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Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! |
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stormseer
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam!  Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 1:34 pm |
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| Brood Brother |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 9:52 pm
Posts: 4598
Location: Suffolk, UK.
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Having earnt some cash over the school holidays, I'm planning on buying myself a new digicam, primarily to use for taking decent pictures of my minis, as well as normal 'everyday' fun use...
- I've decided that I can spend up to ?200 on it... got to leave some money for models (oh and kites)... 
So, I'd love any advice you could give me on what camera such as where to get it from etc...
Cheers in advance!
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www.darkrealmminiatures.com
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 3:20 pm |
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Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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StormSeer,
First of all, I highly recommend asking Jimbo before anyone else. He's our resident shutterbug and is a great guy as well.
Secondly, make sure the camera you buy has a good zoom feature. Many cameras without a good zoom feature can't focus properly on small things like miniatures.
Thirdly, it's worth it to pay more and get a better digital camera. Cheaps ones, generally speaking, don't cut it. My roommate's camera doesn't do a good hob of photographing minis.
Fourthly, a good graphical editing program is worth its' weight in gold. That's how I make my photos look a little better now.
Fifth of all, good luck!
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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Chris
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 4:39 pm |
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Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 6:42 pm
Posts: 2412
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Stormseer,
The things I can help you on are as follows: (Hope it helps )
1. Megapixles (Mp). If you want good pics don't get less than 2.1 Mp, but you must beware as the Mp goes up, so does the size of the pictures! A good photo at 2.1 Mp is about 700kb to 1Mb.
2. Storage. Compact Flash is the best in my view. And they are getting cheaper! a 256Mb compact flash card is only about ?40 now. That will hold at least 150 good pics.
3. This on is a bit of a personal point. I have a Cannon Power Shot A20, and I think it is amazing! It has a zoom feature, good quality and good storage. If I were to get another Digi-Cam it would definetly be a Cannon. I like them that much!
As Max says zoom is a must now, and it would be in your best interest to not get a cheap one. I know you can get them at ?50 but the quality is awful. People who have no idea about Digi-Cam's but like the sound of it get them...
Also, look around and don't rush it. I have seen up to ?50 difference between some shops. If you find a specialist photo shop (There is one near me), they usually have deals on them, such as cases, extra memory cards and other things included.
Also please do update us when you get one!
Cheers,
Chris.
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Chris
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Jimbo
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:28 pm |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:01 pm
Posts: 3495
Location: Wessex
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I use a Sony Digicam (3MP)
The advantage of 3+ MP is that you can stand back take a photograph, crop, and then still maintain the quality.
The zoom is less important than the macro facility - my original Photosmart camera, but had a 3.5cm focus.
The questions you need to ask are
pixels - a minimum of 3MP
macro facility for close up shots
a real zoom (not a digital zoom as that will only impinge on quality)
you should (now) be able to get something okay for ?200 - my Sony was ?700 just over two years ago now!
another option is to get an SLR with extension tubes (approx ?150) and when you have the pictures developed get them on cd-rom
you will find the quality much better than even a ?1000 digital camera (to be honest it is better than a ?10,000 digital camera)
of course digital has the immediacy which "having to finish the roll of film" doesn't
_________________ Jimbo
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MaksimSmelchak
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:40 pm |
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Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 4:43 pm
Posts: 7258
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Jimbo,
What is a SLR?
Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.
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primarch
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 10:52 pm |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
Posts: 27069
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Jimbo gave me good advice on cameras when I got mine, so his points are good to keep in mind.
You also need to be aware of how the information is stored (flash memory, etc CD) and the interphase with the computer.
In my case I went with the Sony Mavica CD-400. Its the only one that can store of RW-CD's directly from your camera whch can be finialized on it and used DIRECTLY in you CD drive on you computer. It also has the USB interface for easy connectivity. The Megapixels are over 4MB, good zoom and you can crop the image on camera, save it in that format as you take the picture.
Its only drawback is that its longer than most cameras between shots, so it is good for moving targets (although you can take short Mpegs on it). You can save shots from 600x480 all the way up to 2000 something, the resolution and maintainance of detail even cropping very close up is amazing.
Its battery last more than most around its price range (almost 3 hours!).
Of coursee the other drawback is price. I got it at a steal 575.00 US, so it may be more than your willing to pay. But for mini pictures and battle scenes as well as storage capacity is rocks!
Primarch
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Chris
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:17 pm |
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Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2003 6:42 pm
Posts: 2412
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Maksim,
SLR stands for single lens reflex (IIRC). It's one of the fancy ones with the big lens out front that lots of press/reporters have.
[Cheap Plug Alert] As so many of you have decent digi-cams, why do I have ZERO De'Aynes entries from all of you wiyh cameras?
Please submit pictures to:
gallery@netepic.org
[Cheap plug over] Sorry, but it had to be done, submissions are drying up!
Cheers,
Chris.
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Chris
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primarch
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:58 pm |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 12:46 am
Posts: 27069
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma USA
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Hi!
Well, the gallery doesn't have a terrain section yet, so that's why I haven't sent any. All my other photos are proxy pictures.
Sooner or later I'll paint a whole bunch of regular epic pictures and send them in.
Primarch
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Mojarn Piett
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 6:45 am |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:35 am
Posts: 5455
Location: Finland
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I have also been thinking about buying a digicam, so thanks for tips. I have been preparing my drill sergeant, erm... _wife_ by dropping off comments about filmless cameras every time I've forgot to buy a new roll of film (which is often, I have terrible memory).  
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I don't know and I let who care. -J.S.
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Jimbo
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:24 am |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:01 pm
Posts: 3495
Location: Wessex
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| Quote (MaksimSmelchak @ 21 2003 Aug.,22:40) | Jimbo,
What is a SLR? |
As Chris says
SLR stands for single lens reflex (IIRC). It's one of the fancy ones with the big lens out front that lots of press/reporters have.
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What SLR really means is what you see through the viewfinder is what you get. Most compact cameras have a separate viewfinder, with an SLR when you look through the viewfinder you see through the lense - very useful for close-up macro shots.
The real advantage is that you can adjust the aperture (how wide the shutter will open) and the shutter speed (how long the shutter will remain open).
The shutter is what lets the light in onto the film (or in the case of digicams the CCD).
In order to get the depth of field (in other words lots of stuff in focus) when photographing miniatures you need a very small hole (f22 to f32). Of course a small hole means very little light therefore you need to keep the shutter open for some time (can be as much as three or four seconds) and a tripod is essential.
Avoid an automatic SLR make sure it has manual mode. My Canon is quite clever in that I can set the aperture, and it will automatically work out the shutter speed for me.
They don't have to be fancy and they are a lot cheaper than a digital camera (SLR) with the same quality.
Canon EOS3000N with 28-90 Lens (non-USM) ?
This film camera is only ?180
The digital version
Canon EOS 10D Digital SLR Camera Kit [6MP]
is ?1,233.14
My current recommendation for a decent digital camera (which will be good for photographing miniatures is)
Sony DSC-P52 Digital Camera [3MP 2xOptical]
which from amazon is only ?179 (US$260)
This camera is similar to my current model (which cost me ?700).
_________________ Jimbo
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Jimbo
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:27 am |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 11:01 pm
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Location: Wessex
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and for those wondering here is an image taken with my Sony digicam
and if you use a 35mm camera you can get a much better quality image
_________________ Jimbo
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darkone26
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 4:44 pm |
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Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 2:34 pm
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Thanks for the advice as I was looking for a camera too. I use a decent software package(paint shop pro 7) for editing photos but the camera was crap. I am now looking for another.
Thanks again.
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stormseer
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Post subject: Digicam Advice... StormSeer to Buy New Digicam! Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2003 9:56 pm |
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Joined: Fri Feb 14, 2003 9:52 pm
Posts: 4598
Location: Suffolk, UK.
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Yeah, thanks everyone.. especially Chris and Jimbo... I'lll have a search round on the net- there are hundreds of places selling them, and you can get some great deals and free stuff.....
Cheers again!! 
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[ 13 posts ] |
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