hidepounder Report post Posted October 1, 2009 Now that I have lost my little point and shoot I need to find a camera to take photos of my work. I would be interested in knowing what you all think a good camera would be for a novice to shoot pictures of their work. I was using the Cannon A80 which is basically a point and shoot with some extra features. It was only a 4 megapixel camera and was several years old so it was defintely time to update. I have been looking at the Cannon SLRs but have a problem justifying the expense when I will only use it for taking photos of leather. I would like to know what you all think are important features and what is really not necessary. I would prefer to stay with Cannon but am not oppossed to considering another brand. I have been looking at the PowerShot SX1 or the G10. Any thoughts? Is it important to be able to shoot in RAW format? Is there a need for more than 8-10 megapixels? Is 25mm to 28mm a good size for close up shots? Wouldn't a remote shutter release be really handy when shooting from a tri-pod for staged shots?If you click on my "View My Gallery" you can see what I was getting with the A80. Not horrible but defintely not professional quality. Those photos were all taken with just a cheap back drop draped over my bench under florescent lighting. I really want to improve the quality of my photos and will probably invest in some better lighting. I have a light box, but without better lighting I wasn't getting any benefit from using it and it is impractical for larger pieces. So, any ideas or opinions? Bobby Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted October 2, 2009 [ I use a Olympus E330 8mp. for most of my work but isn't made anymore. Myself i don't use raw but i hear some folks swear thats the only way to shoot. To me just like one brand is better than another. It boils down to personal choice and what your comfortable with. A good place to go look around is http://www.dpreview.com . They have every camera made listed i think. You can look discussion forms and find out quite a bit about what folks like and don't like plus ask questions. Right now i was going to buy a new camera i would look last years model. You take the camera off of your taxes because you use it for your business. They may not have all of the bells and whistle's as new latest and greatest but their generally alot cheaper. In 6 to 9 months you latest and greatest one is going be left in the dust anyway. Their just like computers in that way. If you buy a DSLR i would get a new faster lens after you learn to use it. The lens that come with the cameras are all right but their not very fast most of the time. I use a 14 to 54 mm 28 to 108 in a regular lens. The lens that i use opens up to F2.8 rather than F 3.5 or 4 like most of the kit lens. Being able to change the lens is PLUS in my book. Shooting with tripod you can use the timer if you don't want to push the button. I don't think these new cameras have a place to screw in remote cable but i may be wrong. But they do have a remote thing like for your TV that you can use to take a picture with. I'm not sure if you have a camera store close to where you live or not. Here where i live you have to go at least a 100 miles to a real store. So i buy online. The places i buy from are http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ http://www.adorama.com/ http://stores.shop.ebay.com/17th-Street-Photo__W0QQ_armrsZ1 and http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Cameta-Camera__W0QQ_armrsZ1 . I have never had any problem with any of these stores their quick to ship and just plain ole nice folks. Lighting i use a couple daylight CF bulbs in gooseneck lights i bought at a yard sale. My light box is a homemade one sort of like the ones that have been shown here. The one i have now is the third one i have built i think and they get bigger ever time. The one i have now is 36 in wide 22 in tall and 22 in deep and i'm going to make a bigger one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tkleather1 Report post Posted October 2, 2009 Not to hijack the thread but what is RAW format? I have heard this on another site (hunting). I dont know the difference Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirtclod Report post Posted October 2, 2009 TK here's a link explaining it a lot better than i ever could. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_image_format Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
somewhereinusa Report post Posted October 2, 2009 Bob, I have a lot of very expensive DSLR equipment that I use in my photo business, but I very seldom use any of it for product photos. I currently use a Canon SX110 IS for product photos. I had an A640 that I liked better, but it got stolen. If all of your photos are used on the web you don't even really want much more than 5-6 MP you have to cut them down to be usable anyway. I try to get web photos down under 50K. I very seldom shoot RAW, just to much processing time for what I do. I often have about 5 minutes from download to computer to finished print. I don't know about other brands, but most upper end Canon P&S cameras have the ability to shoot tethered to a computer through the USB port for remote shutter release. Proper lighting is probably more important than the camera, you have a good start with the light box, but the fluorescent lights aren't good. DPreview has a lot of good info on cameras. I bought my SX110 reconditioned on E-bay for a very good price. If you want I'll try to find the seller. FWIW I have always thought your pictures were excellent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimKleffner Report post Posted October 2, 2009 Bob I have a Canon A 630 which does everything that I want it to do. I'm with you I use it mostly for photographing items that I've completed. I wish I had bought a smaller pocket point and shoot. I would probably carry it with me more, this one is a bulky. I was looking at pocket point and shoot cameras on line the other day, and found that current cameras will do everything this a630 does and MORE. Good luck Tim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dickf Report post Posted October 14, 2009 Bob, I guess I'll be the first to suggest a DSLR. I think you'd be happy with the control and the advantages of having different lenses and being able to fully tweak your settings. You could come into a nice Canon 1000D as an entry level for roughly $500. It comes with a so-so 18-55mm IS kit lens, but you can use any EF or EF-S mount lens. It also has an auto-cleaning sensor like all of the new Rebels. The ability to control the aperture, shutter speed, iso settings, use a hot shoe, and more make it more versatile than any point and shoot. I use a DSLR for holster shots and as an everyday camera, and there's no comparison between it and a p&s. I prefer to have the fine control when I want it, versus not having the option at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtwister09 Report post Posted October 14, 2009 Bob, In making many comparisons over the years I would have to say that the point and shoot Canons as a whole tend to soften their pictures as you zoom and the ISO numbers change (generally above 100). If you are going with these then I would probably not get the G10 after reading the reviews. Regards, Ben Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phillipsimsleatherwork Report post Posted October 19, 2009 Im a film fan. I took some photography classes in college and reallyprefer it over digital. Yeah yeah I know ,"You can do so much with adigital camera with all the programs and editing...blah blah blah."Using a film camera is just as easy and you can use the SAME programsas you would with a digital. I know for a fact you can get film put ona cd at Walgreens,CVS, and Walmart. Plus I still like having the printsin my hand instead of just seeing it on my pc. At CVS and Walgreens youcan have the film put directly on a cd, if you dont want prints, foronly a few dollars. I have a Nikon FE, a Canon EOS Rebel XSN, and a1957 Zeiss Ikon Contaflex which all take AMAZING pictures and are allfilm cameras AND you can pick one up for under $100. Craigslist is agreat resource for used cameras. I had a nice Minolta digital that Isold to buy the Nikon FE film camera. Just sayin Phillip Sims Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted October 19, 2009 Thanks everybody for your responses. I've been researching these cameras...seems like I have ended up with more questions than answers, LOL. Anyway, I'm going to continue to do some reading and I'll let you know what I end up with. Thanks again...... Bobby Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denise Report post Posted November 13, 2009 Bob, Have you decided yet? We are at the same place of looking for something better so I was watching this thread with interest. What have you gone with and why? (OK, so I am too lazy to do my own research. I just call it being efficient... ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hidepounder Report post Posted November 14, 2009 Hi Denise, LOL, I haven't done anything yet....I got sidetracked! I had to take some photos of the alligator belt and got the A80 out just to set if I could get it to work and it did, so I'm hoping that bought me a little time, LOL! Bobby Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
