What camera should I buy?

[amba]

Hey Guys,

my old camera (a Casio QV-R41 4 Mega Pixels) just stopped working. I was actually really satisfied with the macro funtion it had. My other camera a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200 7.2 Mega Pixels can not focus at all on small details, the photos are just blurry. Do I need to buy a new camera or some special equipment or do I have to change the settings? Does anyone know?

Or is it just better if I buy a new one. If that is the case can someone give me advice which camera to buy?

-Ambjoern

[James Tainton]

Hi Amba- been awhile since your last post- miss your updates. I guess the question is how much money do you want to spend and what are you wanting to use it for?

[amba]

Hi Amba- been awhile since your last post- miss your updates. I guess the question is how much money do you want to spend and what are you wanting to use it for?

Hi James,

I made a bit of a break from modelling during summertime. Been really busy at work and working abroad, so unfortunately not much time for modelling. But hopefully that will change now...

Well I tried to make some photos tonight with my sony but they aren't really great. So I'll probably go for a new camera. I will acually use it almost solely for modelling photos. Price? Well I thought of something around 700-1000 US$. What camera do you use?

-Ambjoern

[James Tainton]

Well it is sometimes difficult to fit modelling into our busy lifestyles- work seems to take most of my time whether it's the 10 hour days of working on a TV series or then coming home and working on freelance art projects the rest of the time. I'm getting pretty grumpy:p
As for cameras- I think there is a bit of wrong thinking out there on what you need for model photography. I never use Macro- it just has such limited depth of field. You need to look for something that has aperture priority and a ralitivetly small f-stop capability. I have Finepix S602 Zoom which is really good. It is a bit of an older model. It has aperture priority and an smallest f-stop of 11, which while it isn't f22 it still works really well, better than say f5.6.

The other camera I use is the Nikon D80 which is an SLR type digital but it is most likely out of your price range.

Maybe take a look here and look at some of the reviews.
http://www.dpreview.com/

Do a search with aperture priority .

Here is a link to some discussions on cameras and models
http://www.network54.com/Forum/235270/

[MightyRhinox]

Getting a full set up may cost a little over $1000 (maybe closer too $1100, but if you find a good camera shop maybe $900) but go with the Canon EOS SLR range. I recently replaced my film SLR with the Kiss Digital X (AKA Rebel XTi or EOS 400d) it's pretty easy to use and great fun once you get the hang of it.

[holmerz]

You should be able to get a Olympus E400 SLR for 1000 dollars.

\Erik

[Tordenskiold]

You should be able to get a Olympus E400 SLR for 1000 dollars.

\Erik

...or a Nikon D40 SLR for even less :thumb:

[lquah]

Ambjoern

I am using 2 cameras - an old Olymous C-5050Z and a Canon EOS 30D. The Olympus is about 3-4 years old and still performs very well and very good for close-ups.

But my main camera is a digital SLR Canon EOS 30D. This is a superb camera and with the launch of the new EOS 40D, the prices of 30D has fallen. Which is good news! You can get it with a EF-S 18-55mm lens for less than US1,000. For a DSLR it is very easy to use and the photo quality is very good much better than compacts. The 30D has been voted one of the best mid range DSLR and allows to tweak practically everything.

It's great for model kits but even better for daily use/travelling etc.

Review here
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos30d/


Lawrence

[robertgreen94]

Amba, you are going to get may people saying my camera is best. You need to buy what is right for you and your budget. Canon, Nikon and Olympus all have cameras that are very good in the $700 to $1000 price range, but you also must remember that the camera is not the only item you will need.
In most cases the cameras will come in a 'kit' form ie camera and lens, so don't drop the $1000 on the body without the lens. Other things you will need to budget for presuming you go for a DSLR. Camera bag, memory cards, external flash, another lens. You may also need a larger or external HD as these files take up mojo space (shoot RAW unless you are an expert, RAW is forgiving for us 'amateurs'). Don't forget a software. Most of the software that comes with the camera is trial ware. So you can easily drop $300 on equipment that you will need in the first 3 months.

With a budget of $1000, you have a lot of choice. I use Nikon, but I use to use Olympus(before it was stolen), whichever you pick you will be staying with the lens/cameras for a long time. Do your homework, go to your local camera shop, ask q's but do not buy from them as you can get better prices on the internet (B&H Photo is very reasonable, also Calumet Photo). A couple of good review sits are.
http://www.dpreview.com
http://www.kenrockwell.com(mainly Nikon)

Now I am partial to Nikon, and the Nikon D80 is a great camera, esp with the 18-200 lens. This might be at the out of your of your price range, which in this case I recommend the Nikon D40x. (but i am only one person)

Remember, with internet sites, if its a steal its a phony!

Good luck with the hunt :thumb:

[James Tainton]

I just bought this one Amba- f13! and cheap.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixs5700.asp

[amba]

Hey Guys,

thanks for all the input! I really appreciate it:thumb:

I just bought this one Amba- f13! and cheap.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixs5700.asp
Hi James, that looks very good. I'll have a look at it for sure...

-Ambjoern

[amba]

Hey James,

I really like that camera. After reading some reviews on the net, I may get a FinePix S6500fd instead. What do you think about it? Or should I rather go for a real SLR like the Nikon D40.

I have another question about light source. What kind of lights do you guys use?

thanks again...

-Ambjoern

[robertgreen94]

Lights, any i can get my hand on. I use the onboard flash, but mostly use the additional flash unit from Nikon. The D200 has a built in wireless flash capabilities so I use 2 remote flash's in either two single groups or as on big group. The DSLR's have more options than compact cameras. :cool:

[robertgreen94]

FYI B&H Photo has a D40x kit for just under $1000

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/494403-REG/Nikon__D40x_Digital_Camera_Kit.html