ICEINSPACE
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waxing Gibbous 77.8%
|
|
29-09-2006, 02:24 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,738
|
|
Advise on Camera purchase
I'm looking to spend around $400 on a half decent camera. One that is suitable for snap shots as well as being used for a little astrophotography.
Reccomendations and "Don't buy This One" sort of advise is what I'm looking for.
Thanks in advance.
|
29-09-2006, 02:39 PM
|
|
~Dust bunny breeder~
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
|
|
for asrophotography i guess you are really looking at a DSLR of some sort, but they dont fit the $$$. you could go for a film SLR tho... they can be picked up pretty cheap these days.
if you want to just take happy snaps i can recommend a nikon coolpix p2
|
29-09-2006, 02:44 PM
|
|
Sir Post a Lot!
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,763
|
|
It will be tough for that price, but you could try a Sony DSCP100 or one of it's brothers.
I had one before I got my DSLR, and used it for terrestrial and astrophotography. Most of the shots I took with it are in my gallery, but you'd have to go back to the beginning as the recent shots are with the webcam.
It can do 30s exposures for good milkyway shots, and has enough manual controls to use afocally.
The P100 is 5mp, there's a 7mp version out now too but might be a bit more ($600-$700).
|
29-09-2006, 02:47 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,738
|
|
I've done a little bit of research on this, but can you really believe what the manufactures say about their product?
I did the rounds of the electronics and camera stores, then went to Cash Converters but they charged the same price 2nd hand as when the camera was new.
|
29-09-2006, 03:14 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEWCASTLE NSW Australia
Posts: 33,177
|
|
you thought of getting a second hand Canon 300D DSLR for around $500, might be lucky from ebay
|
29-09-2006, 03:59 PM
|
|
Whats visual Astronomy
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 5,062
|
|
I would say look for a second hand 300D DSLR like Houghy has mentioned.
|
29-09-2006, 04:37 PM
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toowoomba
Posts: 364
|
|
Can't go wrong with a Canon DSLR. A used 300D would be my favourite, even if you have to save up a bit more cash.
Regards,
Mike
|
01-10-2006, 08:14 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 9,019
|
|
I'm with the others, go for the second hand 300D or 350D DSLR, even if you have to pay a few extra dollars. A compact camera will ultimately be disappointing when it comes to astro use. A collegue at work bought a high end compact for a trip away, then after trying it immediately bought a DSLR.
|
01-10-2006, 08:41 AM
|
|
Sir Post a Lot!
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,763
|
|
Don't forget the extra costs - compact flash (or other media) cards, extra battery, remote timer, and if you're getting a DSLR, lenses as well.
The second hand 300/350D's probably don't come with lenses. They may come with the stock lenses, which will be suitable to start with (they're still suitable for me )
|
01-10-2006, 10:09 AM
|
Dazzled by the Cosmos.
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 11,724
|
|
Don't forget the "slip it in your pocket or purse" portability factor too! A smaller camera tends to get taken out more that a more bulky camera with interchangeable lenses.
Cheers
Dennis
|
02-10-2006, 01:55 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEWCASTLE NSW Australia
Posts: 33,177
|
|
|
02-10-2006, 02:10 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEWCASTLE NSW Australia
Posts: 33,177
|
|
|
02-10-2006, 03:58 PM
|
|
avandonk
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,786
|
|
The real problem jjjnettie with point and shoot is they have small sensors and very small size pixels on the sensor. The more megapixels the smaller the physical pixel size. The upshot of it all is that a point and shoot has as much noise at 100 ISO as a Canon DSLR has at 1600 ISO. By all means get a P/S for happy snaps but it will be close to useless for anything but the bright astro objects.
In fact anything more than about two to four megapixels is a waste of time and money in a point and shoot as the noise gets to quite noticeable (intolerable) levels when shooting on lower light levels.
I guarantee that a older Canon Ixus with two megapixels (or similar) would leave the current 6 to 10 MP P/S cameras for dead as far as signal to noise is concerned. It is all marketing hype.
The situation is a bit better if the sensor in the P/S is larger.
Bert
|
02-10-2006, 05:43 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,738
|
|
I've got the lenses from the Canon EOS 50, a 28-80mm and a 75-300mm. I can't remember what size lens I've got on the EOS 5000, but I think it is different from the above.
I take it that they will still fit the newer cameras.
|
02-10-2006, 06:01 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sale, VIC
Posts: 6,033
|
|
That explains a lot, Bert. Thanks for the info.
|
02-10-2006, 06:48 PM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Launceston Tasmania
Posts: 9,019
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jjjnettie
I take it that they will still fit the newer cameras
|
If it's an EF lens it will fit an EOS digital. Some of the newer 2/3 format digital lenses (e.g. 18-55) will not however fit film or full frame DSLR's due to the rear elements protuding further in to the camera body. FWIW I've taken more photos in the past 18 months with my 20D than I took over the past 8 years with my Kodak compact digital.
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT +10. The time is now 05:13 PM.
|
|