Digital Cameras...

Jeremy1973 · 02-03-2003, 04:36 PM

Okay, I am wanting to get a new digital camera. What all do you guys use and think I should get? I want one that does a tremendous job at macros. I have seen some take close up pics of small things like mini stars, and bristle worms, etc. I want a camera where I can do that and have excellent pics. Any thoughts and opinions?

hooked · 02-03-2003, 04:55 PM

Jeremy,
What price range are you looking at? Olympis and Kodak make a great camera.

Minnreefer · 02-03-2003, 06:04 PM

We got our Fujifilm Finepix S602Zoom from www.buydig.com, after a lot of looking. The camara takes good MAcros but very good regular shots. I woud look for reviews in places such as buydig and pcmag etc.

HTH

Junkzoo · 02-03-2003, 07:01 PM

Ditto on Jim's post,,,i'm looking into Olympus. from what i hear,,they are great,,,

asmith · 02-03-2003, 07:50 PM

Nikon!!! Any of the newer coolpix cameras would be great! We have a Coolpix 995 and it is awsome!

Andrew

JDVC · 02-03-2003, 10:06 PM

I'm on my 3rd Olympus (I keep upgrading)... every one has been excellent!! Great features for the price.

-John

Casey · 02-04-2003, 11:24 AM

Real good one go for around $600 from what I have seen.imo

FishDaddy · 02-04-2003, 11:28 AM

Hi Jeremy,
It's a digital jungle out there! No two brands offer side by side models with the same features, just like computers; always some compromise.

Here's a great site that has specs and info on just about every camera made with links to reviews.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs.asp

The Olympus C-4000Z has gotten excellent reviews for macro/close ups. It's a great all-round camera at a pretty good price at places like CompUSA and BestBuy. You can add auxiliary lenses, (macro; wide angle; and telex) as well as filters which is an important feature in selecting any camera. Some of the pretty good pocket cameras don't have that capability.

I have an older C-3000Z, 3 megapixel forerunner of the 4000Z, which does great with close-ups and macros. GregT has one of these and seeing his pictures sold me on that camera.

I also have an Olympus C-2100UZ, just now out of production, that also has excellent macro ability, plus it has 10x zoom.

Nikons have always had good reputations and you can't really go wrong with them, but all my digital experience has been with Olympus, beginning with a 1.3 megapixel D-340R. I just bought a D-380Z for my youngest daughter; it's similar to the D-340R except with 2 mp.

As a side note, if you buy from the web, be very cautious. Some vendors may offer a bargain price but there are some very unscrupulous outfits out there.

Good luck with your choice.
Dick

Jeremy1973 · 02-04-2003, 01:31 PM

as for price...not cheap, and not a months pay! heh heh

I know I am wanting the best...I just have all this small life in my tank, and always frustrated when I can't take a decent pic of it. Like a bristle worm stuffing its face on food... it came out blurry... or when i wanted to id the limpites...I couldn't get a decent shot of him at all. I know..call me picky picky picky.

heh heh

Jeremy1973 · 02-08-2003, 03:21 AM

Any other thoughts and inputs from anyone here? And if you have a great superb macro shot of fauna or something small, I would love to see it! So far, seems like the CoolPix 995 and the Olympus are in the running. What kind of things do I need to be looking for on the camera. Someone already told me that I should be looking for good optical zoom over digital zoom...anything else?

MontanaRocknReefer · 02-08-2003, 11:02 PM

Jeremy I have the Nikon Coolpix 990 and it is an excellent camera for all types of pics that you desire! I have had mine for over a year and still learning to operate it!! I paid around $700 but know you can get them cheaper!

Casey · 02-08-2003, 11:04 PM

hey Johnny how about a pic of the reef I have been wanting that camera.

MontanaRocknReefer · 02-08-2003, 11:15 PM

Casey I will try to get a pic of my tank tomorrow but here is a pic of some button polyps I took with the camera that were in my wife's 20 gallon reef tank. I thought the camera did a great job or was it me?!!

I did some work on the pic from Paint Shop Pro program and liked the effect!

Casey · 02-08-2003, 11:18 PM

Cool pic Johnny cant wait to see your tank

casey

Gary D · 02-09-2003, 10:54 AM

I'll cast my vote for the Olympus c-4000 also. I think it's the best camera for under 500 bucks. I shoot with a Nikon D1-X (gulp $5000) in the studio because I can use different lenses on it, but The quality of the Olympus is very good. Pics with my old Oly D450 have been blown up to 11X14 and thats only a 1.3 megapixel camera. The best thing about the C-4000 is that it has a fast lens, f2.8 that stays constant throughout the zoom. Most lenses change apeture as the zoom. you may start at 2.8 on the wide angle, but once you zoom to telephoto the apeture may only be f9! That is way to slow for available light photos in aquariums. You can shoot, but the camera will choose a slow shutter speed to compensate for it. That is why you see a lot of blurred photos. Phew! Theres my 2 cents worth. Here's a pic taken of my maroon with my little 1.3 megapixel Oly D450, Im sure with the 4 megapixel C-4000 it would be really awesome!