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Community Newsletter: Q&A: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots
- 5/19/05 2:31 PM
professional yet not so expensive
by hitec_sl - 5/20/05 9:18 AM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi scott
I am in the fashion trade- more in the manufacturing side- can you suggest a good digital camera for me.I have to take lot of close up shots then night shots.So i was thinking of buying a sony DDS F828.pls suggest some thing that is not so expensive yet it can
do a great professional job.I am willing to spend about $1000.
thanks & regards
sanjay
Reply to: professional yet not so expensive
by scott Kahn - 5/31/05 9:17 AM In reply to: professional yet not so expensive by hitec_slHello Sanjay.
I would recommend a low-end digital SLR for your work. The new Nikon D50 will fit within your budget and have a lens capable of taking close-up shots. Because it uses interchangable lenses, as your specific needs change for different types of photos, you will be able to simply purchase additional lenses down the road that meet your specific needs.
The camera will of course also work well for a wide range of additional purposes, too.
Regards,
Scott Kahn
http://www.scottkahn.com
This camera will do perfectly !
by PhotoMan - 5/20/05 9:20 AM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you open the link below for the Canon S1 IS , I think you will gind the perfect camea for your needs. For prints (up to 8 x 10) its' 3.2 meg sensor is totally adequate and the zoom range (optical) of 10x , (38mm-380mm in 35mm camera comparison) can give you a head and shoulders portrait from the other side of the field. This camera also has Image Stabilation, to help take photos with a slower shutter and still remain sharp. It is not expensive either.
Edward Thurston
Photographer
HSM Photo
Image E.T.
http://www.canon.ca/english/index-products.asp?lng=en&prodid=594&sgid=23&gid=2&ovr=1
PIXELS vs DIGITAL ZOOM
by Barbara-Jean - 5/28/05 6:09 AM In reply to: This camera will do perfectly ! by PhotoManEd -
Buying my first digital camera, and now, I better understand 10x Digital Zoom (38mm-380mm).
Just how important are the pixels? So many folks tout their 3,4 pixel cameras; why a 7 pixel?
Barbara
3.7 vs 7MB
by PhotoMan - 12/13/05 3:49 PM In reply to: PIXELS vs DIGITAL ZOOM by Barbara-JeanSorry for taking ....FOREVER.....to reply ( forgot I had the post). No doubt you've already found out the answer to this (fed up waiting for my reply). I believe that you are refering to people that have 3.7MB or 7MB cameras. These are not pixels that they are referring to but the size of the file that the camera image processor is capable of recording. As you might expect, the larger the file size, the greater the detail recorded. If you took a portrait (cameo) of a person, using both cameras, and enlarged the photo on a computer to , say, an 12 x 18 in print size, you would see that the fine detail and colour gradients are more visable in the photo taken with the 7MB camera vs the 3.7MB. If you are photographing jewerly for an insurance company or display ad, you would need as much detail as possible, irregardless of the finished print size. When printing a personal photo, whether the 5x7 is from a 3.7MB or a 7MB camera, the printer uses the same resolution (usually 300dpi) and (visually) you will notice NO difference between the two as there is not enough "space" on the paper to capture the fine differences between them. I just picked up a 3.2MB Canon camera for my father for Christmas. I tested it by taking a shot of my living room. I blew up the image on my computer and could read the labels on the DVD cases under the TV and that was with a 3.2MB. Plenty good enough
Some clear ideas.
by prodesma - 5/20/05 9:50 AM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm surprised by most of these responses pushing towards prosumer cameras and SLR's. Personally, I think there are about a dozen cameras that may suit your needs perfectly for $250-450 USD. Here are my thoughts.
1) Megapixels probably don't matter as long as you're at 3.0 or higher. Most people don't do A LOT of enlargements and if you start to, you're probably looking for a feature-laden prosumer camera then also. IF you're over 5.0, you're paying for more than you probably will ever use. 3.0-5.0 is a great range, I'd base it on camera features in that range (burst mode, 800 ISO, 12X optical zoom, CompactFlash or SecureDigital media cards, video mode with sound, brand, and price) and let the mega-pixels settle where it may between 3 and 5 for my model.
2) "Burst" mode or "Serial" mode is one of the best features. Years back on film cameras, only the $2000 cameras could capture more than 2 frames per second- by using a motor wind attachment. Now, most digi cams can. I use this setting for sports pics and getting beautiful shots of my dog playing. It is also PERFECT for still pics when detail must be in exact focus. If I take a close-up pic, of say an artwork embroidery, that I will post on my website; I need absolute perfect clarity. I'm certain that one of six pics in burst mode will be that. Usually not the first or second pic taken either. Remember, you're not wasting film with digital, so take as many as you need to get the one you want. Erase the rest. Great!
3) ISO speed of 400 or higher. While most digi cams offer at least 400 ISO, some still may only offer 200 ISO as a top setting. 400 should be fast enough to capture most action, 800 or 1600 would be great, but usually comes with a much higher price tag for the camera model.
4) Invest in storage cards. While the most universal flash cards are CompactFlash, SecureDigital is a close second. Buying a Sony digicam kinda limits your value, if it only accepts Sony's own MemoryStick. As technology improves, we'll see CF and SD cards in our PDA's and cell phones (some already are!), then cordless home phones and maybe even stereo remotes. Right now, the capacity to share your memory cards between a digital video camera (the card is used for stills in mid-to-better models) and digi cam is the most common need.
Also, I notice with a 512MB CompactFlash (CF) card in my Canon S230 burst mode can be up to about 12 pics at 2.5 frames/sec. As space is taken on the card, and if several bursts are taken in a short time, the burst lags to 4 or 5 pics before needing to "refresh" its memory with a long pause. With a 256MB CF card, its max is about 8 pics, and lags to 1 or 2 quickly.
5) Buy a unipod. Most don't think about this as an option. But if you're a soccer mom and packing up after your kid walks off the pitch, who wants to spend a few minutes dissembling a tripod to fit in your car? Pro photographers use unipods all the time. Just look at the sideline of any NFL football game. A SINGLE legged unipod can help reduce virtually all camera shake, with a lot more portability and control. For about $20, how can you go wrong?
6) Buy an extra battery. Have two that are ready to go and a 2 or 3 512MB cards (maybe a 1GB if you're also taking some video clips with your digi cam). Not being able to take a pic with your camera because a battery is drained sucks.
7) Optical Zoom is all that matters. As others say, digital zoom should not even exist. Don't use it, period. You are better off enlarging with a photo editing program, the way it "extrapolates" the info from each pixel is probably more detailed than the little program in your digicam. Optical zoom for indoor gyms shots should be at least 6X, preferrably 8X. For outdoor stuff like diving, crew/rowing, or soccer, you'll want a 12X optical zoom. You'll get great results. If you need more than a 12X optical, you need a prosumer camera that has exchangable telephoto lens options.
8) If you have to narrow it down between a couple models, one with a "hot-shoe" flash capabilitiy should win out. The ability to use an external flash and sync it with your camera shutter is tremendous for those holiday portraits or your Norman Rockwell collection
Canon, Olympus, Minolta, and Panasonic all offer cameras that fit these parameters. So do HP, Kodak, and Sony. I like Canon and Olympus for feature-to-value. The choice is yours. Cheers.
Digital camera for sports Mom
by dbays - 5/20/05 9:52 AM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The Canon S1-IS is only 3.2 Mpx's but I have found it produces excellent quality pictures and movies.
It has a 28 to 280 mm optical zoom and Image Stabalization which is extremely effective.
I also have 2 Canon DSLR's among others, and am pretty fussy, having spent most of my life in professional photography
If the Canon S1 is not too pricey for you, get it.
What Sport??
by smearly - 5/20/05 12:14 PM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think that some of the recommendations made so far are very good ones, but it depends on the sport in question (in my humble opinion anyhow). For example, photographing a baseball game is easier than shooting football, which is easier than shooting a basketball game from the area under the basket. Any of the cameras mentioned can take good pictures of a football game from the stands on a nice sunny day. But get in a poorly lit high school gym and try to shoot a basketball game and get good results, and many of the models mentioned would drop off my radar screen.
The winning answer from Scott hit a nail on the head when he implied that "inexpensive" and "a good camera for shooting sports" are almost mutually exclusive terms.
I tried a few different cameras for sports photography and wasn't really happy until I got into the Canon Digital Rebel range (now selling for around $900 or so, I think), and I wasn't totally happy with that. I used it for a little while and then turned it in and got a Canon 10D. I'm now considering trading that one up for a 20D or something else.
So, if the sport you are trying to photograph is outdoors in the daytime, you can probably pick from a number of the models mentioned and be really happy. If it is inside and has fast action associated with it (like basketball, indoor soccer, or something similar), I think you need to get close to spending $900 to $1,000. If you get into that price range, look for a telephoto lens with "image stabilizing" capability.
just a thought
by the9gman - 5/20/05 1:27 PM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have a Canon powershot IS with a 10 times zoom and I am very satisfied with the shots it takes. It features image stabilization which works well in daylight in the automatic mode. The picture clarity is good enough to make decent 8x10s. the only drawback I have found is night shots in the zoom mode , it has trouble focusing in low light conditions. All in all for around $300.00 bucks I feel its well worth the money
Dennis
Analog instead of digital!!
by donoghue - 5/20/05 4:40 PM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Perhaps a second-hand video or high 8 might be a way to go. The Sony TR580E or Sony TR670E are pretty good with a 12X zoom and the ability to shoot at very low light levels. The problem is then to be able to convert it to digital for computer editing (I'm using D-Link AV200). Just a thought!
Derek
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10
by WNKJ89.3 - 5/20/05 7:47 PM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
This camera is not pocket sized, but it has a great zoom, a stabilizer to help keep the wiggles out, adequate flash, although if I did a lot of indoor would get a external flash for the hot shoe. I have stopped, helicopters, and other fast moving objects. At night with a tripod, it takes great shots, even on automatic. I would get an extra battery. If you do get it on line at Amazon, from on of their affilates, it was $20 as opposed to over $60 fro OEM. I bought this camera for $359. It is not the latest model, but it more than does the job. It looks heavy, but is actually very light, but not pocket sized. Use the included lens shroud for outdoors. It improves your photos and will protect the lens, somewhat.
Some good advice here.
by VernonE - 5/20/05 8:33 PM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Personally I'm waiting for the "Canon PowerShot S2 IS" in June for about $500.
Complete specs at:
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=144&modelid=11368
But a few highlights-
1. 12x Optical/4x Digital Zoom
2. 5.0 Megapixel
3. Image Stabilization
4. Movie: 640 x 480
My only personal disappointment in the specs is that it will not store pictures in Raw or TIFF format for better editing capabilities, but I think I can live with that for the price.
Affordable Sport Digital Camera
by junn - 5/22/05 2:21 AM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
We Have a similar situtation before and I have the Older model Nikon Coolpix 775 and I can't Zoom in enough because it has only 3X optical zoom. The Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 Solved our problem and it takes better pictures it has an action photo selection.
Benn
I don't fully agree with the main answer given!
by Eman - 5/23/05 7:27 AM In reply to: 5/20/05 Get a digicam with a zoom for action shots by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I do agree that you need a good zoom to capture your kids in action with better looking shots. But before you spend too much on a camera... I have a two-year old Olympus C-2100 which does has a 10-power zoom, but only 2.1 Megapixels, and a really slow burst rate compared to new cameras. I have a LIBRARY of action shots to prove that you can take them... kids, mototrcycle racing, waterskiing, animals in motion, etc., etc. Yes, a Digital SLR may be the ultimate, but I think getting to learn how to use what you have is the key. For $300-$350 you can get a camera that can handle it. Why spend $1000 on an SLR? Besides, you won't have even close to the zoom capability of a 10X optical digital unless you spend an extra $300 on a big zoom lens.
I wrote a response last summer, entitled ''Capturing Action Photos,'' to a CNET question about a similar topic. It includes detailed instructions on how not to miss the shots you want. If you can't find it on the CNET forum, I'll be happy to e-mail you a copy. Let me know at: ebarbieri@wi.rr.com.
Learning proper technique improves any camera
by Mgradyc - 5/25/05 12:45 AM In reply to: I don't fully agree with the main answer given! by EmanThere are plenty of good (and not so good) cameras in each of the price ranges discussed in this thread. As the previous commentor pointed out, nowhere near enough has been said about taking the time and effort to learn how to get the most out of whatever equipment you are using. Just spending a couple of hours reading through a short "introduction to photography" type text (in book or online form) will help a great deal in understanding the fundamentals of capturing light in a focal plane (that's what photography is all about- film, digital, whatever comes along next...). If done prior to your purchasing decision, a little learning will go a long way toward helping you know what to look for in a camera to be able to take the type of photos you're interested in, without paying extra for quality or features you will never use.
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