Pitcha Takin'

[Colapop]

I wanna take pitchas with a digital camera, but I don't have one. Who has one (not to borrow) and what do you recommend? What do I need to look for in a piccie taker? How much do I need to know about all the funny symbols some of them have? And lots of other questions I don't know to ask.

[madboy]

My ex has just got back into the camera business after a year or so out (and being my ex I'm not exactly flush with the latest goss), but when my current partner and I were looking a year ago she advised us to buy a "camera" brand, not an "electronic" brand. ie, get a Canon not a Casio.

I can go on and on for ages about specs and this and that, but I'm no expert so I won't regurgitate (and risk putting you wrong) the info that I've been told.

Basically, we bought a Canon A-something with 4 mega-pixels, 3 x optical zoom (optical better than digital - remember that) and it does everything we want it to. Hooks up to PC easy, quality of pics exceeds the quality of our printer and monitors, so it's perfect. I reckon you'd get those specs for under $300 easy.

Of course, you could buy a really really really flash camera with a whole shedload of features you don't know about, don't know how to use, and once you've figured out how to use you'll never use again. But it's up to you ;)

[T.I.E]

Of course, you could buy a really really really flash camera with a whole shedload of features you don't know about, don't know how to use, and once you've figured out how to use you'll never use again. But it's up to you ;)

yep i got one of those. pain in the arse with all the features, and in obsolite*crap spellin*
but a mega pixles are only as good as the camera and thats only as good as the lens and thats only as good as the operator.
depends on what ya want the camera for. i have a diital SLR, and it makes me the idiot take some great shots. long as you know the basics.
ultimately depends on what ya want it for and how big you want to blows the picturses upto.

[Colapop]

...depends on what ya want it for and how big you want to blows the picturses upto.

I dunno - I wanna take pictures of stuff. Family, bikes, scenery, all the usual shit. I suppose being able to make them bigger would be good. Not bigger than A4 size though.

[The_Dover]

Digital Ixus of some prescription. Good lense, good colour balance and piece of piss to use. Either that or one of the decent Sony ones, W1 or V1 are pretty good.

Casio are not bad but very reddish colour balance.

Just get a point and shoot unless you can be arse faffing around. I get great results most of the time with my Ixus 500.

[WRT]

I got a Sony, and rate it highly. Small, slim, has a carl zeiss lens so the pics are come out pretty good. And TIE's comment about the lens is right, get a camera with a good lens, you wont regret it.

Some things I can think of from the top of my head that might influence your decision:

- Size. Mine is about the size of a pack of cigarettes. Paid a bit extra to have a small camera, but it means that I carry it around a hell of a lot more because you can just slip it in your pocket and go.

- Screen. Go for one with a big clear screen on the back - makes all the difference to reviewing your photos, and make sure its easy to see in the day light. Mines got a 2.5" screen, and I would never again go for one smaller.

- Battery. Some of the cheaper cameras still use AA batteries. This has the benefit of being able to buy batteries if you ever get caught short, but it also has the drawback that you have to buy batteries (unless you have got rechargables). Bear in mind digital cameras drain batteries like nothing else, especially if you are using the flash.

- Flash. If you are taking lots of pics at night time, get a camera with the lens and the flash as far apart as possible. This is the one major drawback of my camera, they are very close so I get lots of red eyes. The red-eye reduction feature helps a bit, but also tends to make people think you have already taken the picture meaning you wind up with lots of snaps where they are blinking or have turned away, so I keep it turned off. Plus it uses more battery.

- Cost of accessories. Things like an extra battery, a carry pouch, extra memory.

Thats about all I can think of for getting you started finding a basic camera, and these are just my - experiences others may disagree . . .

[Colapop]

Digital Ixus of some prescription. Good lense, good colour balance and piece of piss to use. Either that or one of the decent Sony ones, W1 or V1 are pretty good.

Casio are not bad but very reddish colour balance.

Just get a point and shoot unless you can be arse faffing around. I get great results most of the time with my Ixus 500.
I went for a wander at lunch and I was recommended the Sony W15. $599 but it's got all the bits and pieces.

[T.I.E]

I dunno - I wanna take pictures of stuff. Family, bikes, scenery, all the usual shit. I suppose being able to make them bigger would be good. Not bigger than A4 size though.

you can have all the mega pixles in the world, but crap camera and lens and it just won't happen.
if you have the money aim high SLR, and a good name canon etc.
best thing to do is walk into a camera store and have a look.
SLR's have great features but become expensive with different lens, flash's pod's etc etc. so just a warning on that. a good setup might start at $1400 approx and can go to sore to the heavens.
stores might have pictures taken from certain camers so that might give you an indication of quality and what size you can enlarge them too. check them out.
a 4. megapixle approx, is a good starting size for taking great shots. and price will not hurt you so much.
definatly shop around for package deals.
but for me i love my canon. and will be doing a tour of the south islands to try to take some wicked pictures. full size so i may be able to blow them up to A4 size or larger. i'm only runnng 6.1 megapix.
and mine aint small and its a shit for carting around.

[WRT]

Just had a quick squiz at www.sonystyle.co.nz (http://www.sonystyle.co.nz), not sure about the W15 as I havent actually seen that camera myself.

For pricing of various models, check out www.pricespy.co.nz (http://www.pricespy.co.nz), they are wicked for getting good deals on cameras, phones and computer gear.

[The_Dover]

I went for a wander at lunch and I was recommended the Sony W15. $599 but it's got all the bits and pieces.

Yeah, one of those would be the go. That looks like an updated W1 basically. I went for Canon over Sony simply because of the fact Sony keep so many thing proprietry that it jacks me off. CF is cheaper than Memory Stick and Canon software tends to be better in my experience. Can't go far wrong with either though and unless you're a photo buff then don't bother with a bulky SLR. The new Ixus range are tiny, way smaller than my older one and the cases are really solid so perfect for biking.

[Colapop]

Just had a quick squiz at www.sonystyle.co.nz (http://www.sonystyle.co.nz), not sure about the W15 as I havent actually seen that camera myself.

For pricing of various models, check out www.pricespy.co.nz (http://www.pricespy.co.nz), they are wicked for getting good deals on cameras, phones and computer gear.
The chick in the shop said something about Sony trying to protect that model (W15) from being sold at places like paralell imported etc.? Don't know what that's about.
With Pricespy (and others) do I have to ensure that I add in all the extra bits and if I do then how do I know what extra bits I need?

[Colapop]

Just got sent this link - gonna check it out!

www.dpreview.com

[The_Dover]

Just got sent this link - gonna check it out!

www.dpreview.com

Yeah, I've seen that site before, mind you Digital Photography wasn't the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the site name!!

DP anyone??:blink:

[v.ros`]

I just bought a Sony 7.2 Mega pixel camera off trademe for around 470NZD delivered to my door.... get on ebay and have a look there. cheaper and i think u should look at both the mega pixel of a camera AND the amount of zoom it has.

[ManDownUnder]

Yeah, I've seen that site before, mind you Digital Photography wasn't the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the site name!!

DP anyone??:blink:

Not for me personally... but always willing to help out if needed...

[Colapop]

Yeah, I've seen that site before, mind you Digital Photography wasn't the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the site name!!

DP anyone??:blink:
Ahhh.... yeah.....

So you're feeling better then?

[The_Dover]

I'd be much better if every time I went to see a surgeon they didn't want to drag me straight in to theatre to stick a piece of my arse on my elbow!! I've chosen the natural healing method but it may take a few months for the hole to grow over (on my elbow!!) but rather that than 5 nights in hospital and the hairiest elbow on earth!

[Colapop]

I'd be much better if every time I went to see a surgeon they didn't want to drag me straight in to theatre to stick a piece of my arse on my elbow!! I've chosen the natural healing method but it may take a few months for the hole to grow over (on my elbow!!) but rather that than 5 nights in hospital and the hairiest elbow on earth!
I understand that in some cases they stitch the "to be covered part" to the "part that will cover it". Does that mean they want to stitch yer elbow to yer arse? Coz if they did - I'd pay real money to see that and laff my nuts off!:banana:




Having seen the results of someone letting it 'heal naturally' I'd definitely get a graft. The scar tissue can really affect movement.

[Beemer]

I'm a photographer and have done some digital camera tests for magazines before. One of the best cameras I have ever used is the Olympus AZ1 - currently retailing for about $499. The picture quality was fantastic and it was one of the easiest cameras I have ever used - I hate manuals and I managed to do everything with this camera (other than work out how to store photos in the built-in albums) without using the manual. It is only 3 megapixels, but unless you want to blow them up bigger than A4, that is all you need. I used it to shoot a soccer game and it was quick enough to capture the action. From memory it had 22 programmable modes and every one I tried (some couldn't be tested at the time - fireworks, snow, etc.) produced really good photos. Huge LCD screen on the back and everything about it seems very logical. Good battery life and flash too.

I've got a Nikon 5700 which is an SLR model, 8 megapixels and an 8x optical zoom (I think the Olympus had a 4x) but it doesn't produce photos anywhere near as good as this and it was (when I bought it) $3000!

[Colapop]

I suppose I'd have to get a more expensive jobbie if I wanted multiple shots or is that SLR that keeps getting mentioned?

[kro]

Finally, a subject I cant comment on with some confidence.

I bought one of these, and its the most camera for your buck that I have ever seen.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Digital-cameras/3-megapixel/auction-40006566.htm

Look at ther guys other listings, you can push the buy now for $150.00 and you have a bloody powerful little camera for an absolute bargain. Mine takes amazing pictures, and you can shoot short movies with it too, and a whole host of other things. Brilliant camera.

[Big Dave]

The most important part of the digital camera is the lens. You can have a gazillion megapixels and it won't matter for shite if the glass isn't up to the job.

I look at Geoff Osbornes cannon cameras that do the majority of the work for Kiwi Rider with some envy, but then i pity him lugging the huge buggers around on a bike.

I sought a combination of good lens, hi res and a compact unit and chose this

http://konicaminolta.com/products/consumer/digital_camera/dimage/dimage-a200

most of what you see on
www.davidcohen.co.nz
is from it.

Have the telephoto adaptor and several other accessories and am getting heaps published.

BTW - SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-lens_reflex_camera

Means you sight through the lens rather than a veiwfinder and the lenses are changeable.

[The_Dover]

I understand that in some cases they stitch the "to be covered part" to the "part that will cover it". Does that mean they want to stitch yer elbow to yer arse? Coz if they did - I'd pay real money to see that and laff my nuts off!:banana:




Having seen the results of someone letting it 'heal naturally' I'd definitely get a graft. The scar tissue can really affect movement.

Meh, I'm right handed anyway:tugger: :yes:

[geoffm]

My recommendatiosn - make sure it uses AA batteries rather than expensive special ones. measn if you run out you can carry spares or buy some more. Plan on buying a set plus spares of NiMH rechargables and a charger.
SD memeory cards are a lot cheaper than the other types, and more common. www.flashcards.co.nz is the cheapest.
Ignore the advertising on the digital zoom - all it does is crop the picture. Optical zoom is what counts
The missus had a Fuji 10x zoom which we bought around 18 months agowhich was a learning experience - special battery, xD memory card ($$$), horrible menu and hard to use. 10x zoom was nice but made it bulky. It ahd horrible shutter lag - forget taking photos of anything moving. Died from drowning in orange juice - waste of money that was
Replaced with a Sony - thinner (fits in pocket), uses cheaper memory cards, uses 2xAA batteries and the shutter lag is a minute fraction of the Fuji.
I have an Ez-ionics 3.2mP/ 3x zoom generic camera - cheap at $US120 a year ago and "good enough"
Geoff

[geoffm]

arggh, the camera that died was an Olympus, not a Fuji. It was in fact a C770 http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/c770uz.html. not that good..
Geoff

[Beemer]

You don't have to spend mega bucks to get one that will take multiple shots one after the other. The AZ1 I mentioned did about five frames per second and it was fast enough for sport.

The professional kits can be hideously expensive (I'm looking at a SLR Nikon body for about $7000 at present!) but you can get some really good cameras for less than $1000. Get a good memory card too - most come with about 16MB so buy a 256MB at least. You can get GB cards now, that aren't too expensive.

I disagree with the battery idea - the batteries that are specific for the camera last a lot longer than AA ones and if you buy an extra one at the time, it won't work out that expensive. My batteries are starting to get a bit old now, but I've had them for three to four years and each one will allow me to take up to 100 shots - enough for most people.

[Pixie]

BTW - SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-lens_reflex_camera

Means you sight through the lens rather than a veiwfinder and the lenses are changeable.
In other words, using the screen on the back of any digital camera for composing a picture is doing exactly what an SLR will do.Apart from the changable lens.

[Lou Girardin]

arggh, the camera that died was an Olympus, not a Fuji. It was in fact a C770 http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/c770uz.html. not that good..
Geoff

I was starting to wonder about that Fuji, mine uses 4x AA's and they last well.

[Big Dave]

In other words, using the screen on the back of any digital camera for composing a picture is doing exactly what an SLR will do.Apart from the changable lens.


Yup - maybe even better if you consider parallax error and how you sometimes have to 'look around' in a view finder. It was a bigger issue in the days when comparing SLRs with 'instamatics'.

The ability to change lenses is a big 'apart'.