Reptile & Amphibian Forums

that takes good close up shots and captures good color(like in albinos)when taking pictures of boas between 300 and 400 bucks? Any suggestions or help would be great!Thanks in advance.

Ruben Michel

I love my Cannon PowerShot SD800 IS. It is7.1 mega pixels, takes GREAT closeups! I have two other digital cameras, but I use this camera exclusively for taking boa shots.
Scott

I have the same camera and it seems to take decent photos.....

I use a Canon Powershot SD400. It's a little older but I think Canon makes some nice cameras.

Does that mean were gonna finally see some updated pictures? lol.

-eddie

I am using the Sony DSC-H1---the review for this camera is at this link

www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/H1/H1A.HTM

The price has dropped since then.

I took these with it

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Yeah,
thats right around what i'm looking for I think. Something in the 12x optical zoom catagorey. Thanks for the link!

I got a Sony Z612 and love it for $300 off Ebay.
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Greg Holland
GM HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

I have a Panasonic FZ30. www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Panasonic/panasonic_dmcfz30.asp (DPreview is a good site for researching). I got it new on eBay last year for $440, so it's probably dropped more. 8mp, awesome zoom, I love it. It's got a flip-out/twist LCD which is good for unusual angles and is an "slr-like" camera, has tons of features but you don't have to buy lenses for it.

I also have used a friend's Canon Powershot www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a630.asp which I really liked as a smaller camera. Also had a flip-out/twist LCD (better than the one on my Panasonic because it twists enough so you can take a picture of yourself hugging someone or a critter, and see the LCD at the same time). If I were to get a smaller camera (the panasonic is large), this one would be it.

My husband just got a Canon Rebel XT with lens kit (well, I got it for him for his b-day earlier this year), which is nice even though it's not the latest model - got it on eBay for about $500 new.

Keep in mind that you don't NEED 10 megapixels. Both of our cameras are 8mp and the photos are so large that we could easily make poster-prints if we wanted to. I think 6 - 8mp is good for most people, even for closeups and detailed shots.

Snake-keeping and the photo-bug seem to go hand in hand, don't they?
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 GTP

right. I need to look more towards optical zoom over megapix.

That a big time self professed Playa/Hustler like yourself can't afford to drop a G on a camera! Guess we know were your priorities are at! The Sharp girl is doing great. I would go with one of the Nikon Coolpix models they do it all well!!!!See you at Daytona!!!!

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

Hey Al,
glad to hear the Sharp girl is doing well. The reason for the price range is cause someone needs to replace mine do to the fact they lost it! When I got mine I think it was going for around 400 at the time but that was 3 years ago. Anyways,i'll probably ad to the cost to get a better one, i'm just looking for ideas. Any recent pix of that Sharp girl I shouldn't have sold?

Ruben Michel

Yeah, I was planning on photographing the animals that share the same rack as her today she just shed for the second time since I got her from you. She is definitely pulling up some crazy reds and lavenders! I will post pics of them later. Guess you kinda lucked out on the camera getting lost. Shoot me an e-mail with your number I had my cell on me last weekend and slipped on the slimmy boat ramp and destroyed it, lost all my numbers! Take care!!

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

Nice catch(s) !
We use a Nikon 7900 and its does a good job of getting
"Bang for the Buck'

TnK

>>That a big time self professed Playa/Hustler like yourself can't afford to drop a G on a camera! Guess we know were your priorities are at! The Sharp girl is doing great. I would go with one of the Nikon Coolpix models they do it all well!!!!See you at Daytona!!!!
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>>Al Brown/Brown's Boas
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I use a Nikon CoolPix 5700 it's about four years old and I love it, I have been thinking about stepping up to the Nikon D200 and passing the CoolPix on down to my wife since she says I take more pictures of my snakes than my kids. I tell her the snakes sit still for pictures the kids don't!!!!

Al Brown/Brown's Boas

I'm not sure how serious you are getting, but if you don't get a digital SLR, get a camera with a similar lens. The little cameras are good to carry in your pocket, but that is it. The small lens does not allow enough light for good pics (especially indoors). Even if it is 8 mp, that won't cut it and you won't be happy with a little lens. Get the proper lens for the close-up shots and to get the best colors. You'll see immediatley as you are searching (little lens vs. big lens). I'm far from an expert, but did some research.

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Phil Goss
www.gossreptiles.com

info@gossreptiles.com

I agree with Phil you need the proper lens for the job, those close ups are great BTW!

Check out this link great site tons of useful info ->
www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,5,00.asp
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Jason A.
"Long time Herper, first year Breeder `07."

That upclose head and eye shot is awesome!

Although it's a little more than you said you wanted to spend
the Nikon D-40 is a great little SLR camera that you can grow with you (you can purchase special lenses for specific needs)
I am very pleased with mine, I use it as a backup to my 80 now but it takes great photos I think, and it's very user friendly.

so do I want something with more optical zoom opposed to more meagapixels? Please keep the suggestions comin and thanks again for the help!

Ruben Michel

I personally agree with the NIkon. A nikon D40 is a 6 MP camera and has a wide variety of lenses available. I recently got a D40X with 10 MP and am very pleased. For extreme closeups you can purchase macro lenses which allows to focus at incredibly short ranges. If not getting up to your subject is priority, for instance with hots, then you can geta good Zoom lens that will allow you to remain a safe distance away and still get those close ups. The D40 is about 500 with a lens and the D40X is a couple hundred more. Look on ebay they have amazing deals and I know you will find something you like. Good Luck, Todd

Yep, optical zoom is important, because it means the actual lens itself can zoom that much (don't bother looking at "digital zoom" numbers, that's just interpolation or 'blowing up' the size).

That's why I like my Panasonic - 12x Optical zoom without needing an slr lens. Though for good macro photography, you might wind up needing a macro filter or lens depending on how close your subject is and what your camera can handle.

Definitely decide what YOU think is the most important feature you want (or range of features). If you do go with an SLR, carefully research how much lenses cost and how compatible they are - macro lenses tend to go for a LOT, but many come with starter lenses that are pretty good general purpose.

Good luck! Once you decide what features you like, narrowing it down get easier. And once you know what make/model, you can almost always find brand-new in-box deals on eBay, bizrate, or nextag (I hardly ever buy high-dollar small electronics in the store any more).
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 GTP

The camera isn't nearly as important as your technique with today's camera. There are so many really great cameras that are unbelievably cheap. More money does not automatically translate into great pictures nearly so much as knowing exactly how to get the very most out of whatever camera you choose to buy. Any of the $300-$400 cameras have to potential to get you fantastic shots. The camera I use was "top of the line" three years ago when I bought it, but probably no better than the current $300 cameras available today. I use an Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom.

Learn how to operate the camera and how to set the white balance. The best photographs you see on line are mostly taken by people who have spent many hours playing with their cameras perfecting that art. The next most important thing is knowing what picture to bother taking. A shot of the animal all stretched out is going to make for a generally unattractive shot. The more compact the snakes position, the better potential for an attractive picture. The angle at which the picture is taken is important too. Look at people's photos and note what angle the best ones are taken at. That will help you. Next, I think the photo software you use is the next most important factor. I personally use Photoshop CS2. This is expensive software that can correct just about any mistake I or my camera make. Takes a while to learn how to operate it but it's great stuff. For instance I have taken shots that are way way too dark, opened them in "RAW" format in CS2 and brightened them up so you would never know the exposure was way off. I learned about taking photos in "RAW" format after talking with Ryan of "topnotchboas.com" fame by the way. Ryan is an accomplished photographer who, though he uses "top notch" equipment, would I'm sure would agree with most of what I post here for you. "Raw" images and a program that will work with them, is a beautiful thing if you can upgrade to that.

Finally, I would pay more attention to the quality of the lens that the megapixel count. Go to a really good camera shop and talk to the salesman that really knows what he is talking about. This rules out Best Buy by the way where the kid who helps you most likely knows very little about up close and personal photography. Get the advise of the expert at that fancy camera shop and buy your camera there. I did all three times that I have purchased a digital camera. I paid a higher price than buying it on line, but the salesman who helped me a great deal earned it. I have done that three times now each time paying the higher price for the expertise, and later assistance as needed vs. buying it from Amazon.com and saving 10%.

Just my 2 cents worth of advice that you can have for nothing, ... and worth every penny too I might add.

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Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

Thanks for the reply and suggestions. I know I need to learn my camera better when I get one. With stuff like that i've always been a plug and play kinda guy that doesn't take too much time reading directions. This has probably hurt my photo skills a little in the past. The one thing i've always been kinda against is photoshop. In my eye I think if I photoshop a pic and send it to someone, i'm not giving them accurate pix. I'd rather take like 20 pix and pick one that represents the animal from what I see in person. Plus thats way too much computer time to learn how to use it well. I know it helps with a lot of other stuff also but like I said, i'm a plug and play kinda guy.

I do think you're right about the fact I should go to a actual camera shop where people know what they're talking about. I've always been the guy who doesn't mind paying extra for quality. Be it service or animals. I don't need anything too fancy just an upgrade to my old sony dc10 5 megapix. Looking into a canon with 12x optical zoom and 7.1 megapix. I just need to go to somewhere where they have a working test model cause the one they had at Fry's electronics wasn't working.

Anyways, thanks again Jeff and everyone else who has taken the time to give me advise and suggestions. They are very helpful!

Ruben Michel

Photoshop can be a great tool for the honest photographer just as well as it can be the number one weapon of the deceitful. I'd rather take twenty pictures and be able to use 15 of them. Saves a whole lot of time. I don't take the picture if the animal isn't in a good position. If I know I won't be able to use it, why take it. Like I mentioned, an underexposed image can be corrected so it is as bright as reality. An image can be sharpened so the subject can be seen more clearly. These are not dishonest representations and doing such is a time saver or sometimes will allow you to honestly represent an particularly difficult to capture beauty.

Deceivers use Photoshop and other photo programs to make animals colors that they are not. Most of the time the pink newspaper and orange aspen reveal this dishonesty. I see pictures like that almost everyday. Some people are famous for these types of images. Most people know those aren't real but still some are deceived.

So, Photoshop is a good tool that can be used with honesty to make getting great representative pictures more consistent. Again, 2 Cents worth for free.

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Boaphile Home
All Original/Boaphile Plastics
The Boa Network

Amen. I use Photoshop every day at my 'day job'.

It's a great tool, for cropping and adjusting for photographic mistakes like too dark of exposures. The term "photoshopping", or that something has been "photoshopped" has come to become negative, for some people using it to make images that are far different from the original.

Using photo software to adjust brightness, contrast, and even color (for example, if you take photos under fluorescent lights, it can add an unrealistic green cast to your subject, which can be adjusted back to "normal" looking in Photoshop).

NOT everyone who uses Photoshop is altering their photos to misrepresent what is in it. And those lowlifes who do so, are usually so bad at it that you can see signs of "dishonest" photoshop work a mile away. Then again, if you see an AWESOME scarlet snake offered cheap from a person you had never heard from before, chances are it's too good to be true. No reputable breeder or wholesaler would alter an image to be misrepresentative, and have a good reptulation for very long.

Photoshop is my friend. Don't be hatin' on it.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 Ball Python, 1.0 Hog Island Boa (RIP DeeDee), 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 Green Tree Python

Well Said

Nikon 7900

I have an Olympus E-500 DSLR I purchased mine with 2 lenses...I paid probably $800 a year or two ago and I know they are cheaper now....Great camera!
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Chris & Alliey
www.bloodyleopard.com
E-mail Us

For the record - I think you're reply was extremely helpful, Jeff. All great info that I couldnt have said better myself.

Here are some additional points/reccomendations I'd like to add:

First off I would highly reccomend a budget DSLR. Why? Because theyre fast, accurate, and easily "tunable". The newer models are also very user friendly. The downside to a DSLR is the size of the camera. You are not going to get a pocket sized camera in a DSLR. If you are looking for something small - pick out a non-dslr model. I honestly cannot help you in that regard because I do not research that type of camera nor am I up to date. For a budget DSLR model I would reccomend the Nikon D40. The reason being, I have worked with Nikon cameras for many years and have first hand experience with their reliability and picture quality. Although, from what I have read you can't go wrong with a Canon either.

After getting a D40, you can expand by getting white balance cards, external flashes, etc, if you so choose. Or you can just "point and shoot" and take what you get. You will get very good results with a DSLR even without the extra accessories.

Like Jeff said, knowing how to operate your camera equipment is much of the battle. Secondly is the positioning of your subject. You control that by getting the snake to be in a compact form and changing your angles to get different areas of the snake.

I like to get basicly 3 full body angles - 1. a total side shot (or as low as I can go). Here is an example of that:

2. A slightly slanted shot that shows partial side/partial top. Example:

3. An overhead shot, that shows primarily the top. Example:

I then like to get close ups on specific areas. Those areas are generally side body color, headshots, tail shots, and saddle shots. Although I havent gotten a whole lot of these type closeups lately because I've been shooting primarily neonates. Because they are so small I really need a macro lens to get very good very close shots. Here is an example of one the recent tail shots I got though (same boa as pictured above).

I'd like to make a point regarding whether or not "photoshopping" is "right". Put it this way, if you are photoshopping to make the shot more accurate to the truth, then its certainly legitimate. If you are photoshopping to distort the truth (ie make the snake look better than it really does) then it is wrong. I certainly agree with you there. Let me tell you what my "photoshopping" consists of, I used parenthesis in that term "photoshopping" because its universally recognized as a term for post processing of digital pictures. I actually use a Nikon based program called Nikon Capture. What I do in that program is white balance calibration, cropping, sometimes slight lightening or darkening, resizing, and sharpening. 1. White balance is done using a "grey card", in which I take a picture of the card in the lighting scenario, then later calibrate every shot to that standard. This ensures every shot is as accurate as can be in regards to white balance. Cameras have to "guess" the best white balance, and they are wrong, to some degree, almost all the time. Some cameras do better with auto white balance than others. I also crop, pretty much every shot, because its just about impossible, or at least impractical, to get each shot framed up exactly the way I want it (evenly spaced from the edges with the right amount of background to subject ratio). I adjust exposure (lightness/darkness) because sometimes the shots are just slightly off in that regard, so I bring them back closer to an accurate portrayal of reality. I then resize, for posting on the internet. And then sharpen, because resizing dulls photos out. All of the work I just described I do with a RAW file (nikon's version is called an NEF file, different camera makes have slightly different versions, theres no standard as of now). Using a RAW file allows you more accurate control in post processing and I highly reccomend it for anyone that wants to take the time to get the best photos possible. Here are a couple of links I just found via a yahoo search (I used to know of a better one that I sent Jeff a ways back, but I cannot find it, but these have good info as well).

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/rawtruth1.shtml

http://www.photo.net/learn/raw/

Anyway, hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
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www.topnotchboas.com