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Registered: 04-13-2005
Posts: 883
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Posted
Here's a great series of articles about some common digital camera problems and what to do to correct them. (Last week in the Packers mini-camp thread it was mentioned that some of the cameras can have color correction problems.)
http://msn-cnet.com.com/4520-10168_7-6229995-1.html?par...ag=msn_home>1=6556 I've been a longtime user of the 2.1 million mega-pixel Sony CD-200 which I will now give to my 15 year old since the kids surprised me with a new Nikon Z5 for Father's Day. Can't wait to try it. Anyone have any digital picture taking tips of their own? |
 Location: Yo Momma's House, Brooklyn, NY
Registered: 01-24-2001
Posts: 2985
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Posted
Turn the LCD display off unless you absolutely need it - saves tons of battery juice.
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 Location: 400 Miles South West of Lambeau
Registered: 08-18-2000
Posts: 16667
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Posted
Doesn't matter with my SONY, the lithium battery last quite a while. We were talked into purchasing a spare battery but so far it hasn't been needed. Just saw in the paper SONY has a camera with a 12x optical zoom, I maybe buying a new camera.
Now my HP crap that runs on AA batteries dies in less then 30 minutes if you use the screen, and even drains the batteries if they are left in the camera (yes all batteried drain but not like this). Good news is it was a clearanced purcahse or a refund would have been demanded. |
 Location: Milwaukee
Registered: 03-29-2001
Posts: 11405
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Posted
What's there to know about digital photography other than common sense?
1. With cameras you generally get what you pay for. 2. Always download your pictures and back them up onto a CD. 3. Make sure you have enough memory. 4. Make sure you have enough battery power for the location. The only bad thing I've found is longer night exposures generally distort because more pixels are activated unevenly than you will with film. I do like the instant results and being able to take multiple shots. I'll take any where from 100-300 pictures for a family outing and can pick out the good ones. In this case quantity does get you quality. The kind of camera you need depends on what you want to do with it. If all you want are snapshots then a 2M or 3M pixel camera is probably all you need. THe higher priced camera will have more information behind each pixel and better electronics and internal software for image correction. I would suggest always use the highest image quality mode your camera has. However, the higher the setting, the less images you can take. My camera has a "super" mode and each image takes up 20M under that setting. Even with 2.5G of memory cards, I can only take around 125 pictures. I'm going out west last week of July and that's not going to be enough memory. I will probably use the "high" mode (3M for each image) for snapshots and use the "super" when I want an image for my artwork. I have a low end camera too, I will probably bring that along as a backup for snapshots. I have a high-end consumer printer and can print standard-size images up to about 10" x 14". After matting them to fit in a 16" x 20" frame, I am thrilled with the results I am getting. Just don't ask me what it's costing me.  I've been trying to find a way to frame them at a reasonable cost. Once I can do that I can start trying to get into some of the local art galleries. |
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Location: Yo Momma's House, Brooklyn, NY
Registered: 01-24-2001
Posts: 2985
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Posted
Two things drain batteries on any digital cam. Using the flash and using the LCD viewfinder. This only applies of course if you are going to use your camera often and over an extended period of time w/o recharging, which I have done frequently. Sometimes, in some places, you just can't get to an outlet.
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Location: 400 Miles South West of Lambeau
Registered: 08-18-2000
Posts: 16667
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Posted
My wife hwas never been a picture taker but when she went to Hawaii as a chaperone for the local high school band trip she was under orders to take pictures with the digital camera we bought because she could handle my Canon SLR.
 Not bad for a person who shoots pictures once every 10 years. |
 Location: Catskill Mtns., NY, USA
Registered: 05-02-2002
Posts: 7276
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Posted
Ask CH. I hear he likes making picture frames. |
 Location: Formerly from the home of your soon to be World Champion Vikings! Secure your spot on the parade route today!
Registered: 08-10-2001
Posts: 17061
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Posted
There are really three key features with a digital camera:
1) zoom ability 2) amount of megapixels 3) size of lcd screen That's about it. I picked up both camera and camcorder a couple of months ago, and I love the Sony products. It also helps that we have a VIAO laptop, and it makes dowloading stuff a breeze. The only "tip" I would have is that the first thing you should do is buy a larger memory card and probably another battery. I would also avoid the generic kinds of both. If you have a Sony, get the Sony memory card. I've heard that the knockoff versions (cards, batteries) have had problems. |
 Location: Spring Grove, IL
Registered: 03-14-2000
Posts: 2044
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Posted
Yep, I saw that sony over the weekend, super nice camera. Minolta has a similar one with a 12x zoom, I have to research both more. I'm waiting until July 6 when the Nikon D50 comes out and then I'll decide on a new camera... |
 Location: River Falls, WI.
Registered: 04-19-2000
Posts: 3619
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Posted
Here's my tip:
When buying a digital camera, buy one that takes FOUR AA's or a power cell. I've got a camera that takes just 2 AA's, and I honestly get about 10 pics out of a charge. |
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Location: Bloomington, MN
Registered: 07-10-2000
Posts: 1167
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Posted
They are finally making combo camcorder/camera that do a really great job at both. I would consider one of those if anyone is looking.
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 Location: Baldwin,WI,USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 11108
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Posted
Unfortuately she was trying to take a picture of Big Foot and Elvis water skiing just off to the left. |
 Location: Near Murf's on Burleigh, and that's a fact.
Registered: 01-04-2003
Posts: 1987
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Posted
my tip: get 2 relatively large memory cards instead of 1 massive card.
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 Location: NJ
Registered: 08-09-2002
Posts: 487
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Posted
Enjoyed the site, JAF. Thanks for posting.
I just spent several months analyzing (or over-analyzing, as my wife would say) a digital camera purchase, so I can chime in a few more things. I ended up choosing the Canon S1 IS with 10x zoom. They just came out with the S2 this month, which has 12x zoom and some other nice improvements, but for $200 less I thought the S1 was a little better value right now. I looked at the Konica/Minolta, Sony, Olympus, Nikon, and impressive Panasonic Lumix series as well, but Canon tended to edge them out in price/value vs. features important to me. 1. Now that I have it, I can't see how I lived without big optical zoom. Its fantastic, but make sure it has image stabilization or it won't be as useful. 2. Beware low-light autofocus problems. Some are better than others, but compared to traditional SLR's no digital cameras handle auto-focusing well in poor lighting, particularly when fully zoomed. If you're going to be taking a lot of shots like this, look for models with AF assist lamp and easy manual focusing capabilities. Panasonic Lumix Z20 with Leica lens and focus ring was the best here, but it was bulky, a little pricey, and fell short in the movie area. 3. Movie capabilities have advanced on some of these cameras more than others. Digicams don't replace a camcorder, but if you don't feel like lugging both camera and camcorder around all the time, the better ones can actually produce camcorder-like movie clips limited only by size of memory card. Biggie to watch for is ease of use, because movie-shooting thru a camera can be tricky/intimidating for a novice. The Canon I selected had handy camcorder-like record/standby button. Other things to look for are whether they support full 30fps VHS-like qaulity, whether zoom works for movies, etc. (Canon had by far the best movie capabilties, which was the tie-breaker for me). 4. Good, easy-to-use imaging software is critical to how you edit, store, print, and send images. So software bundled with the camera may be a factor. Not sure about others, but the Arcsoft/Zoombrowser package that came with my camera is terrible. I can't wait to delete it and buy Photoshop elements instead. 5. I agree with points about batteries (if AA use the new 2500AH ones available on line, and a good quality charger) and getting a hi-cap flash card. Now that they're so cheap (I paid $28 for a 512mb card), the bigger the better especially if you're doing movies. There are some differences in flash memory qaulity, but newer/faster cards from reputable mfgs such as Sandisk or Viking have always served me well. 6. As far a ultra-high megapixels goes, the extra money may not be worth it. Unless you're a professional or looking to print alot of images beyond 8.5x11, anything past 3.2Mp might be overkill. (eat more memory and need to downgrade filesizes to email them). |
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Location: Spring Grove, IL
Registered: 03-14-2000
Posts: 2044
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Posted
Thanks for the update, I've been looking at the Canon S2 and the Sony DSCH1 and I can't decide between the 2...knowing a bit more about the S1 though will help a bit. |
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Location: Milwaukee
Registered: 03-29-2001
Posts: 11405
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Posted
Some Pictures I Took
I took these photos during Sept-Dec of 2004 while I was temporarily relocated up nort'. They are all from Brown, Manitowoc, and Calumet counties. |
 Location: WI, USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 6669
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Posted
Tooner, you are certainly a multi-talented guy. Excellent pictures!! They look like paintings.
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Registered: 04-13-2005
Posts: 883
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Posted
Tooner---
Those are fabulous. You should send them to the folks at webshots.com and let others enjoy them as desktop screensavers. And if you don't do you care if I download some for my own use?  |
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Location: Milwaukee
Registered: 03-29-2001
Posts: 11405
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Posted
As long as you don't re-sell and/or submit to third parties for any reason. I am hoping to go to the next level with my photography, I guess time will tell where that goes. |
 Location: Out Wandering Around
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 21036
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Posted
Penthouse or Playboy? |
 Location: Gwinn Mi. U.S.A.
Registered: 02-14-2000
Posts: 3447
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Posted
 Here's my tip: NEVER, POSITIVELY NEVER allow wife/husband to place 20 oz. water bottle in same beach bag as $800.00 Fuji Digital camera!!! And NEVER, POSITIVELY NEVER allow liquid to leak out of said bottle if you do; esp. if you have upwards of 135 pics of beautiful St. Maarten, and also clothing optional beach!! I know, I know, she SAYS it was an accident!!!   |
 Location: milwaukee, wi
Registered: 02-16-2000
Posts: 669
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Posted
I've got a few shots in the same genre you're displaying tooner....I'm trying to get into the glamour, senior portrait and family portrait arena, with some weddings as well.....once I start making enough money to pay for all the equipment I buy, I'll be happy...  a link to my gallery if anyone is interested |
 Location: There are only 10 kinds of people in the world...those who understand binary, and those who don't.
Registered: 03-28-2003
Posts: 1536
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Posted
VERY impressive work, Tooner!  I was picking your brain last winter about the stuff you do and what you do it with...lo and behold for our 25th anniversary in April my lovely bride up and got me a Canon digital SLR. It's not your Nikon, but I can't BELIEVE how much more versatile it is compared to the one I had before. I'm trying to learn RAW, Photoshop, and all the other cool stuff that can be done with a digital darkroom. Were any of the pix you posted kissed with PS, or is that all straight out of the camera? |
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Location: Milwaukee
Registered: 03-29-2001
Posts: 11405
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