I use a Toshiba PDR-M81. It is a 4.2 MegaPixel camera (with a movie
option that lets you take movies up to - well, I forget but 1-2
minutes I think); it has a macro mode, a manual or automatic mode and
you can also buy a lens ring that lets you attach standard size
lenses to it. So if you already have lenses from an SLR that you own,
you could use those on this camera. (Or you can buy them, of course.)
I have been very happy with it. I haven’t gotten through the manual
yet b/c I would rather just use something and learn that way, but
actually on this one, you get better pictures once you read the
manual (which I have also discovered recently) I don’t remember
the price but I think it was around $400 - $500. It also has manual,
automatic or repress flash mode, self-timer, a tripod attachment
(tripod sold separately) and a USB plug for your computer. It’s
compact - about 3" x 4" x 2" and moderate in weight.
there is a really big price jump between the newest version and
the one before it, and I'm not really sure how significant of a
quality difference there is between the two models.
Just like with computers, the best value for your money is usually
going to be the last model. The latest and greatest model is a
little bit better, but usually not as MUCH better as the price tag
would suggest.
I'd love to be able to use my Nikon lenses on more than my 35mm.
From what I’ve been able to find out, you’re out of luck on that
hope. I was thinking similar thoughts, but the camera stores I’ve
talked to seem to think that even if the lens mount is the same
size, the digital and the 35mm cameras won’t be able to talk
cleverly to the same lenses. (Certainly won’t be able to do things
like auto-focus.)
But I’d be delighted to hear that I’m wrong. Anyone out there have
more than second-hand
reasonable zoom (about 10x with optical and digital combined)
Digital zoom doesn’t count. All it does is blow up your image
(yielding poor resolution) and throw away a bunch of information
from the cropped edges of the picture. You’re better off taking the
picture with optical zoom only, and then cropping in Photoshop (or
similar) if you only want a portion of the image.
-Spider (amateur jeweler and part-time Photoshop nerd)
Douglas - Yes indeed. I purchased the Nikon D-100. It uses the
standard auto focus lenses available from Nikon since the late '70s.
This is the camera I’ve waited for. Prices on the body have finally
come down.
I’m starting the hunt too for a digital camera. My understanding
about Sony is that the memory for Sony cameras (except those that go
directly to disk) is made only by sony and generally speaking more
expensive than compact flash which is used in a lot of other
cameras. I’m also wondering about battery life. I really want a more
complex camera and intend to use it for all kinds of Photography.
Olympus has some that use either AA and Lithium batteries. Anyone
know about this? Thanks, Mary B.
There is plenty of memory for Sony’s that is not made by them and is
very very reasonable if you watch for sales - mine is all from a
company named Lexar - look for sales online @ Tiger Direct, Overstock.com, etc and you can get it inexpensively.
As to battery life, I’ve got the Sony f707, and its a trooper - even
under heavy use.
I followed the thread and use a Nikon Coolpix 990 that I got a few
years ago on “your” recommendations and really love it. In Tucson,
I bought the cloud dome system, which I can mount my camera onto.
This has cut my picture taking time in half with much better quality
without any shadows or hot spots. To see the results go to my
website http://www.goldgraphix.com and click on “online catalog”.
Wendy Newman
I’m not sure about other makes but the Sony camera’s that use the
infolithium batteries work pretty much like video cameras. My sony
DSC-F707 has a rechargeable battery that lasts for around 2.5 hours
of continuous use even when using the flash.
As for the sony memory sticks, they are a little more expensive but
the prices are coming down and you can usually get good deals on
memory sticks on ebay
Digital cameras gobble up batteries bigtime. Make sure you have
several sets of rechargable AA batteries and a couple rechargers. It
worth it to buy a battery pack for about 40-50 $, and make sure the
camera you buy will accept one(Minolta Dimage 7i will as well as
others I’m sure). They hold the equivalent in power of about 10 sets
of 4 AA, and clip on your belt.When your shooting hot and heavy, its
worth it to not have to change batteries so often. Ed
Doug, I think you’re talking about the Nikon D100 that is their
digital SLR, much less expensive than their higher end pro models. I
don’t have personal experience with them, but from what I’ve read
they’re very good cameras and will accept Nikkor lenses. I have older
Nikkor lenses too, and have been researching this issue because I
want to buy a DSLR. Don’t know about flash capability. You can
probably find out about this issue at http://www.dpreview.com.
Whether your old lenses are compatible depends on what lenses you
have. The really old ones must be converted to be able to mount. The
non-so-old ones can be safely mounted but won’t meter. Some of the
ones that can’t meter can be CPU “chipped” so they are completely
functional. The newer automatic focus ones are completely compatible.
Go to http://www.aiconversions.com/compatibilitytable.htm to find out
whether your lenses are compatible.
The Nikon Coolpix 950 has high resolution and we have been very
pleased with rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries even
shooting mostly at the finest resolution. We get maybe a year’s use
from a set before they quit holding a charge adequately. The newer
cameras take enormous images of about 6M each so the mileage is going
to be less for these biggies!
Dear Mary, I use a Minolta digital, 4mg. The camera has better
capability than I do! As for batteries, the battery doesn’t last all
that long, especially when taking larger format images, its seems
and viewing the results. I try not to review the image on the
camera since I can take another anyway. The “screen” simply eats
battery power! The batteries to use are marked “NIMH”, rechagable
nickle metal halide. A set of AA’s and recharger will run about $20
or so in the USA. Regular AA cells will simply not do the job. Get
the charger and batteries, get an extra set of batteries and always
keep a spare set with the camera. That works well for me. I went
through 3 64mg cards recently and a 32mg while on a short vacation.
The batteries are the key. Recharge the spent ones when you get
back home or on drive with an adapter for auto usage.
What really kills batteries is downloading images to the computer. A
card reader for about anothere $20 will take care of that problem.
You will loose more battery energy in downloads than in taking
pictures, from my experience.
Get some extra memory cards, keep all and a spare set of cells with
the camera. That works well for me. I do hope this helps somewhat
even if I didn’t get right to the point of the post.
The dragonfly image is the one taken with this camera. Click to see
a larger image. For jewelry, I do recommend the cloud dome device.
That was used for the image of a jewelry pendant on a later page. I
am not promoting this website, since it is not published or able to
be found on a search. The idea is images. Get a good macro, maybe a
cloud dome, maybe some excellent advice from the Orchid posters who
got me going again in photography with excellent advice on set up,
cameras, etc. The archives should help. There are those here who
know much more than I on photography and they will help a lot, for
sure.
God Bless.
TomDart.
professional jeweler, sometime photog. @Sp.T
My first digital was a Coolpix 990 and it did eat batteries, but the
4500 and other more recent models are addressing that problem, as
well as adding more megapixels with each edition. It is the screen,
not the memory, that eats up the batteries. I took mine on vacation,
and only recharged at night, the battery lasted the whole day,
through a whole 128mg card . Thank goodness my husband had the
foresight to bring his laptop so I could download. An AC power cord
is an essential upgrade when you are framing a jewelry macro shot.
It can take some time to get the lighting just right and whatnot,
you need to be able to check your shot through the camera, very small
changes in the layout make some very large changes in your shot. If
you want to check out cameras, try Steve’s Digicams http://www.steves-digicams.com/ and browse around. This site has
several pages of side by side comparison shots taken by the different
cameras with their macro mode. Lots and lots of links and info. Good
luck, Marggi
If you want to learn about digital cameras, go lurk in the digital
camera newsgroup, rec.photo.digital. They are a Google group, if you
do not have a newsreader on your email… The archives are searchable,
you can click the option to search only the one group (recomended) or
the entirety of Google Groups. Run a search on your camera and you
can see what people who use the camera are saying and what problems
they are having… It is a fabulous resource, similar to the archives
of our own Orchid list. I read it eveyday, and I am now lurking in
alt.graphics.photoshop also, to see if I can pick up some tips on
photoshop. I have been using Adobe Elements, wich has most of the
basics, but I upgraded to the real deal Photoshop and I think my
brain is going to explode. The learning curve on this program is a
cliff, not a slope. Wish me luck, Marggi
Hi Margi- are you trying to learn photoshop on your own or have you
taken a class? They are taught at local adult ed or community college
graphics classes. I use it daily to alter photos and it’s a great
tool. Margaret-Oceanside
If you would like more info on operating Adobe Photoshop 6 or 7,
check out Photoshop Users Magazine from National Association of
Photoshop Professionals. Also on the newstand someplaces. Also try
one or more of their 1 day seminars, about $100, and that learning
curve levels out rapidly. I just went to the Down and Dirty Tricks
Seminar in Indianapolis on Wednesday, after 3-4 years of using, and
it made all the difference in the world. Money well spent.!! Ed
Hi everyone! Not knowing much about digital cameras I am currently
in the process of buying one. I have been through the old threads
and it seems like the Nikon Coolpix 5400 seems to be getting lots of
good feedback from alot of you out there. I have just come back from
the camera shop and it seems this one is now phased out and the new
model that is replacing it is the Nikon Coolpix P1 - which has 8
megapixels, 4 x optical zoom, 2.5’’ screen… I can still get a
Coolpix 7600 - 7 megapixels, 3 x optical zoom which has a smaller
1.8" screen. The new model is an extra AUD $200 approx. So I was
wondering if it was worth it. I would like to use the photos for the
web, jewellery valuations and advertisements. So I guess the extra
megapixels would be worth it for the advertising pictures I plan to
take.
I was wondering if anyone out there had any experience with either
of these cameras for photographing fine jewellery, diamonds,
platinum etc. Or if they have any advice or further suggestions for
a novice.
In my experience, it’s not the actual model number of the Nikon that
you are looking at that matters, rather the macro lens capability
which Nikon has developed. I don’t think you want to snap more than
1 or 2 megapixel images for the web. With this being the case, try
the cheap $299 Nikons before you spend $800 on an overkill. (Kodak
and Sony are easier to use for family picture, IMHO, btw)
I bought a Nikon Coolpix 4800, it has a macro lens that allows you to
get within 1/2" of the subject- perfect for an amateur photographer
like myself- it takes super pictures. I have NO complaints! Check out
some digital camera reviews on www.dpreview.com before you buy. Good
luck.
I use a Nikon 4300 which works very well (and has the macro lens).
The hard part is figuring out the lighting issues. Working the
camera is very straight forward and gives immediate results-have to
love digital cameras. Most camera shops are more than happy to help
you out with questions once you have the camera.
I don’t remember