ps1914
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posted on January 9, 2001 01:48:01 PM
Hello all! My cheapy digital camera has served me well and paid for itself many times over but it appears that maybe it's time to invest in a better one that will take good clear close ups of small objects when needed.
Can anyone recommend a good one? Preferably one that is really simple to use and download!
Thanks,
Tammy
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abacaxi
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posted on January 9, 2001 02:00:54 PM
The SONY Mavica - saves to a floppy for easy "downloading" and the various models have difering closeup ability.
How close do you need?
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sharkbaby
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posted on January 9, 2001 02:02:14 PM
Hi Tammy!
I have the Sony Mavica FD90 and it is AWESOME for closeups! You can focus from only 1" from the subject! Plus I have a separate macro lens that makes it giant, but even without using it the closeups are great. I sell a lot of fine jewelry and need the macro ability which is why I chose this camera.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=535142146 ... Here is one of my auctions of a very small ring that I just shot with the regular lens on the camera (didn't add any additional lens for this shot)...Just an example.
Before I had a camera that didn't focus up so close and had terrible jewelry pics!
Hope this helps!
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ps1914
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posted on January 9, 2001 02:19:27 PM
sharkbaby- WOW! thanks for the link, yes thats what I need. 1"?? for pete's sake I shouldn't have to get any closer than that! LOL I suppose this is one of those $800-900 cameras?? *gulp*
abacaxi- It's not too often I need to take close ups but I just acquired some NFL rings and a silver coin that I cannot get a close up of that worth anything. I know it would make a big difference to buyers being able to see the item clearly! And you know, I've never used the floppy drive in my computer-- guess it's easy enough huh?
Thanks,
Tammy
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sharkbaby
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posted on January 9, 2001 02:24:57 PM
Yup, it's totally easy. What I did was to purchase some memory sticks too and the floppy adapter to use them in the camera with. (You can get a lot more pics on the mem stick) But if you even just use the camera with floppy disks it's easy as pie! Just put the disk in and the pics download. No special equip to do it this way.
I paid $650 (shipping incl) for mine brand new, factory sealed on ebay. It definately was a deal as the MSRP seems to be btwn 900 & 1,000!
Super easy to use. I never even got around to reading the manual and have had mine for several months.
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 9, 2001 02:27:21 PM
Here's a test closeup picture I shot with my new Sony Mavica FD85 [cost just under $600]:
What is nice is that I took it with just a desk lamp for illumination -- I didn't even need to use the flash!
I'm told that the earlier models also take great closeups, so you can probably save some money and get an FD73 or something....
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
[ edited by godzillatemple on Jan 9, 2001 02:28 PM ]
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wildanteeker
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posted on January 9, 2001 02:57:54 PM
I agree any Sony is good for close-ups.I use the low end FD73.It is very conveinient to upload pics without going through any photo software,you upload directly off the floppy disc.
I would not recommend this camera for anything other than auctions or web page use though.For those uses you cannot beat it but if you want to take family pictures to print you might want to look into something else.And yes the close up ability really is in my opininion one of the best for the money.It really is a great auction camera but that's it!
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If I had money I'd be rich!
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My Bit
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misscandle
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posted on January 9, 2001 03:43:19 PM
Just a note to thank PS1914 for asking the question, and to all of you for answering. I was wondering the exact same thing today and you all saved me hours of research.
Much obliged!
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janusaries
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posted on January 9, 2001 03:47:32 PM
I'm also a Sony Mavica fan (got an FD73 for Christmas after borrowing friends' FD71 and FD85 to play with).
HOWEVER...a cheap alternative for getting crisp digtal images of small stuff is a FLATBED SCANNER. These can be had in the $100-$250 range, and produce dynamite images. I sold a lot of coins and jewelry in my early days on eBay (97/98) using a $139 Microtek flat bed SCSI scanner, and I still use a scanner instead of the digital camera for some things. I actually got the camera because I need to photograph BIG/3-D things that won't fit on the scanner bed!!!
Hope this helps.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on January 9, 2001 04:17:35 PM
Regarding scanners:
Made with an Acer scanner. Cost- $20 (after rebate). Biggest drawback is that you cannot adjust the way the item is illuminated like you can when using a camera.
edited- ubb mistake.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Jan 9, 2001 04:20 PM ]
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ps1914
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posted on January 9, 2001 05:30:43 PM
You guys are the best! I know I can always get the answers to my questions here. Thanks for all the great info.
I will probably invest in one of the sony mavica's soon. Although I do have a scanner, which maybe I ought to check out further!
Thanks again,
Tammy
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 9, 2001 07:11:24 PM
I used to use a scanner for my pocket watches, but I got so sick and tired of the glare I was getting that I finally bit the bullet and bought the Mavica. It will never "pay for itself", since my pictures were pretty decent before and I don't think I'll be getting more bids just because I now use a Mavica, but it is nice and it is convenient.
I also take a lot of photographs of my private watch collction for my Website, which has nothing to do with auctions. And the Mavica works like a dream. Here's a closeup of a watch movement I took the other night, again with only a desk lamp for illumination:
I have also had good success taking outdoor and family photos with it, although I have yet to try printing any of them. Basically, I use my "real" camera [an old, beat-up Minolta] when I want prints, and when I want an electronic picture I use the Mavica.
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
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mrssantaclaus
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posted on January 9, 2001 08:15:02 PM
The photos I am taking with my Mavica are just plain crappy.
How can I get back the original factory settings? I have set it at 1.5 at it didn't help.
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krs
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posted on January 9, 2001 09:38:29 PM
Your scanner images were better, Barry. That watch looks blotchy. Try shooting at 640x480.
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 10, 2001 05:29:15 AM
krs: Actually, that picture was shot at 640x480. I just cropped it to remove wasted space. As for the scanner, it wouldn't work in this case, since the watch has a hinged back cover and won't lie flat. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, I kept getting glare when I used the scanner. Finally, the color saturation was always off when scanning and had to be constantly adjusted.
Which is, of course, why I bought the Mavica....
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
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krs
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posted on January 10, 2001 07:17:25 AM
WhatEver.
It's still blotchy, and the visible jewels look like goo. The details have no relief and the gear teeth are fuzzy. Maybe you jiggle or talk when you shoot? You aren't trying to photograph one handed are you? Maybe with a meatball sandwich in the other hand?
The 'shutter' on digital cameras is different than a film camera. You have to hold steady through the entire exposure process.
It would be good to use previsualization techniques and follow through so that when you take a photograph the act of letting go the shutter it is only a small and insignificant part of a process which is not complete until you are able to see the completed image that you have just made in your mind's eye even before looking at it on the camera viewing screen. A zen- like mastery of all portions of the process is required and can actually take years to develop.
There are shortcuts of course to the realization of this goal, and some of them can have a high but limited effectiveness. Nightly previsualization and muscle relaxation processes can be used to aid your mind in enabling you to become one with your photographs.
When you buy a Mavica, Barry, your snap and go days are at an end.
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mikelanjelo
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posted on January 10, 2001 01:47:25 PM
Check out the Canon S-10. 2 megapixel camera and very easy to use. Tough metal body. I agree with some of the others use your scanner for all small items its fast and easy. One important factor to consider with dig. cameras is the cost of batteries.
Get one that uses AA rechargeable.
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 10, 2001 02:06:21 PM
krs: You go to the greatest lengths of anyone I know just to yank somebody's chain.
I think you need to wipe the dust off your monitor, Ken. That will take care of the "fuzzy" gear teeth. As for the blotchiness, that's the flaw I was talking about with the Mavica FD85 in my other thread. It's a result of the jpg compression, doncha know....
As for "nightly previsualization and muscle relaxation processes", please try to keep in mind that this is supposed to be a FAMILY oriented message board!
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 10, 2001 02:12:14 PM
Oh, one other thing I recently discovered....
The Sony Mavica, like most digital cameras apparently, is rated at 100 ISO. This means that it is the equivalent of 100 speed film. Although the Mavica does a real bang up job taking photographs in low light conditions, I suspect that using just a desk lamp for illumination the way I have been doing is NOT the way to get the best results. It's certainly the most CONVENIENT way, but using a better light source will probably yield clearer, sharper, and less "blotchy" pictures overall.
Barry
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The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
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doubledimwit
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posted on January 10, 2001 02:16:09 PM
Barry....your pic of the watch was very clear on my screen. Don't know what to tell ya, folks!
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dina9
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posted on January 10, 2001 10:27:13 PM
Have to get in my plug for the Nikon line. Give the Nikon Coolpix 950 or higher a look. It can be as simple or as complex as you wish to make it. I use it for jewelry pics and it is great for closeups. I have been a die hard Nikon user for years and their digital line lives up to their reputation for superior products.
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