thinking of buying myself a good digital camera

[Chris B]

Well with Christmas coming up and all, when i have been asked what I want, I usually say gift cards from tandy or Hidecrafters. But I am thinking of buying myself a good digital camera that I can use to take good pictures to put up on the web. What are some good brands and models? And what do you all use?

thanks,

Chris

[ClayB]

I use a Dimage Z6 from Konica Minolta. It's got a really good macro setting for close ups of leather work and a 12X optical zoom for when I am out looking at wildlife. It's supposed to have Anti Shake, but I am not convinced that works all that great because I can still take blurry pictures. I really like it for what I do. I am no professional photographer, but once in while I can get some pretty neat shots.

Before this one I had a Fuji Fine Pix 3800. I really liked it too, until the lens fell off it. I think my kids might have had something to do with that.

[CitizenKate]

I have a Sony Cybershot, which I've had now for about... <counting on fingers...> 5 years. I chose it for its optics and its macro feature, and was not disappointed. If you are planning to use it to photograph your leather work, and especially if you plan to sell your work online, a macro feature is a must.

Kate

[bruce johnson]

Chris,

I had one of the smaller boxy digitals, 3 mb or close to that, and small lens with 3X zoom and the optical zoom on top of that. Pretty mediocre leather pics, but OK for general use. A couple years ago my wife got a Canon Powershot S2. Nice camera, has the macro, better optical zoom, and something like 5 mb (?). It is much handier that the small one, better lens, much better pics, especially closeups. They say you don't need all those mb for web-sized pics. I say that you do, because the smaller mb cameras also have crappier lenses and less features. You can always downsize the picture later for web posting. Last week my wife (the photo person of the family) hit some hot deal on a Canon 40D digital SLR, so I have now officially inherited the S2.

I also made up the PVC frame/shower curtain photo booth that I think Kate showed. Worth the $21.47 I have in it.

[bcurrier]

I think the Sony Powershot A-series are the best bang for the buck cameras on the market.

If you want reliable reviews, look to www.dpreview.com. It has very detailed and very technical reviews on most digital cameras on the market. Results are measured, not guessed at.

Were I in the market for a new point-and-shoot, it would be a Sony A640 or A710 IS (image stabilized).

Bill

[Chris B]

Wow thanks guys. hopefully I will have one this weekend. About how many mega bites and mega pixels should I look for? And with this macro image stuff, does it have some sort of measurement to look for or what? Again, thanks alot. Bruce do you think that you could post some pictures of that frame that you made? Or is it just a rectangle and you put a light behind it?

Thanks,

Chris

[gtwister09]

Chris,

My suggestion is to look at these sites. I have kept some of them in my bookmarks because this question comes up with many people in the past.

They will educate and also help with the selection based on your criteria. They have compare functions of the specifications as well as image comparison. A visual try before you buy...

http://www.imaging-resource.com/

http://www.dpreview.com/

http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3222

http://www.testfreaks.com/digital-cameras/

http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/

Regards,

Ben

[bcurrier]

Trust me on this one - the number of pixels doesn't matter nearly as much as the quality of the lenses and the quality of the conversion software inside the camera (the software converts the raw capture information into a JPEG). There are pro cameras that shoot fewer pixels than many consumer cameras that get far better results. Anything *really good quality* in a consumer camera from 6 megapixels up will be just fine. Buy the BEST camera for your budget and don't worry about the pixel count. Don't be fooled by the pixel pushers - it's only one factor among many, including chip type, sensitivity, pixel pattern, pixel size, and several more besides.

Macro capability is the ability to focus very close, as in just a few inches. Very valuable in shooting craft work to show details. Good advice from the previous responder!

[bruce johnson]

Chris,

I think Kate has a picture somewhere, but I sure can't find it. The photobooth thing is a box framework of pvc pipe and connectors. I glued some joints, and left others loose, so It is not a total pain to put together, but will store flat. I cover it with a clearish white shower curtain. My light sources are some clip on floodlights that I clamp onto the frame and use directly or diffused through the shower curtain (read - fire danger if left on and forgotten). With this light I don't need flash. For the prop, i take a box and toss a bath towel over it. I lean whatever project I have against that. I also either really stabilize my elbows on the table, or use a small tripod.

Art used to make fun of my techniques and background choices on another list, so I am movin' on up. Besides a sewing machine guy, Art is pretty sharp on this camera stuff too. I am attaching a couple pics of two using the booth, and one of the "old way". I am now playing with different background colors, and light angles.

[CitizenKate]

Here are the photos of my softbox, along with a light stand, both which I built with PVC pipe... The "diffuser" is a vinyl shower curtain.

I use a long sheet of felt for my backdrop. A lint roller is very handy for getting lint off.

Kate

PS: Bruce, love the salt & pepper set!

Edited November 27, 2007 by CitizenKate