Digital camera depth of field and under $300

[FJ and G]

I know digital cameras has been a frequent topic but technology and prices also change frequently so I have some questions because it's time to buy one (my daughter stole my other one).

I can budget only up to $300 so all questions are for this or lower price range.

1. For model RR scenes, good depth of field is important. How can you tell which models have the best depth of field?

2. Any good models in that price range that you can vouch for?

Looking forward to posting more strange and unusual photos to the forum, but now I need the camera!

[spankybird]

Hi Dave,

This past Christmas my wife bought me a Fuji 3100, 4 meg camera with 6x optical zoom for about $300.00. I was the next better one for sale the other night for $300.00 with a 10x optical zoom.

The only thing mine does not have is sound with the digital move part.

If you would like, I could e-mail you some pics tonight for you to see what they look like before being compressed by the forum.

tom

[csxt30]

Good morning Dave & Tom! Dave, I got to see Tom's camera, & it sure is nice. I just have to learn more about using mine better. This sure is fun now, as i'm always trying to figure out a new picture to take now & put it on the forum. Don't foget the get together this summer up here by Tom's. Ok, waiting for your next pic.[:D] Thanks, John

[FJ and G]

Tom,

That would be swell. Unlike most people, who are enfactuated with the tele-zoom, I'm a sucker for extreme closeup so I can photograph spikes in my ties, for example.

If you can provide a closeup shot using the camera that would be nice. Then I'll shop for that model

[spankybird]

Dave, can your e-mail box recieve a 2 meg file [?]

[FJ and G]

yep yep

[Jim Duda]

Be sure your camera has a macro or "close up" setting. For best depth of field you should be able to MANUALLY control both the aperature and the shutter speed. A good tripod is a necessity for good macro work.

(click it)

[image]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-11/888231/TableBuild31-Wiring2.jpg[/image]

[spankybird]

Mine does have a macro seting and it also allows you to adjust the flash setings in it.

[spankybird]

Here is a pic from my web page, be sure to click on it to enlarge it

[FJ and G]

I don't care about flash settings because I'd be using photo bulbs to control the light direction and intensity.

Jim D,

Nice closup. And you use the zoom to capture neighbors mowing lawns, I bet.

[Jim Duda]

QUOTE: Nice closup. And you use the zoom to capture neighbors mowing lawns, I bet. - Dave

Hell YES! That's why mine has to accept different lenses...like a 500 mm zoomie...(wink). If you have a tripod and those photo lamps, you could set the aperature at f:16 and slow the shutter speed way down...then everything would be in focus.

Tom - does yours have Shutter OR Aperature priority?

[Anonymous]

Hi I have a little Olympus D535 3.2meg that I got from staples for $130 and it has close up and portrait settings and makes great pictures!
Don't get carried away with the megapixels race it all depends on the camera and how it uses them. Either for the picture and or storage. I am not techinical enough to explain all of that.
You can go to "dpreview.com" and " epinions.com" and they have all the info you need for buying a nice digital.
Hope this helps[:)][:)]

[spankybird]

JImbo,
I don't know off hand. I do remember it has the macro, portrait, landscape and auto setting. In the manual setting, you can have some of the featues set at factory setting and change the ones you wish. I have found on the macro setting, I have to reduce the flash.

If you are only posting on the forum, you don't need high meg camera, but if you are going to send in your pic for the magazine, then you do and at the best setting.

[FJ and G]

Tom writes: "If you are only posting on the forum, you don't need high meg camera, but if you are going to send in your pic for the magazine, then you do and at the best setting."

--------------

I just had this discussion w/2 friends. They said same. However, I'd like to add to what Tom says. If you take an outstanding photo, say of a wedding or a rare train that you want blown up to 8x10 print or poster even, then you will want a higher megapixel.

For magazine articles, 3.3 MP is minimum; and 5 is much better.

[Jim Duda]

Tom - when you get home, see if you could set your camera at, let's say, f:11, DISABLE THE FLASH, and see if it automatically adjusts the shutter speed according to the ambient lighting conditions...if it does, then I would say you have a camera that Mr. Vergun definitely should consider...!

[FJ and G]

Tom, Jim,

I believe that depth of field also is a function of lighting. The more light, the more depth of field you have. At least that holds true on a film camera. I would imagine it would also hold true w/digital

[spankybird]

Jim, I believe it will do that. If I just turn the flash off, it will adjust the shutter speed.

[underworld]

Hi Dave, For under $300 range I would recommend the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-P100. It is 5.1 megapixel 3x zoom. It has a Zeiss lens, quite impressive as Zeiss is one of the world's top lens manufacturers. I do not own one of these yet but I will be buying one soon as this does almost as well as my much more expensive digital SLR cameras......and it fits in a shirt pocket!
I have used one of these in a test to do close ups of gemstones. Very good quality. It will also do mpeg movies. I think the best thing you can do to decide between models and brands of cameras is to go to a large store like Best Buy or Circuit City that has a large inventory that you can check out. Take something with you to photograph......a small model or something with a lot of detail....then you can compare results and find what will work best for you. As far as purchase I would recommend A&M Photo World there website is http://www.amphotoworld.com/ when you make an online purchase from them they include a free tripod, cleaning kit, and lcd protector. If you call ask for Tommy, he can answer any questions and take care of everything for you.
I've found A&M consistently to have the lowest prices. Good luck in your search and make sure to post some pics with your new camera.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Dave,

Depth of field has no direct relationship with the amount of light on your subject. With a given amount of light , there is only one exact amount of that light necessary to correctly expose the film (digital or otherwise) . The film doesn't care if you use a long shutter speed with a tiny aperature (f-Stop) or short shutter speed with large aperature as long as the the exposures deliver the same amount of light.

For example, if the correct exposure for a given amount of light say from a 500 watt bulb is 2 seconds@ F22, equivalent exposures would be 1s @ F16, 1/2s @ f11, 1/4s@F8, 1/8s@F5.6, 1/15s@, 1/30s@F4, 1/60s@ F2.8, 125s@F1.4. These all deliver the same amount of light to the film.

Doubling the light by using 1000 watt bulb would only allow you to increase your shutter speed for any given aperature ie. F22@ 1second, F16@1/2s etc. These combinations still deliver the same amount of light to the film as above.

Dennis Brennan