[CR]Recommendations on digital cameras

Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 08:30:54 -0800 (PST)
From: Raymond Dobbins <raydobbins2003@yahoo.com>
To: rauler83@yahoo.com, bici_pimp@mac.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <20060324195228.78809.qmail@web53113.mail.yahoo.com>
Subject: [CR]Recommendations on digital cameras

My thanks to Mark and Ben for their compliments. They are right when they say that you don't need an expensive digital camera to get good results. There are several factors which are just as important, if not more so, than your choice of camera.

With regard to type of lighting, indirect natural light is ideal, but it's not always available when you are, so it's good to have a fallback source. Whether it be tungsten or fluorescent, make sure you use only one (i.e., don't mix tungsten and fluorescent), and select the correct "white balance" setting in your camera. Even budget digital cameras have a white balance feature. This will avoid getting blue, green or yellow tint in your pix.

If you are in the market for a digtal camera, another feature (besides white balance) you should look for is "exposure compensation" (or "exposure bracketing"). This nifty feature is what allows you to take decent pix in low light situations. Most digital cameras, even entry level, should have this feature (it usually has a +/- symbol associated with it). By going from the default 0 (zero) to a +1, you will find that your pix will come out much brighter - bright enough to take great shots indoors with just average lighting.

Next get the most powerful OPTICAL zoom lens you can afford (disregard the digital zoom, it's crap). I'd say 4x is the minimum you should get. There are cameras for around $300 that have 8x or even 10x optical zoom. This will help you get in tight for good closeups without taking the camera off the tripod (yes, do use a tripod always).

I have a page on my site with photos of my garage setup which may help some more. http://www.raydobbins.com. Look for the "my setup" link. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

Ray Dobbins Miami Florida

Mark Poore <rauler83@yahoo.com> wrote: This topic came up in the past and one of the best photographers on the list has a webpage that details his setup. http://www.raydobbins.com/garagesetup.htm One look at his photos is all it takes to understand you don't have to spend a fortune on a camera to get great photos. Although I do have a setup in my basement to shoot my bikes and have done alright it doesn't come near as close to Ray's quailty photos. If shooting outdoors remember that an overcast day is better for shooting as you don't get the bright reflection of the sun. Also, avoid direct flash indoors. Even with a built in flash you can hold a index card just under the flash with it raised in the front just a bit and bounce the flash off the ceiling and get defused lighting that won't washout your shots. You might have seen photographers in a news conference with their flashes pointed up with a index cards attached by a rubber band and the card with a slight bend in it. I used to shoot a lot and used this technique with great success. Another thing to remember is that digital shots don't cost anything so if it doesn't meet your approval delete it.

Mark Poore Slatyfork, WV

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