A nice thing to be able to do is adjust the area that is in focus. Some cameras have a feature that lets you do this by first focusing on the two extremes. The other way is to be able to adjust the the "f stop" setting. To cover a large area you set the f stop number higher, like to f-12. At any rate it is called "depth of field".

Then of course you will need a tripod to hold the camera and flood lights to get enough light since the f stop is so high. (this part is suppose to be humorous but my laughing face is not showing up)

I think I got all that right

John

John-- please read Bill Plunk's response detailing the features you should seek in a camera. I have a Cannon which takes great shot, but when I tried to use it to post a review on the LVT 2 by Italeria, the photos were dark and it took several tries to get them to show correctly. The point of this discussion topic is to ascertain what folks are using for their shots and let you determine what best suits your needs. It is an impressive list which I am also getting prices together to display. Keep beating the bushes for responses, the more people who join in the better the end product.
thanks
DJ

I second the Canon and Nikon choices. I use an older Canon Powershot A95 5.2 MP, which I know has been superceded by newer models. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a95.asp Things I like - standard AA batteries - good NMh rechargables seem to last a long time. CF cards are pretty cheap 2 GB holds a lot of photos! Good macro function, and I can manually choose settings for my model photography and save them on the 'Custom' setting. I also like the adjustable LCD screen, it's great for holding up high over an engine deck or up under a fender - you can see what you're shooting. My articles for MMI were shot using this camera, so it's plenty good for print and internet pics. Nikon Coolpix are good too. No need to get hung up on pixel size, 5-8 is a good range.

Cheers,
Jim

I use either a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 or a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8.

I have a nikon d100.

I don't think I could ever use a point and shoot after shooting with a dslr.

Keep in mind though, I shoot weddings and college sports, so it's kinda a no brainer for me.

Its a canon es400d(REBEL XTI) 10MP for me

Started in 2002 with the cannon ES1000N and found it a great SLR .

Come with a twin lense kit and just recently upgraded the body to the DSLR

Dpreview.com is a must to review what camera will suit your needs.
I found this web page had pretty good info on the specs and image profile of a camera you want to buy.

The best thing with the Canon range is that it relates better with software programs like photoshop .
I'm referring to the RGB balance in these programes .

Cheers

Folks-- keep those responses coming! We are putting together a great reference list for your use.
thanks again
DJ

This is a great topic as I don't have a digital camera and really would like to get one.Someday I'd like to post some pics on the site if I get a camera and the courage to post. Thank's guys Bob

I've just bought a Canon PowerShot G9. It's a 12 Mega Pixel point and shoot with a lot of manual functions and settings you would normally only find on a DSLR. (manual shutter and aperture etc.)

It can shoot RAW and has a 6x optical zoom and 1-50cm macro. It can also be fitted with an optional macro or zoom extender, and flash.

Sony F 717 one of my fav's

Sony DSC-H2. I would like to have gotten the H7, but..... it was more $$$.

Great camera, easy to use, has built in Macro, and 6 MP. I did get one accessory set from a seller on eBay - a set of Macro lenses (+1, +2, +4, and +10). These screw on the "hood" and the +10 is really, really, nice. Inexpensive and they're made for a lot of the cameras out there. Worth a look folks.

Mike

Folks--Survey being compiled should have the results by the end of the day.
Thanks again
DJ

Here are the results of the survey, we conducted. I noted several entires as a lead in and then arranged the type cameras in alphabetical order. The price ranges shown are what I could find on the internet. If you see anything a miss, please let me know.
Thanks again
DJ

1. A digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that uses an automatic mirror system and pentaprism or pentamirror to direct light from the lens through the viewfinder eyepiece.

2. The only thing I'd caution against is factoring in the "digital zoom" into your buying decision. It's not an actual optical zoom but is done instead electronically and this tends to produce a grainier and/or blurred result when used, especially for small scale subjects.

The real advantage that you want to check out in the various models you look for is the Macro setting and how far away the focus length needs to be for the Macro to work properly. Most point-and-shoot cameras have a minimum distance away from the lens that has to be maintained for it to be able to focus and it will vary from camera to camera. This usually is expressed as a number next to the Macro/Flower icon and will be 1.2 ft or 0.2 meters, etc. depending on the make/model.
Bill Plunk

3. Last summer I bought a canon A570IS with 4x optical zoom, image stabilizer and 7.1 Mp. I’ve never been so disappointed in a camera yet. I needed to take 20 images to get 4 or 5 decent images. Funnily enough this camera has gotten "best in test" reviews and is tipped often, but for modeling and macro work, (maybe it was just me?) I just couldn’t like it.
I bought another camera since from a guy at work as he said it was too bulky for his liking. Its a Fuji Finepix S6500fd, with 10x optical zoom, 6.3 Mp and images can be taken in RAW format. My faith in cameras has been restored immediately. I love this camera. Great for models, scenery outdoor in the sun, or in museums with very poor light sources. For a camera with so many options and functions, its relatively easy to use and 20/20 images can be used!!

Frank Glackin


Canon Rebel XTi DSLR with a EF-S 60mm Macro lens $549- 639
Bill Plunk

Canon A530 $72.95-199.75
Pat McGrath

Canon Ixus 200 about 7 years old (Could Not Find)
John Farnham

Cannon Power Shot S2IS $200
KoSprueOne

Canon A570IS with 4x optical zoom, image stabilizer and 7.1 Mp $139-229

Canon Powershot A520 $109
JP

Cannon 350D $499-599
NEIL

Canon Powershot A95 5.2 MP $129
Jim Carswell

Canon es400d(REBEL XTI) 10MP $549-639
Michael Walsh

Canon PowerShot G9 $419
Martin Payne

Fuji S2pro $1799-479
John Farnham

Fuji Finepix S6500fd, with 10x optical zoom, 6.3 Mp $417
Frank Glackin

Fuji S5000, $349
Henk Meerdink
Andy Brazier

Nikon Coolpix 200 $19.56 (I think this is only the body frame)
Nikon D2X slr's with Nikkor lenses $1466-2159.
John Farnham

Nikon D80 DSLR $349
Emre Efli

Nikon D50 DSLR with a 18-55mm lens and a 55-200mm zoom lens $409-989
Petros

Nikon d100 $389
wreeper007

Olympus C760 $179
Sean Langley

Panasonic DMC FZ 30 $606
Miloslav Hraban

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 $209
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 $215-338
Dave O'Meara


Samsumg Digimax S800 $82-239
Pablo Javier Delsoglio

Sony F 717 $913
Kelly snedeker

Sony DSC-H2 $239-499
Mike High

I have a Casio Exilim EXZ750 7.2MP - it's rechargeable with excellent battery life so no need to continue to buy batteries, uses regular SD cards (they're cheap and easy to find). And it takes amazing pics. It's got a Best Shot feature which has 30 different pre-programmed photo-mode settings (portrait, collection, scenery, scenery with portrait, candlelight portrait, party, pet, flower, children, sports, text, whiteboard, water, splashing water, and on and on) a number of these are specialized macro settings - I stick with flower or collection for model photos. You can even create your own particular setting saved in the best shot feature (using the best shot feature is optional as well). When my wife and I were in the market for a different camera and read good reviews but noticed the "casio" name we thought it might not be so great - thinking more of cheap wrist watches and electric pianos but the camera really is amazing and I wouldn't trade it.

But when it comes to cameras it depends what you are looking for. I'm sure there are lots of pro-grade $700 to $1000+ cameras that are better. But for around $250 you can't beat it. Here is the model with 4 stars out of 5 stars from 90 reviews on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Exilim-EXZ750-Digital-Optical/dp/B0007KQWDC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1216049923&sr=1-4

Note: If you check the negative reviews from that list they are mostly like "buttons are small or my pictures came out blurry" which seem to me to be the result of user error as this camera has lots of features and if you don't spend some time getting to know it, it could cause some confusion for you.

*woops my previous link to amazon wasn't the right model (I linked you to a lower-end model) it's now correct.

Phil-- thanks for you input.
DJ