What Camera?

[Alan]

There has been a lot of discussion about digital cameras on the board.

I expect a lot of you take photographs or video of trains, and wonder what type and format of cameras you use.

I use 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses, plus a 8 mm video camera to catch the action.
My SLR is a Minolta, and my video is a Canon.

I take colour prints with my 35mm, but believe that slides are still popular in the USA. Is this correct?

Are digital cameras any good for rail photography? Can they equal a 300mm telephoto lens? Can they take trains travelling at speed?

What a lot of questions http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif



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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[Gats]

I'll go the digital camera side.

Are there any equal to a 300mm lens? For the most part, no. I believe there are some but they are at the top end of the market. Also, if you are looking at that sort of zoom, you will want one with a real glass lens which, fortunately, is something quite a few digitals have now.

There have been a few shots posted on the alt.binaries.pictures.rail newsgroup that have been taken with digitals. There has been discussion on and off over the last 6 months about these shots. Maybe dejanews will have the dscussions archived?

For the zoom, another route is having a fixed monocular extension. A very good site specialising in digital cameras is http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm
From here you can see the various models and reviews by people who have bought and used them. Loads of links to alternate picture sites plus some nifty homemade add-ons, particularly for the Nikon range. The pics of a Kenko 8x32 monocular adapted for use on a Nikon Coolpix 950 are awesome!

Take the tiime to really look into this site and it's links. It may well be too much information but it did reinforce my own choice and gave me some insights to the camera's capabilities that are not in the operators manual.

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[This message has been edited by Gats (edited 18 May 2000).]

[BrianS]

I use just a simple Canon Z115 for my film photography, but I'm also using an older digital camera (Kodak DC25) for photos of the pets, family, etc. I hope this summer to get a "real" (i.e. SLR) camera. I've read alot of good stuff about the Nikon N80 and was thinking about getting that one. Any ideas/suggestions, guys?

[DakotaFan]

I use a Canon FTb with a Tamron 75-250 telephoto lens. I used to shoot Kodachrome exclusively but recently have been using Sensia II with pleasing results. Most US magazines prefer color slides or B&W prints for publication. The railfan conventions I have attended usually allow attendees to show slides. I do some videotaping with a Sony camcorder. Haven't ventured into digital yet.

[Gats]

I also use a Pentax MZ-10 with 28-70 and a 70-300 zoom. Film almost exclusively Fuji Superia. Does a great job for a light-weight.
As for the Nikons, have to be the best lenses out there. You pay for it, but you get your money's worth in my opinion.

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[Robin Matthysen]

The camera I use is a Minolta X-700. I use colour print film so I can scan the prints to use the pictures on my web site. I know I can do a better job but am usually in to much of a hurry to experiment with exposures and different lenses. I have thought about buying a digital camera and my choice for the moment is an Epson 650. My friend Vincent Mariner uses an Epson 700 and gets great results. The main reason why I like the Epson camera is that it can take pictures from just 6 inches. As much as I would like this camera, I can't justify the cost when I have this Minolta that I have had for 15 years. I know that I can get better pictures with it and will do better as the M.A.T. gets closer to realistic operation.

Robin
http://members.xoom.com/Matthyro/idex.html

[AKrrnut]

I have a Sony Mavica FD5 digital camera. Although I haven't taken any train pictures with it (I live way too far away from the nearest railroad http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif ), I have taken quite a few shots of other subjects. I like the Mavica because it saves the photos to a floppy disk, which makes it extremely easy to transfer them to our computer. It's also easy to upload the shots.

I wouldn't want to take all my train pictures with a digital, but it sure is handy for a quick shot. Unless you spend a lot of money for a top-end model, you just don't get the resolution you can get with a good 35mm camera.

Pat

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Wishin' I wasn't so far
from the railroad...

[Kevin Stevens]

My photo equipment consists of an early 1980's Canon AE1P. I use the auto exposure function of the camera, but I select my own shutter speed (usually between 1/125 and 1/500). I shoot mainly with a 70-210mm zoom lens for action shots, but I also have 50mm and 28mm lenses for close up or roster shots. Although I have threatened to use a tripod from time to time, I have shot every photo I've taken up to today hand-held style. http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif I shot slides from about 1986 to the middle 1990's. Recently, I reverted back to print film to facilitate easy (and less costly) scanning to post to my website. I also find print film to be more forgiving than slide film, which helps for my rusty photography skills. I also have a Sony 8mm video camera, but I prefer still photography so I rarely use it. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction (http://www.trainweb.org/KernJunction)

[Alan]

When I shoot trains in the US, I take both video and stills. I set up the video on a tripod and track the approaching train, then leave the video to capture the passing train whilst I take the stills. After the train is past, I usually swing the video around to show the departing train.

As we cannot see or hear your railroads very often, every sight (and sound) captured on film and tape is precious!!

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[BC Rail King]

I just got "FUNDING" from my parents for a new camera. Since all I do with it is shoot trains, what kind would you recomend?

Happy Railroading!

Dane N.

AKA "The ONE"

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TAMR2860-AKA BC Rail King
TAMR2860@Canada.com for TAMR info.
To send a general TRAIN! E-Mail send to
BCRailKing@Canada.com

[hirailer]

The camera I use for all my pictures including trains is Nikon F70 (N70 in U.S.) and use a 300mm lens. For many years I used a Pentax ME which gave me excellent service and which I still have. There is 70-210 mm lens with a doubler.
As far as digitals, I wonder if they have capacity for creativity the a SLR has.

Mel

[Gats]

Hi Mel, and welcome!

The digitals are getting there. There still is a problem with lack of lens availability which is being address through creatively adding non-standard lenses with adaptors. Some video style lenses can be used as well.
The big break-through will be a true SLR style digital body, that takes standard SLR lenses, being readily available at reasonable prices.

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[espee2]

I have an Olympus OM-1n (yes a real camera..LOL) that takes awesome pictures, I use a Sony 8mm video , and recently purchased an Olympus D-450 digital.

It has 1.3 megapixels, and a pretty good zoom. now they are coming out with 2.8 and 3 megapixel cameras that you can blow up to 16x24 and see no dots, even in a reflection in someones eye-blown up 10x at 16x24 (printed photo)

Sony has the best lenses, they have 10x zoom, 2.3 megapix. smart stick or floppy disc, under 999.00 http://www.trainboard.com/eek.gif

My main problem is: I am on webtv, I can only upload via "video capture" I've heard from a few people in the know that webtv has one of the best video captures they've seen.. except, when I hook my digital camera to it, the combination of digital "dot's" and the capture's-horizontal lines makes my images blurry. But I've seen digital images on websites that are incredible.

Digital is meant for uploading onto the internet... ie. it's best use. Printing digital still looks bad without spending thosands, scanning prints for the internet if possible is great.
I would love to be able to scan my images to put onto the internet, but can't until someday I get a computer... right now my website is hand written code, with little file back-up. God I need a PC...
www.tunnel13.com (http://www.tunnel13.com)

[This message has been edited by espee2 (edited 07 June 2000).]

[Alan]

I can't imagine life without a PC! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[pray59]

Hey espee2, I use the D450Z too. You got to get a PC, because your camera takes excellent web photos.

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Robert Ray
The NP & UP N-Scale Railroad (http://members.home.net/pray59)

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by espee2:
I have an Olympus OM-1n (yes a real camera..LOL)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have an OM-10 as well http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
Digital is meant for uploading onto the internet... ie. it's best use. Printing digital still looks bad without spending thosands, scanning prints for the internet if possible is great. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have to partially disagree here. I have had 7x5 prints done from digital shots and you are hard pressed to tell the difference. They could have been enlarged to 10x8 with excellent results - it was enough to prompt the lab to comment on the image quality. Mind you, these were 1600x1200 pixel images in fine (4:1) compression taken with a Nikon Coolpix 950 - one of the 2.1 megapixel cameras.
The internet advantage is not having to process film and then scan the resulting image.
The true advantage is in graphics manipulation. Digital images are a graphic artist's dream come true.

Gary.

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Gary A. Rose
The Unofficial TC&W page (http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/)
N to the Nth degree!

[Patrick]

If you do not have a digital camera but are scanning your pictures what scanners are you using? Has anyone been using the HPS20 film scanner and if so what do you think of it? I know that Nikon has a couple of good scanners but they are getting into the higher price range.

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Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 12 June 2000).]

[Alan]

My scanner is a Plustek OpticPro 9636P. Don't know anything about scanners, but this one works great http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[Patrick]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan:
Plustek OpticPro 9636P. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Alan. I found their site and have been checking the specs. I see that last year it received PC WORLD'S best buy award. The price sure looks right. It would leave extra money for purchasing some of those classy British Spline Cars http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif. Thanks again for the info Alan.


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Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI

[Alan]

I bought this one because Matt has one, and they have always performed faultlessly

------------------
Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)
Alan's European Gallery (http://eurogallery.homestead.com)
Alan's British Steam Gallery (http://britishsteamgallery.homestead.com)

[Justin]

Hmm.. perhaps i am a tad late on this thread http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif but here goes

My photo equipment consists of:

N90s
N8008s
80-200 f/2.8 AF-S lens
35-70 f/3.5-4.5 AF-D lens
TC20E 2x teleconverter
SB-25 Flash

What can i say.. im a Nikon man! Thinking of gettin a 20 or 24mm wideangle. 35mm just cant cut it anymore, aint wide enough!. Also, i might buy a Graflex 4x5 Speed Graphic if i find a good price for one. Perhaps someday i will get a Mamiya 6x7.. but thats just a idle thought (you think Nikons expensive, try Medium Format!).

I shoot Fuji slide film (Sensia, Velvia, Astia) almost exclusively. For B&W i use Ilford Delta 400 and Kodak T-Max (both good films). For a a tripod i have a Bogen 3021.

No digtal camera yet! Might get this insert for my N90 which will let me take digital shots, but who knows. Sony Mavica and Coolpix 950 looking real attractive right now for digital, as i can take 360x360 shots with the 950.

No video capabilites yet.... me and my friend are trying to get a 16mm or 8mm film camera to make short movies. If we do.. well then, i'll have silent films about FEC! http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

No film scanner right now (silly me, i shoot slides!). Have a HP flatbed scanner that i use to scan old railroadiana i have laying around.. and when i get the occasional slide printed for someone. Might get the Coolscan III for film.

Can't forget the trusty ol spiral notepad! Tried a Palm V, but cant write fast enough!

Justin

[chessie]

My 2 cents ... although very late. I had been using 35mm color prints for my railroad pics; I started with a Canon AE and have moved on through their line to the T90 before switching to an auto-focus A2E (it is too hard to shoot rapidly moving trains w/o autofocus). I really enjoyed the A2E, which I usually shot with the 28-105mm AF lens. The range was not as good as some of more older, longer lenses, but I usually had access to everything I shot, so distance was not an issue.
To be quite honest, shooting train pics faded in importance after the birth of my first child. Now, with three children, it was even less of an issue. I did have the opportunity to acquire a digital camera to assist in some work projects. I chose a Kodak DC290. It has a resolution of 3.3 megapixels and I can print color prints from my HP printer that outshine most everything I was ever able to do (or enlarge) with my 35mm. (it has optional lenses too). One of the greatest satisfactions in digital photography is the "instant gratification" that comes from being able to see and review your "photos" while they are still in the camera. If you like them, you can save (and print) them, if not, just delete them. As far as features, I have to admit, that the digital cannot match the F stop range nor shutter speed of my 35mm, however, with enough $$, you can probably find one that can. For me, the digital basically takes cheap, great quality pics that I can upload via USB cable and manipulate at will- try that with 35mm. Although they both serve a different purpose, I think digital will become the winning technology.

Chessie

[Chessie_SD50_8563]

I use a camera that might be older than I am. I use my grandfather's Canon AE-1 that he says dates to the early 1980s. Old but takes good pictures. Pain in the a** to load.

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Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System
LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!!
LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!

[Gats]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by chessie: (snipped)
I have to admit, that the digital cannot match the F stop range nor shutter speed of my 35mm, however, with enough $$, you can probably find one that can...

Chessie<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

For those with the dollars... the Nikon D-1, Canon EOS D30, Fuji S-1 Pro(Nikon body) for starters - all SLR bodies with CCD pick-up. The cost?... LOTS! http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Still not the F-Stop range of 35mm, though http://www.trainboard.com/frown.gif

Gary.

For those interested in digital camera views and reviews, try Steve's Digi-Cams (http://www.steves-digicams.com/)

[This message has been edited by Gats (edited 03 July 2000).]