[andrewclone]

hey,

I'm planning on buying myself a digital camera for Christmas. I'm really interested in close up photography.
So my questions are these, what should I look for in a camera for close ups? mega pixels, Zoom at least x3? steady shot?

[Advertisements]

Try these links:

http://www.dcresourc...iew/index.shtml
http://www.dcresourc...iew/index.shtml
http://www.dcresourc...iew/index.shtml

There are more reviews here:

http://www.dcresource.com/

Hope it helps you make a choice.

A suggestion: Make up your mind on what brand of the digital camera you're looking for. It'll be much easier to make choices that way.

~Kelvin

[Kelvin]

Try these links:

http://www.dcresourc...iew/index.shtml
http://www.dcresourc...iew/index.shtml
http://www.dcresourc...iew/index.shtml

There are more reviews here:

http://www.dcresource.com/

Hope it helps you make a choice.

A suggestion: Make up your mind on what brand of the digital camera you're looking for. It'll be much easier to make choices that way.

~Kelvin

[andrewclone]

I hope it helps too, I'll let you know.

[andrewclone]

well, According to my new found knowledge, I need a camera that supports .raw files.

[Kelvin]

Oh. Then, look here :

http://en.wikipedia....ng_a_raw_format

That'll provide you with a list you can use together with the review site.

I hope it helps you make your choice easily

~Kelvin

[andrewclone]

ok thanks, Ill keep you updated on my decision

[andrewclone]

wow there is virtually no camera with raw that will fit into my pocket for 500$ or under...

Edited by andrewclone, 11 December 2007 - 04:22 PM.

[Kelvin]

Yeah, practically cameras supporting .raw files are those digi SLR cameras, and they do cost a bomb...

What do you need the .raw for anyway?

~Kelvin

[andrewclone]

Yeah, practically cameras supporting .raw files are those digi SLR cameras, and they do cost a bomb...

What do you need the .raw for anyway?

~Kelvin

well, I spoke to a photographer and he said that when its in raw its in its pure and most easily adjustable form. I've seen differences between raw with white balance and jpeg and I realize that for the closeups that I'm planning on doing I need raww to make my shots top quality.

Good news: I found a camera on ebay for 120 and its a x3.6 optical zoom, raw and jpeg, and white balance.

Bad news: its only a 5 megapixel, now I need to find out whether 5 mp is going to be enough to support my closeups.

[Kelvin]

5MP is definitely not enough, though with AutoFocus it should work fine. What brand is this camera?

~Kelvin

[andrewclone]

5MP is definitely not enough, though with AutoFocus it should work fine. What brand is this camera?

~Kelvin

Canon powershot S60

[Kelvin]

Sounds nice, though the 5MP is a small drawback. Look here.

http://www.dpreview....001canons60.asp

I'd recommend you to read this fully first.

~Kelvin

[andrewclone]

yes, thanks you thats where I've been looking. I'm going to look at the stats on the S70, who knows

[Kelvin]

I am amazed at the S70's specs. Too bad it doesn't support RAW.

Street price
• US: $549
• UK: £380

Body Material
Metal

Sensor
• 1/1.8 " Type CCD
• 7.1 million effective pixels

Image sizes

• 3072 x 2304
• 2592 x 1944
• 2048 x 1536
• 1600 x 1200
• 640 x 480

Movie clips
• 640 x 480 at 10fps up to 30 secs
• 320 x 240 at 15fps up to three minutes
• 160 x 120 at 15fps up to three minutes
• AVI (Motion JPEG)

Lens

• 28 - 100mm (35mm equiv)
• F2.8 - F5.3
• 3.6x zoom

Focus

• TTL
• 9-point AiAF
• 1-point AF (any position or fixed center)
• Manual
• Macro: 4cm

Shooting mode

• Auto
• Program AE
• Shutter priority AE
• Aperture priority AE
• Manual
• Custom
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Night Scene
• Fast Shutter
• Slow Shutter
• Stitch Assist
• Movie with sound
• AE compensation -2.0EV to +2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps

Sensitivity
• Auto
• ISO 50
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400

White Balance
• Auto
• 7 presets
• Custom (manual white balance)

Image parameters

• Vivid
• Neutral
• Low Sharpening
• Sepia
• Black & White
• Custom (3 levels each of sharpness, contrast, saturation)

Continuous
• High Speed at approx.2.0 fps (for up to 15 images)
• Normal at approx. 1.2 fps (for up to 23 images)
• t Large/Fine mode with LCD monitor off

Flash

• Built-in flash
• Auto, manual, on/of, red-eye reduction
• Flash range (W): 55cm - 4.2m (1.8ft - 14ft) at ISO 100 equiv.
• Flash range (W): 55cm - 2.0m (1.8ft - 6.6ft) at ISO 100 equiv.
• Flash level control

Storage
• CompactFlash type I/II and Microdrive
• 32 MB card supplied

Viewfinder
• Real Image Optical

LCD monitor
• 1.8" TFT, 118,000 pixels

Connectivity
• USB
• AV out
Power
• Rechargeable lithium ion battery (NB-2LH/NB-2L)
• Charger included

In the box*

• PowerShot S70 Body
• Battery Charger CB-2LT
• Wrist Strap WS-300
• CompactFlash Card FC-32M
• Battery Pack NB-2LH
• Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
• ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM
• Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
• AV Cable AVC-DC300

Other features

• Spot, Center-weighted & Evaluative metering
• PictBridge and DPOF compatible
• Playback histogram
• Autofocus Illuminator
• Voice Annotation: WAV (monaural) up to 60 seconds per image
• Optional Tele-converter 2.0x TC-DC10
• PC-controlled shooting via USB
• Optional underwater housing
• AE Bracketing
• Optional Wireless Controller WL-DC100
Weight (excl batt) 230 g (8.1 oz)
Dimensions 114 x 57 x 39mm (4.4 x 2.2 x 1.5in)

Oh, yes. And the link.

http://www.dpreview....views/canons70/

~Kelvin

Edited by Kelvin, 13 December 2007 - 11:29 PM.

[pip22]

I've learned quite a lot about digital photography since buying an Olympus 8Mp SLR last year, Andrew. The sensors on pocket-size digicams are smaller than those on an SLR which means the images will generally be 'noisier' (a grainy appearance). This isn't a problem with postcard-size prints but becomes more noticeable on large prints. The larger sensor on an SLR doesn't suffer from this unless you set the ISO to a high value for low-light work, whereas on some pocket-size digicams the sensor noise can be apparent on prints even with the camera set at normal ISO values.

What I'm really saying is if image-quality is one of your top priorities, and you intend to make large prints, you ought to consider getting an SLR.
7Mp is an awful lot to squeeze onto the relatively small sensor of pocket digicam.

I started off with a pocket digicam (a Sony 7Mp model) and although it was beautifully made I soon discovered the limitations of this type of camera. Fine for snapshots and something to have handy at all times, but not for making quality enlargements. Even a 'beginners' 6Mp SLR will produce better quality prints (large or small) than a 7 or 8Mp pocket camera.

6Mp Digital SLRs:
http://www.pentaxweb...etail/PTX 19157
http://www.nikonusa....productNr=25420

Edited by pip22, 16 December 2007 - 03:56 AM.