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  • #1

    Starting to take pictures...

    So, I'm a beginner at all of this "fish documentation" stuff...
    I've taken a few shots with my digital camera but they never seem to come out extremely clear like some of your pictures do.

    So, please...before the Christmas rush, whats a good camera to buy?
    Price range is negotiable and not extremely relevant...but I'd prefer not to spend a grand for a camera. I'd rather put that money into a new CAKadise.

    Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.
    Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
    Alexa Rae
    Co-President of CAK
    MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.
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  • #2
    Re: Starting to take pictures...

    We have a Nikon D40x and love it.  However, the Canon people will say there is no better camera than a Canon, so it's going to come down to what you want.  
    Our Fishhouse
    Sleep: A completely inadequate substitute for caffeine.

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    • #3
      Re: Starting to take pictures...

      Is it easy to use? I've seen your pictures and they're always really beautiful.
      Armthehomeless also looks like he has a good camera.
      Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
      Alexa Rae
      Co-President of CAK
      MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Starting to take pictures...

        Armthehomeless also has a Nikon D40x.  

        It is ridiculously easy to use.  The beauty of it is that you can just pick it up and start taking pictures, or you can dig into all the options and fine tune things.  Either way, you get great shots.
        Our Fishhouse
        Sleep: A completely inadequate substitute for caffeine.

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        • #5
          Re: Starting to take pictures...

          Gracias Girlgeek....you should be a saleswoman.  
          Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
          Alexa Rae
          Co-President of CAK
          MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Starting to take pictures...

            She was the one that convinced me to get mine. I love it
            Scarecrow : I haven't got a brain... only straw.
            Dorothy : How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
            Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking... don't they?
            Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.

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            • #7
              Re: Starting to take pictures...

              De Nada Alexarae.  :)
              Our Fishhouse
              Sleep: A completely inadequate substitute for caffeine.

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              • #8
                Re: Starting to take pictures...

                The key things to look for is Digital SLR, 10+ megapixels and Autofocus (since the fish don't always like to stand still).  I researched cameras for about 8 months before deciding to surprise girlgeek with the Nikon D40x. The clincher was playing with an FBI issue D300 (much more expensive) and it was amazing. Nikor makes the Nikon lenses and they are supposed to be the best optics. There are tons of lenses available but be careful, they're like crack :)

                I would recommend Houston Camera Exchange. There is a guy there named Charles (yes, another Charles) and he used to work at the zoo. Good source of information on nature photography. They also have an aquarium there to try test shots with different lenses and lighting. AND... they price match :)

                Hope this helps
                All men are created equal but his choices determine his value and what's in his heart determines his worth.

                "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"

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                • #9
                  Re: Starting to take pictures...

                  Thanks guy geek...i looked online and they seem to run around $400-$500 which is a good price.  
                  Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
                  Alexa Rae
                  Co-President of CAK
                  MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Starting to take pictures...

                    Alexa, check this thread.
                    Experiencing an aquatic renaissance!

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                    • #11
                      Re: Starting to take pictures...

                      ohhh...excellent thread.
                      Why thank you Jeebus.  
                      Help support (C)atfish (A)nd (K)ool Pleco's; Houston's premier fish club
                      Alexa Rae
                      Co-President of CAK
                      MAY THE GOD OF YOUR CHOICE BLESS YOU.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Starting to take pictures...

                        what kind of lense(s) do you use geeks?
                        25g - Reef
                        3.5g - Surge Tank
                        10g - Ichthyophthirius multifilis breeding colony

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                        • #13
                          Re: Starting to take pictures...

                          Like the geeks have said and I have said in the past.

                          Canon vs Nikon..  hard choice.  I am personally a fan of the Canon.  Lenses are what you will invest your money in over time.
                          Either camera will make you take great pictures and both camera's have excellent "auto" features.

                          My choice would be the Canon Rebel XSi

                          Thanks
                          Jesper

                          Edited because I noticed I missed a letter in my naming of the camera and its a camera that exists too.   The camera I meant to put down was the Canon Rebel XSi.

                          What fish do Jesper have
                          180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
                          110                           Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
                          58 S. Decorus
                          "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

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                          • #14
                            Re: Starting to take pictures...

                            Originally posted by cichlid1409";p="
                            what kind of lense(s) do you use geeks?
                            We've purchased 5 lenses so far.

                            I really like the macro lens for close up nature pics.
                            We got a wide angle lens but we decided not to keep it. It was good for full tank shots.
                            The standard lens gets lots of use.
                            The med range telephoto lens gets a lot of use from the couch and chair. It's nice to sit back and let the fish do their thing and get pics that look like we are right at the tank glass.
                            Now... armthehomeless turned us on to a short range vibration reducing sort range telephoto lens. This lens is great.

                            All in all, lenses are really about personal preference. Do you want to be close, further away, wider shots, etc...

                            girlgeek can chime in since she is the photographer. I just do the research and surprise her with the results.

                            If you want the details just let us know.
                            All men are created equal but his choices determine his value and what's in his heart determines his worth.

                            "Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end"

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                            • #15
                              Re: Starting to take pictures...

                              I don't post on here much anymore, but I had to give my Canon a plug.  

                              My husband surprised me with a Canon Powershot G9 for Christmas last year and I love it! Admittedly, he can take better pics of my fish than I can with it because he likes to fiddle with all the different settings, and I'm too busy with the fish to have any patience with learning how to use a camera...   But it takes really awesome point and shoot pics too, so I get really good pictures without all the fiddling. My favorite feature is the 'aquarium' setting. It works really well for taking pics of my fish. (And the underwater feature works really well too if you get the case. So far it's only been used in the pool, I'm assuming the fish wouldn't like it too much. )

                              Ellen

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