Thread: what camera to buy??

I need to buy a digital camera to take some quality pics of my razors.One that will take close ups of the type of grind,the makers stamp on the tang, etc.Now i know like every thing else in this world you can spend alot of flow for what ever your into, but looking for the middle of the road camera to get the job done. What do you folks use?? thanks

For razors, anything that you can manually focus and manually set ISO, aperture, and shutter speed is good. Everything beyond that is, IMO, up to the user.

I'd say any entry to mid level Canon or Nikon, but that's mostly just my brand bias.

what are you up to? what's ur budget? SLR or compact? for compact try canon G11/10 or Panasonic lumix LX3, both have great macro mode and perform well in low light....if you want SLR it's depend on your budget, if you could and would invest in macro lens, it's expensive and might cost you another camera body, however if you're willing to use macro filter, reverse lens for magnification then any brand will do, just go for the one that provide good ISO performance.

however, from the task you want, compact is fine, like holli4pirating said, choose one that has manual setting, the rest is up to you. For me, I'd like to add good ISO performance and good macro magnification. I'm not limiting the choices here but I like panasonic lumix LX3 for the Leica lens, it's good, great magnification for macro photography, but then in term of ISO performance which also important in product shoot and macro I like Canon G10 and 11.

Good luck!

I don't really think there is any need for a macro lens. Raw files, or even high quality JPEG settings create such large files that you can just crop them (to the sizes that actually come up on websites) and still have high quality images. For example, my images on... whatever the highest non-raw setting on my D70s creates images that are something like 3000x2000 and a 20 inch monitor is only 1600 x 1200, so even if I crop to about 1/2 a frame, at 100% it's still just about the whole screen.

All you need is a good point and shoot camera, Canon G11 for example or something in the same caliber.
As said above all you need is aperture control and ISO adjustments capabilities.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I don't really think there is any need for a macro lens. Raw files, or even high quality JPEG settings create such large files that you can just crop them (to the sizes that actually come up on websites) and still have high quality images. For example, my images on... whatever the highest non-raw setting on my D70s creates images that are something like 3000x2000 and a 20 inch monitor is only 1600 x 1200, so even if I crop to about 1/2 a frame, at 100% it's still just about the whole screen.

well I don't really mention about RAW and hi Quality Jpeg setting (I don't really use that) but ISO performance is (maybe, apologize me if I'm wrong I'm just noob in photography and also straight razor ) important if you really want decent image, I shoot most on ISO 100 so I don't really need good ISO performance, but that's me hehehe

about macro lens...errrr, that's really depend in my SLR, I use my 500mm vintage mirror lens(bought if for ~US$35) to take macro image, works good? yes, I can crop it as much as I could, if you want just reverse the lens that's also an option you'll have, so the question is back again, how good is good you want, I guess that's one reason why I'm asking the budget as that's really helps you deciding your choice hahaha.

just my two cent.

Having sold cameras for over 10 years, I'd recommend an entry level to mid level SLR with a macro setting. But then, almost all of them have a macro or close-up setting. If the setting doesn't do the trick, you can get an inexpensive close up filter. If you're going to shoot at a low ISO, you'll definitely want a tripod. As for brand, I agree with holli4pirating's recommendation of Canon or Nikon.

Canon G11 is a good choice

Fuji S7000 (not 700) is one of the best cameras I have ever owned prior to my Nikon D200. The s7000 used to retail for about $800, but you can buy them used on ebay for under $200. It is loaded with features, not quite as big as the DSLR's, and takes great pictures. (I don't have any razor pictures from it, but I have a whole trip to France to choose image samples from if you want to see image quality. PM me if you want and I can share some images. I also still have it and am not using it, never thought about getting rid of it but if you like PM me and we can discuss).

I would prefer a Nikon, but some of the best quality pics of razors I have seen here at SRP have been taken with cell phone digital cameras. Ralfy's pics in the SOTD forum are a prime exampe of this.

However, before going out and spending money on a camera, consider making or getting some good camera lighting from an online photography shop and making an inexpensive light box based on instructions in the SRP wiki. That may deliver the quality pics you are in search of.