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HELP FINDING RIGHT CAMERA! please!!!

dmlove Nov 22, 2004 09:13 PM

Alright - here are the cameras I am looking into - I would like to know which ones you recommend for herp/avian shooting and which type of macro/other lenses you recommend getting with it for better/closer shots. List from best to worst or what not, and then whatever lenses you recommend. THANKS SO MUCH!

Nikon Coolpix 8700 Digital Camera

Canon Powershot Pro1 Digital Camera

Canon EOS Digital Rebel Camera

Fuji FinePix S20 Pro Digital Camera

Thank you all SO much!
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Replies (6)

dmlove Nov 22, 2004 09:33 PM

np
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Exotic Reptile Breeders - Specializing in Bearded Dragons

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chrish Nov 23, 2004 12:20 AM

1. Canon EOS Digital Rebel Camera

The digital rebel doesn't even belong in the same class as the others. It is a DSLR, which means its sensor is over twice the size of the other cameras' sensors. This means higher resolution and less noise.

Furthermore, you can buy a variety of lenses (new or used) and a variety of flashes. If by chance, you decide you want a higher MP camera, you just have to buy a new canon body a few years down the line. With the others, you would have to start again.

Here's a good site to compare the four

DP reviews comparison table

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Chris Harrison

chrish Nov 23, 2004 12:29 AM

I don't shoot Canon, but here is what I would be looking for in lenses -

100 or 105mm macro (150 on the Digital rebel)- preferably one that goes 1:1

100-300mm zoom (150-450 on the digital rebel) - this is a good start for bird photography at least and not too expensive. Check KEH.com for used lenses.

Actually, there are some 28-300 macro zooms available now that would be a good "first" lens for most of your needs.
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Chris Harrison

oldherper Nov 29, 2004 08:24 AM

For shooting birds, the longer and faster, the better. Birds or not the most cooperative critters on the planet for photography...most times it's hard to get in range to get a good photo unless you really have some magnification on hand. The more magnification you use, the more the need for a good, sturdy tripod and remote release.

Canon 10D
Sigma 170-500 f5-6.3 (effective 270-800 f5-6.3)
Canon 550EX flash (off camera)
Bogen 3021n w/ Bogen 3047 head
Canon RS-80N3 remote release

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dmlove Dec 05, 2004 05:51 PM

Which camera do you recommend? I was just about the get the Nikon Coolpix 8700 Digi camera, a macro lense, a tripod, etc. Does that sounds good?
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oldherper Dec 05, 2004 07:49 PM

It really depends on what you want to do with the camera. I know that sounds like a cop-out, but it isn't. The camera you are looking at is a good general-purpose camera. If you are serious about making high quality images and doing macro work, you are going to quickly outgrow it. The Macro lens you are referring to, I think, is a screw-on Macro adapter that goes on the front of the lens.

For anyone that is really serious about photography and macro in particular, I would recommend getting a DSLR (or SLR if you want to use film)and a dedicated Macro lens. The reason is the ability to interchange lenses and for certain other features you can only get on a single lens reflex camera. My digital body is a Canon 10D. It is a 6.3 megapixel camera. My main film body is a Canon EOS3. They use the same lenses, a major advantage since some of my lenses cost as much as or more than the camera body. Getting into a DSLR is an expensive proposition, but worth every penny in the quality you can get from your images. When you are shooting digital, the post-processing software you use is also important. I use Photoshop CS, but Photoshop Elements comes with the camera (at least with Canon cameras) and will get the job done.

For macro work, a good, sturdy tripod and remote shutter release is a must.

One of the features that my 10D has is the ability to lock the mirror up before the shot. This is a big plus, because the mirror induces some vibration when it flops up before the shutter fires. Vibration is magnified right along with the image, resulting in a blurred picture if you can't eliminate it. This feature allows you to eliminate the vibrations. This is absolutely necessary when I'm shooting under very high magnifications such as macro work or when I'm taking pictures at 1,600x through a microscope.
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We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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