What kind of digital camera do you use? |
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primarch
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use?  Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 1:50 am |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
Posts: 27069
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Given that many here like taking pictures of thier epic miniatures, I was very curious to what recommendations people can give as to what digital cameras they deemed good for this purpose.
Currently I have one of those "combo" Camcoder/digital still photo cameras. While functional, it cannot really take good close up pictures, besides that its about 4 years old so its probably obsolete.
So, what are your camera favorites?
Primarch
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signius
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 9:50 am |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 9:23 pm
Posts: 873
Location: San Jose, California
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I am using a sony DSC-P50. It is a cheap $300 camera. 2.1 mega pixel. (so it claims) It has a flash, zoom and many completely useless features. It needs alot of light for a decent pic. I have been wrestling with the thing for some time. I would rate the thing in the just below middle of the scale. For good pics I still use cannon. I have a few lenses and filters. When I get some cash, I was thinking about getting a Nikon Coolpix 5700, Olympus E-20N,Fuji FinePix S2 Pro or Canon EOS D60. I can't afford anything higher end than that. Though they are pretty pricey.
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Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
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Jimbo
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 11:43 am |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:01 pm
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Location: Wessex
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You can find out about the cameras I use and my techniques for taking photographs on my website
Photography Equipment
Photographing Miniatures section
In the main I am using a Sony Digital Still Camera DSC-P1, with a 3.3 mega-pixel range and an excellent lense.
The key with any digital camera is a good lense, and of course the more pixels the better, as the large capture area allows for a range of images to be taken and then cropped using image manipulation software.
For best quality I go back to my 35mm SLR and ask my photo developer to put the images on cd-rom. In many ways this can be cheaper than buying a digital camera.
A cheap SLR can be had (esp second hand) less than $150 and with extension tubes you can get real close to an Epic miniature
this is an uncropped image taken with my 35mm SLR with extension tubes
28mm or 6mm ?? 
_________________ Jimbo
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CyberShadow
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 6:11 pm |
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| Swarm Tyrant |
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Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 6:22 pm
Posts: 9338
Location: Singapore
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Like a lot of people it seems, I have a Sony Cybershot camera. It goes up to 1600 x 1200, which is not great but does the job. In general, the most important thing that I have found is a macro on a camera. This will let you take pictures at very close range, without them being blurred. As for the problem with lighting, that is fairly common no matter what camera you have. Try to set up in natural, coming in at about 35 degrees to the shot.
_________________ https://www.cybershadow.ninja - A brief look into my twisted world, including wargames and beyond. https://www.net-armageddon.org - The official NetEA (Epic Armageddon) site and resource.
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Chris
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 10:15 pm |
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Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 6:42 pm
Posts: 2412
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I have a Canon Power Shot 20 Digi Cam. It does 2.1 megapixles, and is sweeeeeeeeeet for really high quality pics.
I have never tried it on epic or BFG mins yet, as it is fairly new, but I did once drop it and smashed the battery case and front of it though. Glad its not mine though - Its my dads, so he paid for the repairs!!
When I went to Prague I did some really good landscape pics with this thing called a "stitch" feature. It's where you take lots of pics side by side and then when you offload them onto a PC you can put them together to make a single big pic. It would be good to use for taking wide shots of an army of battle.
The only problems with it is the pics are massive in size - some almost 1mb!! And the cost (less said about that the better...)
Cheers
Chris
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Chris
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primarch
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 12:24 am |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Thank you one and all for the recommendations. I particularly the Sony DCS-P5 camera recomended by Jimbo. For me its of paramount importance to have easy connectivity to my laptop or desktop and the USB interface in this case is key. It added features to connect to the TV and such are nice bonuses. The internet reviews for it are very good.
Thank you all!
Primarch
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Jimbo
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 10:41 am |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:01 pm
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Location: Wessex
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I have to admit having never used the USB interface with my Sony, I either use a USB Card Reader (which is fast) or use the in-built card reader in my VAIO (which is also fast).
The serial connection in my original HP Photosmart Camera was slow, really slow, as in very very very slow.
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primarch
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 5:11 am |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
I have continued to look into more digital cameras and I wonder if anyone has an opinion on this one:
Sony CD Mavica MVC-CD400
Let me know.
Primarch
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signius
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 10:39 am |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 9:23 pm
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Location: San Jose, California
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From what I have read, the only complaint has been a slow shutter speed. So, as long as you don't intend to take pics of things that are moving, it should be fine. 
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Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
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primarch
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 2:27 pm |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
That was my take as well from the reviews, since its for taking pictures of minis, this disadvantage is no big deal.
At 4 megapixels and the CD-RW storage capability are very attractive. Plus I dont need to invest in expensive memory sticks since the CD's can hold oodles of pictures.
Primarch
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Chris
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 4:53 pm |
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Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 6:42 pm
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4 megapixles!!! Jesus!! How big are the files?? 2/3 MB?
Cheers
Chris
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Chris
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signius
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 10:01 pm |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 9:23 pm
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Location: San Jose, California
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Yep, I hate memory sticks. Sounds like a good way to go. Do you know the access time lag between the mini cd and a memory stick? It would seem that a cd would be slower to access and transfer data from, since it has alot of moving parts. 
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Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!
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primarch
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 10:02 pm |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
If saved in TIFF format, yes, they probably are that big, but the camera can also store in JPEG and GIF formats, which are a lot smaller, another good thing the camera has.
I ordered it today, got for about $560.00 online and picked up a camera for my wife as well. Using the RW discs, I dont even need to spend on anymore disc, since I canuse the ones I buy for my computer RW to store even more pictures.
Once I get it I will be taking many pictures, which I hope Chris can get up in the gallery.
Primarch
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stormseer
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 11:24 pm |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 9:52 pm
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Location: Suffolk, UK.
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Yeah, it'l be great when the gallery is updated (hint hint)  hehe...
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primarch
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Post subject: What kind of digital camera do you use? Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 11:42 pm |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
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Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Well, thats a big job, but I'm sure it'll get done and when it does I'll have lots of stuff to add.
Primarch
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