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Post by BuiltonRock on Sept 3, 2007 6:27:57 GMT -5
Hey Guys, My digital camera is toast! It quit right in the middle of my wanting to post pictures of a super box of rocks LadyB sent us and also a full flat rater of mozark slabs that Catmandewe cut up.
I bought a Canon PowerShot A510 3.2MP Digital Camera about 2 1/2 to 3 years ago for around $250.00 I think. It has been a pretty good camera, not as sharp in the macro setting as I'd like. There are so many camera's out there, will you guys post what you have? How well you like it, the macro ability and the approximate price range? This will help me narrow the field of choice. Thanks john
PS- Hobopuppy, Here is your chance to shine!
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emyhro4048
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 396
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Post by emyhro4048 on Sept 3, 2007 10:14:53 GMT -5
I have a Fujifilm Fine Pix A400 that has a macro setting. I didn't pay much for it, around 100.00, and it came with a computer program that let's me do quite a lot for the price. There are several models in the Fujifilm family. Hope it help's,
Ed M.
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Sept 3, 2007 10:48:04 GMT -5
A generaal tip:the macro setting on a fixed-lens camera isn't true macro.What these do is reduce the field of view so you are shooting a smaller area;this means fewer pixels and less resolution.When I had my Nikon-F I never used a "normal"lens.I just kept a 55 mil. macro on it for "regular"shots and macro.A 100 macro is considered a portrait lens and will let you get farther from your subject [insects etc.].I believe some fixed-lens cameras will take an inexpensive close-up attachment lens,but thes vary in quality.Isuggest you visit your local camera store-not the photo dept.of a big box store!-and ask lots of questions.Good luck,Mike
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Post by Jurrasic Jonje on Sept 3, 2007 12:53:40 GMT -5
I too just had my camera die. So I went to ritz camera with my wraps. The employee tested a wide variety of cameras. I finally got the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ6K it is a great camera. I paid 179.99 for it. It has a great macro, a 6x optical zoom, 7.2 mega pixels,and tons of options. It is a very versatile camera. Here is a macro shot for ya. Hope this helps.
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Sept 3, 2007 13:27:04 GMT -5
Thanks for starting this thread Builtonrock. My camera sucks too. Thanks everybody for posting the info. I'll definately be checking into these.
~~Mitzi~~
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Sept 3, 2007 13:41:36 GMT -5
Geez Jeremy! I wish I'da thought of taking some things in the way you did!
I have a Sony Super Steady Shot DSC-H2. It's ok...I'm just a little ignorant of how it works. I think I'll take some rocks in with the camera & have them show me anyway. (that's a fantastic idea)
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Post by BuiltonRock on Sept 3, 2007 15:32:16 GMT -5
Thanks everybody! keep'em coming!! john
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 3, 2007 16:57:10 GMT -5
i have a very old SONY Cyber-shot 2.1 mega pixel.....it was expensive at the time because my husband needed the macro feature....wow, i'm glad he did now!
KD
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Terry664
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2005
Posts: 1,146
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Post by Terry664 on Sept 3, 2007 17:58:22 GMT -5
Hi, I have a Canon Power Shot 510A, good for what I do, you need to read book and learn how to use different settings and not just Auto, then it works much better. If I have to get a new one though I would go with at least 5.4MP. Mine cost $138 a year ago or so, but I think it is discontinued now. Terry
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2007 18:31:37 GMT -5
I have a Canon Powershot SD 1000 Digital Elph. I love it. I read a gazillion reviews on CNET.com and found that for the price range, it was one of the better rated ones. Check out CNET.com if you never have. They extensively test electronics before posting their reviews, including lab testing on the colors that digital cameras will produce once the photos are printed. They also show videos of many of them so that you can check out the size and how they look before you buy. They are very honest about the bad points of a product as well. I found that many of the digital cameras currently on the market do not get very good ratings. Here is a photo I took using macro. It was some moss on a rock and I had the camera just a couple inches from it. I bought the camera at WalMart for around $250 and its 7.1megapixel and has a digital and optical zoom. It would have been slightly cheaper if I would have bought it from Walmart.com but I didnt want to wait so I just went to the store. Shannon
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lsmike
spending too much on rocks
Maxwell's demon lowers tumbling entropy
Member since January 2007
Posts: 468
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Post by lsmike on Sept 3, 2007 18:57:42 GMT -5
Jonge got a nice shot there-apparently the salesperson took shots and let him view and compare-that's why I say go to a photo store. Also,f.y.i.,macro actually means 1:1[lifesize in the viewfinder] or larger.When doing macro it is usually best to use a tripod or other support even with still subjects and lock the mirror up if possible.The general rule to get the best depth-of-field in a close-up is to use a small apeture setting in manual mode-f/16 or f/11 is probably the :sweet spot"- f/22 or smaller will probably have more distortion.Also,if you have a choice,shoot in RAW and edit or use a high resolution JPEG.My two cents.Mike. P.S.,depth -of-field is the front-to-back distance that is in focus and this is inherently shallow with a macro lens,hence the need for steadiness and a small aperture.Heck, as long as I'm preaching:it also best to use manual focus and/or move the subject as the auto-focus even in expensive cameras is better suited to action shots.
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Post by stoner on Sept 3, 2007 21:24:44 GMT -5
I have the Sony DSC-H2, 12x zoom, 5.1mp and I love it. You can use it as a point and shoot automatic or a variety of manual settings. The closest thing you can get to a SLR in my opinion.
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Post by LCARS on Sept 3, 2007 22:50:50 GMT -5
Oooh ooh, you say you have a dead cam John?! Well, i'm sorry to hear you have a dead cam for sure but i'm excited because i'm actually looking for "dead" cams for some of my back-burner pet projects. I was hoping to come into some cameras that had problems I could work around or optical parts I could use for a couple projects. I PM'd you and if you haven't turfed the "dead" one yet, maybe we can work out a deal and you can send it to me for some rocks in trade, at least then it's still good for SOMETHING to you dead. Anyone else out there with a dead Canon A series or Powershot with non-crushed optics or glitchy electronics can feel free to contact me.Even if you have another kind of camera that has some problem that doesn't prevent it from imaging then I might still be interested in it as a tracking or imaging camera for my telescope once I know the details of course. Thanks & sorry if I just ended up derailing this thread John. Back on topic though, I am currently still running with my Canon Powershot G5. It has been a good cam to me but is a bit outdated now and it's successor the G7 offers no real innovations over the one I have so the next camera I sell a vital organ to buy will most likely be a Nikon D-70 or the closest thing I can afford with only one kidney. ;D Rob
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rockinmom
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 481
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Post by rockinmom on Sept 3, 2007 23:05:00 GMT -5
Hey. I have a Canon Powershot A550. It's a really good little camera. 7.1 mps. 4x optical zoom. Pretty standard. Does the trick for now. I lost my old one this summer so had to get a new one. The only thing I don't like is the creative options are few and far between.... but I only paid $179 and the guy threw in a free camera case so beggars can't be choosers.
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Post by ladyt on Sept 4, 2007 7:10:20 GMT -5
I have a Kodak Easyshare DX7630. It has alot of options on it that I don't know how to use. It is a 6.1 megapixils, and it zooms in pretty close. After I bought it 2 years go, they seemed to disappear from the stores. I don't know why. It's a really cool camera but sometimes I can't get it to autofocus on closeup shots and it really bugs me. I wish I knew what all the other gadgets do. If anyone knows and can tell me how to use it, feel free to pm me. I read the booklet, but it's like reading an insurance policy. All greek to me. Tonja
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Post by connrock on Sept 4, 2007 7:17:44 GMT -5
I have an old Nikon Coolpix 5400 and here is a series of 3 photo's I took of a prehnite specimen,,,,,All the photo's are taken with "manual" settings. connrock
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 4, 2007 9:09:29 GMT -5
Sony DSC 200-
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Post by Lady B on Sept 4, 2007 13:03:08 GMT -5
I'm going to get Bob to post the info on our camera later today. I know as much about the details of the camera as I do about my car and pretty much treat it the same way. Camera: I know how to turn it on and off and I can get it to take pictures. Car: I know how to turn it on and off and I can get it to take me where I need to go. But I did ask my daughter and her business partner about the cameras they own and the cameras they bought for their field staff (They own an Event Marketing company and it is essential that photos be taken at every event they market.) Here's the scuttle but from them: " Nikon Coolpix L4 - $130 from Amazon. 4 Megapixels - OK basic digital camera
Canon Powershot A710 IS - $255 from Amazon. 7.1 Megapixel camera with a lot of features.
Both of these cameras were purchased for our teams as well.
I also have an older Olympus camera which has been a great camera for the past 6 years." Lady B...
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Post by mcdoverbob on Sept 4, 2007 21:23:44 GMT -5
Well, we've got a fuji A210. It really is just a beginners camera which we bought for general use. You have so many choices today, you just have to read reviews, go to camera shops, find out what you really need, and then look for the best price. When our old one dies, we'll have a ball figuring out which camera does the best job at the best price.
We've always made the mistake of buying at the front end of technological advance - microwave ovens, CD players, and OMG computers. I wish we had the money we wasted on primitive computers back in the 70's and 80's. So I guess the best advice would be to get the camera that gives you what you need, not the one with the most bells and whistles that just came on the market last week. Bob
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Post by rocklicker on Sept 5, 2007 2:51:23 GMT -5
I use a Canon A85. It's a 4MP camera which is fine for rocks and takes some real nice macro shots. Like weeshan I did a lot of research and ended up with a Canon. It's got lots of weird settings and depending on what mode you are in, you can change just about everything as if it were a non-digital camera. That's what I like. Some people like to be able to just point the camera and go while others like to sit there and perfect the right shot. I'm the latter, even though the camera has a full auto mode too. Funny thing is I still haven't fully learned how to use all the settings. Steve
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