Re: [Killietalk] digi cam, was bitaeniatum "Majitam"

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

Tony Terceira wrote:

> My suggestion is to figure out what you want, how much you can 
> afford...... Wright Huntley has much information which he has shared 
> over this list.

And free advice is always worth every penny! ;-)

>         My personal opinion, is to go with the new digital SLR .. if you 
> can justify it and use it to its greatest advantage by having a 
> collection of SLR lenses already.

I would limit that, right now to Canon or Nikon (or the Fuji or maybe 
Kodak models that use a Nikon body). Others, like Sigma, are too big a 
question mark for a safe investment. I think we can just about forget 
Minolta. Sad, as they did some great stuff in years past. Oly apparently 
has given up on interchangeable-lens SLRs. [May be smart -- no dirt to 
clean off sensor!]

>         Any major brand will do ..........  I happen to use Nikon, but 
> that is the camera I have lenses for.  When compared to the investment 
> in good lenses,  (  lenses take pictures  .... quality counts)   the 
> cost of a digital SLR was not prohibitive.
>
>         I do not think most people should buy a digital SLR for fish 
> pictures only, there are other cameras which are more than adequate, I 
> just have no experience with anything but SLR.

I'm not as expert as Tony at taking fish pics, so I'm still satisfied 
with my old Sony DSC-D770, which is still too much of a "pro" design for 
a lot of folks. It pretended to be a SLR, but replaced the flipping 
mirror with a fixed beamsplitter that loses a lot of light to the 
viewscreen. To compensate, they didn't frost the glass and you can 
accomodate focus right through it. Setting the diopter adjustment and 
then getting scene and viewfinder rings both in focus is tough, 
particularly in marginal light. In compensation, you do get real-time 
preview on the LCD, which "real" SLR's cannot provide

My replacement for the one that was stolen in Las Vegas came in with a 
dinged lens rim. I easily reworked it for accepting filters and 
extension lenses, again. Unfortunately, it seems the viewscreen (or ccd 
sensor) was jostled a hair out of position, so accurate focus is only 
under autofocus -- too slow for most fish pics. Perfect focus on the 
view screen gives a slightly soft image now. Right now, I use autofocus 
to set, and then switch to manual focus until the distance changes.

I downloaded the USAF test chart and printed out an 8.5X11 copy to check 
out cameras. It took only a few minutes with a tripod to determine the 
exact extent of the problem. [I dread taking it apart to try to fix it 
though, but Sony repairs are unbelievably expensive.]

For a good fish camera, look for decent macro (Portrait lenses do a 
great job of converting zoom-telephoto to macro), good control of flash, 
and a remote release of some kind. [Fish often are much more relaxed 
when you are nearly out of sight.]

Full manual control of focus and exposure can help a lot with the 
accursed shutter delay that seems aimed at making good pics of fishes 
tails (and kid and pet rears, too). Some still have too much, even with 
full manual. Test.

The biggest glass you can afford will pay off long haul. Too many 
big-name cameras just don't have adequate lenses in either size or 
resolution. As Tony says, "lenses take pictures ... quality counts."

I have often wanted one of the tiny Nikon "pocket" cameras, but I can 
get better macro with a close-up lens or two, and the total quality of 
the tiny lenses just isn't there. It shows in the pictures, IMHO. With a 
small lens, the shutter must be slower, and my ability to hand-hold an 
exciting shot with a mini-camera just isn't there! That negates all the 
advantage of a camera that fits your shirt pocket.

Sony sold the basic design of their pro cameras to Olympus, when they 
bombed in that market. Check out the "E-10, 20" series at dpreview.com 
or Steves Digicams. [Try http://www.steves-digicams.com/e10.html.] Many 
like the Sony 505, 707, 717, 828 series, but they are a wee bit too 
"P&S" for my particular taste. I'm bummed out that the 828 cannot take 
add-on lenses, too.

As Tim says, the number of pixels you need is often overdone. For web 
work, a really good lens on a 1 MP camera is just fine. Anything much 
more than 640X480 tends to be slower and web overkill unless you "must" 
have full screen (and then many can't even see your excellence!).

Take advantage of the rapid tech improvements and buy a better used or 
last-year's camera off e-bay or at u-bid closeouts. It is NOT like a 
computer where it won't run next year's software. If it takes good pics 
now, it will in 10 years. Expect improvements in lowered noise and 
quicker processing (shot-to-shot recovery time). They are within about 
50% of theoretical noise perfection, so expect future improvement only 
with much bigger sensor cells. [$hould have $pelled that "$en$or cell$.]

Put some emphasis on service (Kodak reported good, Nikon mixed and Sony 
dear) if you aren't handy at that stuff. I like InfoLithium batteries, 
but AA NiMH cells can be good and universally available. Avoid NiCd and 
regular Alkaline batteries at all costs.

Things I wish I had are a cable-release or IR remote that works from the 
rear. Nobody wants to be in front of the camera for the macro and 
telephoto shots that call for remote control to eliminate camera shake. 
[Off the tank glass is a lousy compromise!]

I'd also like  a PC connector for the flash, so I don't have to mask the 
internal flash to operate my slave flash(es). The internal flash glares 
off the glass and really lights up any dirt or algae, if not carefully 
masked. Ideal light, for me, would be a remote flash wired to the camera 
and a large and small slave flash. Watch it tho, many digicams cannot be 
used for slave, as they use a preflash for exposure or red-eye 
reduction. Be sure you can turn that off for a fish cam.

'Nuf for now. Quiz on Fri.

Wright


--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514

           Mencken's maxim—every election is a sort
             of advanced auction of stolen goods.




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