What Digital Camera Should I Buy?

I would like to purchase a new digital camera soon, hopefully in the $300 to $400 range. It will mainly be used for taking close up pictures of my N scale models. I haven't got a clue which ones are best at taking model shots. I see some great pictures posted here of peoples models. What cameras are you guys using, and what brand or model would you recomend?

Thanks,

Brian

 

Brian, the type and cost of any digital camera you buy will be determined by its' pixel capability. I've seen some up in the 5 mega pixel range now. Most digital cameras take excellent pictures and some are easy to use and some are complicated. Anything that shoots under 800 X 600 pixels I would not consider.

Sony uses a different storage system than most others so with that camera it may be like buying a Beta video player.

Olympus, Nikon, Cannon and JVC all make excellent cameras and so does Toshiba.

I use a TOSHIBA PDR M-70 3.3 Mega Pixel that shoots at 2054 X 1580 pixels full size. The major reason I bougfht it was that I could buy detachable Telephoto, Wide Angle, and Closeup lenses for it and because it has the capability of being used like an SLR through the lens camera. It gives you the capability of choosing shutter speed, lens opening and manual focus all at the same time. Or you can simply put it into auto mode and it does everything for you, providing you have zillions of candle power of light available.

Light is the determining factor in photo quality and depth of field and if a camera does not have the manual capabilty mentioned above you will have a difficult time taking good pictures in poor light without an additional lighting source.

The Toshiba has a very simple system for downloading photos into your computer and it does it all automatically. One click tells it to download your pictures into a file in your Documents and reformat the camera storage card. I would recomend that you also have some good graphics software in your computer for use with your digital camera.

The Toshiba software is easy to load onto your computer and the customer service help is excellent. I do nort work for Toshiba!

All these factors should be considered in making your choice of camera and the item that will determine what you buy, I would say depends on how serious of a model railroad photographer you want to become.

I spent lotsa bucks on a really good camera system initially, because I only want to do that once. It's like initially only buying good quality steam or diesel engines.

Good luck on your choice and insist that the shop gives you a full money back 30 day test period so you can determine if it takes satisfactory pictures and is easy to operate.

The Toshiba PDR M-70 including the cost of the lenses was about $1500 Canadian dollars and it comes with a 135 page instruction book. A sample of its' picture taking capability can be found on the Kato Photo Gallery site under "detailed Mikados" engine # 3724.

I will also add that given the money and a second choice I would probably buy the Nikon 950. I've seen photos taken with that camera that were better than the Nikon SLR film camera could take.

Another consideration in choosing a camera of course, is where is the repair shop? These digital cameras can be quite fragile and like a lot of digital DCC train control systems parts are a problem and that model is out of production the next year.

The PDR M-80 replaces my PDR M-70, but I would not buy it because it does not have a Glass lens like mine and I do not think you can attach additional lenses to it.

So have fun choosing and let us know what you bought.

 

I just bought the Canon S30 a couple of month ago, and I love it. It's a $500 camera at Best Buy (less in some online stores). The reason I decided for that one is because it's a small 3mega pixel camera with full automatic or full manual settings. It will focus down to 10cm in macro mode, and it takes some really nice pictures sharp clear. The only "negative" thing is that you can't connect external flash, but besides that, a great camera.

Jesper

 

The new Kodak DX4900 is a 4 mega pixel digital camera with 6X zoom for $399. Most say it is the best buy out there right now.

 

For detailed photography of N and HO Scale models, you need to have an aperture of at least f-16 for depth of field (f-22 is better), a focus capability from 2"-24" (or more), and a synchronized external flash connection. Any resolution of 2 MegaPixels or greater is fine, but the higher resolution raises the price of the camera exponentionally.

If all you wish to do is swap photos on the Internet and post to Forums like TB, then anything above 2 MPixels is a waste, because even 2 woo woo woo resolution creates image files up to 10 MBytes. However, if you are going to print the images on an expensive photo printer ($700+) and enter them in competitive professional exhibitions, then plan on spending at least $1000 to get the very best camera on the market. Especially consider one that can accomodate different lenses like the SLR 35mm film cameras.

[ 18 May 2002, 02:06: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]

 

I'm a big fan of the Yashica FineCam S3, but unfortunately that doesn't appear to be available anymore, and it's replacments, the FineCam S3X and the S4 are a tad out of your price range. You might want to do a search for the camera on eBay if you're interested.

If you're looking to do camera research, dpreview has the best webpage to do this, also has he most comprehensive camera reviews I've found online.

 

You've been given some excellent advice so I won't attempt to add to it; I will simply tell you where I am at. My first digital camera was a Sony Mavica (don't remember the model but it had 6x optical zoom). I loved the Mavica bacause it used floppies for storage and thus could be easily interfaced with any computer. I took a lot of really good photos with it - all the shots on my web site are from that camera, as are the shots in the Nov-Dec, Jan-Feb, and Mar-Apr issues of N-Scale.

But I wanted more pixels and greater ability to use photographic features, so in February (after making heavy use of dpreview.com ) I bought a Sony DSC-F707. I am, simply, in love. It's got everything I need (well, more depth of field would be welcome) and I have a great deal more flexibility than with the Mavica. The 707 has a USB port for direct computer connection, and with a 128 meg storage chip I can shoot over 50 5 megapixel shots. When the editor of N-Scale told me she wanted another shot with better focus to illustrate my wind generator article (May-June) I used the 707 for what I think is a stunning shot, thanks mainly to the manual focusing ability and aperture and speed controls. It's on page 26, full page, color. She was very happy with the shot, as am I. (Except for the color shift they did making the yellow grass green.)

Both cameras have excellent macro capabilities.

A word about printing: Take a look at the Epson C80 for $180. Excellent resolution, and the inks won't run if they get wet and they won't fade - a first for low cost inkjets. Plus it's very stingy with ink usage. I've made some full page prints on photo glossy paper that are as good as standard photos, IMO.

I've been a photographer nearly all my life (I'm 61 now) and I've shot more in the last three years since I went digital than I did in the previous 20 years - and enjoyed it tremendously. You're gonna love it!

[ 18 May 2002, 13:07: Message edited by: Jim Reising ]

 

I am sort of leaning towards the Nikon 950. It seems to have all of my required features. and I have seen it on ebay for as little as $250.00. Another good thing is there are optical zoom lenses listed for as little as $50 that will fit this camera. With so much out there it is hard to make a decision on such a big purchase. (I could buy a new DCC system for the price of most of these cameras.)

Brian

 

greetings...
I'm in COMPLETE agreement with Jim Reising about the Sony DSC-F707. I got my wife one for mothers day, but that doesn't mean she uses it ALL the time!!! 10x optical zoom (as others have said, IGNORE the digital zoom). As for the memory stick being akin to the "betamax", I also bought her the Sony picture printer for around $500. It's sooo easy to just take the stick (it's about the size of a piece of chewing gum) and place it into the printer. Much easier than fooling around with downloads, and the paper is just the right size (about 3x5) for her scrapbooking. We also started with the Mavica (using 3.5" floppies), but the more I use my 3.3 mpixel DSC-P5 (the compact one) and 128mB stick, the less I have to worry about running out of film.... There is a similiar DSC-F505 still out there, has the 10x optical zoom, but with a reasonably priced 3.3mP resolution (I'M SOOO tempted to snap one up for those roster shots taken from the side of the highway....) GREAT THREAD!!!! Go digital, you'll be glad you did...

 

I purchased the Nikon Coolpix 995. Since I bought it in Japan the price has plummeted with the introduction of newer models. I am just getting to know the camera and have a digital manual which I need to delve into as I have to start documenting the soon-to-be-built benchwork, spline, track, etc..
I have used the camera for some good shots and am very happy with it....it is more camera than I am a photographer!