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maynardjameskeenan
The white stipes



Registered: 11/11/10
Posts: 16,391
Loc: 'Merica
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Macro-mycology camera for under $500?
#19205325 - 11/29/13 03:34 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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So we're thinking about getting a decent camera for the holidays and our budget is around $500. I've noticed lots of point-and-shoot cameras in this prince range but I don't know if DSLR's are that much better or if I could even get something halfway decent in that prince range. Some of you guys are much more knowledgeable about this kind of stuff than I am, so I was wonder if anyone has a recommendations for me. Is there a huge difference between standard cameras and DSLR's? Is the price worth it? The help is much appreciated fellas
-------------------- May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy. AMU Q&A
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bloodworm
cube con·nois·seur


Registered: 05/22/10
Posts: 10,926
Loc: 352
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,312
Last seen: 3 days, 13 hours
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: bloodworm]
#19205442 - 11/29/13 04:02 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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That would be a great setup for $500.
DSLR's don't take better pictures, the advantage is that they have more features and you can switch lenses. A high end lens will give better results, but it maters much more how you use the camera than the camera you choose or the lenses you have.
If you don't want to go the DSLR route, you could get something like a Canon SX160is for $150.
For mushrooms it is really nice to have a camera with the flip out LCD, so you don't have to have your face right in the ground when you use it at ground level.
A tripod and reflectors will make a much bigger difference than the camera or lens that you choose.
Also get a remote shutter release, they are like $10 and are super useful.
I would almost recommend spending less on the camera and the rest of the 500 on the tripod and accessories. The vanguard alta pro is a really nice tripod and I am going to get one when I get back to the US.
dpreview.com is a really good site to research what to buy, they have excellent reviews.
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happyfunguy
teonanacatl acolyte


Registered: 09/03/13
Posts: 278
Loc: Clark County, WA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: bloodworm]
#19205479 - 11/29/13 04:12 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Sony DSC-QX100 Smartphone Attachable Lens


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How badly do you want to take great photographs? Enough to tote around a dSLR with you wherever you go? While I do know one die-hard photographer who lugs her camera around wherever she goes, most of us lack the dedication. So we’re left with the camera that’s already in our pocket — our smartphone. Sadly, most smartphone photos are far from great, at least in terms of raw image quality.
So what’s a person to do? Sony thinks it has the answer, in the form of the DSC-QX100. This is $498 camera… without a viewfinder or a screen. It latches onto the screen you carry around anyway (your smartphone), and adds some truly stellar optics for results you could never get using just your smartphone.
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PlayMemories offers reasonable control over the camera, including optical zoom and shutter speed (though the camera features hardware buttons for both), and more important, tap-to-focus. You can press any area of the preview image, and the camera immediately brings it into focus. The fast 1.8/f lens (at its widest setting) means you can create satisfyingly narrow depth-of-field on many shots.
After uncomfortably carrying the camera around and enduring the pairing procedure, taking the first photo is like a breath of fresh air. It’s truly an a-ha moment — now you see what it’s all about. The DSC-QX100 is no toy: Photos you take with this camera can be virtually indistinguishable from those taken with your average dSLR. The focus is sharp, the colors pop, and the whole thing leaves even the best smartphone cameras miles behind in terms of image quality. With a much bigger lens/sensor combo, it’s not even a fair fight — but that’s the point, really.


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In terms of composition, the camera’s detachable nature opens up some very interesting options. The Wi-Fi data connection doesn’t require the camera to be touching the phone, so you can dismantle the two while keeping the software paired. You can then hold the phone at a comfortable, steady viewing angle, while waving the camera around, pivoting it, putting it right on the ground, and exploring all sorts of vantage points from which you would not normally be able to view the screen. This disconnection between screen and lens is a strange feeling at first — composing takes some getting used to — but it works.

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Sharing is Caring: Made For Food Porn
You can decide what the DSC-QX100 does once you snap the photo: It can keep the photo on its internal microSD card and move on, but it can also copy a 2 MB “preview image” to your phone, and even copy the entire full-resolution image. While that latter option is not very practical, copying the preview image to your phone works very well, and is one of the strongest selling points for the DSC-QX100. Copying takes about two seconds, and you find yourself looking at a shot that was very obviously not taken with a smartphone, even if the subject is something as mundane as a cup of coffee.

Over-all, this review doesn't recommend buying it, but they're not shooting fungi.
Edited by happyfunguy (11/29/13 04:25 PM)
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Dr.Tooty
Eye see you.


Registered: 06/03/11
Posts: 2,003
Loc: Nowhere in particular.
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: happyfunguy]
#19205621 - 11/29/13 04:57 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I agree with Alan. Spend more on supplies.


 These were all taken with a canon Elph 550 something or other....Cheap point n shoot.
-------------------- "I get up, I get down." Insect Forum
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vjp
Canowicakte


Registered: 05/28/09
Posts: 3,619
Loc: Ste-ye-hah' mah
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: Dr.Tooty]
#19206108 - 11/29/13 07:26 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
The vanguard alta pro is a really nice tripod and I am going to get one when I get back to the US.
What model?
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Gravija
Make way for the cavalcade


Registered: 06/28/11
Posts: 9,063
Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: vjp]
#19206199 - 11/29/13 07:52 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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There is a three segment leg and a two segment leg. I wish I had gotten the two segment leg, it's more stable.
-------------------- Listen to my music Here
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Joust
Mycotographer




Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 13,392
Loc: WA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: vjp]
#19206210 - 11/29/13 07:54 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
vjp said:
Quote:
The vanguard alta pro is a really nice tripod and I am going to get one when I get back to the US.
What model?
Oh i got that, the Alta Pro 254CB 50, SBH 50 ball head, and the with another 90 joint.
-------------------- ~~~~~~***Psilocybin Mushrooms***~~~~~~ _________A Practical Guide To Psilocybin Mushrooms_________ "Think about the species, not your scale". -NeoSporen "Mr. Joust, I see you don't actually partake in the psilocin, but it looks like it may partake in you!" -Gojira
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Joust
Mycotographer




Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 13,392
Loc: WA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: Gravija]
#19206219 - 11/29/13 07:55 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Gravija said: There is a three segment leg and a two segment leg. I wish I had gotten the two segment leg, it's more stable.
Interesting When mine is collapsed i notice no stability issues
-------------------- ~~~~~~***Psilocybin Mushrooms***~~~~~~ _________A Practical Guide To Psilocybin Mushrooms_________ "Think about the species, not your scale". -NeoSporen "Mr. Joust, I see you don't actually partake in the psilocin, but it looks like it may partake in you!" -Gojira
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fry day


Registered: 07/19/13
Posts: 1,010
Loc: PNW
Last seen: 2 years, 30 days
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: Joust]
#19214434 - 12/01/13 07:49 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Consider that a viewfinder might be nice... I get fed up with lighting issues and the lcd.
-------------------- "Shrub, 30-90 cm. Leaves 2.5-) 4-9 cm, sessile or amplexicaul, broadly ovate to ovate-oblong, obtuse or rounded to subapiculate or subacute, when crushed not smelling of goats." "The initial quake was a 6.6 but fairly shallow. I felt it as a prolonged up and down vibration followed by a jolt forward and then to the left, like square dancing."
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andrewmurray86
Θεολογος




Registered: 02/05/13
Posts: 1,120
Loc: Hunter Valley, NSW
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: fry day]
#19214474 - 12/01/13 08:00 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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The DSLR I use is a canon EOS 1100D It's their entry level camera but it does great stuff.
And honestly... I'm pretty impressed with my iphone 5 when i don't have my camera. It's not ideal but can take great shots if you're in a bind.
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suchen
Once and Future Noob



Registered: 06/28/11
Posts: 8,841
Loc: Shangri-la
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: andrewmurray86]
#19246458 - 12/08/13 06:20 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Sorry I am late to the party. Canon's SX line is very good if you need an all-arounder. I'd suggest maybe the SX280 which you can likely find for $200. It has stabilized 20x optical(not fake empty digital) zoom, macro with focusing down to 5cm, and fully manual controls if you want them.
-------------------- Rod Tulloss said: The bulb is the bulb. The volva is the volva. They have a very long term realtionship, but they’re “just friends.”
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Gravija
Make way for the cavalcade


Registered: 06/28/11
Posts: 9,063
Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: suchen] 1
#19247561 - 12/08/13 10:09 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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I agree with sooch. I wish I had enough money to get an SX. It would be nice to have something light weight to keep around my neck for quick shots that I would miss if I tried to deploy the tripod.
-------------------- Listen to my music Here
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inski
Cortinariologist



Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 5,752
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: Gravija]
#19247678 - 12/08/13 10:27 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Please explain, how do you miss the shot if you try to deploy the tripod?
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Gravija
Make way for the cavalcade


Registered: 06/28/11
Posts: 9,063
Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: inski]
#19247697 - 12/08/13 10:31 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Animals, bugs, objects in motion, that sort of stuff. I miss cool spur of the moment shots all of the time because it takes too much time and causes too much bustle to deploy the tripod or remove the camera from the tripod. I want a nice point and shoot or cheap slr too keep around my neck in addition to carrying a camera on a tripod.
-------------------- Listen to my music Here
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inski
Cortinariologist



Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 5,752
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: Gravija]
#19247710 - 12/08/13 10:34 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Oh yes, I see, I was just thinking about Fungi
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Gravija
Make way for the cavalcade


Registered: 06/28/11
Posts: 9,063
Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: inski]
#19247739 - 12/08/13 10:41 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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Oh, well Im pretty sure those buggers usually pop back into their substrate when I approach. Ill need camo remote cams to confirm.
-------------------- Listen to my music Here
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maynardjameskeenan
The white stipes



Registered: 11/11/10
Posts: 16,391
Loc: 'Merica
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: inski]
#19247855 - 12/08/13 11:07 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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-------------------- May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy. AMU Q&A
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Gravija
Make way for the cavalcade


Registered: 06/28/11
Posts: 9,063
Loc: Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Imo, the ten second timer is better anyway.
-------------------- Listen to my music Here
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maynardjameskeenan
The white stipes



Registered: 11/11/10
Posts: 16,391
Loc: 'Merica
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Re: Macro-mycology camera for under $500? [Re: Gravija]
#19247955 - 12/08/13 11:26 PM (10 years, 2 months ago) |
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-------------------- May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be happy. AMU Q&A
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