Camera n photography forums

Hi all,

I am in need of a list of some of the best and active forums with respect to cameras !

I am planning to buy a camera for nature photography costing around $600.
I need some professional guidance for buying it !

I could have searched Google for it, but since i don't have any technical knowledge about cameras, there was a probability of mis-guidance !

Thanks !

Moved to General (not a Linux question)

Specifically for digital cameras, the best one a few years ago was: http://www.dpreview.com/

Also, Yahoo used to have many good groups.

I have not been to any in several years.

Originally Posted by pixellany Moved to General (not a Linux question)

I did post it in the general forum, but I did not know that some other general forum also exists !

Specifically for digital cameras, the best one a few years ago was: http://www.dpreview.com/

Thanks for the information !

I too am looking at upgrading my camera
though I am more interested in astro-photography

three things are needed
four if you can get it
* lots of pixels
* good quality lenses
* a sturdy, preferably wooden, tripod
* and you can get it - a remote control


floppy

Originally Posted by floppywhopper I too am looking at upgrading my camera though I am more interested in astro-photography three things are needed four if you can get it * lots of pixels * good quality lenses * a sturdy, preferably wooden, tripod * and you can get it - a remote control floppy

Wooden tripod? They don't make such things anymore.

Originally Posted by smeezekitty Wooden tripod? They don't make such things anymore.

who is "they"
Mercedes Benz,Rolex, Neil Diamond, The Wiggles ???

he should find one or make one


floppy

Originally Posted by smeezekitty Wooden tripod? They don't make such things anymore.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...US235&ie=UTF-8

Found 2 sources without even trying.......

Lot's of pixels?----no, you need "enough" pixels. "Enough" is generally determined by the print size and viewing distance.

Once you have enough pixels, more does nothing for image quality**. To improve quality from here, you need larger pixels--eg with a full-frame sensor.


**In the early days ( < ~4 Mpixels), there was some advantage in having a higher pixel count and then down-sampling to "enough"---the re-sampling reduced color artifacts caused by the Bayer filter. With sensors now at 8 Mp and larger, color artifacts are not as big an issue.

Originally Posted by pixellany Lot's of pixels?----no, you need "enough" pixels. "Enough" is generally determined by the print size and viewing distance.

ummm... you mean resolution
I would still say go for lots of pixels
print size and distance are important - no argument there
but with more pixels - it will will be easier to digitally manipulate, enhance etc, the downside being needing a fairly capable computer to manipulate such large files.

however you raise the issue of filtering
anishakaul - you will need a brand of camera that has a good range of lens accessories :- filters, hoods etc


floppy

The pixel count sets the upper limit on resolution. Once you have "enough" pixels, then other factors dominate. Within any given design, there is always a balance, and improving any particular parameter will not help overall performance. There have been quite a few articles recently arguing that there is too much marketing emphasis on the pixel count.

For nature photography, think also about panorama stiching SW (free) and Printers (expensive)

Originally Posted by pixellany For nature photography, think also about panorama stiching SW (free) and Printers (expensive)

I couldn't understand what is panorama stiching . I am not technically sound in camera things.

I don't know how much difference can be seen in the quality of image in case I purchase a camera costing $600 and a camera costing $450.

Kindly guide !

panorama stitching takes several pictures of the same general location (eg, you are at the beach and you take a picture of the right, center and left) and joins them into one, usually they dont look that great IMHO.

Originally Posted by smeezekitty (eg, you are at the beach and you take a picture of the right, center and left) and joins them into one, usually they dont look that great IMHO.

Thanks for replying !

What's the fun in taking the pictures right, center and left and then joining them into one ?

What's IMHO ?

Originally Posted by anishakaul What's the fun in taking the pictures right, center and left and then joining them into one ?

Making panorama pictures from a closer distance (with less expensive lenses) if needed.

Originally Posted by anishakaul What's IMHO ?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=imho

IMHO = "In My Humble Opinion"

Stitching is used whenever you want a field of view that is larger than what the camera provides---or if you want to get extremely high resolution. For example, many digital cameras have a "wide angle" limit equivalent to a 35mm lens on a film camera. To get a wider view, I routinely shoot 2 or three pictures and stitch them.

There are MANY situations where stitching is the only way to get the picture---eg if you are close to a tall building.

The premier tool is Panotools, which has at least 2 really good GUI front ends: PTAssembler (Windows) and Hugin (Linux) For some really good examples of what can be done, go here:
http://www.tawbaware.com/index.html

usually they don't look that great IMHO.

Well--that might be a function of the CONTENT of the picture, don't you think? Look at the site above and then see what you think.