Digital photography

[Blind Pew]

Back again fellas (and ladies)
I'm about to plunge into the world of digital photograhpy and before I do so I'd like to ask everyone out there what kind of spec I need for the camera. I'm thinking of a digital SLR, but I'd love to know what kind of stuff people out there are using and what kind of optical zoom I need and how many pixels etc etc. And how do people go about lighting as well?

Please don't get too technical with any answers - I'm a 'digital virgin' after all!
thanks as always, Pew

 

[RobH]

Hi There!

You can take good digital images with fairly inexpensive cameras. Mine is 3.1 MP, with a 3x optical zoom. Macro facility is very important in miniature photography.
Remember that by the time you post a pic on the net, your 1000kb+ image needs to be reduced to less than 100kb.

A digital SLR is a nice idea - Chris Mrosko uses a 6 MP Canon 300D, which is being replaced at the end of march by the 8MP 350D. There's also the 6MP Nikon D70, used by Marcus Nichols from Tamiya Magazine. With SLR's, despite the creative aspect, you're governed by the lens ability. Not sure of the macro status on the bundled lenses with these.
Despite being the introduction level digital SLRs, they still cost £600+, and you can get a good digicam for sub £200 perfectly suited to your needs.

Having said that, I really want a digital SLR! For regular photography but in time getting a lens suited to miniatures!

Rob

 

[garyjd]

A lot of digitals already come with great macro capabilities. I'd personally not like to have to fuss with lenses, filters and all that jazz.~Gary

 

[Voidec]

Hello,

I had the same problem. I have Fuji S7000 now and I am rather happy
It is not easy to buy "best one" as there is always better camera The most important question is what you want to photograph! Rob is right that good Macro is essential for miniature photography. I think that 4MP and 3x optical zoom are enought for that kind of photos and for "regular use" too.
Yes bigger optical zoom is great but you must to know that it is not easy to make good photo without image stabilization (some "ultrazoom" cameras are not equiped with this feature).
For me digi cam should also be easy to use (with easy access to menu and basic scene modes). It should also be easy to carry!
And once more. It is always matter our personal taste. Every brand have its own "approach to colours". Take a look at this site and try to decide which one is suit you:
Photo Samples

I hope this is of some use to you
Best wishes
~Wojtek

 

[Panzer]

The Canon is an awesom camera,It takes all of my old Eos lenses.Mrosko

 

[Manfred]

I have a Nikon 3100, not expensive anymore.
Being my first digital I was positively surprised by the picture quality and macro ability. I had thought it was not as good.

Only things I miss is manual focus and aperture or time preselection.
My next one will have that .

As for photographing I use manual white balance, set the camera on a tripod and use the 10 second timer.
For lighting I have two (three would be better) normal lamps on my workbench and I printed a gradient on a A4 paper sheet as a background.

Example 54mm figure taken at 3.1 MP, cropped and resized at 50%:

 

[KeithP]

Like Manfred, I have the Nikon Coolpix 3100. Love it! As some one who could not take a decent picture with ANY camera, it is basically simple to get good pics. Add a tripod, decent lighting and you are in biz!

Here is one as described!

 

[megroot]

I think that 4MP and 3x optical zoom are enought for that kind of photos and for "regular use" too.

And I think that is wrong.
The zoom has nothing to do with a good macro ability or not.
Macro is 1 :1 and the perspective change when you come closer. The depth of sharpeniss gets down when you get closer. That's macro.
When you go with your zoom closer to your object, the perspective doesn't change, the only thing you do is bringing the background closer to the object. And that is definitely no macro. You get a bigger picture of that object, but not closer.

Macro photografie: do it with a macro lens or with a digicam with macro ability.

For optical zoom: I never use it because you get worse picture's. You do a interpolairisation of the picture. So the quality is not as good as when you use the normal zoom.

I hope i have explain something that is usefull.

Marc

 

[Voidec]

Hi,
>Marc I never told that zoom has sth to do with Macro ability
I only want to say that camera with 4MP and zoom about 3x AND good macro ability (about 10cm) is good enough for "regular use" and taking miniature photos.
As I said befor there is always better choice.

By the way what do you mean by "normal zoom". Is it optical zoom in fact??
I know that digital zoom is useless but optical is work well for me.
Yes with some "barrel distortions", purple fringing and other little problems. But it always occurs when you want to use telephoto settings.

But those are only my humbe opinions and limited english
Best regards
~Wojtek

 

[megroot]

Wotjek no hard feelings.
Maybe we have both troubles with the english to understand eachother. And yes, optical zoom is the best that's what i mean.
The most important thing is that a tripod, very short shutter speeds, and a small diafragma opening f16 gives us the best Macro :lol: Best is on a 25 ASA film.

Marc

 

[Einion]

Hi Anthony, have a look at the Konica Minolta Z3, that's what I elected to get. It has a very good spec and an easy-to-use menu system, making it a very good all-round digital camera choice and is has an excellent macro. It's not one with interchangeable lenses but then it's a lot cheaper than they are too - you can find it for around the £220 mark online.

If you'd like to do some like-for-like comparisons of digital cameras there are a number of good sites with extensive reviews and sample pictures, probably the best is Imaging-Resource. You might like to also check out the review on www.digicamreview.co.uk, the actual-pixel frames on the two macro shots will give you a good idea of just how close you can get.

Einion

 

[Blind Pew]

Well fellas, I bit the bullet yesterday and got the camera. I ended up with a Fuji Finepix S3500, costing about £170. I got a tripod at the same time for about £7.
As soon as I got home I was like a kid with a new toy! I started experimenting right away, which only made me realise how much I have to learn about photographing models, which turns out to be a whole new facet to the hobby. It's almost a hobby in itself!
I have lots more experimenting left in me & I realise that it's still early days.

Again fellas, any hints or tips please feel free to share..........I'm still a long way from a Historical Miniature cover!
thanks as always.
Pew

 

[RobH]

Hi Pew

Here's a link for photographing miniatures. Geared towards 28mm minis, but lots of useful tips:

Coolmini Articles
scroll down the page to see the photo section.

HTH

Rob

 

[Blind Pew]

Rob, you're a star!
I would never really have thought to consult our 'cousins' that do wargaming figures.
I've not looked at all the stuff on that site yet, but will certainly go through it all as what I've seen so far has been spot on and just the kind of thing I've been after.

Cheers mate..............

 

[RobH]

No problems, Anthony!

It's not a bad site (I contribute there as well), and there are certainly some crossovers between Historicals and Fantasy stuff.

BTW, if you choose the option on the site to look at "historical" only, there's some great pieces on there!

Enjoy

Rob

 

[RobH]

BTW. What a great day for a birthday!

 

[Blind Pew]

many happy returns then