camera upgrades what are yall shooting

[M.R.GT]

Hey guy's and gals.

Just wondering what's best bang for the buck in digital camera's. I'm wanting to upgrade from my point and shoot to something better. I don't know a lot about camera's so I interested in hearing some smart folks opinions .

My budget is under $500. Looking for something with a macro mode for those tric shot. also what filters to weed out some of the red from HPS lighting so I can get a better canopy shot with lights on.

I have been looking at the canon SX40 and SX50, Samsung 2100 and a few others but not really sold on any.

Any opinion good or bad would be great.

Thanks
GT

 

[l2sm]

Can't help but I'm also interested.

In addition to good macros and HPS light filtering I would appreciate if it could take some kind of "wide" photo that would capture the entire tent from within a foot or two. Price could be even lower than $500 too...

 

[M.R.GT]

thanks I2sm. good call I didn't think about a wide capture option. Yea $ 500 is the top end $200 would be better.

Wally World has the GE 600 with14mp, 26x zoom $159 but I hate to spend the money and not be satisfied.

Wouldn't be the first time I bought something cheaper not be satisfied and turn around and pay the price for the good one. Then be pissed at myself every time I see the cheap POS. Self-loathing sucks when I do something stupid.

 

[Relentless]

i spent $700 on a dslr and I can get better shots with my $150 point and shoot LOL. now if i get the tripod out and take 150 shots with the dslr...

 

[M.R.GT]

hey Relentless
thanks for the feedback. I guess Im looking for something in the middle. The canons are looking pretty good. anyone have the SX40 or SX5O?

Later.
GT

 

[Lifer]

The SX40 has manual exposure mode which gives you the creative freedom needed to nail some awesome shots.

The SX50 goes a step further to include a hotshoe flash mount, for adding a Canon speedlight flash or other light source in the future.

Lighting is the most important thing in photography, period. I can take awesome photos with a potato so long as the lighting is right. So I recommend the SX50 if that's the height of your current budget.

A genuine DSLR will give you better image quality and the ability to swap lenses to change perspective for different shooting situations. Might be something to consider saving a little while longer for if you intend to get more serious with your photos.

Here's a look at what $5k worth of photo gear will do; https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=267226

Peace

 

[M.R.GT]

thanks lifer nice pics but 5k is more than Im willing to pop for a camera as a hobbiest.

anyone got a clue what filter to use to negate the red light from the HPS?

Thanks
GT

 

[Lifer]

I recommended the SX50 or saving for an entry level DSLR.

The link was just evidence I may have knowledge on this subject beyond 99% of the viewing population. It's no problem for me to answer your questions and possibly help prevent that feeling of regret from under buying.

The best way to handle HPS light is to walk in the room and take pictures... with an off-camera mounted flash unit. Basically you have a small flash unit on its own light stand that attaches to your camera by means of a trigger cable. And this flash unit will overpower the HPS light, giving you true colors. The added benefit here is that directional light coming from off camera is what makes pictures look sexy.

If by hobbyist you mean walk into the room, press the shutter button and upload the photo 5 minutes later - disregard everything I've said. Photography takes time and a lot of education to make beautiful.

 

[ydijadoit]

I just bought a Nikon 3200 DSLR package with two lenses, from Costco. It's gonna be a learning curve, for sure, but so far, the results are amazing, if I set it up right. Was around $800 including tax.
We looked at the price of senior pics for my daughter, and this camera was only $200 more.
Working with it, and planning to not only take her pics, but learn a fun new hobby as well.
Like I said, I'm a newb with a DSLR, but it geet excellent reviews, so any failures will likely be mine, not the machines...
Be well!

 

[Adze]

Filters?

Filters?

M.R.GT

An interesting feature, which I’ve recently noticed on some cameras, is one that you can adjust the white balance automatically. One just points the camera at a piece of white paper under whatever lighting you have and pushes the right button and the colors all look correct, no filters needed. The other feature I’d look for is inter-changeable lenses. Both Canon and Nikon are good choices. You might want to check used equipment as I’ve seen some really good values. An older macro lens will work fine even without automatic functions for taking still photos like Canna porn.

Adze.

 

[MOneYMiKe]

Sorry lifer I meant to positive rep you....

 

[M.R.GT]

if by hobbyist you mean walk into the room, press the shutter button and upload the photo 5 minutes later -

that's exactly what I mean. i'm sure your setup is real nice just not for me. You pics are more of a staged professional show. I just want to be able to take decent pics of my garden with the lights on. Maybe a little zoom so my tired old eye's can read trics a bit better.

YD I will definitely check out the Nikon. I hear ya on the senior portraits been there. I think you have the right idea. Could have bought Lifers setup if I had went that route. of course they wouldn't have been as nice without the education I guess.

Adze good info appreciate it. I will definitely be on the look out for that function. Like your handle. I collect old tools. Have a couple old hand forged adzes. Very Cool.

I just want them a little sharper than this.

Thats my $125 point and shoot .

Thanks guys
GT

 

[Lifer]

Buy a $300 point and shoot with image stabilization.

Example; http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Compact-Digital-Cameras/26420/COOLPIX-S9400.html

Anything more and I feel you'd be buying more than you're looking for feature wise. Learning manual exposure technique doesn't sound like something you're too keen on and is what the SX40 and SX50 are for - entry level learning.

 

[Lifer]

Sorry lifer I meant to positive rep you....

No prob.

In case you're curious on how cheaply the sexy kit can be done, here's a flash that can be used with any camera featuring a hot shoe (the metal plate/clip on top of cameras to signal the flash).

http://paulcbuff.com/b800.php - $280

To that, add this for sexy diffused light (removes hard shadowing).

http://paulcbuff.com/fsb.php - $120

A light stand.

http://paulcbuff.com/ls1100.php - $25

Trigger cable

http://www.paulcbuff.com/absc.php - $8

And this doohicky that goes in the hot shoe on the camera for adapting the cable.

http://www.amazon.com/RainbowImagin...dard-Flashes/dp/B003WA0N70/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_3 - $11

Heck, throw a backdrop behind it and you've got everything needed to take professional portrait shots and turn the weed photo game up to 11.

 

[M.R.GT]

Thanks brother that sounds doable.

you definitely know your business.

Sounds like the SX 50 will fill the ticket. here is a good right up.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/canon_sx_50_review.shtml
this like you said has a hot foot so it's upgradeable to the sexy kit. saw a couple kits on ebay with tripod, filters and some other stuff under $500.


here's a write up on the Nikon d3200
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d3200
this one does give you more options I just wonder how much I would use them.

thanks again for all the feedback .
GT

 

[Lifer]

What you gain with the Nikon D3200 is the ability to swap lenses down the road when the inevitable photography bug catches your fancy. Also, better editing capabilities when bringing the images into Photoshop CC or Lightroom 5.

I had a Nikon D40 (an older generation similar in the lineup as the D3200) before upgrading to the D800, they make great cameras. Even NASA uses 'em.

 

[l2sm]

I recommended the SX50 or saving for an entry level DSLR.

The 50X zoom is pretty impressive, that's almost like a microscope. And wide-angle photos too without any extra lenses. Might be one to consider indeed.

If by hobbyist you mean walk into the room, press the shutter button and upload the photo 5 minutes later - disregard everything I've said. Photography takes time and a lot of education to make beautiful.

I'm not interested in artistic expression but documenting the subject. My method is to take many pictures of the same thing, then upload the best one out of those 5 minutes later. Maybe some cropping. Works for me.

 

[Lifer]

Documenting the subject in its true state is an expression that takes no more or less skill to master.

Here's the basics of it, pulled from here; http://trendygraphic.com/manual-photography-cheat-sheet-an-infographic/

Notes:
Exposure
- The light meter is different from the exposure setting.
- Keeping your light meter at “0” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the perfect setting. Just don’t stray too far from the “0”. Adjust to your liking.
- Positive numbers on your exposure setting will make your photos brighter.
- Negative numbers make your photos darker.
Aperture
- Small numbers (like f/1.4) have larger openings, which let in more light.
- Big numbers (like f/16) have smaller openings, which let in less light.
Shutter Speed
- Seeing 100, 250, 320, etc. on your viewfinder means “1/(number seen)”, like “1/100”.
- Try not to use 1/60 or less when handheld, that’s when you use a tripod or look for something steady.
- Using longer exposure (slow shutter speed) will let in more light.
- Using shorter exposure (fast shutter speed) will let in less light.
ISO
- ISO is the sensitivity of your camera to light
- Lower numbers are less sensitive to light, which give smoother photos.
- Higher numbers are very sensitive to light, which give very grainy and noisy photos.

 

[l2sm]

Documenting the subject in its true state is an expression that takes no more or less skill to master.

That's a fair point. I suppose what I was trying to get at was that since nowadays there's no expensive film used and results can be seen instantly, a more experimental method rather than the know-what-you're-doing school of thought you belong to can be successful too. Even more so because of the many automated image processing features of modern cameras. Not all of them are equally suitable for our hobby though that's why this thread is a good one and especially personal experiences would be valued.

 

[Lifer]

Pissing in the wind relieves yourself of having to urinate, but I wont be doing that either.