Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my Nikon CP 4300! This baby shoots macros like a dream...without any additional lenses!! I have taken some shots of a few of my frogs and decided to post one for you all to see. The rest of my collection and vivariums are going to be revealed next spring, when my frog room is complete. Just a little surprise up my sleeve.

-Bill J

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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

Been so long since I posted any pics that I forgot about the phot properties stuff...
anyway, here's the pic!

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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

Not bad for the first couple shots. I'm getting ready to get a 8megapixel, but looks like I might wait until after the first of the year.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Good lord, what would you need with 8? I guess if you wanted to blow up a photo for a wallpaper, but other than that...

I do photography as a hobby also so not that 5 is not enough, but more helps. There are other new features on the new camera that I want also.

Here are a couple of what I can do with 5:


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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle, I can tell you now, 8 mp will give you the exact same results as the 5 mp camera only your images will be much much larger. After downsizign the images the results are the same. The mainly holds true to macro photography where the ratio is 1:1. I can't justify spending thousands of dollars (FROG MONEY!!) on a camera and macro lense when you can go much cheaper with a Nikon and get the best macros possible....without an addon macro lense (standard in Nikon cameras). The picture of the cobalt was freehanded with no tripod, special lighting or flash. All in all, I spent 500 bucks on this camera and it does macros as good as possible.

-Bill J
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

I hope you did not thing I was knocking the Nicon or your picture, because I was not by any means.
There are many other things that come into play. I had a 3 megapixel (sony s70) and upgraded to the 5 (sony f707), and have been very happy with it. The new one (sony 828)uses a brand new 4 color CCD and from early reports should produce very nice colors. I agree that 5 over 8 in most cases is not needed, but when you are cropping and printing the more the better. I am looking to get as close to a DSLR as possible without having to carry arround a ton of lenses. As for my frog photos, they are all hand held, and with most I am using the internal flash on low. I do have a much better flash, but do not have a way holding it very easy to get the frogs as close as they are at times.

Overall in most cases a 3 megapixel is plenty.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I assume you guys are using open front tanks. If not, how are you getting such good pics? I just bought an Olympus c4000 and its got a pretty good super macro lens on it, but I worry about the acrylic front on my tank.

Thanks,
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Matt

I have like a 4 megapixel or something Nikon coolpix 4500 which I purchased for the last trip, and it does just fine. The pictures are all almost too big, but when I have to publish some (coming up soon) I'll need that big. Otherwise, I can think of much better things to do with the money. I was pissing and moaning about spending $700 on the camera already before I even used it. It does fine, but I'd much rather travel with that money.

Not in my case, mine are right through the glass. All of my tanks at this time are normal aquariums. The key is to be right on the glass, and the placement of the lens and flash on the camera.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

cool, that makes me feel better. When my camera is in super macro mode, the flash is automatically turned off so hopefully reflection will be at a minimum. I bought the camera to take close-ups of my chameleon and future frogs.

Thanks,
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Matt

My shots are taken from the top of the tank at an angle. I have experimented with shooting through the glass, but I always wipe down the insiode to ensure that it is crystal clear. Kyle, I didnt take any offensse or anything, I was just stating my distaste for spending over 500 to 700 for a camera. All I needed was a good camera that does great macros so this was my choice. It shoots excellent scenes as well. So hopefully it'll serve me well in Surinam when I get there...a ways off, but soon enough.

-Bill J
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

I agree, and can't wait to see your pictures. Price is tough, but I only paid about $645 for mine a little over a year ago. Now i've spent a little on a case ($65), and macro lenses ($55). MY unlce actually bought me my flash for a x-mas present, which was very nice.

I can really understand the money side of it, I was getting ready to build a 4 tanks stand, pre order the new camera, and then the trans in our van went out. So $2000 later, my new tanks, and my new camera are on hold. X-mas coming hoses it all up too. So i'm on hold for a bit myself...
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle, I hope to have a working site up by spring..(probably after IAD). I've been scripting away in Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver in what little spare time I have. This site will be a general run of the mill info site as well as some of my art and personal interpretation of what these frogs and the forest from where they dwell, means to me. Take care!

-Bill J
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

Are you planning on going to IAD? I'd like to meet as many people as possible, if I can go. So far I am hoping to go.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Hopefully we'll be able to afford the trip this coming April. I'll let you know for sure when the time comes.

-Bill
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Updated list as of: 9/30/03
2.2.6 D. azureus
1.2.14 D. ventrimaculatus 'yellow' (16 tads in the water)
1.1 D. tinctorius 'cobalt' (one subadult)
0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'patricia'
1.1 D. auratus 'blue'
0.0.5 D. auratus 'green/black'
0.0.10 D auratus 'green/bronze' (very soon)
0.0.3 D. imitator 'Alex Sens line' (1 week)
0.0.2 D. reticulatus (soon)

About the same here... I don't want to do unless I can pick up some frogs... Its only about a 10-12 hour drive for me.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
0.0.2 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators