A survey: What model camera do you have? - Part 2

spoon

The idea just popped in my head to ask about digital cameras. It seems it's been a while since the forum has had one of its down and dirty discussions of cameras (or maybe I missed it!).

Oddly enough, I just ran a forum search on "camera" and found a thread I started exactly two years ago. It seemed like a good format then and looks to have gotten some good feedback, so I'll just rip myself off entirely




I know these camera threads come up at least once a month, please bear with me. Now it's my turn to upgrade my camera, and since I was satisfied with it for so long I kinda glossed over all those old threads, now I need a refresher.

We'll take perhaps a different tack this time around. Of course, I'd like to hear your recommendations based on whatever info you have, but just for fun maybe we could all list off what kind of cameras we own now.

So here's what I think would be helpful in this thread:
1. What kind of camera do you have now.
2. Have you had experience with other brands/models? How do they compare?
3. What model would you recommend to the crowd.
4. And, for more fun, if you were looking for a camera today, what features would you consider as necessary and which could you do without? (Consider non-coin uses as well!)

Let's hear recommendations for the ideal camera also; if price weren't a factor. Too often that gets left out but it can introduce a lot of neat and new features and jargon. But, of course, I think for most price is a consideration.

I'll likely update this first post with a tally of the different models once we get a few responses. Maybe we should invite the Lightsiders for this?

Kicking it off with my entry below. Hope this turns out well.



=====

The Tally:
See individual posts for details

12x
Nikon Coolpix, 9 different models:
3x - Nikon Coolpix 8700 8mp: mojorizn, ibzman350, Udo
2x - Nikon Coolpix 995 3.2mp: cacheman, a039
-- Nikon Coolpix 2100: Aethelred
-- Nikon Coolpix 4300 4mp: MSD61
-- Nikon Coolpix 4500: CIVITAS
-- Nikon Coolpix 880: koincollect
-- Nikon Coolpix 885: Mesquite
-- Nikon Coolpix S10: Swampboy

3x
Canon PowerShot, 2 different models:
2x - Canon PowerShot A70: ajaan, coinkat
-- Canon PowerShot A85: 1960NYGiants

1x
Canon Rebel XT: TwoKopeiki
Fuji FinePix A345 4.1mp: Bailathacl
Kodak Easy Share DX4530 5.0mp: Musky1011
Nikon D40: dan8402
Olympus Camedia C-7070 Wide Zoom. 7MP: coinpictures
Panasonic PV-DC2090 1.3mp: satootoko
Pentax Optio 7.0: theboz11
Samsung Digimax A7: clarkbar04
Sony Mavica FD-73: mrpotatoheadd
camera-less rambling lunatic: spoon

Bailathacl

Good idea!

I have a Fuji A345 4.1mp FinePix. I am a photo amateur whose last camera before this was a Polaroid Swinger. As such, I have no strong recommendations for anyone, but I like my camera for what it is. Features I would look for in my next model are bigger/easier memory, idiot-proof computer interface, and a coin-ready stand or tripod.

Lightsiders opinions might be useful, although some might insist that every camera needs a flamethrower.

spoon

Right now I'm without camera... still have the FD Mavica I had in that last thread, but my step-dad took it to Iraq. It seems the macro has become more ornery as time goes by, and that was the only way I ever got decent shots out of it.

I did get a Nikon Coolpix camera shortly after I posted that old thread and I didn't like it, brought it back. I dunno, maybe I just didn't have the patience for it. But it seemed to be kinda like AOL: so dumbed-down as to be either useless or needlessly complex in its attempts at being "user-friendly". Just give me menus with settings labelled in arcane jargon--that I can figure out more easily than what the head-next-to-a-mountain-enclosed-in-brackets icon means, or whatever those stupid things were.

I think whenever my budget allows I will be going for a Canon DSLR. My choice of that really takes non-coin photography into more consideration than anything though. But at least that camera is straightforward in its complexity and actually offers flexibility too!


OK, so perhaps this post wasn't the optimal first response, but that's been my camera experience over the past two years. I was aiming more for an update on how your opinions have evolved over the past two years (if you posted in that old thread) or what you have learned about digital photography. But by all means feel free to rant in general like I just did. The four prompts are just things to think about.

cacheman

an old 3.2mp Nikon Coolpix 995...I'll use it until it dies...

satootoko

<< <i>Maybe we should invite the Lightsiders for this? >>

Only if you can figure out a way to invite only the courteous minority.

I use a Panasonic PV-DC2090 1.3 mega pixel with 3x optical zoom, that I picked up in St. Thomas on a cruise several years ago. Believe it or not, it was a state of the art, high definition model when I bought it.

mrpotatoheadd

Sony Mavica FD-73

TwoKopeiki

1. Canon Rebel XT with a dedicated 105mm macro lens
2. I've had other digital cameras, but haven't used it for coin photography
3. Go DSLR - you will be blown away by the difference. It's awesome for general photography, as well as macro.
4. If we're talking about photographing coins, specifically, I would go with any camera that allows for custom white balance setting, as well as gives you control over exposure time.

mojorizn

I'm just beginning to play with coin imaging. I have a 8mp Nikon Coolpix 8700, my first camera for this new hobby. Still playing around with it.

Mojo

ajaan

I use a Canon PowerShot A70 but the equipment is not my problem, my skill is.

theboz11

I am now using a Pentax Optio 7.0. It has more settings and was more difficult to learn than my Fujipix 2300, but the pictures are far better with no picture editing needed for white adjustment compensation.

MSD61

I use a 4MP Nikon coolpix 4300

CIVITAS

Nikon Coolpix 4500. I've had it for almost 5 years now and think it's great. It would take some pretty good pics if the user weren't so damned incompetent.

coinpictures

Olympus Camedia C-7070 Wide Zoom. 7MP. Cheap camera compared to what the pros use (was about $250 at the time). As others have mentioned, it's not the equipment holding me back, it's my skill and limited understanding of photography.

I'd really like to play with an SLR and a dedicated macro lens to see what they can do, but $1,000-1,500 is a bit much to drop on a lark...

ajaan

Josh, I've seen the images on your website. I wish I had 1/2 your skill in taking images.

MadMarty

I can tell you both LucyBop and I use Canon PowerShot Pro 1s. I know this because when we had them on employee buy Lucy bought hers!

coinkat

One that I still have not mastered... a Canon powershot

dan8402

Nikon D40, I'm still trying to figure out how to get good pictures since I don't have a macro lens though.

Swampboy

Nikon S10

$250.00
6 MP
Has good macro focus
White balance adjust, timer
swivel lens for different looks -toning etc.

Sony DSC1 it replaced had poor macro focusing.

My coin camera until DSLR way far in the future.

ibzman350

Nikon 8700.........for the money I spent on this camera I should have bought a SRL........this is my latest atempt at coin photography

Sorry about the liteside stuff.








Herb

clarkbar04

Samsung Digimax A7

Look for manual white balance setting, optical zoom, high resolution.

Swampboy

ibzman350,

so that's what 8 MP looks like.

Gorgeous image.

TwoKopeiki

<< <i>ibzman350,

so that's what 8 MP looks like.

Gorgeous image. >>



Actually, that's what about a 1/4 of an 8 MP image looks like A full-sized is around 3400x2300.

TwoKopeiki

Here's one click here.

Musky1011

Kodak Easy Share DX4530
5.0 megapixels
Macro setting

koincollect

I use a Nikon Coolpix 880 which takes very nice pictures when everything falls in place. (So far has happened only a handful of times)

Aethelred

Right now I use an old Nikon Coolpix 2100, I get pretty good results with it considering my very limited skills at picture taking.

a039

Nikon Coolpix 995 it was about $200 on ebay with the box and all manuals.

Udo

Nikon Coolpix 8700

Almost every functions can be set manual, like aperture, exposure and so on. It has a good macro.
I used a Ricoh Caplio R1 before which always tended to have noise in the macro pics, not so the Nikon.
Although I always do a manual White balance adjustment, the pics tend to a slight green cast which
must be corrected in the post processing.
In gerneral I'm happy with my 8700, I just think it is to big for the usage outdoors where I would prefer
a small and handy camera.

The latest shot:

1960NYGiants

I'm still trying to learn my Canon PowerShot A85, 4.0 megapix.

Until I figure it out, I fall back on my HP Scanjet 4300C

Mesquite

Nikon coolpix 885, 3.1 mpixel. I'd love to upgrade ($$), but the results I get from this camera are not too shabby. Purchased used off of ebay for $65.

mrearlygold

Aethelred

I bought a Canon Powershot S5 IS yesterday...sample pics to follow...

DorkGirl

I also use the Nikon Coolpix 4300.

lordmarcovan

I have an old Sony Mavica MVC-CD1000. The kind that takes the mini-CDs, which is technically obsolete now.

It's a good camera, though. Takes really nice landscape shots and passable coin pictures. I am not so proficient with coin shots and have reverted to a scanner for those, for the most part, but I still take the Mavica with me on metal detecting trips, for shooting landscapes and dig-action shots.

It also shoots 15-second digital video clips.

It's sort of like carrying a brick around- big, bulky, and heavy- you could get something now that does all that it does (or more), and which would fit in the palm of your hand, but oh, well. This one's paid for. I swapped an ANACS XF 1834 Classic Head $5.00 and a common PCGS MS64 Morgan dollar for it, several years back. At the time it wasn't a bad deal, but now the coins are worth a helluva lot more than the camera. I was just happy to get a nice camera with no cash out of pocket.

Still, I use it, and since I finally found the missing battery charger for it today, it is going out with me on my first detecting trip since spring.


Oh, in answer to your questions:



<< <i>1. What kind of camera do you have now. >>

(Just answered that, above.)


<< <i>2. Have you had experience with other brands/models? How do they compare? >>

(Nope, this was my first digicam. My wife has one but it has no macro capability and is therefore useless for coin photography, though it does okay for other applications.)


<< <i>3. What model would you recommend to the crowd. >>

(I'm in no position to say, though you can bet I'll pay attention to this thread when I need to upgrade to something more modern.)


<< <i>4. And, for more fun, if you were looking for a camera today, what features would you consider as necessary and which could you do without? >>

(Again, I'm not experienced enough to know what features to choose, and I was always a bit bewildered by the lingo. I do know I want a good macro capability and an autofocus, since I wouldn't trust myself with manual focus. Something fairly idiot-proof would be a must.)

TwoKopeiki

Rob - I like your new signature banner

Have you heard anything else about the Chinese thingamabob you dug that potentially re-wrote history of exploration of North America?

lordmarcovan

No, there are no really new developments on that story, though it continues to stir interest.

The sigline I am using is #2 of several banners I use on my metal detecting forum.

Here are some of the others. They're just a sort of collage of past treasure hunts, locations, and finds.

TwoKopeiki

Very cool, Rob.