digital camera

wyliecoyote · 11-10-2007, 11:01 AM

ok, i hate to admit this. i'm thinking about buying a new digital camera almost only to take pictures of my tank. who can tell me how to get the most bang for my buck? what should i budget? $300 is the number in my mind. is that enough to get good quality shots? if not, how much? i'd probably go as far as maybe $600 if the jump in quality justified it. i just bought three maximas that i want growth shots of.

Loverotties · 11-10-2007, 11:25 AM

Are you thinking a all in one that fits in your shirt pocket ?or removable lens?

wyliecoyote · 11-10-2007, 11:36 AM

if removable lense falls into the 3 to 6 hundred dollar price range i would think that would be the way to go. if not the best all in one possible.

FishDaddy · 11-10-2007, 12:00 PM

We had a similar discussion in the Photography Forum a while back, with lots of good thoughts and suggestions. http://thereeftank.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105396

The big camera manufacturers seem to be putting all their good R&D into DSLRs, with pocket cameras and all-in-ones not up to the quality of just a couple years ago.

Dick

wyliecoyote · 11-10-2007, 12:20 PM

ok, that gives me some basics to work with. i want a minimum of 8 mp, i probably want a lense that will go to 100mm or beyond, and i need the biggestmemory card i can get. thanks, from here i can look at options i like. looks like i'm going to have to spend a little more than i wanted, but i expected that.

Phishnoob · 11-10-2007, 12:37 PM

I am loving our Panasonic DMC-FZ8. It is the closest I thing I could afford to an SLR with 12x zoom and 8 Megapixels. The comparison to an SLR is a focal length of 36-432mm. Add image stablization and it is not that bad of a deal.

tdwyatt · 11-10-2007, 12:45 PM

Lots of options out there for the memory cards, some folks by multiple 1 or 2 gig cards and shoot in the raw, using the multiples for a filing system until they can get home to download the pix. Good fast memory gets cheaper every day.

I am like Dick on the cameras themselves, look for a good used camera that's a few years old using the photo forum as a guide, otherwise, for the most flexability, look at one of the new DSLR cams, but they start around $900+ depending on what lens you get and if you decide to buy a second lens, tripod, etc.

I just recently went through the same process. I held off buying something less, saved up and bought one of the Nikon D80 bodies with a tele and a 100mm lens. To me, the superior quality and ease of capturing the images made the bux worthwhile, and my experiences with the Nikon line as film cameras pushed me to buy one of them over an Olympus or a Canon. Dick has one, as well as some of the smaller older cams that have great features from a few years ago (I envy his collection...

)

Spend the time to research the different cameras out there, lots to choose from now, remembering that the bux you're putting into this are buying a purchase that will probably last a lifetime.

wyliecoyote · 11-10-2007, 12:46 PM

thanks perry, i'm about to go to best buy and play around with some cameras. if the salesperson is good they'll move me into an slr, if not i'm probably going to go with something like yours. that was my original plan, i just needed to know some basics. my digital camera is probably first generation ( i think the one on my blackberry may actually be better). so, i need one anyway. i'd like one that is water resistant so i could take it kayaking or hunting without worrying about rain.

wyliecoyote · 11-10-2007, 12:53 PM

wow tom, you're sure helping some salesperson out. like i was saying, i don't want something completely disposable, but if it gets rained on or dropped in a creek i don't want to look for ten feet of rope and a rickety chair. i'm only an impulse shopper when it comes to clams and zoas.

tdwyatt · 11-10-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyliecoyote

...i don't want something completely disposable, but if it gets rained on or dropped in a creek i don't want to look for ten feet of rope and a rickety chair...

I totally agree when you're outdoors and active!

I have an old F4 body (Nikon film) that has been abused over time (for example, dropped from my bike on a downhill stretch of US 176 in the NC mountains), still works like a charm, however, I don't think I'd be able to do the same with ANY digital camera on the market today (I'm not sure I'd even carry my new camera with me on the bike

). I'm hoping that Dick will post about some of his older cameras, many will fit in a shirt pocket just for those active outdoor days and take great pix, but then again if you're shooting the tank, you really do not need to worry about those kind of issues and quality of the image becomes the most important deciding point (in my mind). That's when you start thinking about those special flashes, triggers, tripods, etc!

Perry, is this the same camera you had when you were here last?

Phishnoob · 11-10-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

I totally agree when you're outdoors and active!

I have an old F4 body (Nikon film) that has been abused over time (for example, dropped from my bike on a downhill stretch of US 176 in the NC mountains), still works like a charm, however, I don't think I'd be able to do the same with ANY digital camera on the market today (I'm not sure I'd even carry my new camera with me on the bike

). I'm hoping that Dick will post about some of his older cameras, many will fit in a shirt pocket just for those active outdoor days and take great pix, but then again if you're shooting the tank, you really do not need to worry about those kind of issues and quality of the image becomes the most important deciding point (in my mind). That's when you start thinking about those special flashes, triggers, tripods, etc!

Perry, is this the same camera you had when you were here last?

Nope new camera Tom. That Canon was awesome but sort of disappeared along with the girl I brought last time...and it was worth it.

tony9758 · 11-10-2007, 02:16 PM

http://store.zoommania.com/1236b002.html

Danyen · 11-10-2007, 02:16 PM

When I am in a situation where I am worried about getting my camera wet (Nikon D50), I use a waterproof stuff sack. It is large enough to stow the body and two lenses, as well as a towel or something like it to pad the sack in case I drop it (I am a klutz). That method worked great this summer, hiking through rain forests during monsoon season in Thailand. I also second using several small cards. It helps me organize so that I can dump my photos by day/location/etc. All that said, I am a very big fan of going the DSLR route if money allows. The problem is the cost. It will be difficult to get a body, lens, cards, extra battery (optional but great), tripod, and flash for that kind of money. What is great about a SLR, though, is you can grow into it. Buy one card, one lens, and use the built in flash, and then buy lenses, filters, etc. as need and funds allow.

Either way, my biggest piece of advice is.... buy and use a tripod. It is necessary to get sharp tank photos.

Bono · 11-10-2007, 07:21 PM

i have a cannon slr rebel 300 and love it.

Brocnizer · 11-10-2007, 08:17 PM

I'm looking to get one of these. I went diving on my last trip and am hooked. On top of that, I just dropped my father-n-laws digital camera by accident and the LCD broke. $700 wasted for a simple drop on 2 feet.

This camera seems ruggged and high quality. Maybe it will be my christmas present from my wife :-)

http://www.sealife-cameras.com/