thinking about buying a new digital camera, could use some input

[lowriderphil]

been leaning towards this one

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A4745438&~ck=baynoteSearch&baynote_bnrank=0&baynote_irrank=0

[Dr. Cranky]

Phil, that looks like a heck of a great camera. You can't go wrong with a Nikon. I'm sure it's got all the right stuff for Macro too.

[djway3474]

I have a Nikon point and shoot and a semi pro 35mm reflex. I use the PnS more. If possible shoot in either High ISO or Museum mode and NO FLASH. Picts will be much better. Not enough space here to get into the Physics of it all.

Also preset your white balance in whatever situation you are going to be in. That way certain colors on cars wont trick the WB meter and give you strange colored results.

I have found the Nikons to be a litter more intuitive to use but in the upper range Reflex cameras the Cannon may have an edge.

[Foxer]

You can't go wrong with a Nikon quality wise. It has a 14mp sensor which is plenty big. My Nikon D80 DSLR has 10 and that is big enough. I would just check deeper into it's close up capabilities since I expect you'll be shooting models. See if it will let you use aperture priority to get good depth of field (larger depth of focus). Even so, the small lens in these cameras does give a pretty large DoF.

[Aaronw]

That should work well for you.

[SuperStockAndy]

I like my Kodak Easyshare C190.

[Gregg]

The only thing I don't like about this one is that it doesn't seem to be able to do a manual or aperture priority mode shot, and the F-Stop is only 5.8, which is not great for shooting models. I always look at Steves-digicams.com for reviews of cameras

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/nikon/coolpix-l120/nikon-coolpix-l120-review.html

[lowriderphil]

The only thing I don't like about this one is that it doesn't seem to be able to do a manual or aperture priority mode shot, and the F-Stop is only 5.8, which is not great for shooting models. I always look at Steves-digicams.com for reviews of cameras

http://www.steves-di...120-review.html

what would you suggest in the general price range. It will mostly be used for my models, but I will be taking it to car shows as well.

[Dr. Cranky]

Phil, I use a Cannon Powershot IS X 10--it's a little bit pricier, but it's the one camera that I've loved to use all these recent years. I also have a Nikkon D80, but I never use it for my table top photography.

Gregg is right. You want a camera that's going to give you at least F2.8 and has manual mode, etc . . .

[Gregg]

Actually want something that goes the other way, F8 is probably the minimum.

I will look around and see.

What is the price point, around $300?

[CAL]

I have a Nikon 3100 and have been very happy with it.

[Romell R]

been leaning towards this one

http://accessories.u...aynote_irrank=0

Thats the camera I have and i love it!

[lowriderphil]

Actually want something that goes the other way, F8 is probably the minimum.

I will look around and see.

What is the price point, around $300?

Id prefer to stay under $300

[LAone]

i have this ones older brother and it works great. has all you want for the right price as well.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A4929106&~ck=bnpd&~bk=gr:ProductRec_default,g:RecentPopular,rk:&~lt=popup

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks for the correction, Gregg, yes. F8 is right.

[Dr. Cranky]

Here you go, I hope this helps with the research:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM?view=dp_macro

[Aaronw]

I assume you are looking for a decent all around point and shoot camera you can use for general photography (family vacations, car shows etc), that can also take decent model car photos. In that case I'm sure you will be happy with the Nikon you posted.

If you are specifically looking for something to take better model car photos you might consider a used DSLR. Personally used digital cameras scare me but there are reputable camera dealers like B&H or Abes of Maine that offer refurbished DSLRs. You can get an older Canon or Nikon with a basic 18-55mm lens for $300-400.

B&H has a Nikon D40 with an 18-55mm lens for $339 right now.

http://www.bhphotovi...tal_Camera.html

A DSLR is far more capable than any point and shoot, and on the automatic setting no harder to use. They are much larger though making them somethiong you have to consciously keep with you, unlike a small point and shoot which you can slip into a pocket. I still use my older Canon S3IS and even my cell phone just because I don't always want to have a man purse full of camera equipment with me. There are times that I have to use the DSLR, I just got some neat night time photos of a fire I was working that would have just been dark orangy blurs on my other cameras.

Edited October 5, 2011 by Aaronw

[Modlguy]

I have an SX-10 and when you go to aperture priority it can give you a super macro. I kid you not. You can't engage it on any Auto settings, but it's there when you make a manual setting. Works pretty well and I like this camera for shooting models. Keep in mind that when you stop down you'll get more depth-of-field, but you are lengthening the exposure time, so use a tripod if you can.

Bill Barrett

TSSMCC

[LAone]

here are a couple of pics i took my fujimi film camera. im an amature and have no clue what im doing..lols i used a tripod for this shot.

1/24 engine head.

this one is at a concert about 30yards away.

it's pretty cool. i just play around with the settings until i like what i see.

[MikeMc]

Fuji Fine pix S4000 Black 14 MP 30x Zoom Digital Camera

http://accessories.u...r,rk:&~lt=popup

on the same page as a Nikon thru Dell....Fuji has a stellar record of quality products that compete with the rest. After 25 years in the Camera Repair Business....LOOK at the Fuji.......and then the price.

One note....under $300. forget F8......F5.6 will be the norm.......

I'm having an awful hard time finding f8 unless you go $$$ DSLR

Edited October 9, 2011 by MIKE THE MANIAC

[Bernard Kron]

The camera your considering looks like a fine one. Your budget allows you to choose among a large range of excellent cameras and you should have no trouble finding a great one.

However, I agree with Gregg regarding model car photography and getting at least an F-8 aperture. Manual mode or aperture priority with the smallest aperture (largest F-stop number) you can get is what works for me. That and plenty of light on your subject.l This ensures the greatest depth of field and sharp detail of even the smallest objects in your image. Also, as mentioned by several folks already, macro mode is critical for the closeup work that model car photography demands. And finally, as was also mentioned, manually setting your white balance is vital - otherwise you can be pretty sure you'll get strange colors a lot of the time.

I use a point and shoot camera, a 9 mega-pixel Fujifilm E900 which I've had for about a year. It was already discontinued when I bought it, but I had used a 5-mega-pixel Fuji for several years with good results and this model was affordable and had similar controls and features, including a range-finder which I wanted.

Not a real fancy camera, but it had one feature I wanted and is increasingly hard to find. It shoots in RAW mode. RAW is the basic digital format with no compression of either the color information or the individual pixel data. This means the files are HUGE, but my camera, for example, shoots at 270 mega-pixels per inch resolution in RAW and 72 mega-pixels per inch resolution in JPEG mode. In RAW mode the color reproduction is much closer to what I see naturally as well.

I'm really glad I made sure to get RAW mode capability. However, this is only important if you plan on cropping and manipulating your images, which I do in Photoshop. Otherwise get a camera with the truest color and smallest aperture (highest F-stop number) you can get within your budget, and make sure it allows you to take advantage of the high F-stop number by shooting either in manual mode or aperture priority mode. A good review site like the one Dr. Cranky provided a link to will usually supply excellent guidance on these matters.

Like I said, your budget pretty much assures you that you can get a superb camera that will provide great results.

[Gregg]

Check out this one:

http://steves-digicams.nextag.com/canon-powershot-sx120-is/zzsteves_digicamszB1z0--search-html

Our friend George uses this, and I have to say, I'm impressed!

I went through Steves-Digicams.com reviews, and from what i saw with George's posts, it does quite well.

[Dr. Cranky]

Gregg, the Cannon Powershot cameras are excellent, and this one is very good.

[tabsscale1]

Personally you really can't beat the Canon cameras. When ever i have look for a new camera seems like Canon always comes to the top. I own a Powershot A540 and a Powershot A590Is. These cameras bothe will focus on a subject as close as 1 inch In Macro mode

[MikeMc]

The camera your considering looks like a fine one. Your budget allows you to choose among a large range of excellent cameras and you should have no trouble finding a great one.

Not a real fancy camera, but it had one feature I wanted and is increasingly hard to find. It shoots in RAW mode. RAW is the basic digital format with no compression of either the color information or the individual pixel data. This means the files are HUGE, but my camera, for example, shoots at 270 mega-pixels per inch resolution in RAW and 72 mega-pixels per inch resolution in JPEG mode. In RAW mode the color reproduction is much closer to what I see naturally as well.

I'm really glad I made sure to get RAW mode capability. However, this is only important if you plan on cropping and manipulating your images, which I do in Photoshop. Otherwise get a camera with the truest color and smallest aperture (highest F-stop number) you can get within your budget, and make sure it allows you to take advantage of the high F-stop number by shooting either in manual mode or aperture priority mode. A good review site like the one Dr. Cranky provided a link to will usually supply excellent guidance on these matters.

Like I said, your budget pretty much assures you that you can get a superb camera that will provide great results.

I agree with the RAW output........well worth the extra dollars...But Raw and PS will help overcome f5.6 limitations. As I went thru a lot of MY resources....looking at a clean used DSLR seems a lot wiser now...The Nikon listed above thru B&H is a sweetie...lens is a bit short for me, but that can be switched out.

Edited October 9, 2011 by MIKE THE MANIAC