JediDefender.com Forums

Collecting => Customs => Customizing Tips and Tricks => Topic started by: speedermike on October 31, 2005, 12:16 PM

Title: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: speedermike on October 31, 2005, 12:16 PM
Mods, I'm posting this here because people in this forum use these often.

Any suggestions on a good digital camera?  If you have one you love, let me know.  If you can, post a pic taken with the camera too. Thanks.
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: Jayson on October 31, 2005, 12:38 PM
I have 2 "consumer" grade and 1 'professional" grade digital cameras

Consumers:
Konica Minolta Dimage F100 4.0 mpx (3 yrs old)
(http://home.comcast.net/~jedijaybird/jawas.jpg)

Konica Minolta Dimage G600 6.1 mpx (1 yr old)
(http://home.comcast.net/~jedijaybird/flower.jpg)

Pro Grade:
Nikon D100 6.1 (4 yrs) old with several lenses
(http://home.comcast.net/~jedijaybird/keeper.jpg)

A big tip to shooting digital photos is use a tripod. Digital photos tend to magnify your movements quite a bit and lead to blurry or fuzzy images.
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: Joe on October 31, 2005, 03:44 PM
yes they do.Whrere the heck do you get a tri pod tho.Circut city?
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: Jayson on October 31, 2005, 03:46 PM
Yeah the sell small tripods, good for desktops for about 12 bucks

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Gemini-Tripod-J44209-/sem/rpsm/oid/108366/catOid/-13086/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: Joe on October 31, 2005, 09:10 PM
Neat think they will have them in the Saugus MA store?(if theres a store finder/prouct availble thing i guess im just lazy then.)
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: Jesse James on November 1, 2005, 03:17 AM
You may have better luck with this thread in Watto's general discussion board Steve, but only because there's some "Pro's" that don't peruse the customs area.  Our own Jared is a bit of a camera expert for instance, and guys like Brad (Angry Ewok) and Rob know a lot as well...  Also Jeff and others on staff know quite a bit but I'll let this stay here if it's where you want.
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: CHEWIE on November 5, 2005, 04:37 PM
I use a Sony Cyber-shot 3.2 mega pixel digital camera.  Not really high quality, but as long as I don't try and do extreme close ups or far away shots, it works ok.  Never used a tripod but I'm sure it would be a good idea.

 :P
Title: Re: Digital Camera?
Post by: Joe on November 10, 2005, 02:27 PM
same here........ hwat are your settings on it.(I posted at ffurg that my grand father works for Marriot so he drives people to the hotel and someone left a camera on it but the memory stick won't go in.(i mean it goes in but the camera dosent dectect it.)it's a Canon power shot S410 digital Elph
Title: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: Nirvana on May 6, 2006, 12:18 PM
Title pretty much says it all. I talked to a guy at Best Buy about looking inot getting a new camera. I told him what I did and he said I would probably need an optical zoom. Everyone else's pics are crystal clear, especially CHEWIE's and hemble's, as well as many others. If you guys could just let me know what camera you have it would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: CHEWIE on May 6, 2006, 02:16 PM
I now use a Sony Cyber Shot 4.1 megapixel.  It's not the best, but good enough for what I try and do.

 :)
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: aeseven7 on May 6, 2006, 02:35 PM
Great topic!

I use a Canon Rebel XT.  A little on the expensive side, but I got so fed up with every other camera I tried, seemed like everything always turned out looking like rubbish.

Prior to my Canon, I had stuck with Olympus for a while, but after medicore results decided to try Sony.  All their camera's I tried out produced great results.  If I ever get an additional camera, it'd be either Canon or Sony.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: jokabofe on May 6, 2006, 02:48 PM
Actually, the brand and price of the camera don't really matter. And if you want the camera mostly for taking pictures of your custom figures, then the amount of megapixels doesn't really matter either, because you don't want to try and upload several 4 MB pictures of your figure - it will take too long to upload, and too long to download.

What you should look for are the type of lens, the amount of optical zoom (completely ignore any kind of digital zoom - you should actually turn this off if you're camera has any), and make sure it has a macro mode. This will allow you to get as close physically with your camera as you can, and actually you won't even need to use much of a zoom if you have a macro mode.

Another key factor in getting get pictures is where you are taking your photos. Make sure it's a well lit area, and that the subject of your shots is in a good light. Sometimes extra lamps can he helpful, but try to get as much "natural" light as possible. If you take a look at our image archives here at the site, you can see that Jared gets some great photos of his figures, using a dedicated setup that is relatively simple to make.

I can expand on these points and/or explain how to make a setup like this later on tonight if anyone wants, I'm at work right now and really can't do it. But let me know if anyone wants any more info.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: BrentS on May 6, 2006, 02:52 PM
I'm currently using a Canon Powershot SD500.  It is the best point and shoot digital camera I've had (and I'm onto my third one).  The key for taking pictures of customs is good lighting and "Macro" mode setting.  On the camera, it looks like the Flower Icon.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: aeseven7 on May 6, 2006, 03:50 PM
jokabofe-

I'd really like to hear more about a good 'lighting set-up' when you have the time, etc.  I'm still having to tweak the photos I take in photshop afterwards (colors always seem to be a bit off or its too bright, etc etc) and while I think i have a decent set-up as far as lighting goes. . .maybe I actually don't, lol.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: BrentS on May 6, 2006, 04:07 PM

I can expand on these points and/or explain how to make a setup like this later on tonight if anyone wants, I'm at work right now and really can't do it. But let me know if anyone wants any more info.

I'm all for hearing more about this too!
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: Ryan on May 6, 2006, 06:17 PM
I use a Vivitar Vivicam5385 5 Mega Pixel. And I've been really happy with it so far. The only thing that bugs me about it is how quickly it eats through batteries when it is plugged into the computer.

DARKLORD's Photo Tutorial (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=976370&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1#976370)

Sorry for the link to the other site. That is a really a great tutorial though.

Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: Outrider on May 6, 2006, 06:31 PM
I use a fujifilm FinePIx s5000.  I like it 'cuz the zoom feature can get nice tight shots and close ups etc. 
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: Nirvana on May 6, 2006, 09:55 PM
I'm currently using a Canon Powershot SD500.  It is the best point and shoot digital camera I've had (and I'm onto my third one).  The key for taking pictures of customs is good lighting and "Macro" mode setting.  On the camera, it looks like the Flower Icon.


This is what I ended up getting. I agree with you, except my model is A530. The detail on the macro seting is unbelievable. When I open it up (tomorrow) except a rather large update to my thread.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: jokabofe on May 6, 2006, 11:16 PM
Well, there isn't much that i could add that hasn't been covered in DARKLORD's Photo Tutorial (http://threads.rebelscum.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=976370&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1#976370) - it's just a shame that it's on that other site... but I digress  :P (Thanks to Ryan for pointing us back to that. I remember reading it when he first posted it, and I'm almost positive that he posted it here somewhere, too. Then again, I'm old and I may be mistaken)

I will try and get some kind of tutorial/article written up about building a "proper" lightbox type setup for taking the best photos possible. Like I said before, just take a look at our image database - Jared takes some of the best photos out there. As a matter of fact, I'll see if I can get him to write something.

One thing I wanted to point out about my earlier post. I didn't mean to imply that buying a good or expensive camera is a waste of money or anything like that. I just meant that if you give a crappy photographer a great camera, you're still gonna get crappy photos, and if you give a great photographer a crappy camera, you're probably still gonna get great photos. It's not all about the camera, especially when you're dealing with the internet. Now taking photos for print, that's a whole other story.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: findswoman on May 7, 2006, 08:12 PM
I have a Canon Digital Elph SD10 (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=SupportDetailAct&fcategoryid=224&modelid=9478), and I've been very happy with it.  I got it especially for custom photography because it's got a really nice Macro mode -- you can get an excellent photo just a few inches away -- but unfortunately it has no optical zoom capability to speak of.  (Which is all right, because my husband has a big ol' EOS Rebel that can do all that sort of thing.)  It is very compact, though, and great for general snapshots. 

The SD10 was by way of being the iPod of digital cameras, as it came in four colors: silver, bronze, mother-of-pearl, and black.  I would have gotten the bronze but the Mr. wouldn't let me, so I have the black one, which is just as nice.  :)

... the Findswoman
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: jokabofe on May 7, 2006, 10:42 PM
Here's a picture of a very simple yet effective lightbox style setup. Just some foamcore taped together to form a 3 panel box, with another piece placed above the others. This helps to keep the light inside the box. The paper used for the background can be just about any kind of constuction paper, as long as it's big enough so you don't see the foamcore behind it.

(http://www.jedidefender.com/jbrinkley/lightbox.jpg)

I'm trying to get Jared to write up a more detailed explanation, and maybe some new photos since this one is actually old. But here's what he had to say about this lightbox above:

Quote
I bought white presentation board (foam core) from Staples, cut it into three equal sized pieces, and used white duct tape to hinge them together in a gatefold, so it can be stored flat. I used a forth piece that rests on top, with a slot cut into it for a standard workshop florescent light to shine directly down from.

The background paper is taped to the back of the foam core at the top, and to the table at the bottom.

I have two cheap-ass Walmart desk lamps with the twisty metal shafts which sit in front of the box with their lights aimed towards the sides of the box. The bulbs are the coiled white florescent ones. Beware of ones with “natural” light – they make everything yellow.

Hope this helps you guys start taking better pictures, if you want to/need to. And I'll see if Jared has any more information.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: CHEWIE on May 8, 2006, 12:12 PM
That setup with the lamps is a nice idea.

 :)
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: darthmac on May 8, 2006, 05:32 PM
I use a Nikon D70.  Yes it is expensive, but I have already killed 2 'consumer' point & shoots at around 5000 pictures each (seems most consumer digicams die around here).  My D70 is rated in excess of 50,000.  I usually shoot with my 18-70mm lens, but has sometimes used my 70-300 lens (I don't have a macro lens yet!).


Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: BrentS on May 8, 2006, 05:57 PM
I really like that camera box set-up.  I may be making one of those.  I wonder how much influence there is on the size of the box.  I'm thinking for the diorama and photonovel makers, you may need a pretty big light box.

Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: jokabofe on May 9, 2006, 10:45 PM
Yeah, I would say with dioramas and photo novels that you would pretty much have to work the box around your subject on a picture by picture basis. Which shouldn't be too hard, foamcore is fairly inexpensive, and you wouldn't be permanantly fusing it together, just a few pieces of masking tape and such, so you could easily take it apart and re-use the pieces, adding more or less each time depending on the size of the piece. The only thing you may need to do is to add another lamp or two, again depending on how big the subject would be.
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: Jedi_Assassin on August 23, 2006, 09:55 PM
Yeah, talk about reviving and old thread...
I'm purchasing a new digital camera Friday and am wondering if I should wait to get a better one. I'm getting a Kodak EasyShare C530 5MP. Is this good enough for taking close ups on customs and shots on my photonovel? I really don't like reviving such a dead thread, but you guys (and girls) take such great shots, I'd like your opinion.

Thank you so much,
Ross
Title: Re: What brand and model of camera does everyone use?
Post by: Darth Depressis on October 6, 2006, 10:48 AM
i use a Sony digital Handycam DCR TRV830, it was really kool when i got it, but as time goes on it continues to become a dinosaur. it takes alot of effort to get OK shots with this thing, so i don't suggest a still/camcorder combo for PN's. defently planning to get a newer cam soon.