Direct Current

Hello ever one. I had a good friend tell me to post this question here for some good answers so here we go.

Hay some wise old man (Sandman) accused you of one of you's folk of knowing about cameras. So I have came to this increable disorder to seek OB one's advice on such a device to serve me in my need for a good camera or cameras.

What I seeking is good camera that is good on close-ups as well as a wide angle lens, something i can change the lens or adjust the lens and one that will conect to me computer computer etc....etc. and with in a marginal range of cost.

I am also looking for a motion or movie camera, of corse with the ability to connect to the computer.

Reason is I am getting in involved with take anything from ants on a ant bed to large area like the grancannon

Can you guy off some ideas.

See you later gator. DC.

Done_Fishin

just how much money do you have to spend ??? Whats your budget cos you won't get something good without a really large wad of notes or a really healthy bank account

Direct Current

Hay Done Fisin, I live off disability, so I have to plan ahead, what I do is get some Idea what this might cost like in the mid range pricing and the say OK here what I am going for, so if it July what can I save up to get it christmas, if I can't then about July of next year. Then I set aside the approate funds for that goal.

So to answer your question I want get something as cheap as I can but I want to make sure what I get has quality in for quality pictures and cn hold up. I don't want to have to buy the same pic of equipment twice, if you know what I mean. I'd rather get the quiality and expain my plans to purchase then to buy cheap equipment.

So I am all ears and eyes open for suggestions.

zuluclayman

hi DC
if you're after interchangeable lens capability then you have to be looking at DSLR cameras - Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony all offer good quality cameras, quite often sold as a package with twin lens kits usually something like a standard lens 14-45mm (where 14mm is wide angle to 45mm standard, similar to 50mm in old film SLR's) and a zoom lens anywhere between 150mm to 300mm depending on brand.
Most basic DSLR's of these brands start at 10 Megapixels then go to 12 (and way up to 24Mp Nikon) and 14.
10 Mp will easily print at A3 (and above) should you want to get some nice prints done.
Then it comes down to features that you want (and those that you will actually use )
I have an Olympus (10Mp) and am happy with that but also like the Canon range (EOS 450D or 500D are good entry level packages) for ease of use and quality of lenses - Canon's standard twin lens kit gives better zoom capabilities than my Olympus.
Lenses are pretty dear for all so if you want great macro or something you will pay lots extra for it.
check the specials at your local camera/homeware electrical shops as they often go on special - can save up to $100-200 at times here.
In AUD you can expect to pay between $1000-$1500 for a 10-12Mp DSLR camera with twin lens kit.
Hope this helps

Done_Fishin

taking close ups of very small objects used to mean removing a lens and placing a close-up ring between lens and body .. I have lost touch with "photography technology" over the years but assume that the same would be true of DSLR.

you might also want to consider also a good tripod. Modern tripods are very light which means that they CAN contribute to "picture wobble" so you should take that into consideration too. I frequently think about adding a heavy weight under the camera (on the tripod) to help with stability and anti-shake, but I am worried about damaging the tripod ..

zuluclayman

you're suffering from the same "double post" gremlin as me DF
Extenders, reversers, close up rings etc are still around though not used as much for DSLR's where most people fork out the $$$$ for a good macro lens (and they are expensive too)
see some examples here

Done_Fishin

At least I have the advantage should I see it before the others, that I can remove it from site sorry pun intended.

Thanks for those links I will take a look ready for the day that I too have money to spend .. any day soon and then there's always the fact that I look forward to my pension in a few years

Direct Current

Thanks for the info, guys. At this point you taught me a lot about lens, I had no idea which lens to use for my shot and SLR or DSLR, I did not know what that was. I learn a lot from your info. That give me some info where to start my search and what camera type to look at. And the micro site was great to. Keep the infor comming.

Hay Done_fishin. If your like me, I would rather still be fly from place to place working on things, but I was force into medical retirement, just to many thing falling apart. But I still do as much as I can wben I can, that part of life I guess. Didn't expect to retire this way, that is for sure.

I had a freind purchase several cameras off of eBay and boy did he get rip. I took a chance and bought a old laptop to repair another labtop and all most got rip. I am very concern about buying thru eBay.

scott411

Hi,take a look at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...20USA%2c%20Inc.
also B&H... lots to pick from under $1,500 and you will have a wide and maco lens ,i would go with canon

Done_Fishin

where e-bay is concerned consider everyone a crook .. even when you think you've got it nailed, you can still be wrong, & Paypal can still side with the seller in spite of being made aware of the facts.

Direct Current

looking at some them cameras, you have to wonder what is in them to cost 4,000.00 and 3,000.00 dolars.

I was wondering, you all talk about DSLR but all I see is is SLR camera's, what is the differents here?

Scott which one where refering to at new egg? and what is B&H?

It look like to get a fairly good camera with the lens that I want is going to cost me around 1,500.00 is that about right. I stil got to go back and look zuluclayman infor again to tell which kind of wide angle and micro to get for starters. I am afried that Dothan, Al is short on camera shop here, Have not found any.

zuluclayman

DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex and is a digital camera - no film:
you take images, check that they are OK, take hundreds more in case they're not, go home, download to your computer, play with them in Photoshop then leave them languishing on your hardrive forever, eating up HD space, or just maybe print a few

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex and refers to a film camera:
you know - old style camera, load film, take shots wonder if you nailed it right, take it somewheres and get it developed and find you didn't get it right and now the shot's gone

Single Lens Reflex just refers to the lens system that allows you to see the shot through the viewfinder as the camera is seeing it through the lens - all done with mirrors DC.

Direct Current

That makes a lot of sence. So I need to be looking at the DSLR. I wonder about that because I notice a lot of camera on these website saying SLR and I said no no DSLR is what I want.

zuluclayman, I have a old bell&howl movie camera 8mm that my folks took pictures with and many of time you'd see someone's thumb in the lens, then one day I got an idea to use it in a scuba trip, rigging it with a old lens from a Volt meter and a seal plastic bag. Wind it up real good and took it down about 50 ft. I was very supprise of the shots it took and no leaks. Even got some pictures of some mermaids, doffins and one sand shark.

The closes to a DSLR is my ceil phone.

Basementgeek

The only advice I would give, is to buy a couple of smaller memory cards instead of one big one. Cards can fail, I have had one.

BG

yustr

Jumping in a little late but I've been very happy with my Pentax DSLR. I've taken over 9000 pics and the camera has been flawless. Buying into one of the brand name DSLR systems will allow you to build your system as your interest and experience grows.

HERE are a few examples taken with an inexpensive 75-300mm lens with macro capability. (Taken more for color than composition. No editing done.)

THIS would get you started.

I agree to be wary of Ebay. Though I've had a few successful dealings, its got to be that there's only con-artists or commercial outfits. The days of individuals selling and buyers getting good deals are long gone.

Direct Current

Thank you yustr & Basementgeek, The one thing I allways do is learn to lessen before you jump into things, please jump right in and add your thoughts.

I had a frend that had a good pentex, unfortunely for him it was lost in some very muddy water in a small river that we where canoing in and the boat flip over, his wife was carrying a nine month old baby, which was stupid to bring the baby in the first place, so everyone went for the baby which was ok, thank God. But to get back to the camera, it took some grand pictures. I use it one time to take a picture of a friend while we where ski=diving in mid air.

Yustr, I had a problem with the first link,it took me to you email address and password, so I did not get to see the pictures. I bet they where something to see!

I was kind of figuring on about 5 to 7 hundred and some starter lens, special the up close lens and maybe a wide anglr lens Pentex has a good name for itself.

Ua.. not to be a nut or anything but does any of the camera's have or connect to a timer device?

Done_Fishin

you'll normally find an electronic delay on a menu somewhere .. but ASK !! about the camera that you decide to buy . In fact get a pdf manual of the camera(s) you're interested in to see what it/they has/have to offer. Great thing about the net is that you can usually find a lot of info about different equipment and do a comparison "on-line"

Direct Current

I like your littlt comment I am a little old, just age inpaired. Your right about that you cab get a lot of info before you buy. I found one camera shop about 49 miles from here so I might take a little trip and look at what they have. And we have a best buy here so they might offer some cameras to, You all take heart and keep bringing the info to me ears.

Done_Fishin

nothing like taking a digital for a test drive if they will let you ..just remember though that a simple digital might take a couple of months to learn (it did for me and I haven't finished yet .. had mine for several years now and >4000 photo's) .. point and shoot is usually "out of the box"

Direct Current

I agree with you there!, bought this computer with Vista in it and just now starting to get use to it, now they come up with Win's 7. But I am starting to gain wisdom on it and Learn HTML & Visual Basic & Java, I think.
Learning learning Always learning!!!!!