Another spec me a camera thread. Digital P&S for products?

[MalfordOfLondon]

OK I know there are a million threads out there like this one but thought I'd ask for some help as I've got a fairly rigid budget and requirement for the camera.

After about 4 years - my Fuji Finepix S9600 has finally given up the ghost.

I need to get a new digital camera to replace it. This is only going to be used for eBay and my store.

A little bit about what kind of photos I'm after

I sell mainly clothing and also accessories. I need to be able to take a nice photo of a half manequin but also macro shots of things like ties / shoes and cufflinks.

A little bit about my setup

I take most of the photos of clothing in a conservatory. The light levels are very high so that's not too much of a worry.

I also have one of those light box tent things with 3 bright spotlights. I use this for ties and small accessories.

Budget

I don't really want to spend much more than say £500 but am slightly flexible either way.

My experience

I've never used a D-SLR and not sure if that budget would cover one. Also - not sure if I'd need different lenses for both the close up work and the distant shots of clothing?


Sorry if all this info is a bit over the top but hopefully it will help get me some much needed advice.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mrjames]

Originally Posted by MalfordOfLondon

OK I know there are a million threads out there like this one but thought I'd ask for some help as I've got a fairly rigid budget and requirement for the camera.

After about 4 years - my Fuji Finepix S9600 has finally given up the ghost.

I need to get a new digital camera to replace it. This is only going to be used for eBay and my store.

A little bit about what kind of photos I'm after

I sell mainly clothing and also accessories. I need to be able to take a nice photo of a half manequin but also macro shots of things like ties / shoes and cufflinks.

A little bit about my setup

I take most of the photos of clothing in a conservatory. The light levels are very high so that's not too much of a worry.

I also have one of those light box tent things with 3 bright spotlights. I use this for ties and small accessories.

Budget

I don't really want to spend much more than say £500 but am slightly flexible either way.

My experience

I've never used a D-SLR and not sure if that budget would cover one. Also - not sure if I'd need different lenses for both the close up work and the distant shots of clothing?


Sorry if all this info is a bit over the top but hopefully it will help get me some much needed advice.

Thanks in advance!


i'm guessing these pictures will just be for the web and not for large scale print?


It really depends on whether you need something that just replicates the camera you have now, or if you want something more.

I have no real experience with compact camera's so I can't offer much specific advice about what model to get, but if anyone else posts a link i'll give my 2c about what I think of it.

If the light levels are good then you won't need an SLR (which is the main difference in quality between a compact and an SLR, that and the ability to change lenses)

But if you have a desire to expand your photography, for example if you wish to use potable battery powered flashguns rather than the lights you have (which I guess are mains powered and hence not too portable) then SLR's are cheap enough to not be prohibitive. I'd fully recommend the canon 550d which will be just over budget but will come with a zoom lens which would probably be enough if the lighting is good, and it has 18mp so you can crop in fairly close to get shots of smaller objects. If you need to get in closer then the canon 50mm macro is cheap, sharp and good in low light.

 

[Reevolving]

Just get the same thing again http://photography.shop.ebay.com/Dig...=p3286.c0.m283

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

Originally Posted by Reevolving

Just get the same thing again

http://photography.shop.ebay.com/Dig...=p3286.c0.m283

The finepix fell a bit short on colour reproduction to be honest. I'm looking for something a bit better.

 

[aizan]

ricoh gx200, no contest. it's the only p&s that has good macro on the long end. at 70mm equiv., it's a little short of the standard 100mm, but it's close enough and can focus down to 4cm. throw in raw (DNG to boot) and great controls and it's a spiffy little camera.

on the other hand, if you want a larger sensor, you can't go wrong with a canon rebel and the 60mm ef-s macro.

 

[venessian]

Originally Posted by aizan

ricoh gx200, no contest.

The GX200 is really an amazing camera, often compared to the Canon S95; Lumix LX-5; Samsung TL500. The GX200performs as well as those cameras, but is very under-rated in some parts of the world. However, it is still a compact camera, although not really pocketable, in that annoying niche between pocketable and more traditional sizes. Also, the GX200 seems difficult to find these days. If one can be found, it is a great camera.

Since the OP used the Fuji Finepix S9600, another suggestion, more along the size/style of that camera, is the Canon G12 or G11, really excellent all-around cameras. Smaller than a DSLR, and with no interchangeable lenses, but absolutely perfect for the OP's intended use.

 

[aizan]

i couldn't find official specs (they only report 1cm at the wide end), but the g12 apparently has a minimum focus of about 12 inches at the long end. not bad compared to the g11, which only goes to around 20 inches. could be a good alternative.

edit: at the long end, the g12 can fill the frame with an object 5cm wide. the gx200 can fill the frame with an object 1cm wide. could make a difference for the cufflinks.

 

[venessian]

Originally Posted by aizan

i couldn't find official specs (they only report 1cm at the wide end), but the g12 apparently has a minimum focus of about 12 inches at the long end. not bad compared to the g11, which only goes to around 20 inches. could be a good alternative.

I believe the G11 and G12 use the same lens:
• 28-140mm (35mm equiv)
• f = 6.1 - 30.5 mm
• 5x optical zoom
• F2.8-4.5
• Construction: 11 elements in 9 groups (1 double-sided aspherical element)

Macro focusing = 0.4 in. (1 cm.) Wide and 12 in. (30 cm.) Tele.


Canon G12/G11:
Focal Length:
6.1 (W) - 30.5 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 28 (W) - 140 (T) mm)

Focusing Range:
Normal AF: 2.0 in./5cm - infinity (W), 12 in./30cm - infinity (T);
Macro AF: 0.4 in. - 1.6 ft./1 - 50cm (W), 12 in. - 1.6 ft./30 - 50cm (T)
Manual Focus: 0.4 in./1cm. - infinity (W), 12 in./30cm - infinity (T)


Both are superb cameras. The differences between the 2, given the op's intentions, are pretty minor.

This is a good review comparing the G12, G11, and S95.

 

[aizan]

can you link the g11 specs? when i plug in those focusing range strings, only the g12 comes up. people in macro photo forums say the g12 focuses closer, too.

 

[venessian]

Originally Posted by aizan

can you link the g11 specs? when i plug in those focusing range strings, only the g12 comes up. people in macro photo forums say the g12 focuses closer, too.

Sure.

Canon G12 dpreview (As posted above.)

Canon G11 dpreview

On the Wide side, both the the G11 and G12 focus to 0.4 in. (1 cm.) in macro mode (also indicated on the Canon site specifications).

On the Tele side, since both cameras use the same lens I assume they focus to the same distance (12 in. (30 cm.)).

In any case, I don't feel that the Tele macro focusing range is so important, given that the OP seems to employ flat backgrounds.


From dpreview:

Canon G11:
Lens "¢ 28-140mm (35mm equiv)
"¢ f = 6.1 - 30.5 mm
"¢ 5x optical zoom
"¢ F2.8-4.5
"¢ Construction: 11 elements in 9 groups (1 double-sided aspherical element)

Image stabilization: Yes (Lens-Shift)

Focus distance: Closest focus distance 1 cm


Canon G12:
Lens "¢ 28-140mm (35mm equiv)
"¢ f = 6.1 - 30.5 mm
"¢ 5x optical zoom
"¢ F2.8-4.5
"¢ Construction: 11 elements in 9 groups (1 double-sided aspherical element)

Image stabilization: Yes (Lens-Shift), 4-stop, + Hybrid IS*

Focus distance: Closest focus distance 1 cm

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

Thanks all for the advice!

I think I might go for the G12. Both the Ricoh and Canon look great but the swivel viewfinder really helps out when taking top shots of suits and also when I'm in tight spaces in the light tent!

Best deal I could find at a store was £399. (Jacobs W1)

Thanks again,

Stephen

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

For another £200 I can get this kit - would this be OK for Macros and 2 metre manequin shots? http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...7763/show.html Or maybe the Nikon D90 with packaged lens: http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/showp...-f35-56g-ed-vr

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by MalfordOfLondon

For another £200 I can get this kit - would this be OK for Macros and 2 metre manequin shots?

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/...7763/show.html

No problem with 2 metre shots.

I'm guessing you don't mean true macro's, just close ups?

You'll be able to pretty much fill the frame with the face of a wristwatch, and can always crop in closer for web publication.

Not a bad camera or kit.

Alternatively, if you're after an SLR this is even cheaper and will do just as good a job:

http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/nikon-d...85659-pdt.html

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

Originally Posted by ManofKent

No problem with 2 metre shots.

I'm guessing you don't mean true macro's, just close ups?

You'll be able to pretty much fill the frame with the face of a wristwatch, and can always crop in closer for web publication.

Not a bad camera or kit.

Alternatively, if you're after an SLR this is even cheaper and will do just as good a job:

http://www.dixons.co.uk/gbuk/nikon-d...85659-pdt.html

Thanks MOK. That deal looks pretty sweet. I think it might be time to move up to a D-SLR.

What about that other deal I posted - the D90 with packaged lens?

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by MalfordOfLondon

Thanks MOK. That deal looks pretty sweet. I think it might be time to move up to a D-SLR.

What about that other deal I posted - the D90 with packaged lens?

The D90 deal is pretty good and it's a nice camera - I suspect it's probably due to be replaced within the next year.

The main advantages of the D90 over the D3100 are slightly tougher build quality which allows for better handling and easier access to controls. It will also take older AF lends that don't have a built in motor.

Image quality wise there's next to nothing between them. The D3100 has a newer sensor and a few more pixels, but 12mp are plenty.

The packaged lens is the same on both kits and whilst it's not the most solidly built lens in the world it gives decent image quality for the price.

Personally unless you're a photography enthusiast I'd go for the cheaper D3100, and if you're a photography enthusiast I'd save up and get a D300 or better.