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"Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Oct 13 2010 10:12 pm
by paulhubbard
Just got my Nikon D3100 and without even reading the instructions I snapped a photo of Red Mountain to compare it to the same photo taken with my Coolpix camera. Coolpix is "doctored" with Paintshop Pro, the D3100 is untouced.
Coolpix:
D3100:
Bottom line? Get a good camera!!! I'm going to have WAY too much fun with this!!
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 01 2014 6:23 pm
by skatchkins
My work here is done

And ooo look here's a fresh new page.
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 02 2014 8:22 am
by joebartels
iPhone interchangeable lenses
I'm not a fan of these after market "kits", just sharing. In one comment you can see how some
dig into it.
The macro lens could really use a "ring light" to take care of the shadow created by the case
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 02 2014 9:32 am
by skatchkins
joe bartels wrote:iPhone interchangeable lenses
I think that falls in the middle of the orange here:
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 02 2014 9:45 am
by chumley
@skatchkins

Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 02 2014 10:04 pm
by paulhubbard
Posted [almost] identical photos from 3 diffent cameras - a cheapy PnS (Nikon Coolpix), an entry level DSLR (Nikon D3100), amd a high end full frame (Sony a99). you be the judge, do I suck or is it just the camera?

Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 03 2014 10:40 am
by New2hyk
I took b&w photography classed during my undergrad years in 80's. I borrowed a Nikon manual camera from my then room mate since I could not afford one. I used to spend tons of hours in dark room developing the photographs with perfection. I think behind every good photograph is a skill set of the person(including lot of patience and time), a good camera and pure luck

The photographs I thought would turn out well at the time of the shoot often were not the ones that turned out well

Ironic.
My teacher said that the lifespan of the photos were 10 years. Mine still look great and hang on the walls of my guest room
Now my needs are different, and I am looking for simple camera that is not too heavy, has wifi and can take decent photographs of wild life.
I am travelling next week and wanted to buy one this week. Went with Nikon coolpix P600 and bought it at best buy(bundle with extra battery,tripod,case and 32gb memory card) with 3 year warranty.total 663.10. It would have been $50 cheaper on amazon but time is a factor here. I also prefer to take things in person for repairs than mailing them to amazon. Getting service at Best buy was like pullling teeth. There were more people working there than customers and it took lot of effort on my part to get any service.
So far, the wifi is ridiculously slow and I can't even connect to my iphone. Ipad connects sometimes but not always. Photos are so so..when I get a chance, I will post a picture or two.
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 03 2014 4:03 pm
by RowdyandMe
Well I have Nikon S9500 which I really liked. It took great pictures now sometimes lighting was a issue. That was some thing that bother me. Sometimes I would have to raise my camera then lower it to get a picture thats not to dark. And this would happen with the sun shining directly on my subject at noon in August with zero shade.
So I am also looking at a Sony WX350.
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 12:00 am
by outdoor_lover
New2hyk wrote:So far, the wifi is ridiculously slow and I can't even connect to my iphone. Ipad connects sometimes but not always.
Why doesn't that surprise me? I think the GPS and Wifi on these Cameras are just Gimmicks....
New2hyk wrote:Photos are so so..
It takes awhile to get to know a New Camera...I wasn't very impressed with the P510 at first either, but Time and a few In-Camera Adjustments were all I needed and I've been pretty happy considering the LImitations of a Point and Shoot.... ;)
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 8:33 am
by Paintninaz
Are there any recommendations for a waterproof camera? I've had a couple of the older Pentax ones (w20, I think, and w80) and was not pressed with either. I want one for an upcoming rafting trip.
I have a Canon Powershot SX260HS that I'm happy enough with for dry conditions, though I find the GPS to take way too long to work and drains the battery way too fast, so I don't bother. I agree with Outdoor Lover, I think the feature is more gimmick than useful (but thought that before O bought it; I liked the other features of the camera though and bought it based on those :-))
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 9:42 am
by The_Eagle
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 12:18 pm
by CannondaleKid
Paintninaz wrote:Are there any recommendations for a waterproof camera?
I've got an Olympus TG-2 and other than only a 4x zoom I am very happy with it. I'm quite impressed with underwater filming, especially how well it picks up the sound.
Oh yeah, the manual says to place it underwater for a few minutes after each use to keep the seals soft. After ruining a number of cameras by dunking in water I found it hard to purposely dunk it, but I have since gotten used to doing just that.
If I was to buy another one today, I'd go with the TG-3.
Paintninaz wrote:I have a Canon Powershot SX260HS that I'm happy enough with for dry conditions, though I find the GPS to take way too long to work and drains the battery way too fast, so I don't bother.
I agree the GPS is a bit slow but as long as I didn't forget and leave the GPS logging on between hikes, I didn't have issues with the battery charge... I'd easily get 200 photos and a number of videos over an 8-10 hour hike on one charge.
Although I continue to geocode my photos with external software (using the hike track from my Garmin GPS) I still enable the GPS logging on the Olympus to make use of the feature which tells which direction I was facing when taking each photo. Whenever there is a decent signal (not in deep canyons, etc.) I've found the direction to be quite accurate.
BTW, if the GPS logging is left on when not using the Olympus, the battery WILL run dead within 24-36 hours. Again, all I have to do is remember to shut it off when I return from hikes. Yeah right, if only I had a working memory.. ;)
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 4:56 pm
by New2hyk
Here are some birds & bees with NikonP600
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 5:00 pm
by New2hyk
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 04 2014 5:03 pm
by New2hyk
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 05 2014 10:19 am
by Tortoise_Hiker
@Paintninaz
I have an Olympus Tough. I suck with a camera but I'm ok with that

. I didn't do good with it underwater. I don't touch my photos at all. I think for your rafting it would be great. I carry mine in my pocket on a lot of hikes rain snow or shine and it's been fine. I just hiked Mt. Whitney and Humphreys with it and posted a few pictures if you wanted to look at them and see what you think.
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 05 2014 4:53 pm
by outdoor_lover
@Paintninaz
I would NOT recommend the Panasonic DMC TS25...Although it's Waterproof, I was disappointed in relation to the Money I spent...It takes "ok" Photos, but the Lens Fogging Issue is very frustrating and apparently it's normal...Water also doesn't "sheet off" the Lens very well and collects at the bottom of the Lens on the Outside....Even though I did a lot of Research, I certainly have some Buyer's Regret on this one....But, it will have to do and I'll make the best of it while I have it...
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 05 2014 5:12 pm
by wha
dpreview also has some comparison reviews of of rugged/waterproof cameras. One from 2013 with some models still current, and the most recent from last month.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2013-waterproof-roundup
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/249126 ... ra-roundup
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 05 2014 6:11 pm
by Timknorr
I love the Canon G15, it is a powershot so very compact and versatile. It has amazing image quality and setting controls. Its basically a DSL without the lens capability. It even shoots video in Hi-def and slow motion. Great Camera.
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 05 2014 7:42 pm
by gummo
Timknorr wrote:I love the Canon G15, it is a powershot so very compact and versatile. It has amazing image quality and setting controls. Its basically a DSL without the lens capability. It even shoots video in Hi-def and slow motion. Great Camera.
Sold. My camera is held together by duct tape right now. :/
Re: "Okay" camera vs. "GREAT" camera
Posted: Jul 06 2014 12:15 am
by chumley
@gummo
Was it attacked by a rabid animal while capturing a macro shot of it's nose hair? ;)