What digital camera do you have? How do you like it too?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Well I see some great looking pictures and I have a good camera but I always feel like I cannot get the pictures to come out PERFECT like the ones in the Mr magazine. I know that most people boast about the SLR cameras like they are the Rolls Royce of cameras but if thats true well they must cost a lot as well. I see them STARTING at $700 but as high as $1500 for a Digital SLR camera. I have a real good digital camera from Best Buy. It is the top of the line Nikon before you get into the SLR type of cameras. I bought my camera because of the megapixels (10) and the zoom (18x) options. I bought a Nikon coolpix P80 camera. It is not a tiny pocket camera but a nice size camera. I used to use the Kodak Z612 camera until it was stolen out of my car, then I bought this new Nikon for $379.00 Here is a picture of mine. What kind of digital camera do you use?

http://a.img-dpreview.com/news/0804/Nikon/NikonCoolpixP80_3q-001.jpg

2

I use a Canon A540, which is long discontinued.

My reason, originally, for picking it is that it has a full range of “creative” exposure options, including variable-shift program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual. Plus, it readily lets you dial in flash exposure compensation, and ISO. All of these are options not always seen on P&S Cameras, especially on pocketable ones. At the time, I paid $150, which was about the lowest you could pay for a P&S of any reasonable quality.

I still use a whole lot of film, using Canon FD mount SLRs(all manual focus) and a Rolleiflex. The Canon P&S serves as an excellent light meter for my Rolleiflex, which has no built in meter. Thus, when I’m out shooting with the Rolleiflex, I’ll often stick the Canon in my pocket. Although I could use a $300+ light meter, the digital matches the films I use(Velvia and Provia) well enough that I don’t feel like I need to bother with one.

3

I’ve got a Sony DSC T1, a nice but now somewhat dated pocket-sized point-and-shoot. The optics are very good, with a 3x optical zoom followed by a much larger digital zoom, which I seldom use.

I can’t control much with this camera. It doesn’t even have a tripod mount socket. On the other hand, it lets me concentrate on the scene and the framing of the picture, and forces me to light the scene externally without playing photo tricks.

When I get a good picture, great. If I don’t, I can blame it on the camera. Best of both worlds.

4

I use an older Canon Powershot A75 with basically the same features as the A540 the poster above has. It’s also a discontinued model and is only 3.2 mega pixels, but I’ve always been happy with the results …

I’ve always been a firm believer in the fact a better camera doesn’t make you a better photographer. You have to learn to use what you have.

Mark.

5

Borrowed my photo from B&H Website. The Pentax K20d. I’ve had it about a month and absolutely love it. Haven’t done any train pictures with it yet but I’ll get around to it.

6

I bought my wife a Canon Rebel XTI Digital SLR last year for Christmas and that thing takes the best shots of any camera I have ever owned (well shared…whatever) bar none. The tech behind it is way beyond me but with my wifes expertise we are able to get some magazine quality shots with it no doubt.

For the WPF I just use shots from my little Canon A470…A very simple camera, for a very simple photographer…[:-^]

Robert

7

Have been very pleased with a (now well used) Sony Cyber-shot 5.0, reaching the end of it’s life. Takes fine images for a digital, but it’s time for an upgrade. Looking at either the Canon Rebel XSi or Canon D40. Both have received favorable reviews. Leaning towards the D40, since I already have lenses from my retired Canon EOS A2. Whatever camera you end up with, please share your eperience with it.

[C):-)] Rob

8

I have tips and hints for better model railroad photography in my website, located in my signature. Keep in mind most published photos are not taken with point and shoot cameras, but DSLRs with good quality lenses. And proper lighting is needed to achieve the quality of images used in MR and other publications.

I am currently using a Canon XSi DSLR, and have two others for more casual use, a Canon Poweshot S5 and a Pentax Optio Z10 that fits into a pocket, with a 7X zoom.

9

I got a Nikon Coolpix 4300 years ago. Nice camera, with a lot of manual control available. Even shoots in TIFF (RAW) format, great for highly detailed close-ups. Or JPEG format for more normal applications.

I recently replaced it with a Sony DSC-H10. A lot cheaper than my Nikon, and twice the pixels (8 vs. 4 megapixels.) Not as sophisticated, but fast. And a 10X zoom, with movie capability, with sound too.

The Nikon is nice, but when using larger memory cards, it suffers in speed. Longer to start, longer to save images. The Sony may not be as comprehensive in the feature set, but I get good results. Used it for 2 days at Steamtown this summer, happy with the pictures.

Maybe in a few years, a DSLR is in the picture.

10

Canon EOS10D slr with 3 lenses, one of which is a macro. Despite the name, macro lenses are good for ‘normal’ photography as well. Combined with a sturdy tripod, it’s a really good setup for still pix on a model RR. It’s a 6.3 megapixel body, and really, unless you’re shooting for magazine covers or blowing up (and printing - I think most people nowadays do NOT print their pictures) to bigger than 11x14 inch size - poster size - you really don’t need huge megapixel counts. One thing to bring it home for people - the pixel count for a HD TV is less than 3 meg.

11

I have two. An Olympus D500Z and a Vivitar Vivicam 3935.

The Olympus has the following features:

  1. 3.0 megapixel CCD (effective) allows for high-quality prints of 8" x 10" and beyond.
  2. Compact design makes the D-550 Zoom easy to handle and carry.
  3. A 2.8x optical and 3.6x digital zoom combine for a seamless 10x zoom for outstanding range.
  4. Auto-Connect USB feature means the digital camera can be easily connected to almost any USB-equipped computer for quick downloading of images, without any additional driver software to be installed.
  5. 5 Scene Program Modes: Self-Portrait; Portrait; Night Scene; Landscape; and Landscape + Portrait.
  6. Variety of resolution selections including a 3:2 aspect mode for perfect size for framing prints.
  7. Automatic Noise Reduction technology ensures rich color and sharp detail when shooting long exposures in low light in Night Scene mode- Automatic Pixel Mapping checks the CCD and re-maps it for maximum CCD performance
  8. Built-in flash automatically pops up so it’s ready when you are.

And here’s some info on the Vivitar:

Resolution: 5.0 Megapixel

Color Support: Color

Optical Sensor Type: CCD

Total Pixels: 5,250,000 pixels

Effective Sensor Resolution: 5,000,000 pixels

Optical Sensor Size: 1/1.8"

Light Sensitivity: ISO 100, ISO 400, ISO 200, ISO auto

Digital Zoom: 4 x

Shooting Programs: Aperture-priority, shutter-priority, landscape, portrait mode, macro, night scene, sports mode, Landscape, portrait mode, macro, night scene, sports mode

Special Effects: Black & White, Sepia

Exposure Modes: Program, automatic, Program, automatic, aperture-priority, shutter-priority

E

12

I use a Canon S5 IS. I’m quite happy with it except for a few minor details. Both of those details are directly related to model photography so I may upgrade to a DSLR in the future. F stops only go to F8 and exposure time only goes to 15 seconds. This somewhat limits the depth of field when taking larger shots of the layout.

Overall though, I’m quite happy with the S5.

Tom

13

I use a panasonic Lumix FZ 30 (no longer available, the newer one is the FZ50).

Amazon.com

I adore this camara, it was the first digital camera I used that made me give up film. The key to this model is the Leica 12x lens, an incredible piece of glasswork. This is a fixed lens (ie not swappable) SLR style (not a true look through SLR) I’m not going to go into details about all the things it can do per menu settings, those are easily findable elsewhere.

What I can do is show some pictures I’ve taken on it.

A ruined building model diorama of mine

buildings for my layout (note the difference bad lighting can have)

But I think it’s silly to purchase a camera for just close up work. They are a big investment, and I use mine a lot when I travel. Enjoy!

14

Nikon D40 digital SLR. You can buy one for around $450 nowadays. I also use a Canon PowerShot A530 point and shoot I can carry in my pants pocket. I like both cameras fine. Both make great pictures.
Jaime

15

Put my vote in for the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black).

I love it and use it for all my photography needs including model railroading, cooking, travel, etc. Here are a few images that show off some of the potential:

Close-up with f-stop at 22 and high watt lighting HO lathe detail

F-stop at 18 and action in motion lemon roll

Low light near sunset at Makapu’u Head, Oahu, Hawaii

Cheers,

Ryan

16

I’m actually in the market right now so this is certainly an informative thread.

Found this site which seems to be an unbiased comparison:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/WB/WB.HTM

Cheers,

Glenn

17

I too use a Canon A540.

The secret for making good pics is not so much in the equipment anymore. Almost any digital camera in the $150+ range will take a decent pic - if you 1. study the owner’s manual 2. use a good tripod and study your subject rather than just “popping off” a pic. The above pic was done to illustrate a post I made about the bus - had I taken some more time I might have slid a popster board or something behind the bus so that the “busy” background would have gone away.

18

I think Bob has touched on two key points. Good lenses to go with a good DSLR and LIGHTING!!

Bob does have some great info IMO, it’s worth checking out his site. [tup]

I have a Nikon D60 with the Nikon18-55 kit lens which seems to be alright. I also picked up a 55-200 Nikon ED lens that I use outdoors. I am still looking at wide angle lenses and the wife wants a 50mm prime lens for taking portraits of the kids. One thing I have learned since buying the camera is that like model railroading, there are plenty of opportunities to spend more money! [:)]

Edit: Oh yeah. I like the camera a lot!

19

Thanks for the link. Another good source is www.kenrockwell.com. Lots of practical advice on a plethora of cameras from film to point and shoot to DSLRs.

Jaime

20

I have a three year old Sony Cyber-shot 7.2 megapixel that I’m still trying to find out how to use, but it’s fun. The instruction booklet is about as long as WAR AND PEACE though not nearly as exciting to read, and I need a magnifying glass to read all the little doo-hickies that pop up on the view-finder every time I turn it on. I THINK-- but I can’t be sure–that most of my photos are set at F8, whatever that is.

Obviously I’m not a photographer in the same sense as a lot of you on the Forum, but it’s fun to use. Who knows, I might even figure out how the little devil is supposed to work, some day [:I]

Tom [:)]