What camera should I get?
DickyBetz
Posts: 3,825
I want to ask for a camera for Christmas and I was wondering what the best one to get would be. What do you guys recommend? I have also been thinking about upgrading the rest of my setup. What kind of lights do you guys recommend me getting? How many? Should I get a copystand? Thanks.
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Comments
RJ
<< <i>And somehow convince your parents to buy it for themselves and let you borrow it, then ask for more coins for Christmas. >>
Thats what I do now and my Mom is getting pretty annoyed at me always having her camera! How much is the D50? I am looking for one that is less than $200.
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myurl
<< <i>
<< <i>And somehow convince your parents to buy it for themselves and let you borrow it, then ask for more coins for Christmas. >>
Thats what I do now and my Mom is getting pretty annoyed at me always having her camera! How much is the D50? I am looking for one that is less than $200. >>
Around $700. Hopefully someone with experience with non-SLR cameras will pipe up...Mike
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<< <i>Not to hijack the thread, but my wife wants a digital camera for her birthday (on the 12th) and I'd like to buy one that I could also use to take close up shots of currency/coins. I'm looking to spend about $400, butknow next to nothing about digital cameras. Any suggestions? >>
I have used the Olympus C7xx series for several years now. I had a C700 and then (now) a C720 and I think they are awesome. The automatic settings work great AND they have many manual settings for anyone with any photography experience. These two models are actually outdated now, but I'm sure there are great deals on C740 and whatever Cxx they've come up with since then. The key feature on these cameras is the OPTICAL zoom of 8X or more - usually 10X. They take really decent pics of coins.
Edit: Olympus SP 500 UZ looks like the current incarnation of the Ultra Zoom series - This looks like a very cool camera for less than $400 - Link to cool camera
$91 shipped.
Russ, NCNE
As they say in golf when someone hits a bad shot, "it's not the tool, it's the fool." So are good pictures contingent upon the prep work, rather than the camera itself?
Didn't wanna get me no trade
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Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
<< <i>I have a question-- I was told that it really does not make a difference what camera you get. Good pictures are all in the set-up, lighting, etc.,etc.
As they say in golf when someone hits a bad shot, "it's not the tool, it's the fool." So are good pictures contingent upon the prep work, rather than the camera itself? >>
Essentially a true statement, but you do need to make sure that whatever camera you get has decent macro capabilities.
<< <i>I have a question-- I was told that it really does not make a difference what camera you get. Good pictures are all in the set-up, lighting, etc.,etc.
As they say in golf when someone hits a bad shot, "it's not the tool, it's the fool." So are good pictures contingent upon the prep work, rather than the camera itself? >>
Fundamentally, that's correct. But, you do need a camera with good macro capability and it's nice to have multiple white balance settings available.
Russ, NCNE
Russ, NCNE
<< <i>I have a question-- I was told that it really does not make a difference what camera you get. Good pictures are all in the set-up, lighting, etc.,etc.
As they say in golf when someone hits a bad shot, "it's not the tool, it's the fool." So are good pictures contingent upon the prep work, rather than the camera itself? >>
Yes and no. The setup and quality of the camera can make a great difference but for the most part the differences are in how it is used. So in other words a person can make a great DSLR take crappy pictures or make fantastic pictures from a point and shoot.
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<< <i>And somehow convince your parents to buy it for themselves and let you borrow it, then ask for more coins for Christmas. >>
Thats what I do now and my Mom is getting pretty annoyed at me always having her camera! How much is the D50? I am looking for one that is less than $200. >>
Around $700. Hopefully someone with experience with non-SLR cameras will pipe up...Mike >>
If you're willing to pony up $700 for a camara, just go another 2 or 3 franklins and get a digital SLR.
<< <i>I use a fuji-film S5000 and get some great shots with it in most circumstances. >>
I have an S3000 and it STINKS for macro images! I have never been able to get a good coin image with it. Do you use a macro lense with yours? I'd like to get one but am afraid it would be a let down.
It takes some experimentation to achieve the best results, so you need to understand what the various settings on the camera will do. A combination of the right camera, settings, and perhaps most importantly, lighting, can give you some great-looking pictures. The correct lighting will allow you to capture the detail, color, and luster so that it appears true-to-life. My most recent attempt was with my Buffalo nickels , and I'm pleased with all but maybe 1 or 2 of the pics.
Jim
Prices are dropping on all cameras for the holidays and buying one is like buying a car. Everyone has a favorite and for thier own reasons. All I can say is good luck on whatever you decide to buy.
www.bhphotovideo.com or call toll free 1-800-290-6750
If your lucky enough to be in New York it's 212-502-6340
There are thousands of pages to their catalog and they also sell books on photography. Lenses, filters, cameras, stands, etc.
If you decide on a compact camera, you will need 2 essential features, manual white balance control, and macro capability. Most digital SLR's have manual white balance control and you will have to buy the macro lens separately.
You will get the best picture quality (due to better quality of the lens) with a digital SLR. But they are still too expensive for me and my 3-year old Olympus C-4000 is working just fine.
Best place to read reviews is here.
You can get by with an inexpensive lighting set-up. I use a cheap tripod and two desk lamps with 70-watt Reveal bulbs.
millions of the out there just sitting in peoples houses
pick one up for a song or two
Advisor Jim
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
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<< <i>Brownie by Kodak
millions of the out there just sitting in peoples houses
pick one up for a song or two >>
Just make sure it's one that uses 120 film.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
TorinoCobra71
$174 from Walmart
$10 desk tripod
results:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8341367020
<< <i>Well, after a lot of research I have chosen to get the Nikon D50 with two lenses (the kit 18-55 and another 55-200). And I'll put in a shameless plug, I'll be selling my Kodak Z740. >>
You will want a macro lens for that combo. Alternatively you can get a macro filter, but the quality of the shot will not be as good as a dedicated macro lens...Mike
<< <i>I have a question-- I was told that it really does not make a difference what camera you get. Good pictures are all in the set-up, lighting, etc.,etc. >>
While true to a certain extent, once you get good at photography the camera can absolutely limit your ability to produce quality images. Cheaper cameras tend to have more noise, take less sharp photos, and sometimes don't support custom white balance which is the number two feature necessary behind macro capability.
Hope this helps...Mike
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<< <i>And somehow convince your parents to buy it for themselves and let you borrow it, then ask for more coins for Christmas. >>
Thats what I do now and my Mom is getting pretty annoyed at me always having her camera! How much is the D50? I am looking for one that is less than $200. >>
Around $700. Hopefully someone with experience with non-SLR cameras will pipe up...Mike >>
If you're willing to pony up $700 for a camara, just go another 2 or 3 franklins and get a digital SLR. >>
The Nikon D50 is the lowest price DSLR in the Nikon line. It is simlar to the Canon Digital Rebel, which is slightly cheaper last time I checked...Mike
The most important thing is the setup, however. A proper setup will result in better quality images and an overall better photography experience.