I need advise on a camera

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Permalink Reply by Lady Days Vintage on July 2, 2009 at 2:34pm

Hi Sean, thank you for your help. I'm not so sure I'm ready for the DSLR yet. Also what may seem simple to one may not be for another. I'm afraid I won't be able to grasp or turn the lense to remove it, unless things have changed since the 35mm cameras? Some days are good for me, others with the rain have not so good with my wrist : (

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Permalink Reply by Joe Merritt on July 2, 2009 at 5:05pm

Take the leap,you will not regret it, I have a Nikon D70,and a Minolta A2,love them both,get one that will let you change lenses,this way you can grow into the camera..............
Good Luck......
Joe Merritt
Chesapeake,Va.
USA

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on July 2, 2009 at 8:09pm

What camera are you now using and why won't it work for you just fine. Anytime someone tries to get you to switch to their camera brand always ask why. In my experience the simpler the camera is the better.

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Permalink Reply by Lady Days Vintage on July 2, 2009 at 8:53pm

Nathan, I'm using the Kodak EasyShare, the 1st model I think that came out. My granddaughter is going to be 8 this month, and I'm thinking I purchased it shortly after her birth.

Working with mannequins, it does an ok job. I'm noticing that I have to do a lot more editing to correct the color as time goes by. If I do a full body shot, I have to do a lot of cropping and editing, the picture seems so far away. Designer labels in vintage are important, trying to get a good macro shot is 50/50.

If I do 60 pieces, I have to spend 3-4 days editing, and that is a total waste of non paid time.

I just did my 1st shots with a live model, and the pictures were horrible, no depth, just flat if that makes sense.

My camera still works, I just think I need an upgrade?

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on July 3, 2009 at 9:16am

Remember, it's the light that makes a photograph work; or not. My wife has a litlle Nikon something or other that she bought at Office Max for $160.00. 10.1 megapixel and it does a great job. If you hang around where I am and read my notes to other shooters you'll find that, while I am not anti-technology or anti equipment, it has been my experience that a new "whatever" camera almost never solves the problem of making better photographs. New technology only makes it simpler to make really bad pictures. I don't know the camera you use but I'd wager that it has a control on it somewhere that will allow you to control color balance, however it may indeed be that a new camera is all that will solve the problem. If color balance is critical you might consider using a film camera and using a film like Kodak Ektachrome 100Professional and then having the chromes scanned.

The only way you can assure critical color balance on your finished image is to do what a professional would do and that is to use a studio type electronic flash set up. In that instance you will get absolutely consistent lighting results in terms of exposure and color balance. The big caveat on that is that you'll have to learn to use the lights like a professional would.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony R Poston on July 4, 2009 at 8:10am

I use Sony SLR Camera's because in my opinion for the money you are getting the best quality on the market as of today.
If you are an EasyShare user and do not want to spend more than a couple of hundred dollars I recommend a Cannon point and shoot. The Powershot is one of the best point and shoot cameras on the market, very dependable. If you are serious about producing high quality images you should go ahead and purchase a DSLR camera, it might be a little bit of a learning curve at first but, you will be happier in the long run. As long as you take the time to understand your equiptment and how to use it properly. I also recommend adobe photoshop for editing an editing choice. It might be daunting in the beginning but, in six months to a year you will never look back. You should always buy what you feel is best for you, but you also must be ready to move ahead. For better images you might have to bump up your practice and patience. You'll be glad you did in the long run though.....Anthony

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