What Camera do I want?

[Tim Boger]

I just purchased a 24" Light Tent to take pictures of my Woodturned Ornaments and Segmented pieces, my Samsung S3 Smart phone does OK but I think I can get better results with a camera.

I want to stay with "Point and Shoot" and WiFi would be terrific!

Anyone have recommendations for the Light Tent application?

Thanks,
Tim

[Mike Henderson]

I just bought a Samsung WB350F. (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-WB350F-16-3MP-Digital-Optical/dp/B00HV6KIDA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1414952305&sr=8-4&keywords=samsung+wb350f) It does everything I want. It has a few weak points but for what you want to do, they shouldn't matter. Of course, if you want to go high end, then a 35mm digital camera - Cannon or Nikon - is the way to go.

The cell phones have wide angle lenses on them which distorts the image when you have the camera too close to the subject. A camera with an optical zoom will give you better results. You can shoot from some distance away and get a good perspective image while filling the frame with the image.

Mike

[Tim Boger]

Hey Mike,

Thanks for your feedback, sure looks like what I have in mind.

Tim

[Sean Troy]

Check out the Nikon D3200. Good price and it will do everything your looking for.

[Tim Boger]

Hi Sean,

Thanks for sharing, the Nikon D3200 may be more camera that I need or can afford for the limited tasks I'll need it for.

Tim

[Tom M King]

A few years ago I bought a little Casio for taking golf swing videos. It's a point and shoot small camera. Casio came up with a way of overcoming the shutter lag with such cameras with software that makes the camera start buffering frames for a half second when you halfway depress the button. It keeps buffering, but only saves the last half second before you depress the shutter release, and then you can look about 30 shots over for the best one, if you like.

In the process of doing this, they easily added the function of high speed video. I bought it solely to take golf swings videos up to 1000fps, but it turns out it also takes pretty decent stills. We already had a DSLR, but this thing is so small that I keep it in the truck for when I need a camera at work. Probably half the photos on my website were taken with it.

I haven't kept up with what they offer now, but it's worth a look. I would bet that Casio will have some cheap tiny ones that take decent pictures.

[Matt Day]

I bought a Samsung nx1000 (essentially the same as the nx2000, and I see they have an nx3000 now) a year or so ago for around $250 or so when they were closing them out. It's a great Camera at a great price point. I read that it has almost the same quality as a DSLR but without the bulk, cost, and some functions. We use it as our "nice" camera for things like pictures of the kids, and there is a clear upgrade over the iphone.

[Tim Boger]

QUOTE=Matt Day;2328976]I bought a Samsung nx1000 (essentially the same as the nx2000, and I see they have an nx3000 now) a year or so ago for around $250 or so when they were closing them out. It's a great Camera at a great price point. I read that it has almost the same quality as a DSLR but without the bulk, cost, and some functions. We use it as our "nice" camera for things like pictures of the kids, and there is a clear upgrade over the iphone.[/QUOTE]

Hey Matt,

Samsung is a product the has earned it's keep in our home, several large TVs and my S3 phone have all done well ..... your recommendation is sure a nice camera, the Samsung that Mike suggested also looks good. Unfortunately cost has to be a deciding factor.

Tim

[Matt Day]

Agreed Tim, we like Samsung as well.
What's your budget?

[Tim Boger]

Agreed Tim, we like Samsung as well.
What's your budget?

Prior to doing any research I was thinking $200 max ...... not sure that has changed. I have to always remember that the "Bells and Whistles" are rarely utilized. At least in my case, I don't do complicated well.

Tim

[Tom Stenzel]

Hi Sean,

Thanks for sharing, the Nikon D3200 may be more camera that I need or can afford for the limited tasks I'll need it for.

Tim

My wife decided to get back into photography, bought a Nikon D3300. A few books and a class at the nearby community college later she's still scratching the surface of the camera's capabilities. Very nice camera though. I even took a picture with it but with everything set to automatic. That much even I figured out.

Me, I use a 10 year old Fuji Finepix a340 so my opinion is covered with dust, rust, pretty worthless.

-Tom

[Tim Boger]

My wife decided to get back into photography, bought a Nikon D3300. A few books and a class at the nearby community college later she's still scratching the surface of the camera's capabilities. Very nice camera though. I even took a picture with it but with everything set to automatic. That much even I figured out.

Me, I use a 10 year old Fuji Finepix a340 so my opinion is covered with dust, rust, pretty worthless.

-Tom

Tom, I give your wife credit for making it happen, I find the whole process of manual camera settings over my head.

Point and shoot is right up my alley.

Thanks for your opinion.

Tim

[John Huds0n]

I was just looking at the December issue of Consumer Reports - "Best Gear of the Year"

Under their 'budget' category - they recommend the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS which is around $300
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SX700-Digital-Camera/dp/B00I58M26Y

They have an 'also consider' listing the Nikon Coolpix S9700, also at $300
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-NIKKOR/dp/B00IA9LVOC

And the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V at $350
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSC-HX50V-20-4MP-Digital-Camera/dp/B00CDIK48U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414986324&sr=1-1&keywords=Sony+Cyber-shot+DSC-HX50V


A good site I also use when looking for cameras is
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best-cameras.html#entry

[Tim Boger]

I was just looking at the December issue of Consumer Reports - "Best Gear of the Year"

Under their 'budget' category - they recommend the Canon PowerShot SX700 HS which is around $300
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-SX700-Digital-Camera/dp/B00I58M26Y

They have an 'also consider' listing the Nikon Coolpix S9700, also at $300
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-NIKKOR/dp/B00IA9LVOC

And the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V at $350
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSC-HX50V-20-4MP-Digital-Camera/dp/B00CDIK48U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1414986324&sr=1-1&keywords=Sony+Cyber-shot+DSC-HX50V


A good site I also use when looking for cameras is
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best-cameras.html#entry

Morning John,

A wealth of great information, I really appreciate your input.

Tim

[Jim Matthews]

http://www.stwt.org/The%20Phrugal%20Photo%20Studio.pdf

"The most important thing to becoming a successful woodworker? Take great photographs."
- Gary Knox Bennett

[Jerome Stanek]

one from a company that specializes in cameras IE Nikon, Pentex, Canon or Mintolta

[Malcolm Schweizer]

You will get many replies because there are many good cameras out there today. My recommendation is that you consider the micro four thirds format. This format uses a sensor slightly smaller than a Nikon D90, but gets amazing shots and has interchangeable lenses. The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX1 has Leica lenses available if you really want to go high quality, but the Lumix lenses are well respected at a lower price. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcgx1

I bought it as a travel camera after lugging the huge Nikon across Spain and Peru. I travel a lot and I like to carry on all my stuff because checked luggage is a hassle. I needed a smaller camera with big capabilities. I fell in love with the Lumix. The Nikon now sits there collecting dust. I get comparable image quality to my D80 with half or less the size and weight. I bought a Leica lens for the quality shots I wanted and low light photography, and use the stock lens most of the time.

Another Micro four thirds option is Olympus. The micro four thirds lenses are standardized so you can switch between brands. I liked the image stabilizing of the LUMIX, and also had great results with their compact point and shoot cameras. I also am a huge fan of Leica, and the fact that I could get Leica glass was probably the biggest selling point.

[Matt Day]

Guys - remember his budget is $200, so suggesting $300-600 cameras doesn't help.

Tim,, I see there's a used nx1000 on ebay for $200 shipped, buy it now. If you're firm in your budget, I think you'll need to look at options like this, or the simple little point and shoots.

[DOUG ANGEL]

Tim, when I worked at Boeing as a QA tech we used a Cannon sure shot for clarifying engineering problems. It has a bright clear picture, nice zoom, can get into very tight places, and is almost foolproof.
All pictures used on the engineering problems (Non conformance report, for you aircraft types) stay in the aircraft's records for the life of the aircraft. Camera can be found on Amazon, Best Buy, Wall Mart etc. Well within your budget. Personally I have an old Kodac EasyShare Z1275, works fine.

[Tim Boger]

http://www.stwt.org/The%20Phrugal%20Photo%20Studio.pdf

"The most important thing to becoming a successful woodworker? Take great photographs."
- Gary Knox Bennett

Excellent information Jim, I'll make good use of it.

Thank you,
Tim Boger