Herp photography cam

[Nikki Gervais]

Hey all,
I have been meaning to get a cam for ages but I have no idea what type of digital camera I should by or what type of prices I'm looking at. I always spend all my money on herps lol so I haven't really gone lookin for a cam.

What types of features should I be looking for? I would like one that can take excellent close ups if possible, but as long as it can take excellent 'not so close' shots it would be great.

Also one that you could possibly change the lens types (200mm, 300 mm etc) would be great. Are digi cams like regular SLR cams in that, the lenses can be changed?

Names, features, prices anyone? Thanks! :D

Fresh outta shed, enjoy! :D

[Lisa]

I really like the Sony Mavica CD-300

it's 3.3 megapixal, saves to CDRW (180MB for $2-3), does video, does great macro as you may have seen from my photos on http://snakes.lexxdog.com and great regular photos as seen from my zoo pics, http://geekgrrl.ca/zoo/

The thing i like about the CDRW is that you can finalize the disk and toss it into a CD-Rom and read it there when there's no USB connection available, no special card readers needed.

you can get additional lenses for it, I think it's supplied lense works like a 30-200mm.

the new one (the CD-400) is 4.1 megapixal.

[Nikki Gervais]

Nice, what's the price on it?

[Big Mike]

You can get "SLR" type digi cams from Canon and Nikon etc. but the price is still extremly high...last I check anyway. You will want one with a macro or close-up mode for good herp pics. The more you spend, the more megapixals you get. Shop around.

[Lisa]

Originally posted by Nikki Gervais
Nice, what's the price on it?

it's going for about 1200 for the top of the line cd-400 (which is way cheaper then our 300 went for spring of 2001)

here's a link to henry's and future shop though you can find it cheaper else where (maybe ebay, etc)

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplay?URL=%2Fwebapp%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet %2FPageDisplay%3Fdest%3Dframes.jsp&currency=CAD&dest=frames.jsp&storeId=10001

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&dept=0&WLBS=fs%2Dweb4&biasid=A0C6EC335E4146D18D980D2A64F479B6&MSCSProfile=04F5E73718534B931FE272F980C40E90B803C6 C53E5FAE858313BA134460ADD8063DE7FB33F5917787598B43 83B70611CF9D1713A9BA462456D013E359FAE2FC86ADC91123 22AED7423B18EF9AFAF2056AFA2E6D6232B60A54047B282641 6ABDFDF372AF65FAE066EA7AB2D9A2DC51685525FBD020BA6D 08&sku_id=0665000FS10015602&catid=&newdeptid=14

[Lisa]

I've also used a Kodak 4800 which is a 3.1 megapixal. It needs a special lens for the macro mode and it will do a 3 shot burst (no video like the Sony)
It uses Compact flash cards which requires usb or a compact flash reader (usb or pcmcia).
I felt the distance shots were sub par, and lower light shots were bad.

[PoiSoNouS]

I use Canon Powershot A20, 2.1 megapixel is enough,
the macro option is what you need, and Optical Zoom.

This one is probably no more in stores but
I love Canon's digicams.. I would recommend one to you :)

My sSnakeSs.com Gallery (http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/showgallery.php?thumb=1&stype=2&si=poisonous&perpage=28&sort=1&cat=500&user=)

[Nikki Gervais]

Thanks so much gals/guys! Next time I'm in Sudbury I'm gonna go check out future shop and and the other lil cam stores. I have a friend who just happens to be good friends with one of the big dealers, maybe I can get one for a good price from him. :) ;)

Big Mike, thank you for your tips. :) :D

Lisa, thanks so much for all your information! The link to the camera on future shop was really neat looking! :D Unfortunately the link to Henry's didn't work. :p

PoiSoNouS, I checked out the snakes in your photo gallery, absolutely stunning specimens!. I love you reticulated python! I have been trying to get some with no luck. Just gonna have to pick up some from the states. :rolleyes: :D My favourite are the super silver ones, tigers, super tigers and the sulawesi yellowheads. :) The good thing about tigers is when you buy a pair of those you can produce super tigers and not even have to worry about spending 700$ US to get one! :D

I really like the following camera: http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/G2/ Has some excellent features and a price to match. It allows you to make movies which I thought was cool but then I remembered I can buy a video cam and hook it up to my comp and make movies too. LOL It takes some beautiful pics from the looks of it. A friend of mine uses that camera and the photos are absolutely stunning. What do you all think of this camera??

[Cornelsworld]

Go with a Nikon or a Canon G Series. they are in my opinion the best camers for close up and getting detailed pictures of your animals. I now use the Nikon Cool Pix 5000, but I have also used the Kodak Dc 4800. I have heard the Canon G1 and G2 are really good cameras for close ups. Another camera that would be cheaper would be the Nikon Coolpix 990 or 995. The 990 I believe is discontinued, but the other one is still available.

Hope that helps

Greg

[Linds]

I use the Canon Powershot A40. It starts at $499. I don't have a clue what I'm talking about so I won't even try and pretned like I do! All I know is that even I can take great pics with it! :D

Here's a few pics and a link to my album...

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/508/22peanutmacrohead.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/508/22nauthiscales.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/22lilballhead.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/22macroborneoout.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/503/22upclosefroggy.jpg">

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/508/22tagzmacrohead.jpg">

<a href="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&si=linds&thumb=1&page=1&sort=1&perpage=12&user=&stype=2">My sSNAKESs.com Album</a>

[Nikki Gervais]

OMG whoa! Linds! Those pics are amazing! And that cam is so cheap! That's unbelievable! That one has now been bumped up to the top of my list lol! I have got to go check that cam out! Linds and Mary know whats da best cam, dats for sure! :D

Cornelsworld, thanks so much for your response! :) I'ma add the cams you listed to my list. :)

From the sounds of it I might be able to get a wicked cam for 6 - 800$. Which is great cuz I was figurin I was gonna have to spend alot more $$$, like 12-1500. :eek:

Now I can focus on getting the other things I want this upcoming spring/summer, like... 100% het albino balls or retics! :D ;)

[Nikki Gervais]

Linds I just finished checkin out all you photos, A++++++++++++!!!! Your pics are great! I love your lil blood! OMG it's so cute! And your hogg island boa is such a gem! Yer so lucky to have those awsome critters! :) :D

[Nikki Gervais]

I just thought of something... I go herping alot at night especially for rattlers, snappers and frogs in the summer. I was wondering if those cams take good night pics? I have my head torch on so there is some light. Do those cams have a flash? The Canon Powershot A40 specifically since that's the one I'm leaning towards, unless I find one that takes better pics for a similar price. :D

(head torch: It's a light on a strap that attaches and sits on your forehead, allows you to have both hands free, EXCELLENT for herping! For those who have no clue what it is :p)