Camera Corner (What Kind of Camera Do You Use, Vol.2)

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/807837/#new

The other thread was getting long. It still has GREAT information, but I wanted to start a new one so that I could maintain the list at the beginning of the thread. Also use this thread to discuss other camera equipment.

2dCousinDave= Canon 1D Mark IV, Mark III, the 7D, 5D, the 40D, the 20D, D30 LENSES: 200mm f/1.8, 300mm f/2.8 IS, 400mm f/4 DO IS, 500mm f/4 IS and the 600mm f/4 IS. 1.4x TC.
adelbertcat = Pentax K100D
alicez = Nikon D5000 w/a Tamron 18-270mm lens
bebob = Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Beclu727 = Olympus SP560
bgrumbin = Kodak P712 (7.1 megapixel 12x optical 5x digital enhancement)
Billyporter = Kodak Z650 Zoom
brianguy = Nikon D90
bsharf = Sony DSLR A100
Burd_FotosCanon Powershot S5is, Canon Rebel T1i 500D, EFS-18-55mm and 55-250mm, 400mm f5.6
Burn_2007 = Fuji FinePix S5700 s700
ceejaytown = Canon EOS 30D
cshirsch = Nikon D90
claypa = Sony DSC-H2
crazybirdlady51 = Olympus Sp550UZ
critterologist = Nikon P90. Sony DSC-TX1
dellrose = Canon EOS 40D
dinu = Panasonic DMC-FZ8
dragonfly62 = Fuji Finepix S700
ducbucln = Canon 7D , Canon XTi and use a Canon 70-300 mm lens with image stabilization. 1.4 Kenko teleconverter
duckmother =
Elphaba = Kodak Z740 Zoom
f_chisolm = Canon 400D: 300mm lens
gardenpom = Olympus Evolt 500 SLR with 70-300mm lens.
goldfinch4 = Canon PowerShot SD700IS
Grandmaggie = Kodak Z612
GrannyGrunt = Kodak P850 Zoom
Grasmussen = Panasonic DMC-FZ50
Hczone6 = Nikon D200
Indiana_lily = Panasonic DMC-FZ8
JuneyBug = Samsung 10.2 WB500
katie59 Nikon Coolpix
kennedyh = Canon EOS 300D
kniphofia = Sony H50
lilyfantn = Nikon D70
linthicum = Nikon D70 with a Sigma 50-500mm; Nikon D200 with a Nikkor 500mm prime lens
MargaretK = Canon 40D,
Methodical = I now use the Canon 1D MkIII along with the 50D (sidekick), 400mm 5.6 lens and recently purchased the 500mm f4 IS lens.
Mrs_Ed = Previously Kodak DX7590, Now a Pentax K100D Super
Nanny56 = Canon PowerShot SX20 IS, Fuji FinePix S80000fd
NM_Jane = Canon Rebel XTI, Panasonic DMC-FZ28
OPbirder = Samsung Digimax L60, 6.0 mp, 3x optical zoom
PanamaCreel = Nikon D300
PeeperKeeper = Olympus SP550UZ
pelletory = Canon 400D: w/ a Sigma 50-500mm lens.
Resin = Fuji FinePix E550
rogue_designer = Mostly film cameras (4x5, and 120 and a bunch of 35mm for street work); Nikon D100,
rntx22 = Nikon D200
SadieMae = Kodak DX7590 Zoom
sacarvounisCanon EOS Rebel XSi. The kit came with a 70-300 zoom/macro lens
Shan71 = Kodak Z712 IS
Shelia_FW = Nikon D50
snakeadelic Canon PowerShot A720 IS
Tabasco = Canon PowerShot S30
threegardeners = LUMIX(panasonic) DMC-FZ8
tigerlily = Canon EOS 30D
TheHackster = Canon EOS 40D, 70-300 IS USM lens, 1.4 and 2 Tamron Teleconverter. Vortex ED 20-60x80 spotting scope with a Nikon 5100 Point and Shoot camera attached to the rear.
VA_Wild_Rose = Canon T1i, with 18-55mm lens/55-250mm lens, Canon SD780.
wallaby1 = Nikon D40X
WaterCan = Nikon D90 w/ Nikon 70-300mm



This message was edited Jun 14, 2010 6:25 PM

Hi Mrs Ed! I am currently using a Koday Z612. Thanks! GM

Thanks for starting the new thread, Mrs. Ed. I am salivating over all the equipment that guy in your picture has! WOW! Although it must be a pain carrying it all around

hee! yah, I wanted to MUG him!

LOL

Continuing the discussion of that Nikon P80 I was salivating over because of its compact size and easy handling...

We were at a computer store today, so of course I browsed cameras while DH looked for his stuff. They had a very nice price on the Nikon D80, a DSLR camera, about $600 including an 18-135mm lens. What attracted me was the realization that this was one of the smallest DSLRs I'd held in my hand... actually felt very similar to the superzoom Panasonic Lumix I'd been considering.

However, even at that nice price, I know I'd be wanting to add a telephoto lens for probably, what, at least another $500, so the DSLR option would end up being probably nearly 3 times the cost of getting a nice superzoom.

I guess that's why they call superzooms a "bridge" camera. LOL

Does anybody have a link or handy chart that translates ##mm lenses to their magnification #X equivalent?

Also, has anybody considered using the still photo capacity on one of the newer video cams to take zoomed bird pics? I noticed the Sony handycams had a "photo" button and had **40X** optical zoom... I know the quality wouldn't let me make huge prints, but... I wondered... ?

Bump.

Don't know how I missed the original thread, but my camera is a Canon EOS 40D. With it, I use a Canon 70-300 IS USM lens, sometimes with a 1.4 Tamron teleconverter and rarely with a 2x Tamron teleconverter. My 2x is new and I haven't had a decent sunny day since I got it.

I also have a digiscoping rig consisting of a Vortex ED 20-60x80 spotting scope with a Nikon 5100 Point and Shoot camera attached to the rear.

However, I use the 40D 95 % of the time.

And Mrs_Ed, when you add me to your list, enter me as Hack - that's how most know me. I'm in the process of changing my username, anyway.

Hack

This message was edited Dec 16, 2009 3:00 AM

Canon Powershot S5is, Canon Rebel T1i 500D, EFS-18-55mm and 55-250mm

Now I know how I missed it. critterologist's last replied on Dec 30, 2008. I wasn't even a birder then - didn't even know davesgarden existed..

Thanks, Katie59 for bumping this to the top so I'd see it.

Hack

I thought the same thing for minute there Hack. lol (datewise)

No problem. I'm looking for cameras and it's good to hear what you all use. I started the thread, but Mrs Ed took it much further by maintaining information in a single post. This is an awesome resource.

Bummed ...need a new dishwasher so no new camera again this year...

That's freaky, Margaret and I were just talking about dishwashers and how we don't have them. You don't need one. Buy the camera.

BTW…wasn't it a water heater last year?

No...Heat Pump....LOL

Oh and I refuse to be with out a dishwasher. SInce DH cooks he dirtys everything!

This message was edited Dec 16, 2009 9:35 AM

oh. well. something HOT related.

For peple who have DSLR cameras, it also interesting to hear what lens(es) they use. So here is an update, of sorts on mine. This is me this morning, guarding my new 600mm lens. In case you're interested, it is .27 inches from the floor to the back of the Mark III. But at least six or eight inches of that length is the lens cover.

Dave, you forgot to show us the pulley system you're using to pick that new baby up with! LOL

I guess I missed this list too. I have a Canon XTi and use a Canon 70-300 mm lens with image stabilization. I also have a 1.4 Kenko teleconverter that I sometimes use.

Holy Smokes....only in my dreams.......*sigh*

2dCousinDave - Good gracious, Dave, that is awesome. Need a wheelbarrow for Christmas. :)

Hack

Mrs_Ed - who needs a dishwasher - my DW has ME.

Hack

I have lens envy . . .

Lens envy for sure, Katie59! With all our medical bills this year my old Olympus Sp550UZ will have to do for awhile longer. Glad to have it though

And targeted lens envy is much more fun than random lens envy. With all this information at least I KNOW what I'm missing . . .

cool thread, even if it is old...
I have a LUMIX(panasonic) DMC-FZ8

Nice shadows . . .

I agree. Nice color too. My daughter has the same camera and she gets some very nice pics too.

Here are our new kittens. They are running us ragged.

Pretty darned handsome cats. It's so nice when they get to be about 4 years old . . .

Okay, everyone. I'll try and update tonight.

Dave. MY what a big lens that is! Nice slippers too.

and the cats are adorable. I suppose i should update my lens, but I'd much rather go someplace warm for a week or so this winter!

Hack, My Father in law loved to make the joke about Ed not needing a dishwasher because he had me. And may I add, snow removal service, gardener, lawn care, gutter cleaning… oh, the list goes on!

threegardeners - i used to have a DMC-FZ8, but I sold it so I could get my 40D. But I miss it sometimes. It is one nice camera. I don;t know anything about cats, never had one, but the sleeping cat is pretty.

2dCousinDave - Those two new kittens are mesmerizing. Gorgeous!

Hack

This isn't about a particular brand, but it's a nice article about photographing birds:

http://www.gaygardener.com/features/birdphoto.phtml

katie59 - Nice article. I slowed down as I read the sections about shutter speed and equipment.

Thanks for the link.

Hack

Dave, Those Himalayan kittens are adorable and that's a great pic.

They are adorable!!

Hey Mrs_Ed, have you up-dated yet - I don't see it here. I'm looking forward to seeing the new list.

But, I also know it is Christmas time, so don't "break a leg".

Hack

This message was edited Dec 18, 2009 9:52 PM

No, Hack, I haven't. I'm you're the hackster and I'm the slackster.

Maybe you should ask Admin. to make this a sticky...lots of good info here.
(not trying to add more work)

There's a "tips" sticky at the top of the forum... maybe we could put a link there to this thread.

Realized I need to update my info... I got a Nikon P90 this past spring (love the superzoom! and it gets nice depth of field on landscape shots, also). Then I replaced my semi-broken :-( Sony T-200 with the Sony DSC-TX1. I love it so much that I'm almost glad my old one broke. Their new Exmor-R sensor is great.

I'm delighted with my Nikon, but most of the time it's the compact Sony that I grab. I've got the Nikon out today so I can use its zoom (24x!) to try to get photos of the birds at the snowy feeders.

Oh I was looking at that Nikon P90 today......comparing it to the Canon SX20 IS. There could be a slim chane we could afford one.......maybe.......

Okay this thread is in the Sticky. :-)

I do have some frustration with the P90 in getting it to focus on what I want it to focus on. I guess I haven't quite conquered its manual mode... I get some good results actually by using a macro mode with center-weighed focus and then zooming in (zooming and macro don't seem to be mutually exclusive).

I snapped this one today. Took the shot out the window when the cardinal was perched on the lilac at the edge of the patio, maybe 12 feet away. It's one of my better bird photos; I'm happy with my Nikon!

Here's the uncropped, unretouched shot: