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camera recommendation

toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
edited July 2015 in General Discussion
I'm looking to purchase a digital camera that can also shoot videos. Anything decent out there in the $300 or less range.
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Comments

  • toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Any recommendations on a good digital camera for taking good close up shots on guns and such for auction pictures? Also, any tips? Thanks.

    T67
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  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,623 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In my opinion there's so many good digital cameras on the market today it's hard to go wrong with name brand cameras such as Nikon, Cannon etc.
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  • Ray BRay B Member Posts: 11,822
    edited November -1
    I've had a Nikon D40x that's about 10 years old. the advancements in the newer cameras are in the amount of pixels (this has about 10M, new ones have about 24M) which shows if you are printing large photographs, not so much for putting on the net. the newer ones have Internet access built-in like a phone, which may/may not be a feature that you want. I'm considering trading my camera in for a Nikon Df, mainly because it has mechanical knobs rather than touch screens for the various functions, so operates more like the older film cameras for which I'm familiar. But considering as a trade-in the stores give virtually nothing for the camera, I may just keep it or give it to my son's daughter for her photography class.
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  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The smart phones with the latest have just about all you need...
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  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    yep there are so many good cameras, and technology has advanced so much, they're all good really.

    even cameras on smart phones take pics as close as 1/2". picture quality generally sucks though.

    the best used camera I know of, is the one I got. Canon PowerShot A590 IS. I researched carefully what was the best compact camera, bought it new, and I sure picked a winner. totally full featured yet compact, and they were so popular that after they were no longer made, they were selling used for more than MSRP when they were new. that was back in 2008 so you can find one for a good used price nowadays. compact cameras made since then do not have all the features of an A590IS, you need to get a full size camera. the companies must have figured they were giving away too much.

    best thing you can do is learn how to use it. there are a few things you should know for these types of pictures.

    1. crank the F stop all the way up. that avoids fisheye and parallax. the down side to that is, the aperature is smallest so you need more light.

    320px-Aperture_diagram.svg.png

    there are three ways to crank up the F stop:

    a. put the camera on "Av", which means aperature priority. set it to F/8 and the other parameters (such as shutter speed, exposure) are automatic. recommended.

    b. put it on "P", which means Program. you can set some parameters while others are automatic. depends on model.

    c. put it on "M", which is totally manual. you set all parameters including shutter speed. not recommended.

    2. lighting.

    a. sunlight gives you the most light by far, but too often you get glare, shiny spots, washout, and high-contrast black shadows. ruins the picture.

    b. sunny outside but in the shade is the best.

    c. sunny outside, item inside your window, is good but you may get shadows.

    d. inside, relying on a light bulb may be ok. shadows can be remedied with another light bulb or flashlight.

    e. inside, relying on the camera's flash sucks. horrendous shadows. wears down the battery quickly. not worth it.
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  • fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have been using a Fugifilm E550 for years and it makes great pictures. My son is a professional photographer and he uses a Canon most of the time, although he has Mamiyas and Nikons too. But you really don't need large equipment any more to take great pics.
    Gave my wife a Nikon Coolpix couple of years ago, 12MP and half the size of my Fugi. Cameras today are amazing compared to the 35mm I use most of my life.
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  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    if you want cheap, I had a Sony CyberShot DSC-P7 that took pictures every bit as good as the 8 megapixel A590IS. compared them side by side when I bought the new one.

    it's from 2003, 3.1 megapixels, teeny little LCD screen and few features. good on batteries.

    get a used one for 5-10$


    sony_p7.jpg
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  • OakieOakie Member Posts: 40,565 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wpage
    The smart phones with the latest have just about all you need...


    BINGO. I use my phone for all my adds and never had one that looked bad.
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  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Sony's that recorded on floppy disc or CD were the best; unfortunately, no OS later than Win XP can process the images. [V]

    Neal
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  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most cameras now are good for standard picture taking. Nikon and Pentax are my favorites. I've got a Sony and Canon too, but picture quality isn't the greatest for close up macro work, no variable flash either.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use Nikon, but I believe Cannon has the edge these days. They run about neck and neck, so check back tomorrow.
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  • beneteaubeneteau Member Posts: 8,552 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'd check out the Go Pro Hero 3. Much more versatile than most other digital cameras.

    HD format: 1080p, 720p
    Sensor resolution: 5 megapixel sensor
    Feature: Action Camera, Waterproof, High Definition
    Connectivity: Wireless, USB, HDMI
    Storage media: microSD Card

    Then purchase the attachable macro lens (about $30.00)

    Allows camera to focus from 3 to 12 inches away
    Perfect for close up shots
    Adds creative content to your GoPro videos
    Glass lens for sharp optics and scratch resistance
    Easy snap-on installation
    0M9InwN.gif[
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  • dcs shootersdcs shooters Member Posts: 10,870 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got a Fujifilm that has macro and super-macro that I can take pics of my finger prints.
    Price wasn't bad for it.
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