Cameras for Syuu!

[Syuusuke]

I'm not a picture taking whore like Timo or Reaper Man, because I figured it was worth renting one (and a camcorder) for special occasions (graduation, party, etc, etc...,) instead of buying one.

I was looking a few through Newegg (Damn you gotta love Newegg) and found a few decent ones, hell I still have a lot more to look at =P
And I think this is a random thread, I just want to see what there for me.
What type of digital camera should a person that likes to randomly take pictures not too often but takes pictures anyway, get?

[Phopojijo]

Are you the type to set up a shot for 15-30 seconds? Or do you just want to pull it out of your pocket -- click a button -- then worry about the image later?

[Syuusuke]

The latter.

[Phopojijo]

I'd probably recommend something along the lines of a Canon Powershot or similar then. Don't go for the SLR unless you want to tweak (or shoot RAW and tweak at home using a program like {Adobe Bridge or UFRaw} + NoiseNinja)

Just some quick things to learn for better image quality:

1) Flashes suck -- they make the light very "hard" and unnatural. That's why professional photographer's flashes are behind umbrellas and stuff. Soften and widen the angle of light by making it bounce off the room.

2) Increasing the ISO pumps up the "Gain". It gets a brighter image at a higher shutter speed (and ambient light of course...) but you'll get a LOT of noise in your image. (pixels that are slightly... or more than slightly... not the right color due to random error that gets multiplied)

3) Decreasing the shutter speed allows for more light to enter the CCD -- but causes more blur since you're compressing a non-instantaneous event into an instantaneous picture.

[Syuusuke]

I wasn't looking anywhere at the Canon Powershot, thanks!



2) Increasing the ISO pumps up the "Gain". It gets a brighter image at a higher shutter speed (and ambient light of course...) but you'll get a LOT of noise in your image. (pixels that are slightly... or more than slightly... not the right color due to random error that gets multiplied)

3) Decreasing the shutter speed allows for more light to enter the CCD -- but causes more blur since you're compressing a non-instantaneous event into an instantaneous picture.

They can be "balanced", can't they?

[Phopojijo]

That's the point -- find where you can get the shortest shutter speed with the lowest amount of gain. Trade off where necessary.

Auto typically takes care of it for you -- its only if you go manual.

Also depends on what you're taking for a picture: Lawn ornament from a tripod? Shutter open longer, ISO down; Racetrack at the checkered flag? Shutter open shorter, ISO up.

[Patrickssj6]

Definatly get a...damn German...Digitale Spiegelreflexkamera...ahh here you go...Digital single-lens reflex camera. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_single-lens_reflex_camera)


I think those are the newer ones. :)

[Reaper Man]

I'm not a picture taking whore like Timo is, because I figured it was worth renting one (and a camcorder) for special occasions (graduation, party, etc, etc...,) instead of buying one.
How much money do you have to spend on a camera? Also, I is a camera whore too D:

[Syuusuke]

Let's have two scenarios...

1) I'm rich as hell, no need for budget limit.

2)I'm broke. How much money would a poor guy have? I'd say under ~200

[Patrickssj6]

2)I'm broke. How much money would a poor guy have? I'd say under ~200
200? A poor guy?

Ok, you are rich as hell.

[Mr Buckshot]

This is the camera I use for over 90% of my stalker photos:
http://www.66mobile.com/images/zoom/motorola/viewsize/motorola-razr-v3x.jpg

Back on topic:
My dad has this camera and I've found it to be highly reliable, and it only costs $200 Canadian:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000CSYXCG.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

This camera uses dual AA batteries. In cameras, I prefer AA batteries to rechargeable ones because I can swap batteries on the fly.