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11-11-2001, 10:43 AM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 198
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Nikon Coolpix
Just got a Nikon CoolPix 995 and was wondering what are some of the manual setting to use to get better pics?
I'll post some pics soon.
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Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
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11-11-2001, 11:04 AM
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#2
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Montana
Posts: 5,815
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Hi jegel!! I just recently got the Nikon Coolpix 990 and only have been using auto for most of my pics like the one here:
Just keep reading the book and messing with the settings that is what I do. Johnny  |
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11-11-2001, 12:11 PM
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#3
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Jedi Master
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,435
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Hi Jegel. I am a 995 user also. I use the auto mode for most of my shots, but will occasionally experiment with the manual mode. Most of my manual mode use is for fine tuning of the focus to zoom in on a small object. I suggest that we post the settings we use when we get a great shot so we can all learn from each other. The great thing about Digital Cameras is that you don't have to pay for film. It gives us the opportunity to experiment.
Enjoy your camera. I really like mine.
Andrew
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I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e.cummings
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11-11-2001, 12:31 PM
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#4
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reefer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 1,650
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Jegel,
I have a 950 and I use manual for almost every shot. For corals and other sessile things I first, get a tripod. Then, put it in macro mode (if that's what you are looking for) and change it to cneter weight, turn the flash off, and look for a shutter speed of 1/8 or faster. If in macro mode, make sure to find that "sweet spot" where the little flower turns green, that is where the best shot is at. I am still messing around with fish shots, they seem to be quite a bit harder. I can't seem to get a shutter speed faster than 1/30 or if I am lucky 1/60 but I know the camera can do 1/1000. If anybody has tips on how to get it fast, that'd be great. HTH
Drew
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11-11-2001, 12:40 PM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 198
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Nice pic, did you crop that from a larger pic?
Whenever I get that closeup to fill the whole shot the camera can't focus.
I tend to get better closeup shots with the manual settings.
Do you use a tripod to keep the camera stable?
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Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
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11-11-2001, 12:47 PM
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#6
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 198
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Asmtih (or anyone else),
Have you had any problems with the auto-transfer software from locking up the computer?
I was having a problem with this but it seems it may have been from the CF card. I formated the cad and it seems to be cleared up. Just wondering if anyone else had any problems like this.
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Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
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11-11-2001, 12:50 PM
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#7
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reefer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 1,650
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Jegel,
Are you using the macro setting? If not, do so, cause it will allow you to get much closer and focus. Whenever I find I am too close even for the macro, I move the camera back just a tiny bit and then try again, until I find the closest possible point to shoot from. HTH
Drew
P.S.- I never used that software, always used a CF reader |
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11-11-2001, 12:59 PM
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#8
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 198
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I'm guessing the method to switch to macro mode would be different with the various versions of the camera but, could anyone describe how to do this.
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Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
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11-11-2001, 01:07 PM
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#9
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Jedi Master
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,435
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I have had no problems with the software. I just plug the camera into the cord and it automatically downloads the photos. What operating system are you running on your computer? I have had no problems with Windows 98. I am getting ready to upgrade to Windows 2000. We will have to see how well it works.
Andrew
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I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart. e.e.cummings
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11-11-2001, 01:43 PM
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#10
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 198
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Running Windows 98. I would plug the camera in and it would start downloading the pics but freeze on a certain one.
I removed the picture and the other pictures downloaded OK.
Formated the card for good messure.
Sounds like it was probably a one time problem.
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Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
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11-11-2001, 02:01 PM
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#11
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Montana
Posts: 5,815
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Hey Jegel I did crop the pic on www.webshots.com but it only affects the film on their servers and not on my computer so they say!! So every time I post a pic on the boards it is large! Johnny  |
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11-11-2001, 03:45 PM
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#12
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Clarita, CA
Posts: 198
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How much editing do you guys do to the pics after you've gotten them from the camera onto the computer? resizing? any color enhancing? ect...?
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Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.
Last edited by jegel; 11-11-2001 at 03:50 PM.
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11-11-2001, 04:42 PM
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#13
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reefer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 1,650
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I do very little editing on the computer. The only things I do are to either brighten or darken, or sometimes to sharpen. I never mess with the colors, because one of the things I like to do is to see how the colors of my corals change over time. Here is an example:
Acro frag on 8/14/01:
Same Acro frag on 9/24/01:
Finally, same acro frag today, on 11/11/01:
To get into macro mode on the 950 (The 995 is very similar) you use a button located on the top of the camera, below the on/off switch. On the 950 the button has a little mountain (for lanscape shots) a flower (for macro) and a timer option. If you are trying to get close up shots the macro mode in the coolpix can't be beat. Check out these shots I just took using macro mode:
And I know that the camera can get shots even better than those, it's just a matter of learning how to use it. Just keep taking pics and experimenting with different settings till you find the one that's best. HTH
Drew |
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11-11-2001, 04:44 PM
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#14
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reefer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 1,650
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