posted 03-25-2002 10:10 AM            

quote:

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From Fredz's post in 20th Century Silver Arts & Crafts Forum
.... what sort of camera do you use to take your images and do you need to use software to make them presentable for use on the forum? I hope to be able to soon contribute more than just my words to this fine forum.

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We use two very old cameras. So old that by digital camera standards they could be referred to as vintage and antique. The snapshots and most of the forum color photos (like above) were done with a Sony Mavica FD71 ("vintage"). Photos that appear in our publications like "The Book of Silver" were done with a variety of electronic computer cameras which we have built since the early 1980's. By digital camera standards our custom built electronic computer camera is an antique (or maybe a dinosaur).

All of the images usually require some adjustment and cropping. For this we use Abobe Photoshop. Photoshop is much more program than we need. In the beginning, it was our only real choice, so we have stayed with it. Our friends, with newer and better quality digital cameras, seem to really like the simplicity of the photo editing programs that came with their new cameras. Photoshop is what we know.

We keep meaning to check out the latest digital cameras but just haven't gotten around to it. The few newer cameras we have had the opportunity to play with all produce better snapshots (resolution and color depth). What is important to us is the ability to do extreme closeups. These few just don't do the closeups well.

We want to get a new camera. So we welcome all recommendations (and contributions ), particularly for extreme closeup work.

Mavica example:

posted 03-25-2002 10:02 PM            

Anyway, I use a Mavica just like Scott's, and the same model is still available at a reasonable price, as it is out-of-date. It works fine for on-line stuff, though, as you can see. Pictures from my Mavica are usually just fine right off the diskette. I just crop them, using Microsoft Photo Editor, and they look great. Rarely do I do anything else to them.

The 10X optical zoom feature is not found on most digital cameras. Sony and Olympus offer it, but not many others. If you plan on using your digital camera for silver, you must have the 10X optical zoom.

Anyway, I hope this helps anyone thinking of buying a camera. If you can afford it, get one with better resolution than the Mavica FD71, but don't skimp on the optical zoom!

Brent