What kind or brand of digital camera do you use?
Is it just for taking photos of model trains or is it multi-purpose use outside the hobby.
Is there anything else I would need to know about having a digital camera.
Hi,
I’m sure you’ll get a large variety of brands and prices from the respondants. I’ll just mention that since 1979 I have been an avid and satisfied user of Canon photo products.
One of the members here, Bob Boudreau, aka Railphotog, has a great tutorial on model photography:
https://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
And another here by Brooks Stover:
http://www.nasg.org/Scale/ModelRailroadersGuideToPhotography.pdf
I have several of the DSLRs in the EOS Rebel T-i series and they all perform beautifully but— when I want a quick point and shoot with grest results I reach for my wife’s Canon Power Shot ELPH 340HS.
It is compact enough that I can get in close for shots on the layout and the manual settings allow for a variety of shooting conditions.
There may be newer models in this line but I’ve had this one about two years now and I’m very pleased with it’s performance. I bought a pair of generic batteries for it and they actually out-perform the expensive Canon battery, IMHO.
In this tech-savy world now, many of the digital still cameras will shoot video and vice-versa. So if you think you may want to get into making videos, I have always prefered Sony products for video work. One of the models I like to use around the layout because of its high resolution and versatility is the Sony HDR-CX110 which will also produce a pretty respectable still photo, too.
Again, this model may be superceeded by newer ones (HDR-CX405) but I’ve been using this model for over six years now without a glitch.
Good Luck, Ed
My everyday camera is a Canon DSLR Rebel XS. My backup is my iPhone.
I use my Canon for everything from trains, to a amateur photography, to helping a friend shoot a wedding once.
While I would like to upgrade, really no reason to at this point. If I upgraded, it would be for one I could shoot stills and videos with. But, my iPhone and my digital camcorder do just fine on videos.
angelob6660:
I use a Sony Cybershot model DSC-HX300. It is not a DSLR and I regret not spending the extra money on a proper DSLR. The Sony works great for general photography but it is a PITA when it comes to close up pictures. I can’t attach any different lenses to it and the autofocus fouls up routinely at close range. There are tons of settings available but getting the Sony to do what you want is not intuitive. I will admit that I am a bit of a dunce when it comes to understanding these things. YMMV.
The Sony replaced a Canon SLR. I could do almost anything I wanted with the Canon SLR and get great results. Alas, 35mm film went the way of the Dodo bird.
If I was doing it again I would invest in a good quality DSLR with a couple of decent lenses. Yes, you are talking about 3x the investment, but this is a case where you definitely get what you pay for, at least as I see it anyway.
Dave
Hi,
I’ve been using a Nikon Coolpix S8000 for almost 4 years and it is great! You can do pretty much any kind of photos you want and the results are very good. The software for downloading is so good that even I can work well with it!
I won’t knock other brands, but I will say “you can’t go wrong with a Nikon”.
97% of my digital hobby imagery has been with an older Canon Powershot A710is with only 7 MP. It will very likely continue to be my camera for that purpose until it breaks because its large flat body bottom supports it when the lens is fully extended…a big plus obviating the need for a tripod. My main go-to camera is a Panny Lumix FZ1000. My “it’s always within reach camera” is a Digital ELPH 330 HS by Canon. It got rave reviews and was snapped up to a unit within weeks in 2013.
i’m hardly a photographer. But after my wife’s old Pentax started having problems, she and I bought our first digital camera and I’m told we made a good choice.
We bought an inexpensive Sony DSC-H10 which is no longer made, has only 8.1 Mpixels and optical zoom. My wife liked that it weighed so little and could be carried in pants pockets.
Besides optical zoom, the Sony has two features I like: image stabilization and ISO mode that shoots images without a flash. Even with image stabilization, I’ve learned to keep the camera still when shooting: use a tripod, hold against a door jam, prop your elbows on something solid. And I’ve learned that getting appropriate light is often a challenge. (my photobucket, few with flash).
I also have an even less expensive Canon Powershot A2600 from which I’ve learned to appreciate the Sony. The Canon lacks these features and it shows.
I find a Canon point-n-shoot plenty good enough for photographing my HO railroad and ordinary stuff. It’s a “PowerShot SX170IS” to be precise. I have two batteries for it, and a tripod. It has no trouble focusing on model scenes. It has “aperture priority” which lets me set the lens opening as small as it will go for better depth of field, and sets the shutter speed as slow as needed. Tripod is necessary for shots longer than 1/60th. It has a 2 second timer, which triggers the shutter after I get my hands off the camera, reduces camera shake.
It also does video, and I have a nice long video of my longest coal train rumbling past the mills on my layout.
I use a Canon 5D Mark III for taking most of my shots, a Canon G9 point and shoot as backup. The lens selection for the EOS cameras are excellent and the quality is top shelf. I recommend, if you can, spend as much as possible on your photographic equipment because the difference is noticeable. Purchase a quality tripod and tripod head as well because they are generally constructed of materials which are tough and light weight. Filters are also a necessary part of each lens system (recommend B&W filters). Photography is my other hobby for 40 years now.
I have a Canon T3i DSLR. I like it because I can do point and shoot plus it has many advanced features I can use as I get better with it (even if I have to read up on them each time).
Enjoy
Paul
Been very happy with my Fuji FinePix F750EXR. It’s technically a 16MP point-n’-shoot but does give you some manual settings to play with, if you want. It also takes video, as well. Typical picture size is ~6MB.
An abundance of pixels is nice but not necessary for general picture taking. Where it comes in handy is when you zoom-in and enlarge a pic that you’ve already taken and you don’t lose detailing - up to a certain point. That’s nice for both close up work and for reading information off small print.
Tom
Well, what do YOU want to do with the camera?
Everyone has their favorite, generally because they are very familiar with all of the controls and options.
I use a DSLR and specialised close-focusing lenses with an integrated lighting system for close-up detail work, and a 24-85 and 80-200 zooms for railfanning. Also have a Sony A6000 or film rangefinders for travel and walk-around work. But these are what work for me.
Tell us what you want to do and someone here will be able to help.
Boudreau’s pages are excellent.
I am very much a point and pray photographer so as I had to replace my old camera recently, I’ve gone and bought a Canon IXUS 170 which on further investigation is known in the USA as a Canon PowerShot ELPH 170 IS. It is in what I would call the cheap and cheerful price range. Under US$200, including a decent SD card??
As in most things the more you spend the better the quality but having a camera with all the bells and whistles won’t make me a better photographer.
What I’m going to do with it. Take railroad/railfanning, model railroading, some scenery like sky and buildings.
I did find a used Vivitar vivicam for around $40 plus 5 shipping on Amazon, but I was also wondering of getting one (anyone) at Wal-Mart. For about the same price.
You guys give excellent advice.
I used a 3.1 megapixel Kodak DX3900 for years until the autofocus quit. It was a great camera for many years. I replaced it with a 12.1 megapixel Canon A1100 Power Shot and I’m a happy camper. The Canon camera and software has been terrific, low cost and great pictures. It’s got more features than I’ll ever use and as a simple point and shoot it can’t be beat.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
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Make sure the camera you choose has a marco focus option which allows you to take pictures of objects closer than 3 feet away which is generally the minimum distance which a lens can focus. This option will allow you to take close up shots of your models.
The lens is one of the most important part of a camera. A lens which can actually move to change the focal point and zoom in and out is better than a fixed camera lens on a phone . The larger the lens the better because it lets in more light.
I use an old Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 that I have had for at least ten years and I love it. It’s all I need for website photos or family vacation pictures. Plus it takes video too.
j…
I consider myself “photography challenged” and do a lot of wishing and hoping when I photograph model railroad stuff.
I wish Kalmbach would commission a scale model photographer who is an expert to do a “Basic Photography for Scale Modelers” type book, applicable to railroad modelers, miniatures , and other fine scale plastic modelers.
Cedarwoodron
I can use cameras from both extremes of the scale, for most of my photgraphy, when not using old fashioned film I shoot a Nikon D3, but also use an older Nikon D-100 and an old Minolta digital point and shoot especially for internet photos. Your ultimate purpose and skill is more important than the actual camera in most cases. Find one that is comfortable and fits your budget, don’t get caught up in “how many megapixels do you have” and play with it until you are comfortable and then determine if you need a more expensive/ better (?) camera. I am a semi pro photographer and do need the benefits of a $5K+ camera, but few non pro’s can justify the cost other than they just want it. Some of my best pictures where taken with the old disposables on film. You also may find a very good deal on an older generation “almost pro camera” like the Nikon D-100/D-200/ D-300 series or the Cannon equivelants, they are very good cameras.
“What I’m going to do with it. Take railroad/railfanning, model railroading, some scenery like sky and buildings.”
Most of the current smart phones are more than adequate for most of those purposes, except for capturing sequences of moving equipment. You might have what you need in your hip pocket.
My memory may fool me, but I think Pelle Soeborg once wrote an article on how to photograph model railroads.
Looking at the advice given to the OP, he now has the choice between spending close to nothing and a fortune on a digital camera [swg]
However, there are some important messages in the answers given:
Don´t join in the race of megapixels
- Look for a macro setting of your camera
- Look for a self-timer
- Look for aperture selection (for depth-of-field)
- Look for a tripod socket
- Look for a quality lens
All of the above won´t leave you in the $50 to $100 region, more likely in the $100+ region. The important message is you don´t have to spend a fortune on a camera to be able to shoot good photos!