reply #3 on:** 28, December, 2007, 11:52:04 PM »

i would think the most important question is, what is your primary use for the camera...

Darkmonster · « **Reply #4 on:** 29, December, 2007, 12:06:57 AM »

Do you want a 'point & press' or an slr?

I have a Canon Powershot SD850 IS for general use, when out & about, which takes a reasonable snapshot type picture as the example below...

Nick Mason (From Pink Floyd's) 250 GTO Ferrari

Click on the link above for a full review. Good little all round camera, I'm happy with the results, 8.0 mega pixel, I have put around 1100 images on a 4gb memory card from a weekends shoot at Pebble Beach.

For serious stuff (published work) I use my Canon Rebel XTi, not only is is small & light, but it can utilize my old Canon lenses, also 10.1 mega pixel makes it a nice capture device as well as a lot of manual features. A little too big to 'stuff in a pocket' but, awesome results in both stationary & moving photo's. Same 4gb memory card results in around 800 pictures, and you ain't gonna take that many...are you???

Stationary...

And moving (1st time out with my new 300mm zoom) shooting a 3 fps and from the far side of the track...

Check out that site I posted above & use the comparison tool on there, I know the prices are in dollars, so look around the $400 mark.

Hope this helps a little.

Just buy the best you can afford... More mega pixels is better...and the memory cards, bigger is better

'>

trouty · « **Reply #5 on:** 29, December, 2007, 02:43:30 AM »

DM - those drag shots, are the cars part way on a run up the strip? or are they at the rolling burnout tyre stickying stage?

CaptMoto · « **Reply #6 on:** 29, December, 2007, 09:45:15 AM »

Thanks to all the replies, but.... I am still none the wiser, while your replies showed me ideas of cameras I still don't understand what the technical terms are which are so highly featured in these cameras actually mean.

To answer MrRizla I need a camera which can take decent, clear pics, nothing too professional as I am not a photographer who works for a publication or something, I need to be able to highligh / enlarge and use bits of a picture to use as examples or to combine with other shots

i.e.: something that can be used in many ways.

What I need to understand is when I look for a camera, and I compare features, for example what does ISO 100, 200, 300, 400 means?

What's noise reduction on a camera??
What does Smart Zoom or digital zoom means??

for what I have gathered so far I think I am in the market for this camera

Sony DSC-W55 7.2 Megapixels

it has very good reviews and its decently priced in a discount deal at Comets for £109, right up my street.

good/bad?

john · « **Reply #7 on:** 29, December, 2007, 10:25:19 AM »

I can explain it all to you but it's not something thats easy to do in a post...

There is one basic rule to follow, the best camera is the one you have with you when you want to take a photo !

'>

On that basis look at things like portability, ease of use, battery life and durability because there is no point having a camera that you can't have with you always and that you can't rely on when you need it and you don't want a camera that you have to be too precious about !

'>

The one other aspect of digital cameras that is probably more important than anything else is the time it takes to setup to take a picture, that is the time from when you press the button to it actually taking the picture. Most 'cheap' cameras, and even a few expensive ones, suffer in this respect, especially in low light.

Wildcat · « **Reply #8 on:** 29, December, 2007, 11:00:29 AM »

Digital zoom is practically pointless.

john · « **Reply #9 on:** 29, December, 2007, 11:10:18 AM »

Quote (Wildcat @ Dec. 29 2007,11:00)

Digital zoom is practically pointless.

yes, good point, totally pointless

'>

As is the pursuit of loads of megapixels, about 6 megapixels in a compact format camera is more than enough.

Darkmonster · « **Reply #10 on:** 29, December, 2007, 11:47:33 AM »

Quote (troutslayer @ Dec. 28 2007,18:43)

DM - those drag shots, are the cars part way on a run up the strip? or are they at the rolling burnout tyre stickying stage?

They are both in rolling burnout mode, traveling around 80-90mph

Darkmonster · « **Reply #11 on:** 29, December, 2007, 11:48:38 AM »

Quote (Wildcat @ Dec. 29 2007,03:00)

Digital zoom is practically pointless.

Optical zoom is what your after!!

scorps · « **Reply #12 on:** 29, December, 2007, 11:54:43 AM »

i have a couple of cameras one point to note try to get a camera that takes normal batterys my sony is a pain everytime i go to use it it needs recharging
the fugi i have takes normal batterys you can still put rechargables in it but just in case you can put normal ones in
digital zoom aint worth Shit
one with a normal vewfinders are better than looking at the image on a lcd screen

scorps · « **Reply #13 on:** 29, December, 2007, 12:05:45 PM »

i have one of these clicky

and one of these
clicky

i find i never use the sony much
if its just a snap then i tend to use my phone camera
if i want to go out to take photos i use the fugi
tho its a bit bulky

john · « **Reply #14 on:** 29, December, 2007, 12:11:10 PM »

Quote (scorps @ Dec. 29 2007,11:54)

i have a couple of cameras one point to note try to get a camera that takes normal batterys my sony is a pain everytime i go to use it it needs recharging
the fugi i have takes normal batterys you can still put rechargables in it but just in case you can put normal ones in
digital zoom aint worth Shit
one with a normal vewfinders are better than looking at the image on a lcd screen

thats another good point, if the camera doesn't take normal batteries check the price of spare ones, oem batteries are generally bloody expensive and most of the ones for sale on ebay that claim to be genuine are actually fakes...

CaptMoto · « **Reply #15 on:** 29, December, 2007, 07:50:25 PM »

Right I've bit the bullet and bought that Sony DSC-W55 7.2 mpxls. £109 that includes the box with instructions an f### all else! lol that's what you get when you are tight. Luckily I had a 1meg memory stick duo from my previous camera and all I need now is a nice body glove case to protect it.

I couldn't afford Scorps's Sony (though I liked that very much) but now I have read up a bit more on them it seems this one is the right one for me. 7.2 megapixels is more than I need. The shutter time is fast and the zoom comes out in 1.6 seconds which is quick too. Its not plastic its metal and light, small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.

I am satisfied with it (for now)

Darkmonster · « **Reply #16 on:** 29, December, 2007, 08:18:26 PM »

Come on then....get snapping...lets see some results!!

CaptMoto · « **Reply #17 on:** 29, December, 2007, 08:49:15 PM »

Will do as soon as I get a nice subject ; a bit of decent weather would help is wet and moggy today. But I'll take a nice close up of something and I will show you.

Cheers

CaptMoto · « **Reply #18 on:** 29, December, 2007, 09:27:00 PM »

Close up of a lighter

Indoor plant (flash used)

out there with flash

Cat #1 with flash

Cat #1 without flash

Cat #2 with flash

Cat #2 without flash

Close up of can without flash

Darkmonster · « **Reply #19 on:** 29, December, 2007, 10:50:39 PM »

Good stuff.....see, there are subjects everywhere!

CaptMoto · « **Reply #20 on:** 30, December, 2007, 01:23:45 AM »

this is the camera Sony DSC-W55, sorry but... I've used the mobile to take the pics

Darkmonster · « **Reply #21 on:** 30, December, 2007, 12:41:16 PM »

I've played with that one too....quite pleased with the results, considering the cost vs features, its a good value camera.

One tip for you...

Use the actual viewfinder when snapping pics, NOT the screen...it'll give you a better idea of what you will get, and also, with the screen turned off, battery life will be greatly extended

'>

CaptMoto · « **Reply #22 on:** 30, December, 2007, 02:25:47 PM »

Thanks very much, I'll bear that tip in mind, using the viewvfinder is also more natural than that screen, I think I would only use the screen to preview the shots before deciding whether to keep or bin them.

I am quite pleased with it and I can't wait to be able to put it to the test both when out having fun or at work on a ship.

Cheers

CaptMoto · « **Reply #23 on:** 31, December, 2007, 05:22:48 PM »

Testing the camera outdoor, no sun and very cloudy

Darkmonster · « **Reply #24 on:** 31, December, 2007, 05:58:48 PM »

Damm...thats a BIG yacht ':p'

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Author Topic: Digital cameras (Read 1877 times)