Good close up digital camera for an amature?

Scarlett_Fawn · Oct 8, 2005

Uuuughh... too many options!

I've used disposable cameras for 19 years now, and have just decided that it's about time to get some better quality images. lol! I know practically NOTHING about cameras. I have never bought one that wasn't disposable.

Maybe I can explain what I want to do with the camera, and someone can help me?

I want to get a digital camera to use for photo references for artwork, so I would like a reasonably high quality image.

I would like to shoot very, very small things like insects and small animals, but also shoot people and animals in action and people and things in low-light situations.

Thanks for all your help!
Brenda

Matt Haines · Oct 8, 2005

What is your price range? I have heard that the Canon Digital Rebel is a good camera. You would probably need a digital slr as regular digital cameras, in my experience anyways, are pitiful for close-ups and small items.

Scarlett_Fawn · Oct 10, 2005

Well, as an artist and a college student, my price range is quite small

I wouldn't like to spend more than $300. (I'm guessing an SLR is over that...) I'll check out the rebel online. Thanks!

Matt Haines · Oct 10, 2005

Yeah, unfortunately the SLR's are a bit over that price range. There are some nice Rebel Packages on Ebay for around 1100-1200. I would just check out some reviews for some digi cams online and see what rates higher in the aspects you wish. There are several places online that rate competing cameras in price ranges.

WebSlave · Oct 10, 2005

I used a Sony Mavica for a while that gave me pretty decent results. Nothing spectacular, but it did the job.

The suggestion of a digital SLR is a good one. It is often advisable to use the proper lens for the job you want it to do. It's pretty tough for one lens to do it all, from landscapes at 20mm, to telephoto at 300mm to doing closeups at 6 inches away from the lens. The has to be compromises made for a digital camera to even try to do all of these using the same glass.

Unfortunately, good quality lenses are expensive. You can very often wind up spending more money for the compliment of lenses then you did for the camera body itself. As in most things of this nature, figure how much is the absolute most you want to spend, then double it, and you will be close to being in the ballpark for what you need to buy to meet your needs.

Good luck.

jsrocket · Oct 10, 2005

You could get a medium quality digital camera, and buy a Macro attachment for the close ups.

The Canon Digital Rebel is way cool, because you get the best of both worlds, but it's pretty pricey.

Grab a Consumer Reports, and compare models in your price range. And remember, megapixels aren't everything. People tend to forget that LENS QUALITY is the most important thing in being able to get a good photo.

Lastly, you could get an old fashioned SLR, with a couple lenses, and a macro attachment, and then scan your photos. Old style SLR's and lenses are cheap these days, and they still take better pics than your average digital.

snakeyman · Oct 10, 2005

yea, im in your same position.. except i have a digital that doesnt give me the quality pictures that i want

if you dont got 1200 to spend on a digital slr i would consider a film slr. go to best buy and look at their camera's because you can get a great film camera for about 300$ and then len's for 100-200 and all the add on's. for what you are wanting to do you would need an slr of some kind. film has better quality then digital so id highly look into that.. i know multipal professional photagraphers and retired pro's and they all swear by film over then new digital stuff

good luck on getting your new camera

jsrocket · Oct 10, 2005

Also, if you do go with an SLR: second hand shops are piled high right now with SLR's and lenses, because everyone wants to go digital these days. You can get good stuff cheap. Be advised, though, there is a learning curve involved in operating a SLR.

WebSlave · Oct 10, 2005

Ahem!

If anyone wants a really EXCELLENT 35mm SLR, I know a guy who is selling one that is a really great buy:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/pp_classifieds/showproduct.php?product=2713&sort=1&cat=39&page=10

crotalusadamanteus · Oct 10, 2005

One good Digital SLR is made by Konica Minolta. I have one. It's a Z1, it has 10X optical zoom, and 4X digital zoom (never use digizoom) 3.2 Mega pixels (plenty) and you can use a common SD card, and AA batteries.
I took these with it......

It's very easy to use, has many presets that are set decently, and you can go to full manual mode if desired. I paid like $320 for it. I am very pleased.

Ciao,
Rick

crotalusadamanteus · Oct 10, 2005

Sorry, I forgot the first one was so wide.

And it has a Macro for close ups also.

Scarlett_Fawn · Oct 13, 2005

Thanks for all your advice! I went to Best Buy today and got myself a Canon Rebel K2... It's an SLR, but not digital. *shrugs* Can't have everything! I think I will be better off with a good manual one than a medium digital. I've wasted nearly a whole reel of film on the SLR in the last couple hours! Hopefully the pictures will turn out good!

I also got a REALLY BAD digital camera for under $20 at WalMart. lol It has it's charm though...

What are some good accessories to get other than a macro lens?

crotalusadamanteus · Oct 14, 2005

Of course, most lenses will cost you more than camera did.

2x, and 3x teleconverters.....
Filters for various effects.....
A 90mm prime lens........You really have to look and see what is out there that fits your taste, and budget.

It can go on and on. Depends on what you want to do, and how serious you want to take it.

Good luck with your new cam. Hope to see some of your examples soon.

Ciao,
Rick

jsrocket · Oct 14, 2005

U/V Filter

Next should be a u/v filter for your lens. They protect the front lens surface, if nothing else.

I have a Canon Rebel, also (analog). I purchased a Tamron 28mm - 200mm lens, to go with the 50mm that came with the camera. They're extremely versatile, as you can go from wide angle to zoom with one motion.

Don't forget to study up a bit on f/stop, aperature, and shutter speed if you want to get the full potential from the camera. Full auto mode doesen't always pick the best exposure.

jsrocket · Oct 14, 2005

Here's one I took with the zoom, at about 180mm.

snakeyman · Oct 14, 2005

you got your work cut out.... time to get practiceing! because your focus was wayyy off on that picture. you will get there tho

jsrocket · Oct 14, 2005

Yeah, not my best work. Michigan Out of Doors magazine liked it, though. They paid me 50 bucks for it.

Here's a few more.

snakeyman · Oct 14, 2005

the composure is great same with the pose, its just grany looking..... they will probably photoshop it

congrats tho

jsrocket · Oct 14, 2005

The grainy effect is mostly caused by the scanning and shrinking stuff you gotta do when posting on the net. The original prints are a lot better.

I checked out some of the photos you posted in the picture gallery. They are awesome. I only hope that some day I can be as awesome and creative as you.

snakeyman · Oct 14, 2005

my pictures really suck because of my camera...

Good close up digital camera for an amature?

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