Digital Photography

[rorythedog]

Well folks, I've finally sold out. I've just bought a digital camera, against my better judgement. Actually, it's not bad really. The instant nature of it is advantageous. Also, the ability to take more than a couple of exposures at no extra cost appeals to my inner Scot.

does anybody else here use digital? What image software do you use? I'd like something to organise my rapidly expanding portfolio of pics. What do you guys use? Also, what paper would you reccomend? A4 size.

I'm looking forward to hearing from fellow 'happy snappers'.

[Matt]

I'm a big fan of everything canon. I have an s200 and bought an s530D printer. It prints borderless shots amazingly. I use canon's printer paper as well, the 4x6 glossy stuff.

as far as organizing photos, i still havent seen a great program for it. I am up for a recommendation here.

[Qaz]

I'm also in favor of digital cameras over the film ones. Although i really could use a better camera... Software for organizing photos? What exactly it should do?

Irfanview is best program I've come across what comes to viewing images. It also has thumbnail and sliddeshow features. Is this something you're looking for?

[rorythedog]

Yeah, Canon are responsible for my late uptake of the digital way. I've got by just fine for years with my A-1 & AE-1 SLR's and a few lenses. Too lazy these days to humph that lot around though. Why is it that the best shots present themselves when I'm without my kit.

I've got a Canon printer too. An i550. Great and not expensive at all.

Unfortunately Canon don't seem to do it at the budget digital end. I ended up buying a Minolta Dimage Z1. Cool 10x optical zoom. Handles like an SLR. Better not drop it though :hurt:

Canon paper isn't that easy to source around here. I think I'll go for something from Fuji. I always preffered their film so I might as well start there.

This was the third picture I took. Sorry, due to public decency I can't show the first two.

My house is in this pic.

[BALTY]

I'm in the market nearly 2 !/2 years later.
So If one was looking for a Digital camera today, in the $140 - $200 U.S. dollar range, what would you buy?
I've been looking at Olympus, Cannon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, and I was hoping Acushla could offer some opinions here too! WHERE THE HELL IS HE?:confused: I'm sure he deals with cameras over $1000 though.:puzzled:

I see a Kodak Easyshare C643 for $145 that is really appealing to me. :ditsy:
EDIT: Is that about 188 Euros? ...and similar for Australia's dollar?
When looking for Australia prices for a C643, it's much more expensive than that. But maybe $145 is a deal price for here in the USA.
Anyway, you can figure out companison between this class of cameras, and your local prices.


Some specs on C643

CCD resolution
(effective pixels) 6.1 MP (2848 × 2134)
Image resolution
(recorded pixels) 6.1 MP (2848 × 2134)
Color modes
color, sepia, black and white
Click to capture
< 0.7 sec. (preview on)
Shot to shot
< 1.2 sec. interval until buffer full (4 images)
< 5.0 sec. interval with full buffer
Video mode
continuous MPEG-4 compressed video
Video resolution
VGA (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 fps
QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) at 30 fps
Video length
continuous based on memory capacity
Video format
QUICKTIME MOV (MPEG-4) with audio recording during capture

[Lich]

If you're shooting RAWs, try Adobe Lightroom (it is currently in beta stage and thus free) - fantastic color editing / cropping / organizing tool.

[BALTY]

If you're shooting RAWs, try Adobe Lightroom (it is currently in beta stage and thus free) - fantastic color editing / cropping / organizing tool.
How about a camera suggestion though!
Thanks

[Lich]

$140-$200? If I were you… I would be searching for second-hand Konica Minolta Z2/Z3 or their prosumer A2/A200… maybe.

[squeege2]

Maybe hold off till after Xmas. I swear the prices go up just before. Either that or hard to get, locally.

[BALTY]

Thought I'd share a few PICs of my Various artist Christmas CD from my new C875 camera.

Sorry Lich, I had to go new, and under 200 bucks US. Sorry Squeegtoo! I had to have it for Christmas.
It has some nice features, while producing very good pictures - I'm still learning!
Motion picture mode is sweet, with allowing the zoom feature as you are capturing. The adapter cables convert down to RCA jacks for direct input to the TV, DVD, etc. right from the camera, with sound (along with the normal usb connection for PC. The panoramic feature is really nice.

Why didn't someone tell me about these contraptions earlier? I've been stuck in the dark ages.

The one shot is pretty low light, I adjusted the settings on the camera for the brighter shots. Hopefully I'll get better. The CD turned out great too!

CDs $13 US if anybody wants one.:paranoid: :cheeky:
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/34521154296.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4238322)
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/34521154249.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4238320)
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/34521154295.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4238321)

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

My new camera: Nikon coolpix L6

http://www.photokina-show.com/news_images/00127_nikon_coolpix_l6.jpg

It's the cheapest decent one i could find and it's heaps better than my old bulky 3mpixel one. :P It will come in handy soon when i go on holidays.

[acushla]

My new camera: Nikon coolpix L6

It's the cheapest decent one i could find and it's heaps better than my old bulky 3mpixel one. :P It will come in handy soon when i go on holidays.The large 'screen' on the back of the camera...is that your 'preview' screen after the image has been taken?

If it is (and I suspect it is) then that is great. It looks large enough that you would easily and quickly determine if the shot is too your liking or not.

I would have preferred a longer lens...10X is good...but of course it adds to the bulk and cost.

I would also have chosen a camera that takes RAW...perhaps the Nikon has that capability?

Having said all that I fully recognize that each person has their own specific needs...and so this might just be the perfect camera for you. I do like that screen...not even my CANON D-20 has a screen anywhere near that large...although the new(ish) CANON D-30 does have a large screen. Definitely a plus.

Where are you (thinking of) going?

PS Buy a large capture card.:foureyes:

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Well the lcd screen (2.5") is live and shows photos taken as well as video segments of 640*480 resolution up to 30fps. I already had an SD card of 1GB so that is sufficient for now. It takes jpeg images only. Remember im no professional photographer so all i really care for is quick snapshots and this camera is fairly good for recreational purposes.

I'll be off to Cairns, great barrier reef, Brisbane and back to Sydney. More on that later.

[acushla]

I'll be off to Cairns, great barrier reef, Brisbane and back to Sydney. More on that later.
Rather than unlock my safe and take my CANON out of the camera bag and then find my ruler and measure the screen...I choose to GOOGLE the information...and found this:

The rear of the camera contains a small 1.8 inch LCD panel for previewing the photos you have taken and accessing the menu options within the camera. The LCD is smaller than most consumer cameras you'll find out there. This might bug some people who are used to larger LCD screen found on many consumer cameras. But the 20D isn't really a consumer camera. You don't buy this camera to take photos and enjoy them on the LCD screen. The 20D is maximized for all aspects of taking photos. Your home computer or photo lab is maximized for all aspects of viewing/enjoying said photos. By not having a huge LCD screen the 20D excels at power consumption. I can shoot all day on a single battery and still have power left over for the next day.

I hadn't thought of that.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

I hadn't thought of that.

Well sure but mine guarantees 1000 shots with two AA lithium batteries so even with rechargable NIMH batteries I'll get good battery lifetime. Besides the screen switches off pretty quickly saving power. I also turned off all sounds.

Oh and you try to recommend a small screen to someone whos eyesight is deteriorating ;) Not in my case but my dad cant live without a nice large screen!

[Qaz]

I bought this a while ago: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/

Some DSLR would have been cool, but over my budget.

[acushla]

W

Oh and you try to recommend a small screen to someone whos eyesight is deteriorating ;) Not in my case but my dad cant live without a nice large screen!I hear you on that point.

Another major consideration is 'how well can you view the screen when outdoors?'

The CANON may as well not have a screen as you can see nothing. Even cupping your hands together to create a shadow over the screen has very limited results. It is the one area where the CANON fails miserably.

While it is, to a certain extent, true that as a Professional it is rare that I actually need to look at the screen...there is a way to view the image through the viewfinder after having taken the shot...and more importantly, a view of the histogram, which is what I really want to see. It would be nice to have the option of using the screen outdoors.

[acushla]

I bought this a while ago: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz8/

Some DSLR would have been cool, but over my budget.Some would say, and I would include myself, that, all things considered, you could not have made a better choice for a camera in this catergory.

A friend has one and recently went to India. The images are outstanding. As a bonus, this camera probably has the best rendering of a 'sepia' tone of any camera you can buy. I believe you will really appreciate the 12X lens...opens up so many possibilites which can give your photography a much broader scope and execution of 'vision'.

I'm sure I speak for many of us when I say: SHOW ME THE PICTURES!:cool:

Now, before Toe has an oppourtunity to post: 'That's old news and he knew it 38 years ago';) I'm going to do it for him. You may or you may not know about this site: Steve's Digicams (http://www.steves-digicams.com/)

If you're into photography and considering purchasing a camera...as far as I am concerned this is the ONLY site you need to know.

[WHAT?]

Now, before Toe has an oppourtunity to post: 'That's old news and he knew it 38 years ago';) I'm going to do it for him.


Toe? Qaz?:confused:
:cheerful: Either case you may want to show them off here (http://quinnware.com/forum/showthread.php?p=87666#post87666)