posted on October 24, 2006 08:28:38 PM new
I have an Olympus 1.3, about 7 years old or close to it. Have used it with no problems for years, but now, alas, the only way to get the photos onto the computer is to use the smartmedia card and plug it into my printer.
Anyway, before the card is completely worn out from using it, I looked up new digital cameras, and am Confused!! Wow! The one I have was one of about 4 choices, and the cheapest (around $400) at that time.
I just want an easy to use, inexpensive camera that takes good close ups.
posted on October 24, 2006 08:34:42 PM new
Sony Mavica 73. Best camera I've ever had--and especially great for closeups. Not made any longer, but you may be able to get it on eBay or such. Takes a floppy disk. I'm sure there are other good cameras on the market, but the Sony Mavica line tends to get lots of votes here.
Edited to add: This is the only camera I've ever used for eBay selling; I've had it since 1999.
[ edited by roadsmith on Oct 24, 2006 08:35 PM ]
posted on October 24, 2006 08:53:47 PM new
You're going to get as many responses as there are people responding. There isn't one "best" camera now; they all pretty much do what you want. I bought my Fuji FinePix because it had the largest LCD screen of all that I looked at.
If, like me, you are squarely into middle age, you probably want the biggest screen you can get, too.
Our first three cameras were Olympuses (Olympusi?) as well. They were serviceable, but rendered blues and purples very badly. This problem persists today with some cameras, so you might want to look up some of the digital camera review sites that have sample photos.
fLufF
--
Coming soon to eauctionair.com
The Internet's Most Informative Talk Radio Show
posted on October 24, 2006 09:32:29 PM new
Great detail Roadsmith! I looked that Sony up on ebay and there are 3 of them, I'll watch those.
I like to think I'm tentatively nudging middle age, Fluff. Yes, I like the bigger screens, just got a new cellphone with the biggest screen I could. I also looked at the Fuji's on ebay, wide range of prices. I also saw some cool filter kits for those cameras. That could be fun!
Thanks for the input, I'm going to see if I can find some sites with photos to compare. Thanks for the starting point, I just kept scrolling before and there were so many cameras.
Another question, what is the difference between optical and digital zooms?
[ edited by dreamaid on Oct 24, 2006 10:23 PM ]
posted on October 25, 2006 12:11:26 AM new
You get your best close ups with an optical zoom.
I am not highly technical in the camera dept but optical zoom uses actual lense magnification. Digitital zoom uses a computerized magnification and tends to cause less or blurry detail.
I am on my second Nikon. Would not use anything with less than a 10x optical oom. You can photograph pretty much anything with great detail. Now that I need reading glasses, I sometimes even photograph tiny marks that are just too darn hard to see without a magnifier.
posted on October 25, 2006 08:42:32 AM new
I am NOT good taking photos. I try,really try but still just so-so.
I am sure the equipment factors into doing anything well. However, skill helps!
I have had several cameras and always have one ongoing problem -PURPLE.
One poster here -photo ... something, I forgot the name said white balance set correctly would correct that. Well I set the white balance every way and still have the problem.
I think a person knowing the way to do things is just as important as the tool.
I do not know about buying a camera using floppy disc- many PC do not have a floppy drive anymore.
I usually buy a mid price camera,They get dropped and banged around.
I am on my fourth digital camera, lost one, dropped one of the balcony onto the concrete and it was mashed to pieces, wore one out, the one I have now is only 2 months old-6.2 megapixs.
posted on October 25, 2006 08:44:51 AM new
You'll get alot of votes for the Sony Mavica. They're easy to use, cheap media (floppys), large screen, great macro lens, and cheap to purchase.
Unfortunately, they're no longer available new. I bought a factory refurbished FD-100 at Sears outlet about 6 mo's ago. Haven't had to open the box yet, as my 6 year old FD90 is still perking.
Only drawback is the new computers don't have floppy drives. When my computer quits I'll have to buy an external floppy drive.
posted on October 25, 2006 09:07:26 AM new
Deur: There are many fine photographers here, and as many great tips on how to take pictures. My son-in-law is a professional photographer, and he's given me good advice now and then as I needed it.
I spoke with him once about my color pictures not always being true to life, and he cautioned me to have only ONE LIGHT SOURCE. He said more than one confuses the camera. That's helped me a lot.
Purple is awfully hard to photograph; if you have an editing program, and your purple comes out blue in the photo, add a bit of red until it's the true color. Also, fluorescent lights turn purple to blue! I sold a high-end purple crystal necklace a couple of years ago, but after photographing it I set it aside in my office, where the lights are fluorescent. When it was sold and I looked at it, I nearly fainted; it looked blue. Scared the crap out of me. Took it to a window, and, sure enough, it was purple in that light. I kept thinking if this bidder wore the necklace in a room with fluorescent lights, it wouldn't match a purple outfit.
One more thing about photos in eBay auctions: How good is good enough? Someone here has said the photo translation into someone else's computer screen gets distorted.
posted on October 25, 2006 05:59:08 PM new
The choice of digital camera really depends on what computer and OS you want to use it with. (With Macs it's a little easier as since 2001 they have all come bundled with iPhoto and support for all camera brands.)
The easiest way to download images from your camera is Wifi (newer cameras) or by cable (Firewire, USB, serial...). Any digital camera above 3mb is more than adequate for online photography but it should have an optical zoom and decent macro/close-up capability. Check the comparisons on steves-digicams.com for the most accurate colour rendition...
posted on October 26, 2006 10:34:17 AM new
I will vouch for Sony Mavica. My FD71 bought new way back when is still working and I picked up a used FD 75 at a swap meet some years back also. New computers do not always have a place for a floppy however and if you dont I am certain you can buy a attachment to plug in. My tax man had to since he gives a floppy with the income tax report results.
buyhigh
posted on October 26, 2006 04:51:58 PM new
For me, I find a few things extremely useful when taking product photos: a live histogram (almost essential), good macro capability, and (very nice to have) automatic switching from LCD screen to viewfinder. For that reason, I use a Minolta Dimage for my eBay work, although I use Nikon equipment for my "family" photographs.
There are many Sony fans here, but take a look at the Dimage (which , BTW, might be the worst product name of all time, unless you're French).
posted on October 26, 2006 06:04:33 PM new
OK, I learned a new word tonight. Histogram. Unfortunately, I've never seen one on a camera. I have to rely on what I see on the LCD to get a correct reading. Even then, I do end up "tuning up" some pictures rather than retaking the photo.
Note to myself--check out digital cameras with built-in histogram.
Many digital cameras, SLRs and one-pieces both, have histograms. A histogram is basically a graphic representation of how much of the photo is in the shadows, how much in the midrange, how much in highlights, etc.
SLRs as a rule do not have live histograms (except for one really bizarre and incredibly expensive one). They only show the histogram after the photo is taken (because the image doesn't reach the sensors until then). Though SLRs are "better" cameras than one-piece ones, they are not as good, IMHO, for eBay work (i.e., tripod based, artificially lit, usually on a large pure white background, products).
A histogram basically allows you to get the exposure right. Exposures can be really tricky when, usually, the item is placed on a pure white field; most camera meters get it wrong much of the time. A histogram, however, lets you get the exposure correct -- for example, if the item is on white, you make sure that you have not "crushed" the highlights, and everything will be well exposed.
Because of the histogram, my Nikon SLR, which is a considerably better camera than my Minolta, does a much worse job of exposing photos on a white seamless background. It has the same problem on a black background.
Edited to add: PS The reason fine-tuning on the LCD is difficult is that the LCD has a much narrower dynamic range than the camera sensor. There's a limit to how much the manufacturer will pay for the LCD display, and you just can't get a full dynamic range out of an inexpensive LCD. They usually "bloom" well before the sensors would.
[ edited by cashinyourcloset on Oct 26, 2006 07:41 PM ]
posted on October 27, 2006 01:38:02 PM new
I have 3 digital cameras one a Mavica 73 still working on verge of needing battery replacements but takes great closeups from within .5" from item. Great for reading those hard to read small print on something for me at least. Have a Kodak that takes good pics but no closeups. Just started using a Fuji Fine Pix with 6.5 meg with multiple choice of megs to use. It takes great closeups. There is a lot of things this Fuji camera will do along with LCD view of how each setting changes the outcome of an image and is helpful but I still have to use book to figure things out and still get lost in the settings. I have done a lot of images using all the setting and I at my age can't remember what I liked on certain shots from one minute to almost the next. LOL but it does take great pics. I did learn the closeup setting but in certain light you can do other things to improve images that is the hard part for me my sometimers always kicks in and it is back to taking more images to get best shot.
edited to ask Road Did you list the above balls if so how did they do, know you had a thread asking about them but have not kept up lately. Did you get a lot for them?
**************
Check it out
[ edited by irked on Oct 27, 2006 01:43 PM ]
[ edited by roadsmith on Oct 24, 2006 08:37 PM ]