What should i be looking for in a digital camera if i want to take quality close up shots of my models to post on the web?
Thanks,
Bwog
I bought a “cheap” (~$100) digital 2.0 megapixel camera from Wal-Mart and that works just fine. My wife’s Sony is 1.5 megapixel and it takes better pictures than mine (has built in zoom, mine doesn’t).
number one: does it have a macro function
number two: what is the optical versus digital zoom? the higher the optical the better (above 5 is nice)
is the flash inline with the lens or mounted on the body? If inline with the lens it can cause shadows… (not always)
megapixel… you want I would think at least a 3 MP camera if ya want quality… 2+ if you want savings AND quality…
my dad bought a kodak for I think 199 and it takes really good shots… I have a Sony DSCF-828 that takes aweson 8 megapixel shots but will put a major dent in your wallet… (1,000 dollars dent) there’s a wide range even below the 199 that could possibly meet your needs… although the Kodak is probably an all around winner for every day stuff… (including models)
once you have this… you need a decent size memory stic or compact flash… 3 MP 128 is good, 5 megapixels, 256 would be nice… 8 megapixels… 512 or MORE is a MUST!!!
what price range are you looking at? and are you wanting just shots of models or all around pics too? I will see what is out there for your needs/pocketbook…
I wrote an article for armorama about digital camera basics esp focusing on how to take good pics of models… located at
http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=136
Many things you should consider, depending on how picky you are.
1.) For starters, it should have at least 3.2 MP. This isn’t hard considering most stores don’t carry anything less than that. If you want to print your pics, you should get a 5 MP one.
2). how rich are you? You can buy a DSLR which costs thousands of dollars but will go obsolete in a year, or you can buy a cheap one for as little as $100.
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how picky on appearance and feel are you? most cameras nowadays are mass produced with cheap plastic. metal cameras are a rare breeds.
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I’m not sure which brand to recommend. But I’ll avoid HP, Kodak, or Sony if I were you. HP and Kodak are new to the digital imaging world. Sony’s quality is bad unless it’s their top end product. A Nikon, Canon, Olympus, or any of the traditional camera manufacturers are safe bets.
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Oh and lastly, make sure the lens have a Macro feature to take up close shots.
This question shouldn’t have been posted in the aircraft forum
Hope it helped.
Hey “Doc” (tho9900) and Hou_ge2000,
Mind if I contact you before I buy another camera?[:D]
Carl
Depends on how much you want to spend on a DC. I use a Nikon Coolpix 5400, 5.1 MP.
If you get a high end camera (over 4 MP or so) you’ll have to resize your pics for the net because the image files are just to big. You don’t nessicarily have to go for the highest number of Mega-Pixels, good results can be achieved with 3.2 MP cameras. Go to www.dpreview.com to find camera reviews and tutorials.
A macro function is important because it allows you to take better quality pics closer to the lens. At least 3x optical zoom is handy too. I’d go for either a Nikon, Canon or Olympus (they are the traditional camera makers).
I’m sure someone else will be able to provide you more info.
haha sure Carl… anything for a Marine!
Thanks!
Oh yeah!!! almost as important as your camera for taking those close ups of your models is lighting… you could have an average camera and with good lighting produce superiour pics!!! Or like me, have a high end camera without the proper lighting and have your pics come out bad…
It’s pure laziness but I havent got enough candle light to get good clear shots yet (if you’ve seen my pic posts you’ll notice they are a little fuzzy) <I know… I know… a coupla 5 dollars dorm lamps would do it>
You’ll want at least two clamp on desk lights, get those “Real” lightbulbs or whatever they call them that simulate daylight… flourescent will help the overall illumination, but you don’t want it ALL flourescent light or it’ll end up bluish… mix it up! change tha angles etc… find what looks good to YOU!!!
I have a feeling if you took a model to Circuit City or some chain they wouldn’t be adverse to you snapping some shots to see if it looks good to you, which is more important than what anyone else says about your camera… as long as it looks good to you…
I LOVE my Nikon D100!! 
I do need a lense with a slightly shorter focal length, though. I haven’t explored the macro functions of it yet, either.
Make sure it can accept a tripod, I got a $20 tripod at walmart and a couple of clamp on work lights, it made a huge differance in picture quality. I have a 2.1 megapixal and a 4 megapixal camera, for the internet I don’t find a differance, if you want to print pictures it makes a big differance. Same goes for photo editing, if I’m posting a pic just as I took it then it doesn’t matter but with the high res setting on the 4 mp camera I can go in with photoshop and zoom into the picture to pick out specific details from the full size picture. For example you could take a pic of an entire aircraft , with a lower mp camera trying to go back to that pic and pick out just the prop area will result in a blurry picture, but with a higher res you could zoom in for a close up of the nose art and still have good detail. Of course you could just take another picture but its nice to have the option.
The highest megapixels you can afford, and make certain you get one with a variable aperture. The variable aperture can allow you to prevent getting only a portion of the subject in focus. In other words, in the case of a traditional 3/4 angle, you want the “close” part of the model in focus, as well as what’s further away from you. Better still is if you can get one with an “aperture priority” mode (like my Sony), which will allow you to manually set the aperture, but will automatically set your exposure for you. You can’t take bad pictures in this mode, unless, maybe, you left the lens cap on or something.
I use a Cannon Powershot G2 - you can find them at a pretty reasonable price these days. All the pics at my site were taken with it.
I got myself a DSCF828 earlier on this year.
I now have a bag full of perfectly good Olympus cameras that I no longer use.
As has been said before, go for the best camera that you can buy, I went for the Sony and do not regret my decision.
I bought the camera on Amazon for $950 , in Ireland it was $1650, the cards were a rip off here too, so I used the net to get a bargain - I saved over $450 by shopping on line for cards alone.
I had the camera shipped to Boston and a friend brought it home for me.
SHOP AROUND - you will always get a better price than list.
I recently took it and ine of my SLR’s to the BoB Airshow at Duxford, the SLR stayed in the bag !
I ran a few prints off on my 4 year old Epson printer and the quality of the print was better than 35mm print, close to par with a cibachrome print.
Kodak makes a very good digital camera.
Mike