Need Help from Camera People Out there.

[leftyladyfrommo]

What kind of digital camera do I need to do animal photography? I have been looking at cameras and am so confused. Do I need 8.2 pixals? or will 6 do it? I will be doing pet photos - portraits and some shots from a short distance, I think. Not wild animal photography - although I would love to try that, too.

I need a camera that is easy to use because I am so bad with technology. Not top of the line but one that will give me good quality pictures - because I want to use it in my business.

Thanks, guys.

[Inchworm]

1. I had same troubles leftyladyfrommo

They are quite helpful in the Photography Group.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=280

Heres a place to compare cameras, but if you are like me, it still looks Greek :)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm

I'm a rookie so I cant help ya much.

:hi:

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. Well, you helped a lot. I didn't even know we had a

photography group. I will go over and take a look.

Thanks.

[Richard Steele]

2. You should definitely ask this in the Photography group.

Lots of serious camera experience over there!

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. Thanks. I'm on my way. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I'd suggest going with a digital single-lens reflex.

They are more expensive but they are also a lot more versatile and the quality of your pictures will be much better. I just got a Pentax K10D and I love it. It's got some rather complicated features but I can also adjust it manually like an old-fashioned optical SLR. It takes 10.2 mp pictures, which look really good when printed.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. How much? If you don't mind my asking.

I used to do archaeology photos with a Pentax. They were considered the best back then.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. I got mine through Amazon.com.

The retail price at camera stores is in the $900 range (including a lens), but Amazon is selling it for $784.50.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_p/103-5560762-7771046?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Dphoto&field-keywords=pentax&Go.x=10&Go.y=10&Go=Go

[B3Nut]

7. In a compact/one-piece (non-SLR) camera

more than 6 megapixels is asking for excessive image noise. They're even cramming 10 megapixels on those tiny sensors, and the image quality suffers from the noise (looks like grain.) The more pixels you cram onto a sensor of a given size, the smaller those photosites need to be, and the more light they need to excite them. To compensate, camera makers crank up the amplifier gain on each pixel, resulting in electronic "noise". This *will* become an issue if you shoot available light especially, and if you're going to shoot animals I'd avoid using built-in flash because of the harsh, flat, uneven light they put out.

Canon compacts generally produce the cleanest images I've seen for the breed. Good entry-level SLRs include the Nikon D40, a refurbished Nikon D50 (superb camera, discontinued but can be a great bargain and works well at high sensitivities), or a Pentax K100D (same Sony 6-megapixel imager as the Nikons, with a sensor-based shake-reduction feature that works very well.) An SLR lets you use external flash that you can bounce for more diffused and natural-looking light (some higher-end digicams do as well, but for what they sell for an SLR is a much better investment IMHO.)

One of the best sites for camera reviews is www.dpreview.com , very in-depth with lots of lab and field sample images.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. So what do I use for flash - if not the built-in kind?

Sorry to sound so dumb. But I think a lot of my shots will be inside of customer's houses.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. The SLRs have built-flashes, but you get better results with an attachment.

A flash attachment has better range than any camera's built-in flash, but the non-SLRs don't usually have a flash shoe. Also, the attachment can be held away from the camera, so you don't get the glowy eyes. So if you are taking pictures indoors, especially of animals, you're probably going to want a camera that lets you use a flash attachment.

[B3Nut]

11. A good shoe-mount flash with bounce *and* swivel

so you can bounce when shooting verticals. Also an off-camera remote cable for the flash can be handy too (unless you choose a camera body and flash that support wireless off-camera use, my Nikon D70s and SB-600 flash work this way, it's fantastic.) For Nikons the SB-600 is a fine flash unit, and the preferred Pentax unit is the AF540 (I think that's correct.) Not the cheapest, but MUCH better quality of light than a built-in.

Here's a photo of my American Bulldog Johnny photographed with the D70s and with the flash bounced off the ceiling:



Notice the softness of the light and the natural shadows. Direct on-camera flash blasts the subject with harsh light, causing redeye in humans and making animals' eyes glow in a similar fashion.

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Oohh, nice.

I've gotta get me one of those for my new Pentax.