What Camera?

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
N to the Nth degree!

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

 

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?

 

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.

 

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
N to the Nth degree!

 

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

 

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 ), 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...

 

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. 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.

Kevin Stevens www.trainweb.org/KernJunction

 

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

 

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

 

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
N to the Nth degree!

 

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

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

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

 

<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

<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
N to the Nth degree!

 

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).]

 

<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 . Thanks again for the info Alan.


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