Reptile & Amphibian Forums

With all of the beautiful pics I have seen on this forum I was curious if anybody has a suggestion for me on buying a new digital camera and what to look for. I am looking to spend around $500. I have read reviews on a few in this price range and they all seem to have a different suggestion on what is best. Obviously the main reason I want this camera is to take pics of my snakes so I didn't know what specs I should look for.
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0.0.1 Amel Motley Corn (Cosmo '03)
0.1 Baird's Ratsnake (Sugaree '04)
1.0 White Oaks Grey Rat (Tennesse Jed '04)
1.1 Shepherd mix (Dylan 5yrs, Porter 8 months)

Obviously the main reason I want this camera is to take pics of my snakes so I didn't know what specs I should look for.

This is the key point. You are asking for advice and may receive a lot of recommendations from others who are equally oblivious to their cameras advantages other than they fact that they own one and they like it.

I suggest you learn a little bit about basic photography. Focus on reading about macro photography and what it takes to get good macro shots. Once you know this (there are good websites that discuss this), you will know what features to look for and you will be able to pic a camera based on an understanding, not some advice from others with questionable expertise.

When you get informed, try looking at DPReview.com where there are good, thorough reviews and comparisons of digital cameras.
Taking this approach will allow you to not only get the best camera for you, but will also teach you how to take the best pictures with your new camera!
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Chris Harrison

I agree with chris on this issue...learn the features of the camera. Heck even go to some camera message boards and ask for input from people who are really serious into photography. I have photography as a hobby but never post on message boards in that field. Try google and do a search. Honestly, I think you can get better help there than you could here.

For around $500 though, I'm looking at getting a Minolta DImage A1 camera, and you could buy a refurbished model for $524. This is a very high quality camera, I personally love minolta products. (and i have some other minolta lenses so thats a help too lol)
www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1229859/search=slr digital
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)

I am having the same dilemna. That Minolta is nice but I don't think the resolution qulity is neccessary for interent posting.

Anyone with suggestions for the best camera with a macro lens JUST for interenet posting?

if you just want one to take pictures for a hobby, go to best buy and get a basic kodak DX series for roughly $150-200. Point and shoot. Does macro. That's all you need. (What I have now)

here's a couple you may wanna look at

www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1074787976716&skuId=6304661&productCategoryId=cat04002&type=product
www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1082119760148&skuId=6619858&productCategoryId=cat04002&type=product

I'd go with the second one..has a 3x optical zoom, basic features, these are pretty good cameras. I have a slightly older version of the first one I posted here, does a pretty good job.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)

>>I am having the same dilemna. That Minolta is nice but I don't think the resolution qulity is neccessary for interent posting.
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>>Anyone with suggestions for the best camera with a macro lens JUST for interenet posting?

It doesn't take a very pwerfull camera to post on the ineternet or even do some wall hangings.
My photos are shot with a little Nikon 3.2 Megapixel camera but they seem to be decent enough for the internet.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

You dont read many bad reviews about any nikon.It's learning how to use the dang thing that's the hard part.Lighting,background,etc,etc.I would love to take classes but that would cut out my 5 hour sleep time I alot myself.hehe