Camera general questions

[Furyhound]

I went through the thread \"Cameras\" and through Nanno\'s thread about cameras \"Looking for a new camera\".
I have a lot of general questions about what was said, and I must say that after so many people recommending specific things I was just more confused.
So here are my questions:

1 What are the obligatory functions that a camera for miniatures needs? I understand it needs macro, does that divide into more categories?

2 Is there another zoom besides an optical zoom and a digital zoom? (I know digital is BAD BAD BAD!)

3 How much is an SLR important? How much costly is it? Do any of you have proffesional photos without it?
What is a DSLR?
4 A few companies got critical comments, like \"Canon sucks\" Why is that? What is the reason for each company to get negative comments?

5 I don\'t want a million buttons and functions, and changing and modifying.
Are there VERY good cameras that do it automatically? Do you have proof in pictures if it does?

6 Is there a digital link to such qualified cameras so when I take a pic in my Super mega camera can I immediately transfer it to my computer or is that impossible?
Does it add a lot to the cost if such an option exists?

7 When people say they are pleased with the results, how much of that is from the convinience and how much from quality?

8 What other attributes and functions to a camera are there? Which ones are the most important?

Damn found more:

9 What is a docking station?

10 Expansion slot format?...

11 Is image stabilization good for mini shooting?

12 by imaging resource, panasonic Lumix DMZ FZ30 fits me, after it comes samsung pro815, although I didn\'t comprehend all the modifications and options there...


In general, I want something that won\'t pass a dollar beyond 1000 dollars.
I\'d prefer below but I don\'t want to settle for quality. You may have understood that I also don\'t want a complex. I\'m of course checking the references and links that were given in the above threads.

 

[dauber22]

Okay, I\'m no expert, but I\'ll answer at least some of your questions for you to the best of my ability. I\'m sure others will come along and fill in any missing answerss for you or correct any mistakes I may make.

1 What are the obligatory functions that a camera for miniatures needs? I understand it needs macro, does that divide into more categories?

Macro is the primary function you\'ll need. There are some cameras that have better macro functions than others, but I don\'t believe there are really any subcategories to it. Another nice function is either a remote shutter release or a timed-release shutter. It helps eliminate any camera shake you get from pushing the button.

2 Is there another zoom besides an optical zoom and a digital zoom? (I know digital is BAD BAD BAD!)

Nope. Optical & digital pretty much covers it. You\'re right. Beware of digital zoom. It\'s just the software pretending it\'s zooming in. Optical means that it\'s REALLY zooming in on the subject through the use of the lenses.

3 How much is an SLR important? How much costly is it? Do any of you have proffesional photos without it?
What is a DSLR?

Not necessarily all that important. I\'d be willing to bet that the overwhelmliong majority of the digital pictures you see here are NOT taken with an SLR.
DSLR is merely the designation given to distinguish Digital SLR\'s from the traditional film SLR\'s (Single Lens Reflex - kind of the film equivalent of WYSIWYG)

4 A few companies got critical comments, like \"Canon sucks\" Why is that? What is the reason for each company to get negative comments?

Most of that is merely personal opinion, kind of like the arguements between Ford & Chevy fanatics. That\'s why you frequently get such detailed descriptions of the problems such as \"Canon sucks\"

5 I don\'t want a million buttons and functions, and changing and modifying.
Are there VERY good cameras that do it automatically?

You would probably want to avoid DSLR\'s then. They are generally far and away more complicated than automatic ones, though most do have settings for automatic. DSLR\'s are much more flexible and can deliver better quality shots in a much wider range of situations (if you know how to use them). Basic picture quality though on some of the high-end point-and-shoots is pretty much equivalent. If the cameras primary use is to be for shooting minis, you\'re probably not going to meet up with the variety of situations that would require a DSLR.

6 Is there a digital link to such qualified cameras so when I take a pic in my Super mega camera can I immediately transfer it to my computer or is that impossible?

Many cameras come with this ability to hot link them directly to your PC - usually through some type of USB cable.

9 What is a docking station?

Docking stations are another way of transfering the data directly from your camera to your PC without having to remove memory cards or sticks or the like.

11 Is image stabilization good for mini shooting?

If you use a tripod and a remote shutter release (highly recommended) it\'s probably not that important.

Hope this helps. Happy shopping.

 

[monkeyboy30672]

VERY accurate!

A couple of follow-ups:

1: the ability to adjust the White Balance can be very helpful and save a lot of Photoshop work. This function basically can set the camera to compensate for the color of light being used (incandescent or fluorescent, for example) and make it seem more true.

3: The biggest difference in a digital camera and a digital SLR is that with the DSLR you can usually change lenses. Most digital cameras don\'t have removable lenses. But the DSLRs and the accompanying lenses are MUCH more expensive altogether.

That\'s about it! Dauber really did a good job explaining everything!

 

[Spacemunkie]

I\'ll tell you one thing. No camera from a major photographic manufacturer will \'suck\' these days - Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Konica Minolta, Olympus... They all produce good models.

I would still beware models from non-photographic manufacturers and consumer electronics companies. Main reason being poor lens quality and poor quality CCD.

TEST ANY PIECE OF KIT BEFORE YOU BUY IT!!!!!!

And remember that the numbers and stats MEAN VERY LITTLE! What\'s the point having a 16mp CCD if the pics are blurred or noisy?