I was hoping someone could recommend a good beginner camera for me to photograph my fish with. I would prefer digital but other than that im up for anything.
Good beginner camera?
- Thread starter Hwom
- Start date
myswtsins
Global Moderator
what is your price range....you can get a digital point and shoot for like a hundred bucks, an entry level DSLR for 400, a midlevel DSLR for 700 and a high end DSLR for 1,000+
maybe around 300. i want something good for movement. My mom has a digital that is not very good in that regard.
Look at the canon powershots.
for fish you want something with a macro function. Macro will allow you to get up close ant still focus on your subject. Most camerals will not focus on something that is closer than a few feet to the camera. Macro will allow your camera to be only a few inches away from your subject and still focus on it.
Most point & Shoot cameras do not have manual settings that will allow you to take good pictures of your fish. so you should look for something that will allow you to adjust the camera's settings. and flash. The option to use an external flash is always good too.
I have a Canon Eos 450D XSi
for fish you want something with a macro function. Macro will allow you to get up close ant still focus on your subject. Most camerals will not focus on something that is closer than a few feet to the camera. Macro will allow your camera to be only a few inches away from your subject and still focus on it.
Most point & Shoot cameras do not have manual settings that will allow you to take good pictures of your fish. so you should look for something that will allow you to adjust the camera's settings. and flash. The option to use an external flash is always good too.
I have a Canon Eos 450D XSi
nguyendetecting
"Swim along with the snorks"
any dslr would be a good choice but are pricey. I would try to get something with at least a manual focus. Point and shoot camers can't tell if you want to zoom in on the cave or the fish inside the cave for example. Heck my point and shot would zoom in on the tank glass instead of whats inside. goodluck with your pic =)
OgreMkV
Father of Earth's Next Emperor
Cybershots generally come with a macro feature. I've used a couple of Nikon Coolpix and they are really nice for the money (both these should be available for less than $100).
For DSLR, be careful. A good one will run $400-800 and the macro lens is seperate (so, another $100-300).
If you mainly want to take fish pictures, then go with something with a macro. If you want fish and other stuff, then go with something like the Coolpix.
Just remember, megapixels isn't everything. Check for things like how long it takes to take the picture. My mom had a camera and it took almost a second after a button press to take the picture... missing almost every picture she wanted. Try them out at Best Buy or whatever first, then order from newegg or even amazon.
For DSLR, be careful. A good one will run $400-800 and the macro lens is seperate (so, another $100-300).
If you mainly want to take fish pictures, then go with something with a macro. If you want fish and other stuff, then go with something like the Coolpix.
Just remember, megapixels isn't everything. Check for things like how long it takes to take the picture. My mom had a camera and it took almost a second after a button press to take the picture... missing almost every picture she wanted. Try them out at Best Buy or whatever first, then order from newegg or even amazon.
My first really good camera was a Nikon Coolpix s600 that I got for last christmas. It was amazing for me, because I've only used the cameras that have no macro function.
For a beginner camera, it will be very good. You can't really take pictures of active fish at all, but if you have snails, or shrimp, or slow moving fish like cories, then you'll be happy.
The other camera that I got (I dropped my coolpix :/) recently, is the Sony cybershot (12.1 MP) It's almost as good as the coolpix, but it's just a bit better quality of image, video, less confusing interface, and it shoots pictures faster (I think).
You won't get an amazing camera unless your willing to fork out the big bucks, but these will work for now until you win the lottery.
The main thing to do is take a LOT of pictures. I take 100 and maybe get 5 good ones haha.
For a beginner camera, it will be very good. You can't really take pictures of active fish at all, but if you have snails, or shrimp, or slow moving fish like cories, then you'll be happy.
The other camera that I got (I dropped my coolpix :/) recently, is the Sony cybershot (12.1 MP) It's almost as good as the coolpix, but it's just a bit better quality of image, video, less confusing interface, and it shoots pictures faster (I think).
You won't get an amazing camera unless your willing to fork out the big bucks, but these will work for now until you win the lottery.
The main thing to do is take a LOT of pictures. I take 100 and maybe get 5 good ones haha.
I have a Canon A2100 IS. I haven't used it that much but have gotten some decent photos. I don't think it has manual focus though, wish it did. It does however have macro and manual exposure or whatever and AFL which means if it locks on to something at the distance you want, you can press a button and it will hold that focus for future shots. But yeah you can adjust ISO settings which I guess means it can be good for snapping mid-movement? It's 12 megapixels and has 6x optical zoom and some additional digital zoom. here are some pics i took with it:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/luvluvluvluvluv/KDS5.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/luvluvluvluvluv/KDS6.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/luvluvluvluvluv/flowers2.jpg
It runs about $250
I bought it because of:
a) good megapixels for the money
b) good optical zoom for the money
c)takes AA batteries
If I could re-do it though I'd buy one with more manual controls. However, you might not need that. It's a relatively nice, easy to use point and shoot and it looks sharp and feels nice in the hand.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/luvluvluvluvluv/KDS5.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/luvluvluvluvluv/KDS6.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j208/luvluvluvluvluv/flowers2.jpg
It runs about $250
I bought it because of:
a) good megapixels for the money
b) good optical zoom for the money
c)takes AA batteries
If I could re-do it though I'd buy one with more manual controls. However, you might not need that. It's a relatively nice, easy to use point and shoot and it looks sharp and feels nice in the hand.
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