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Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Old 08-20-2005, 08:42 PM
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TLH101
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Default Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

I have been using a "cheepie" camara for several years now and I want to step up. I am looking for something that will be good for shooting models in-flight, and on the ground as well. I want to be able to get a reasonable amount of zoom for the inflight shots as well. Video is really not a big issue though. I don't know much about digital camaras, so I don't know what to look for. How many MP, digital or optical zoom, & how many times zoom?
BTW, I am not looking for a "big buck" camara. I only use it for models most of the time.
What are you using that works well, or what do you recommend?
I think there may others out there that may have the same questions.
Thanks
Old 08-20-2005, 10:06 PM
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MrMulligan
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

I have a Konica/Minolta Z5. It has a 12X optical zoom and a variety of settings including two movie modes. Since I'm getting older and it's a bit hard to control a large zoom that this has, it comes with Anti-Shake for stabilization. It's a 5 MegaPixil camera. They're from $350 to $450 depending on where you look. I like it a lot. It has an electronic viewfinder that shows the same picture the LCD shows. It's a lot like a single-lens reflex. You can use AA alkalines or rechargeables. It uses the SD card.
Old 08-20-2005, 11:03 PM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Need to know a price range you want to work in. There are many cameras to choose from. Go digital, that's for sure. For a "point and shoot" type picture taker that will be the most convenient for you.
Old 08-21-2005, 12:55 AM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

I've had good luck with my Nikon Coolpix 5700, very nice photos, lots of features/settings. Li-Ion Battery w/charger, 5.0 mega P, 8x Zoom, etc. There are a lot of good camera's out there now. Good Luck.
Old 08-21-2005, 01:47 AM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Have a look in here....[sm=thumbup.gif]

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_352/tt.htm

Old 08-21-2005, 09:10 AM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Didn't like the delay between pushing the button and actually taking the pictures. No good taking a pic. on a flyby. Usually missed the plane altogether. Complained to a guy at Radio Shack and and he said you need a camera with Burst Mode. Takes a series of 4 to 8 pics fast, one after the other. View the pics. keep the one you want and delete the bummers. That was the answer for me.
Old 08-21-2005, 09:59 AM
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TLH101
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Dave, thanks for the link. I must have had a "brainfart", as I looked for that forum and could not find it. OFS, I guess

Kmot, I was hoping to get something undr $300, the farther under the better. I am "frugal".

Gord, good point. I forgot all about the delay, & have never heard of "Burst" mode, before.
Thanks
Old 08-21-2005, 11:43 AM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Hmm.. never knew that Forum existed!

I have had several 35mm film cameras and currently still have a Minolta Maxxum system. I have used 3 different digital cameras for the past 5 years and have my fourth one now, an Olympus E-300. Digital is the way to go for convenience, instant picture gratification, and cost. Think of all the savings of not buying, processing, and printing 35mm pictures.

I bought a digital for my wife. She needed a simple point and shoot camera. I also wanted her to take quality pictures. She was going on a trip to Europe and I wanted to be sure she got good pictures. However, it had to be simple to operate. "Clock in the VCR" syndrome if you get my drift......
I bought her a Fuji A330 Finepix digital camera. Under $200 and it is easy to use. Small to carry. Takes excellent quality pics. Uses cheap AA alkaline batteries. So that is a camera I can recommend from personal experience.

With any camera, let alone digital, it is important to "pan" with the moving object while pressing the shutter button so that you do not get a blurred out image of the object. And every digital camera I have seen has a "half step" where you push the shutter half way down which sets and locks the focus and shutter speed and then when you push the button all the way it instantly takes the pic. Burst mode is for taking a series of action shots, not for tossing out the "bad ones". And you still need to pan with the moving object while in Burst or you will end up with blurry shots.
Old 08-21-2005, 12:24 PM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Hey Guys, check this out....I bought one of these to have a small camera handy...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&Sku=C331-1018

The darn thing takes movie with sound, as well as burst and all the other goodies.
Decent zoom too....macro....the works. I got the camera, and a 256 memory
delivered for about $135 bucks. It runs on two AA batts. No charging hassles.

I'm not kidding, the movies are great. If you want to start out in digital this is
a good way to go without breaking the bank. A couple of my friends ordered
them as soon as they saw how neat mine was, and the price is right.

Dave.
Old 08-21-2005, 01:08 PM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Here's a few shots with the camera. The first two are the zoom.
Now, there are settings to use for indoor, oudoor, groups, landscapes, different
lighting situations, ect....and I'm not using any of them. The camera is capable
of taking real good pictures. One thing about digitals....it takes a little practice to
get really good pictures. The good news is you never have to buy any film, or
pay for developing. If the shot isn't what you want....simply delete it.

The little camera comes with the software to the computer, even the cord, and
a nice carrying case....it's real handy to take along....fits in the shirt pocket.

I didn't post this down with the "Big Boy" cameras, I didn't want to get laughed at.

Dave.
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Old 08-21-2005, 06:45 PM
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TLH101
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Well, I have been researching all day and I think maybe I will try this Kodak Easyshare CX4730: http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/koda...0-reviews.html
Has good reviews, compared to most of the others I looked at, and seems to have all I need in a camara.
Old 08-21-2005, 07:06 PM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

I have a Canon Powershot S1 IS. It's a great camera, takes really nice pictures, user friendly software, very intuitive.
One feature I like most is the capability to take several shots in sequence. This is great when you are shoting a plane in the air, mainly on landing or on low pass. I have mine for one year now.
Take a look on it at [link=http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s1-review/index.shtml]Canon S1 review[/link]


Canon just released the S2 model which kept all nice things the S1 has plus a lot on nice additions, like the 12x zoon and zero inch macro.

You can also check it at [link=http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s2-review/]Canon S2 review[/link]
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Old 08-25-2005, 10:58 AM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

I really like my Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom. Here are a few shots that I took. All are R/C airplanes.

Ken
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Old 08-26-2005, 09:16 AM
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Default RE: Need a Good Digital Camara for R/C shots.

Stepping up-----
Only two real choices -in types
An SLR or a fast burst mode with a high optical magnification.
The money- from about $400 (burst types) to $800- $1100 SLR types
If it isn't an SLR -- there is that little "focus time" -which will cause you to miss a shot on all the others . So burst type is the fix.
The SLRs will shot rapidily and generally have better chips for more image.
Look for a minimum of 6 mega pix and a interchangable lens or a good adjustable one .
The Canon Rebel is good.
As soon as you drop below this type there are a jillion types and brands and models and down to a hundred bucks -all will do terrific slow speed or still shots
I spent $700 bucks a for my first digital - a Sony Mavica -which by present standards is a stone age device- Mine still works fine has a 10x lens. But it now is on the "shelf" with my Nikon 35 stuff and an old Kodak-etc
Kodak announced they are shutting down more photopaper factories here and abroad -in the mad scramble to switch over to digital.
I don't miss anything about my old film stuff - even thop I had a tiny darkroom and did my own work when I was thirteen.
Iwill knock out 50 shots going for one now -without giving it a seconds thought .
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