doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Point & Shoot camera for Double gun photography?

I have seen some really great photos of double guns posted on this website over the years taken with point and shoot type digital cameras and would like to ask for recommendations for this type of camera. In addition to normally found features on this sort of camera I am looking for a camera that has the ability of macro/close up photos as well. If anyone has any recomendations that might fit the above criteria, I would really and very much appreciate it! thank you all in advance, Jeff S.

I don't know if they make them anymore, but I have a Fuji Finepix, S-3100. What a great camera. Everything I need comes with it. All I have to do is plug it into my computer and the pictures go into it. It has the little chip take pictures with over and over. Just go to CVS or Walmarts, etc., plug in the chip and they print the copies for you. Neat camera. I guess most of the cameras now days do the same thing. But they are handy.

I also use a Fuji Finepix and,while I don't claim to be the greatest photographer, it works for me. I set my camera to shoot in pixel mode which is the best for posting pictures on a forum. I also use the macro function as this works best for closeups. One of the most critical aspects of photography is lighting and Im still working on this. Here's an OT example I just shot for another collecting area I'm interested in:
Jim

As isxs did, might I suggest a sample gun photo along with a recommendation?
Most of my stuff is shot with a digital SLR, I do have a point-n-shoot but seldon use it except when traveling.
I am very interested in what works for others.

Jeff,
There are so many makes and models that will do everything you mentioned and much more.

Since the "point n shoot" types of cameras run from a little creditcard size (or smaller now) to fairly large SLR sized cameras, you need to put some of your boundaries on price, size, etc..

For good stillife (guns) photography, the little pocket cameras are a stretch at best and often leave you wanting for more. They lack the size of the optics and often the quality of optics(not always on that last point). The larger cameras have more glass (larger diameter lenses), permitting more light in and also dimensional abberations of the lens are less critical as the size increases.

The larger PnS cameras can rival the SLRs in terms of quality. These larger PnS cameras will often have more features and will do more than a higher priced SLR unless you have a pile of lenses.

Digital cameras come and go so fast these days that whatever you buy will be out of production shortly and superseded by something touted as better or having more features.

I have three digital cameras, a pocket size waterproof, a midsized PnS, and an SLR with a pile of lenses, external flash, etc. Frankly, just to post a closup picture of a feature on a gun, the 5 yr old PnS midsized camera is the go-to. It's much quicker to get it out and take a picture and get it on the bbs than the SLR. The little pocket camera just doesn't have the sharpness and is no easier or quicker.

I like the high end PnS Nikons, but some of the other makes look attractive too. Stay with a major brand you're comfortable with and you'll be in good shape. If you can find a camera show, you can handle a huge variety. Otherwise hit some camera stores and read some of the magazines for the latest greatest. With digital, most of us that purchased over a yr ago will only be able to tell you about a discontinued model.

I started a thread here a yr or so ago about flash techniques using a women's compact mirror and a PnS camera to get "bounce flash" pictures for soft lighting effect so sought after by most of the gun picture takers here. Here's a pic of the basic technique with the mirror and a white walled room, with an example from that technique and camera below it.





BTW, this pic is from my PnS with 'super macro' setting

Although I have become more adept with photography; I'm still having a problem loading them on this darn new-fangled computer. Anyone have any advice??
Jim

I've used a Fuji S700 for a lot of items on eBay. It's a cheaper camera (relatively speaking) that takes very nice pics. It's larger than the pocket size cameras, and I actually prefer something a little bigger just because it's easier to hold without getting a finger or thumb over the lens while trying to snap a pic.

We have a smaller Canon that has a sliding cover, you push the cover and the lens pops out, push the cover shut and the lens retracts. It takes good pics, but if you bump the sliding cover when it's open, even slightly, the lens pops back in and you have to start over. My wife and I both hate using it. The Fuji does a good job at any distance, even within a couple of inches, so it gets a thumbs up from me.

http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-D...9476&sr=8-4

Chuck,

Just a couple of observations:



The amount of light that gets transferred to the focal plane is dependent solely on the f-number of the lens: focal length divided by lens diameter. Smaller cameras have smaller sensors and can get by with smaller-sized optics and shorter focal length lenses.

In general, it's easier to make a small lens perform better since aberrations scale with size (height of the ray from the optical axis).

Nice job on the pictures and good idea on the indirect flash technique.

Bruce

I have a Casio 7500 and it amazes me with the photos it takes. (even of documents) Not an SLR but much cheaper. Also has a decent video option.

This image is from a Canon G9. In between the PnS and an SLR. It provides a macro and zoom feature. Of course I can't figure out how to post a picture and I read the instructions.

http://s359.photobucket.com/albums/oo40/KDGJ_photo/?action=view&current=s3eell1156_1.jpg