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Photo Forum / General Photo Topics / General Topics / January 2007Camera Recommendations
Hey Guys It's probably been about 10 minutes since someone last asked you for a camera recommendation so I thought I'd end the drought. I have to take pictures of Japanese video game consoles for sales and for my website. I'm using a Canon Ixy 5.0 that I bought here in Japan about 3 years ago. I'm really unhappy with the pictures of white/light objects under flourescent lighting. Any white image in the picture will darken the entire picture. I'm not a pro but there aren't too many options and I've tried most of them. I did some research about the white balance and saw some unfriendly reviews about Canon in this area. So, I thought it was time to upgrade. I'll probably spend between $300 and $500 depending on the deal I can find. I like to buy used. I thought $300 would be for a decent digital, and maybe for $500 I could step up into a used higher end model. I'd probably look at models released within the last 1-2 years. The camera will be used for: * Taking pictures insided under flourescent lighting * Taking pictures of items anywhere from 2 inches to 2 feet in length with most items being about a foot long. * Taking very close up pictures from time to time * Internet display The pictures are on a wood table with a curtain in the back. You can see my pictures at Japan-Games.com. I'm going to keep the same setup. You can also see the quality of the Canon I'm using. I've tried researching on the internet but the search results are often just cameras for sale. I've tried finding a comparison chat where they rate things like white balance and macro but that's been difficult. Since I don't know what my real options are just picking cameras and reading reviews doesn't seem too efficient. So, any tips? I'd like to keep my Canon for night shots and outside. I live in Japan so I can pick things up pretty cheap on Yahoo Japan. If there are any Japanese exclusive items I can look at those as well. Thanks in advance! > Hey Guys <snip> > years ago. I'm really unhappy with the pictures of white/light objects > under flourescent lighting. Any white image in the picture will darken the > entire picture. I'm not a pro but there aren't too many options and I've > tried most of them. <snip> Have you tried doing some reasearch on white balance and exposure compensation? If you, as "photographer," don't know how to handle those two things, you will be just as disappointed with another brand/model camera. Austin > Have you tried doing some reasearch on white balance and exposure > compensation? If you, as "photographer," don't know how to handle > those two things, you will be just as disappointed with another > brand/model camera. > > Austin Hey there Yes, I have, which is where I've come across some of the poor reviews for the indoor capabilities of the camera. The camera only has a few settings for white balance. There's auto as well as some custom lighting options. I've tried all of them. I've also tried putting a white piece of paper on the table and doing the AWB adjustment function. I've tried it on automatic and manual, with flash and without flash. There is also the ability to increase or decrease the exposure for each picture and I've used that with limited success. I just brighten the image when there's a white item but in the end it changes the color of everything so even tho the picture is lighter the object and surrounding colors just dont look natural. I've also tried buying small lights to mount to the side of the table but that didn't improve much of anything, either. I'm not an expert but I think with all of that fiddling I would be somewhat closer to a more natural image with these types of items. If there's anything else you could think of or any other concepts I need to think about please let me know. Thanks, Eric >> Have you tried doing some reasearch on white balance and exposure >> compensation? If you, as "photographer," don't know how to handle [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Thanks, > Eric Well, then, you've addressed the most likely fault that may have been causing your problem. There are so many cameras out there, it is difficult to suggest just one. Some of my main things I look at are: does it use AA batteries that you can then use rechargeables in and save money in the future? ; does it have a good optics system (lots of cameras now have zeiss) ; and a good number for optical zoom. Go to steve's digicams, and there are lots of free reviews for all groups of cameras, and it's written in plain English. You should be able to get a really good camera for $200 or less. Do your homework first and read up, then just shop for the best price. Good luck. Steve > Well, then, you've addressed the most likely fault that may have been > causing your problem. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Steve Thanks for the link. A buddy of mine has lent me his Canon 4.0 PowerShot G2 that I'm going to try out. I'm studying the functions now on a site called dpreview.com. Thanks! > > Well, then, you've addressed the most likely fault that may have been > > causing your problem. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Thanks! Is this a small P&S camera? and you try to do night photograph? I would say forget it, because I don't think that any built-in flash will be good enough for the trouble. For practicing then sure no problem and it would be a good experience, but with the list of troubles in your other message(s) I don't think it will be much or any better. Unless you have defected camera or like the result to prove I am wrong <bg> OK, I just googled to see what the Canon PowerShot G2 looks like, and I would say forget it. And it sounds like you are young and don't have lot of money to spend, and you won't get very far with $500. And this is what I would recommend to get you into the entry of photography - An used or refurbished of Canon 20D or even a new Canon XTi. This will cost you around $600-700 Canon 20D, 30D and I hope the XTi does the same are very good for low-light, and the 20D, 30D are the entry of professional level (cemera not photographer). And this will get you a good started. - A good fast len, you can get a 3rd party f2.8 lense like Sigma or Tamron for around $400-500. I wouldn't suggest to settle for cheap lense cuz it usually won't worth the trouble and you probably won't like the result. - Another $300 to get an Educational version of Photoshop. If not find a free or cheap Photoshop LE from friend or relative, cuz Photoshop LE often bundle with many digital image related hardwares. Why Photoshop but not other? Cuz it's a lifetime learning, and the more you learn/practice the better your Photoshop will become.. or it's endless features/options and can match whatever level of your skill. Yes, there are cheaper and even free graphic programs and most of them are probably more than what you may need (at least for awhile), and unless you know that you will never use Photoshop in the future. IOW, aim for the top because anything you learn now will stay with you for the rest of your life, and the sooner you learn the sooner you will benfit and the sooner you can enjoy what you archive. Yes, it's a lifetime learning, or at least to me as it was forty some years ago when I had my first camera, and I am still learning and practicing these days. IOW, aim for the top because anything you learn now will stay with you for the rest of your life, and the sooner you learn the sooner you will benfit and the sooner you can enjoy what you archive. Yes, it's a lifetime learning, or at least to me as it was forty some years ago when I had my first camera, and I am still learning and practicing these days. Cameras have purposes. If you want great camera, get a Nikon D 200. If you want something to take ebay photos and birthday pictures, get a cheap P&S digital. One size does not fit all, and one camera does not do all things equally well. I own three digitals now, and each has its specific use and limits. Steve "Eric" <ericlancek@hotmail.com> wrote: >Is this a small P&S camera? and you try to do night photograph? I would >say forget it, because I don't think that any built-in flash will be good >enough for the trouble. Yep, it's a small digital. It's a bit better than the IXY I'm using now. Here are some samples: http://www.japan-games.com/toys/index.html It's still a bit dark on the white objects, but there is a bit more brightness without the oversaturation that the IXY was causing. I tried most of the settings and finally just decided on AUTO with no flash. Thanks, Eric > "Eric" <ericlancek@hotmail.com> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Thanks, > Eric Now I see what you are talking about now. First I thought you are talking about taking picture of people playing card game at night-club or something. I never tried these but I would suggest 1. Get a good solid background. They don't seem very big you can build a BOX with either solid WHITE and BLACK for different product 2. Get plenty of light so you don't need flash. I think it would do. If you don't want to build a box then lay them on good solid background, and use reflector to catch more light. And you can always using graphic program to brighten them up. <snip> > The camera will be used for: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > * Taking very close up pictures from time to time > * Internet display Most $300-500 point-n-shoot cemaras should be able to do it, and I believe that they are very good for many other things too. I haven't used PS for some good years now, but I just saw a local ads have a PS camera with somewhere around 8+MP and 12X optical zoom (stabilizer too?). I belive it's under $500 (somewhere around $3xx and probably cheaper online). Sorry I don't remember the brand, but with 12X Optical Zoom and 8MP I don't think it will lose to any camera. And how good your capture may be probably depending on your photography and post processing skill that you have to learn to earn it <g> "Eric" <ericlancek@hotmail.com> wrote: <snip> > The camera will be used for: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > * Taking very close up pictures from time to time > * Internet display Most $300-500 point-n-shoot cemaras should be able to do it, and I believe that they are very good for many other things too. I haven't used PS for some good years now, but I just saw a local ads have a PS camera with somewhere around 8+MP and 12X optical zoom (stabilizer too?). I belive it's under $500 (somewhere around $3xx and probably cheaper online). Sorry I don't remember the brand, but with 12X Optical Zoom and 8MP I don't think it will lose to any camera. And how good your capture may be probably depending on your photography and post processing skill that you have to learn to earn it <g> *** My Brother just bought a Canon PowerShot A710is. It is excellent. Just under £200 from Jessops but less on line. 6 + opt zoom 7+ MP Macro 1cm 2.5 inch bright screen, App and shutter priority, continuous shots 1,7 per second, etc. a gem. > "Eric" <ericlancek@hotmail.com> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Macro 1cm 2.5 inch bright screen, App and shutter priority, continuous > shots 1,7 per second, etc. a gem. For normal situation (or day time with plenty of light) then most P&S can do pretty good job, and the color is often look better than DSLR. But for poor light condition, or sport etc. then P&S with built-in flash usually won't cut. Yes, years before DSLR first available I did use P&S to photograph both day/night condition, and I was even using external flash (Vivitar 285HV by the way) with flash-bracket. Now, my photography equipments cost somewhere around $20-25K > Hey Guys > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > Thanks in advance! I'd dig out the manual first and check the white balance. Taking digital photos with the white balance in the wrong mode will cause all sorts of strange results. It's an easy thing to set, an easy thing to forget, and an easy thing to remedy. Steve |
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