Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with cameras

Are Nikon D5000s currently sitting on shelves still affected by the recall?

consilience — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:32:39 -0800

Nikon recalled the D5000 a few months ago - are the ones on store shelves today still affected? I'm looking to purchase my first DSLR. I played with a D5000 and a Rebel t1i or 500D in store and I like feel of the D5000 a little more. I also liked the added bulk and weight of it. My only concern is that there was a recall for the D5000, two of them actually, just a few months ago. Does anyone know if the ones that are currently on store shelves are affected?

I have been reading forums, gadget blogs, photography forums and the like for two weeks now. Non-stop. Needless to say, I've been pulling out my hair trying to decide between the D5000 and the t1i. I've only decided on the D5000 because of its feel/heft and a simpler and more attractive UI.

From now until Sunday, both can be had for $699 with no tax from Samy's Camera, making my decision that much more difficult.

I feel like the brand I go with will instantly be a lifetime commitment because I would also like to purchase a 50mm f1.8 lens with either camera.

Normally, I'd give something like this more time if I'm this undecided, but I need a camera soon. I'd like to pick one up before the sale ends, but the latest is just before CES (Consumer Electronics Show).

Thanks in advance for advice and the recall info.

Film cameras used to be so straightforward...

jon1270 — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:17:02 -0800

PhotoFilter: Is the Coolpix 5000 still a good camera for general household use? Was it ever? Our (my wife's and mine) older Sony Cyber-Shot 5.1 MP camera is in rough shape, so I've had my eye out for potential replacements. My father in law is ready to ditch his Nikon Coolpix 5000, complete with wide-angle converter lens and Speedlight flash. I'm trying to decide whether to take it off his hands.

We take relatively few pictures of people. My wife photographs a lot of small knitted items, so crisp macro images in less-than-ideal lighting conditions are important. I sometimes photograph largish objects (furniture, rooms) in circumstances that don't allow me to get very far from the item being photographed, so a wide-angle lens is nice to have. The Nikon is good on both of these counts. I've also always wanted a camera with a flip-out, pivoting screen.

Unfortunately, the Nikon (being 7-year-old technology) is rather slow to wake up. Battery life is poor. Images shot on high-ISO settings are prone to have a fair number of odd speckles/artifacts unless I turn on a particular feature that makes the camera really, really slow. Worst of all, it's not very user-friendly; its zillions of features are accessed and controlled with many multi-function buttons and nested menus; I doubt my wife would ever read enough of the manual to get comfortable with it.

Have cameras improved so much in recent years that I could find an inexpensive model (new or used) that's better for us than the Coolpix 5000?

Cheap "Dry Box" For Camera Gear?

justcorbly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:57:25 -0800

Are there cheap alternatives for the large and elaborate "dry boxes" I see listed for use as dehumidified storage cabinets for lenses and other camera gear? I've built up a little collection, live where the summer humidity is often high, and do not run my AC 24/7. My first thought is that this is basically an airtight box with a bunch of dessicant inside. Can't really be that simple, though.

EASY secrets of taking great photos

JensR — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:31:34 -0800

What are your favourite photographer's tricks that an amateur could use to create stunning photos on a hobbyist budget? As a hobbyist DSLR photographer, I find that once in a while, I stumble across some simple little trick-of-the-trade that instantly makes my photos much better... and it is these little "Wow!" moments that keep me motivated to keep shooting and learning.

I am not talking about expensive studio rigs here, or vague lifelong lessons ("learn about composition and color theory", "know your camera"). I am specifically talking about the low-hanging fruit that a low-budget amateur photographer like me could apply and see an instant difference.

If there are any photographers out there who have experienced the same kind of "Wow!" moment after trying out some new technique or equipment, please share your best suggestions in this thread.

What is the deal with the new Illinois Tollway speed 'cameras'?

jdlugo — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:28:56 -0800

What is the deal with the new Illinois Tollway speed 'cameras'? I read that the state of Illinois was going to be installing speed cameras in work zones. These cameras will automatically mail you a $375 ticket if you are caught speeding. As a Chicago-area commuter, I have seen tons of these 'cameras' on 88 and 355. However, they only look like velocity sensors. There does not appear to be any camera component (no flash, no visible lens).

What is going on with these things? I have seen them outside of work zones and am wondering if they are ticketing speeders in those areas as well.

Thanks!

What takes good photos that takes good photos?

cincinnatus c — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:30:40 -0800

Help me find a good-looking (retro?) and affordable camera for a present. I'm looking to buy a digital camera as a present for someone who is not so much into photography as she is into lovely-looking objects.

Therefore, I'm looking for a retro-styled point-and-shoot camera. It should take decent pictures (I don't want a novelty toy) but shouldn't be too complicated to use.

This is the most stylish camera I've found in my searches, but I don't think it's available yet and anyway it'll probably be beyond my budget. I can afford to spend around £200, maybe slightly more.

Canon Lens Dirt.

disillusioned — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:09:25 -0800

CanonFilter: It appears I have dirt inside the my Canon 28-135mm lens... Rather, it looks to me like it's on the inner optics, and not the prime lens... I was cleaning my UV filter which has been on the lens ever since I bought it, a year ago, and noticed that some specks seemed to still remain. I removed the filter and looked carefully at the prime lens, but I've never touched it and, frankly, the cloth I was using to clean the filter wasn't aces, so I wasn't about to touch my actual lens with it.

There appeared to be no dirt or dust on the lens itself, but two or three specks were visible on the moving piece of glass beneath the prime lens... which was, to the best of my ability to determine, not an optical illusion, though I could be wrong.

Is it at all possible there's dirty on the inner optics? I also pulled the lens off and looked at the back, but couldn't see anything there at all. The specks seem to bend and fit the inner lens when I move it... so how do I clean it? Do I care?

Some of my pictures at 28mm show dirt specks, but I think that was just the obvious stuff that was on the filter. I haven't shot again since cleaning...

Do I need to worry or care at all? It's my only lens for my XTi, but still, it bothers me... I imagine about the only thing I could do is send it in for repair, so I guess my question is this: is it at all likely or even possible for there to be dirt on the inner optics, or am I just being tricked?

What mini camcorder should I choose?

ismaelsobek — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:29:26 -0800

Which mini HD camcorder should I buy—the Kodak Zi6 or the Flip MinoHD? I'm torn between these two camcorders. On the one hand, I've heard that the Zi6 has better white balance (and therefore truer colors) and a more sensitive mic. On the other, I've heard so much good stuff about the Flip in general…

Helmet-mounted Hockey Camera

Sully — Sat, 09 May 2009 21:22:01 -0800

I always wanted to watch a hockey game from the point of view of one of the players. I've seen cameras mounted on the helmets of like, F1 drivers, but never hockey players. Does anyone know if footage like this exists? I feel that if I were able to see what particular hockey players are looking at I would be able to better understand the second-to-second decisions they make. Thanks.

Help me spend somebody else's money on a new camera!

synecdoche — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:49:32 -0800

Shopping for somebody else and looking for a digital SLR camera that can handle a handful of specific requirements. I know nothing about these things. I work for somebody who is in the market for a new digital SLR camera. I've been tasked with the job, being the go-to person who knows more about tech than the other employee, but I confess to knowing little about digital cameras. I am hoping the hivemind might point me in the right direction.

What I am after is a very user-friendly camera, a digital SLR if at all possible, that does really well with indoor light. The camera's most important function will be to take picture of things in museums, including presentations of text. The text will need to be legible on the image (This can involve the descriptions of displays, as well as text that is itself the display--treaties and whatnot that are, presumably, legible enough to read when one is not using the camera.) There is a possibility that some of these images will be reproduced in a (non-glossy) book in the future but for the most part it is for capturing material for a research project, for future reference.

The price range for this is between $300-$600 CDN.

Thanks!

Not the most titillating way to take video of oneself, but...

jon1270 — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:25:25 -0800

Cheap digital video? Help me do time-motion studies on myself. I build furniture in a one-man studio shop. I suck at estimating how long it will take to build a piece. Every piece I build is unique, and usually made up as I go along; I do a little of process X, then jump to process Y, then work on unrelated maintenance while waiting for glue to dry, etc. It would be very helpful to know how much time I've actually spent on various phases of work, but I've never been successful at switching timers on and off while I'm working; doing so just breaks my rhythm and I stall out.

So it occurs to me that maybe a I could mount a cheap video camera in the shop and run a cable to my PC in the house (perhaps 50 feet away). I (hopefully) could make timestamped recordings of myself working, and then take notes while fast-forwarding through them later.

The shop is small; the camera wouldn't need to move at all. Also, I see this as an occasional, short-term practice; I don't need to build this system to work perfectly, or to work forever. Cheap is important. Low-res and choppy is fine.

I have zero experience with digital video recording. What equipment and software would be necessary? How much drive space would I need to store a day's work? A week's? How plausible is this? Any insight would be appreciated.

Home Security Cameras

doorsfan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:00:41 -0800

Home Surveillance Help…general system setup/personal preferences So it looks like we are going to go the nanny route. #2 is due in May and we really cannot swing 2 kiddos in daycare; so now we are looking into outfitting the house with some cameras and I have no idea what I’m looking for. I’ve spent some time searching the internet for guidance but that only goes so far. Does anyone have experience/suggestions on inside surveillance cameras?

I (think) need: multiple cameras, dvr storage, online access, and it would be great if I could install myself to save a few bucks.

Any product/install suggestions?
How does online access work? How do I get live video from the dvr online so I can view at work??

Gear needed and/or methods to use to take a decent headshot/portrait photo

docgonzo — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:01:04 -0800

Please help a landscape photographer take a decent headshot. I'm a serious amateur photographer (read: I've got a decent digital SLR) that has been volunteered to take photos for use in a fundraising publication at work. These photos will mostly consist of headshots and groups shots, taken indoors, of busy people who'd rather be doing something else.

I'm hoping for two parts of advice: First, whether it would be in my interests to invest in any gear. I have an SLR, a Speedlight 800 and enough lenses to get through. Do I need an umbrella? One of those reflective thingies?

Second, as my use of the wholly technical term "reflective thingies" indicates, I need advice on how to set up and take the shot. I've read Strobist enough to know that I should light the shot with off-camera flash and try to balance ambient with artificial light. Cool. How best to set up the camera, speedlight, other lighting gear and subject to get a semi-decent result? I'm looking less for Karsh than more for something well-lit without the blown-out look of bad flash photography. Any advice on methods or materials appreciated!

Flip me left, flip me right

trouserlouse — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:28:11 -0800

iPhotoFilter: how to make vertically-oriented photos taken on a Casio EX-V8 automatically show up that way in iPhoto? My Casio EX-V8 camera is great...except for the fact that when I import photos into iPhoto, horizontally-oriented (landscape) photos turn out fine, of course, but vertically-oriented ("tall") photos don't get rotated automatically. This means I have to manually go through all of the photos and rotate them so that they face the right way, instead of staring at me at a 90 degree angle.

Even the ancient digital camera I had before could deal with this, but this one cannot. Either camera-based (camera settings) or software-based (in OS X/iPhoto) solutions are fine. I'm running iPhoto 7.1.5 on 10.5.6. Thanks!

Digital camera for arthritic hands

Jandasmo — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:07:22 -0800

Help me pick a digital camera for my 70-something parents with arthritic hands. I'm looking for something with a large viewfinder and larger buttons. We have about $600 to spend. I'd also like recommendations on small photo printers.

Thank you for your help.

Digital Pocket Camera with RAW?

horseblind — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:09:30 -0800

I am looking for a pocket digital camera (point and shoot) that will store the files in RAW. I am looking for a pocket digital camera (point and shoot) that will store the files in RAW. Hopefully it will have a JPEG+RAW mode. I am interested in the Panasonic Lumix LX3 (as mentioned previously.) While I like this camera I thought it might be nice to have something just a little smaller. As for recommendations, you can recommend current or older models as I'm fine with hunting down used cameras if I must.

I have looked at previous posts, but thought it smart to ask since it has been a while since a similar question was asked.

In addition to a RAW mode, I would like it to store photos on CF cards, or SD cards. I also prefer that it has a pretty decent optical zoom and built-in flash. As for size, I would like it to easily fit into the pocket of an under seat bag on a bike, or in the pocket of my camelback water backpack. Preferably, it will fit into the pocket of my jeans.

Personal experience is preferred. I'd like to know what it is about your recommendation that makes it so awesome above and beyond my requirements (RAW being the most important one.)

Thanks in advance. I'll post back after I make a decision.

Camera Ready

Xurando — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:17:41 -0800

I have: A great camera (Nikon D700), a great printer (Epson 3800), a good eye for urban travel photos (a recent local gallery showing). I don't have: A decent website or any pictures on Flickr, a photography network of any kind. My objective is to supplement my current income with income from photography. What's my next step?

How to get camera to work on internet via WISP?

bob749 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:00:31 -0800

My internet security cameras only work on the ISP I subscribe to and not on another ISP. The router is port fowarded. I use to use Hughes and everything worked fine. I switch to an ISP that uses a roof antenna with modem built into the antenna. Sounds strange but they call this a WISP. When I try accessing my cameras (all have specific http address like http://xxx.viewnetcam.com:5000), on say Verizon DSL or any other ISP, the page won't display. If I try the same when I'm using the WISP I subscribe to, everything works fine. Bottom line SEEMS that any other ISP can't get through to my router to complete the connection to let me connect and view the cameras.

Is this an impossible camera quest?

booknerd — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:55:08 -0800

I'd like a new point and shoot digital camera, but am at a bit of a loss on where to start. My current camera-history and requirements for a new one are inside. I currently have a Canon S400 (or something similar, off the top of my head that might be wrong) that I got in 2003, and have used and abused ever since. My main rig is a Canon digital Rebel XT that I adore, but I'd like something smaller to toss in my purse. The S400 still works fine and I love it, but it's a bit bulky, and the resolution isn't very good. It's been having some problems lately corrupting photos, and it's slooooow. I know cameras have gotten a lot faster and better at low light situations over the past five years.

Canon is my brand of choice. I love the aesthetics of the Elph series, and I trust them because all of my other cameras have been so amazingly sturdy. However, I really only want a camera that uses a CF card. My digital Rebel uses CF cards and I have a lot of them, and don't want to have to buy into a new memory card system at this stage. I can't seem to find any newer, better point and shoot Canons that use CF instead of SD. If I have to abandon Canon to use a CF card instead, I'm willing to, but I don't know the first place to start with non-Canon cameras.

Because this is just a back-up camera, something around $200 or less is what I'm looking at. Decent resolution, ability to fiddle with all sorts of manual settings, and "takes good pictures" are all I'm after. The slower the lag between aiming, focusing, and shutter release, the better. I don't know if any point and shoot cameras these days are able to shoot in RAW, but if they are that'd be great. Thanks for any suggestions!

Cheap Camera

mccarty.tim — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:09:02 -0800

What's a good video/digital camera for a college student on a budget? I'm a pre-engineering education student at TCNJ, and many of my classes call for photography to document the design process. I like the cameras on my cellphone and MacBook Pro, but I tend to find the white balance on them to be weird, and the stills and video to be grainy.

I recently saw a Flip Ultra Video 30 Minutes on sale for $99, and I remembered that David Pogue said he uses them for his podcast. Do they take really good stills at a resolution good enough for a PowerPoint? I mostly take these pictures in a woodshop with florescent lighting. I also like the idea of getting a small camcorder at a low price with decent quality, and no need to deal with tape, external batteries, or any of the other problems regular digital camcorders have. It's something I'd been thinking about buying otherwise, and if the stills were good, this could be the thing that pushes me over the edge. I might also consider the 60 minute one.

If the thing takes bad stills, are there any good digital cameras with decent resolution for somewhere in the $50-120 range? I don't want to need to borrow friends' cameras anymore, nor do I like awkwardly holding my work in front of my MacBook Pro's camera. The cell phone takes such awful pics, I'd be embarrassed to use them in a presentation.

Best tools for capturing video and audio on a tradeshow floor?

jbickers — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:16:51 -0800

Help me figure out the best video/audio recording gear for my company. We're starting to do some in-house videos, and a lot of them are being filmed (at least in part) at trade shows, on the show floor. In the past, we've had a really cumbersome setup that involved a tripod, a tape-based camera, and an external mic. More cumbersome was the fact that only one person in the company had the necessary tools to get video off the camera, and he's always really busy.

So when I saw the Flip camera, I thought, this is it! Guys can shoot video on the show floor, then when they get back to their room they just drop.io it to me for editing. But it turns out the Flip doesn't have a jack for an external mic, and the internal mic is no good for a loud tradeshow floor.

So, I guess this is a two-part question - is there a Flip-like alternative that either has a great built-in mic or an external mic jack? The USB connection is the big allure of the Flip.

And, what microphone is best suited for such an environment? Is there a reasonably priced microphone that is great at getting the up-close audio while capturing just a bit of ambient sound?

Price is a little bit of an issue, because in a perfect world we'd have 3-4 of these complete kits in the office for people to take with them on trips. So we can't quite afford top-of-the-line, but we don't want to look/sound like amateur hour either.

I need a digital camera under $200

BoldStepDesign — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:17:40 -0800

I have $200 to spend and am looking for a high quality digital camera. I want I camera that's light weight, small: that's easy to take hiking and not bulkily. I want really hi res so I can use many of the photos I take for stock photography. Please suggest a few cameras.

Why won't my Macbook recognize my Canon S3 IS as a device?

deern the headlice — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:22:52 -0800

Trying and failing to transfer photos from camera to laptop - why won't my Macbook recognize my Canon S3 IS as a device? Sorry to ask such a newb question.

I made the switch to Mac only a week ago (refurb Macbook Pro 15", OSX 10.5.4) then immediately went on a week's vacation. So here I am with a camera full of pics, but when I connect the camera to the laptop via USB, nothing happens. No prompt, no recognition of a new device. I've tried adjusting the camera between shoot and playback modes, nothing happens.

Being new to Macs, I'm not 100% sure what's even supposed to happen.

The camera is, however, displaying a blinking yellow light that I've never seen before. Also, I'm using my girlfriend's camera/USB cable which dates back to 2004. Could the cable be the problem?

I'm pretty hardware clueless, unfortunately. Any ideas?

Do film cameras have any unique benefits?

invitapriore — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:04:29 -0800

In terms of output, what are the benefits to using film cameras over digital? I want to get back into photography. For a long time back in high school, I had access to a friend's semi-DSLR (lens not removable, fully adjustable shutter speed and aperture but limited choices in terms of things like white balance) and now I want to get back into photography. I've always been drawn to the idea of film cameras, and a friend of mine has a dark room, but my concern is the result and not so much the process. Does the medium of film have any unique advantages in terms of the images you can create?

My budget isn't very high, so if I were to go with a DSLR it would have to be old and somewhat cheap. Given this, the initially low investment that a film camera represents is somewhat alluring. I understand that film is a repeated expenditure, but I don't think I'll be shooting so much that it'll be a strain on my income.

Serious glare reduction needed.

magnoliasouth — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:55:03 -0800

What is the best (and cheapest) way to reduce outdoor sunlight glare on the LCD screen of my point and shoot camera? I'm aware of hoods/visors and some have suggested anti-glare sheets that cover PDAs, but which is better or should I do both? Perhaps there is an even better suggestion.

We're leaving tomorrow on a trip for the 4th and I'd really like to see for a change when we're taking pictures.

Any advice is appreciated.