camera shopping?

J

jason214

New member
What are the kind of specs. am i looking for in a camera so that i would be able to take the kind of stunning pics i see through out the forum. I have a lowline kodak and the thing is alright but just cant get in to pick up the tentacles on an open brain or the acros. Any advice on the cameras would be great.

thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12652070#post12652070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jason214
What are the kind of specs. am i looking for in a camera so that i would be able to take the kind of stunning pics i see through out the forum.
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http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1400445
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12632898#post12632898 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
When you see these amazing pictures being posted and you say to yourself, "I want to do that", this is likely the kind of equipment that is being used.
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Hi Jason214.

you have a couple of options really. TitusvileSurfer's is basically what i use as well. great gear but it is expensive.

i recommend the canon 400d or 450d camera. the 400d also has just had a price drop because of the launch of the 450. but the 450d has the features of the 40d in a smaller less expensive package.

For lens the canon 100mm Macro 2.8 is a standard in macro photography. the Tamron 90mm macro lens is a bit cheaper but a very good lens as well.

if you can't afford the macro lens you have options like macro filters and extension tubes. these are both good.

can you give us an idea of what's your budget?
 
i honestly don't know how much i could spare for a cam, thats why i was intrested in the specks and what kind so i can start pricing and see what kind of quality is in my price range. I know they can get crazy expensive. i'm guessing about 500.oo is in my range, the extral lenses and stuff can be a later thing that i but, i would just like to have a good camera. I tried to take a pic of a steve tyree leather and just couldn't get enough quality out of my camera to even want to post a pic. I'll look up the 400 and 450d right now. Any others out there?
 
checked out the thread titus, is everyone really paying 2500 to take these pics? Seriously their isn't a cheaper way, and do i seriously need to mount flashes all over my tank? When ever i use flash i lose the color my t-5's show. i understand a tripod being a must, i could only imagine trying to focus w/ such a high end camera holding it in my hands. Is the multiple pics per click ability important or is that so u have a lot of the same pic to get the perfect one? I'm not to worried about focusing on moving targets like tangs and stuff. Everyone's seen all the fish before, especially the ones i have so i'm not to worried about their pictures. I found just the body of the 400d for right about 400, is that resonable, would it be ok to try and find them used or would it really be that important to get brand new?
 
thanks limbo, thats not a bad price w/lens compared to what i've seen so far. Do you see any accessories in your future or does it really handle itself that good?
 
Just the body of a 400D will get you....nothing. Notice I said AND 100 macro AND extension tubes. You need all 3. You can't take a picture of anything with a 400D body with no lens. The flashes are really helpful for fish or getting creative with lighting. They only wash everything out (especially the good ones) if you do it wrong. The "pop-up" flash built into the camera doesn't count.
 
I'm a college student and by no stretch of the imagination rich. If the high priced equipment did not deliver results that really are that much better, I wouldn't have bought it and neither would every other serious photographer. Skill is a very large factor, but if you want "stunning pics" like you see throughout the forum, stunning equipment helps in a BIG way. Many shots wouldn't even be possible without. If you are going to invest in a system like this, $500 won't get you very far in the long run. Its similar to building a 90 gallon reef tank on a $500 budget. I paid half that just for a backpack to cart stuff around in. You need to be warned that if you get into DSLRs and do it right, you need to expect to fork out a lot of $. If you have a $500 budget I would recommend a Canon G9 and be done with it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12654188#post12654188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jason214
thanks limbo, thats not a bad price w/lens compared to what i've seen so far. Do you see any accessories in your future or does it really handle itself that good?
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At the moment, shopping for tripods and possibly going to go with the 55-200mm Nikorr VR lens for telephoto shots. :D
 
You can also consider those cameras that some call "advanced digital" cameras. These would be models like the Canon S5 IS or the Fuji S9000/S9100 (unfortunately discontinued...and I know that the S100fs is the newest but reviews of it have not been that hot for image quality).

These styles of cameras offer many of the "higher end" features of a DSLR (such as manual settings) but without the higher price tag and all the accessories (extra lenses and such).

I have seen a LOT of great macro shots come from these cameras that rank as good as shots that you can get with a DSLR. To that point, what can get you the *best* shots? A DSLR with a dedicated 1:1 macro lens. But not everyone can afford that and honestly...it's the photographer that really produces most of the quality. You need the right tools, but even with a $2,000 camera setup you can still produce cruddy pics.

Incidentally, the Canon Powershot S5 IS goes for about $335 on www.bhphotovideo.com which leaves you plenty of space in your budget for a good tripod (a must if you want good aquarium shots).

So...just some more food for thought...take it however you will.

There was a guy on RC who went by the screen name "gho". Look up his threads. He had a LOT of great, quality advice.
 
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The skill of the photographer matters, but honestly if your going to spend $5,000 on cameras, lenses, flashes, computer upgrades/programs (you need a fast computer), blah, blah, blah, the chances are your going to be a skilled photographer. If your not, you quickly will learn to be. Now that everyone is a skilled photographer, that isn't much of a concern between the S5 and 40D. The sensor size however plays a HUGE roll in image quality and cost. The 40D blows the S5, and any other "advanced digital" camera with "advanced features" you could name out of the proverbial sea. The 5D has a sensor 1.6 times larger than the 40D, and this is why I want a 5D. I could write a book all day long explaining why the higher priced cameras i.e. 40D are better than the lower priced S5s of the world. Basically, photography is a rich mans sport. Concerning DSLRs, doing it right costs a LOT of money. Period. There is no way around that. Doing it cheap is not doing it right. If your going to do it cheap, get a G9 or S5.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12657248#post12657248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
The skill of the photographer matters, but honestly if your going to spend $5,000 on cameras, lenses, flashes, computer upgrades/programs (you need a fast computer), blah, blah, blah, the chances are your going to be a skilled photographer. If your not, you quickly will learn to be.
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Sorry - but you're sadly mistaken. While I agree that good gear matters, it doesn't make the photographer. It's just a tool.

VR is right on the money. Not everyone needs, nor will they ever fully utilize, a high-end DSLR. We're extraordinarily happy that you like your 40D but quit trying to cram it down everyone's throat.

;)
 
All I'm saying is, if your going to buy a DLSR is going to cost money. Lots more money than just a body and kit lens. If they are not prepared for this, then don't buy a DSLR, go the S5/G9 route. I'm trying to steer them away from a DSLR on a $500 budget because its simply not practical.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12654188#post12654188 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jason214
thanks limbo, thats not a bad price w/lens compared to what i've seen so far. Do you see any accessories in your future or does it really handle itself that good?
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This says to me he wants a body and kit lens, and then he wants to be done. He doesn't want 4 other lenses and all the other parts. So...buy a S5.
 
I like my Oly 510 with 2 kit lenses. It does great for what I do and what I know. I've recently added a flash that has dramtically improved my portrait and event photos. It's all about what you want to do with the equipment and are willing to learn ... and spend.

Dave
 
Well guys, i apreciate all the advice, but, this crap just cost way to much for something that i would basicly only use for my tank. No way i would want to carry around all that expensive stuff on my boat or to any other regular place. Like a macro lens would only beused on my tank. I guess i'm looking for a reasonable every day camera, that i could maybe buy add on equipment if i wanted to. i can accept the fact that i can't afford high detail photography.
 
try ebay jason214. you might find a nice cheap canon XT package.

what kind of pics can you get from your kodak?
 
A pic or two

A pic or two

This camera is also only 6.2 mp w/3x zoom,36mm-108mm
and this is as close as i can get w/o blurring and trying all kinds of settings.

my lta against the glass
003-13.jpg


new tri color acro
009-6.jpg


Steve tyree Green leather
007-4.jpg


Two gsms before the fem. killed the male
007-3.jpg
 
these look good. i think you should practice getting great shots from that camera, then if you feel you've come to the end of what your camera can deliver look at something new like what we have suggested above.
 
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