Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

how to take close-ups and what parts of the plants to get photos of for ID.

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rfgpitt
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RE: Camera Focus

Post by rfgpitt »

I'll be interested in seeing what (if any) features people have/use that my HP camera doesn't have and that makes life easier. (need people to brag about there toys)
Rick
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RE: Camera Focus

Post by David »

Hi Rick,
I think this is going to be a great forum. Maybe you could start a thread called 'Camera features that make bamboo photography easier' or maybe 'What's your camera got that mine dosen't have. (Bragging allowed)'
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by Thuja »

I recently got a macro filter attachment for my camera. My camera already has a macro mode but this additional lens allows me to be further away from the subject. Also I think you get less distortion than you typically see when your lens is only within an inch or two away from the subject. The downside is you need to hold the camera very still, use the timer, or use image stabilization.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by David »

As you have pointed out previously a tripod is a necessary. I bought a little Kodak 19.99 WalMart special. It's very light, cheap, and works very nicely. I have a better tripod but it's to heavy to carry around comfortably.

I also need to get a macro lens extender, my lens shadow keeps showing up on the subject.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by Cactus Joe »

Lenses, and other tech details apart, it's the flip and rotate screen on my Canon G2 that has made a world of difference in any gardening photography. It allows me to take pictures low down to the ground without having to press my nose into the mushroom manure. It also works great for "worm's eye view" shots. And, with the camera on a tripod and either the remote control or with a timer, I can reach up high without using a ladder.

We have a newer Canon digital SLR and a couple of later generation Sony point and shoot cameras. But when it comes to the grunt work in garden photography, my preferred camera is still the G2, in spite of it's age. I must say that I am very impressed with the Canon EOS digital, though. I tend to use it for "set up" shots.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by boonut »

I use an Olympus 8080 for taking closeup photos. It is an 8MP camera. It has some nice features like zooming in on the pixels in the viewfinder to ensure clear focus.

It also goes down to 50 ASA on digital film. Nice resolution.

Hope this helps.

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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by Roy »

Posted earlier in another thread at Bambooweb.info forum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

This is what I use: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F707

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/F707/F7A.HTM

I bought it about 3 years ago. Sony doesn't make that model any more. It's been replaced by a 10.3 megapixel for about the same price.

I was always a SLR man with interchangeable lenses, but when I bought the Sony, I haven't touched my Nikon SLR in 3 years. I would have bought a digital SLR, with interchangeable lenses, when I bought the Sony, but the few that were available at that time were for professionals and very expensive.

The one thing I miss on my Sony, that I had on my Nikon, is what I call "pin point" focusing. Which means you can focus on a very small area and that area will be in focus and not something in the background. The new 10.3 megapixel Sony has the pin point focusing.

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/ ... x650/D.jpg

When I have to replace my current Sony, I have been thinking I would go back to a traditional SLR (digitals from Nikon or Canon), with interchangeable lenses, but I have been reading camera reviews and reports and some have expressed concerns that the digital SLRs are more susceptible to problems with dust on the inside mirrors and need to be cleaned more often. That has given me some thought for concern and I might to stay with the type I have. While the lens is not interchangeable on the Sonys, I have no problem with dust on the inside of the camera body.

Most pictures I take, all most all are plants--bamboo, I don't need a telephoto lenses. A wide angle lens is better for my picture taking than a telephoto. Bamboo is linear and vertical. So the pin point focus is desirable with a wide angle.

Another thing to consider is the ability to take close up images. That's a must for me. Does the camera have a macro feature or can you manually focus for closeup. What's the closes distant you can get to the subject to take a picture.

Others who are very knowledgeable about cameras can give you a lot better information than I can, but it's what works for me.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by rfgpitt »

Roy,

That is exactly my problem. My HP is really nice for the price, but I can't take good close-ups. I have to stand far away and zoom to get the best close-up, but then without a tripod it's hard to get one that is not blurry.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by David »

Rick,
Can you switch your focus to 'spot', and can you focus and hold focus at a given distance and move the camera back and forth to get the best focus for your subject? You can use 'focus and hold' to your advantage, and fool the auto focus system.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by kudzu9 »

I've got a Panasonic DMC-FX9 which is very compact and takes great pictures. 6MB, 3X zoom, and is smaller than a cigarette pack. It's pretty reasonably priced for what it does (about $260 street price). It has 2 particular features that make it ideal for bamboo photography. First, it has anti-shake technology built-in, which compensates for camera shake at slow exposures, and the macro mode can get as close as two inches. I've yet to bother with a tripod when I use this. If you're interested in an independent review and the specs, here's a link:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/P ... dmcfx9.asp

This review site has sample pictures, including a full-size, very detailed macro picture that helped convince me that this was the camera I needed. Here's a link to a full-size macro...but don't try this if you're on dialup:

http://img2.dpreview.com/gallery/panaso ... 010981.jpg

And here is a sample photo I took (reduced in resolution from 2MB to 100KB for posting, but still adequate):
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/k ... Custom.jpg">
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Re: RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by Roy »

kudzu9 wrote:....... full-size macro...but don't try this if you're on dialup:

http://img2.dpreview.com/gallery/panaso ... 010981.jpg
And if you do download the picture to your disk and open it up, it is 39" X 29".
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by rfgpitt »

Thanks for the info kudzu9. That site must have been bogged down, as the image was taking forever to open. But I saw enough to say I like numbers, at least the 12-3-6-9, on my watch.

David,
I'll look into your suggestion soon.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by kudzu9 »

rfgpitt-
It wasn't the site, it was the size of that file! I've got a high-speed 3Mb/sec connection and it takes 10 seconds for it to load on my computer. At any rate, if you saw even part of the photo, you've gotten a good idea of the macro resolution.
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by BooKing »

Kudzu, nice photo. What bamboo is that pic of?
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RE: Camera features that make bamboo photography easier

Post by kudzu9 »

Ok, BooKing. I'm dumb, but not that dumb. I'll be happy to tell you when the contest is over on Wednesday. Nice try, though. Might qualify you for a consolation prize!
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