Since we get questions about cameras a lot around here, I've created one big master thread for all things camera related.  Previous threads about cameras have been merged.  If you come across one that I missed, please let me know and I'll merge it too.  Feel free to ask questions about specific cameras, offer up camera reviews, or even get and give photography tips (i.e. how to use specific camera functions).  I hope this is a valuable resource for everyone!

Below is an old message of asking for photography tips.

*Poohki*

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I was wondering how you all get your pictures to come out so well.
I cannot get good pictures of my pinkys.  They always come out fuzzy/and or with glare.  Thanks.

Well, I just have a really good camera. The important thing to remember is to NOT stand too close to your Pinkys. It's better to stand far away and zoom in than to stand close and have to zoom out.

That depends on the "macro". My camera's is 1cm-16cm (the minimum is less than 0.5'') so I can stand really very very close to my Pinkys.

If you have a good camera, good macro and a tripod you will be able to take very good photos. I have a Ricoh Caplio G4 Wide (not too expensive, 180€ aprox.) and I can take photos like these ^^

I'm not an expert by any means    But what I found out for myself are those simple things:

1. you need good light, possibly from multiple sources, for example, if you have a set (a background, and item and pinkys around it, etc) put lights on both sides of the set (looking from where you will be taking your picture), the front and maybe even above. I have lots of paper lanterns that I bought on sale years ago and they prove to be a godsend! The paper diffuses the harsh light you would get from a light bulb - that should take care of the glare.  The multiple lights will get rid of any nasty sharp shadows on Pinky faces (for example). Of course if you're going for arty, dramatic shot, that's another thing.

Usually, if you have bad light, and I assume you use a digital camera on automatic setting, the camera tries to compensate for the lack of light and it will take a picture longer. That in turn, because you're holding the camera - your arms will shake, unless you're a Strong Man,    that will cause  the picture to be fuzzy and out of focus. Having a tripod and maybe even a remote (so you don't accidentaly move the camera while you're pushing the button) help a lot.  Alternatively, if you rest your wrists  on something while taking the picture, that will give you a better result too.

Is the glare coming for the built-in flash? I absolutely hate bulit-in flashes, and I have never taken one good photo with it.  That's why I either take photos outside in sunlight, or set up multiple lights indoors.  

Oh, just remembered. If you do use lights indoors, you will most likely need to diffuse the light from them, for which you can use paper sheets or some white fabric (I have muslin).

2. I second what Eiko said about zooming in.  Also, you'll have to be at a correct distance (camera to pinky) otherwise, too close and you'll get a fuzzy shot, too far away and you'll get a fuzzy shot too. The distance varies from camera to camera.  

3. I noticed that on both of my cameras, when in macro mode (if you use that) you have to hold the camera absolutely still, if you move, the picture will come out out of focus. Needless to say, wherever my camera goes, the tripod follows. It makes for bulk baggage to carry, but the pictures are much better  

Gawd, but I'm long winded... !  

We should have Robot post some tips on photography, she takes brilliant pictures! And isotropic is the queen of creative lighting! (Where are you Misty?   )

I agree that Lighting is key. I had a nice general purppose almost always takes good pictures digi cam but have misplaced it  

but I got a little mini dv w/ no flash that takes stills for christmas  

However pics are usually very fuzzy  :pdrop:

But with the right lighting I was able to take a pic of my pinky's that didn't make my eyes hurt  

Okay.  So I have a digicam that's a couple years old now, which naturally makes it pretty ancient in the world of digital photography.      I'm starting to look at replacing it, and I'd love to get people's opinions on what they use and can recommend.  Conversely, I'd love to also hear about cameras you've tried and DIDN'T like, so I know what I should stay away from.  I really want a camera with a macro setting, since I love taking Pinky pics, and my current camera doesn't do such a great job with that (it doesn't have macro).  So what are your experiences?

I'm a rabid Nikon fan, so I recommend any of those... I've seen beautiful stuff from the Canon Rebel 300D (although haven't had a chance to play with that one) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Olympus Camedia 5050... I'll be taking pics today, so I'll try to get you some examples soon of it's macro feature.

I was playing around with the Olympus cameras at the computer store just yesterday, and they seemed pretty easy to use.  I was able to get it to focus pretty well on really close things.  I currently have a Nikon Coolpix 2100, and I do love its vibrant colors.  

I have a Canon Powershot. Great camera!! I love Canon cameras.

My Kodak Easyshare CX6330 is actually alright in spite of not being super-new.  Actually, it's better with landscapes than close-ups, so it's probably not what you want.

I have a Sony Cyber-shot because it uses the same memory stick as my Sony Clie Palm.

Though I have to warn you about the Cyber-shot. It can't recognize some colors.

Lamika's hair is teal. I took pictures of my friend Barb's Lamika and her hair came out a light green.

Other than that, it's a great camera for a cheap price (i have a 3.1Megapixel camera and I got it for less than $100).

I've been using 2 different cameras for my pinky photography. Mostly, I use a minolta dimage 5 (gawd, you'd think I'd remember after all this time, but I can't recall lol, I think it's 3 or 4 megapixel?), and most of my photos are taken with this camera. It's fine for web publishing. I love the setting when I can control "exposure", and I tend to take 3 or 4 photos of the same scene, each with a different "exposure" setting. Sometimes, the photos look quite grainy, (only when the light is low, or when I've set the "film speed" too high) but I can take care of that by using smart blur on each channel in PS and scaling down the photo. After all, I only use those images for the web, so the large size doesn't really matter as I never print those photos out.

My other camera, is a simple point and shoot thing, It's a fujifilm 1300 (1.3megapixel). It's pretty old, as it was my first digital camera, but for something this old and simple, it takes awesome photos! It has a switch for macro (but no zoom lens), and you have to know what the distance to hold the camera from the object you're shooting, as sometimes the lsd display doesn't show clearly. If you remember the fake pinky catalogue that Smyk posted a while back (the photos are in Suu and Kokoro gallery on the site), they were taken with the little fujifilm. One great thing about compact cameras, you can get really close to your subject and photograph it from strange angles. Smyk could get "under" the pinky to make her look like she's 6 feet tall LOL and you just can't do it with a bigger camera. It's one of the reasons, why I want to replace the fujifilm with a newer and more compact camera with higher megapixelage... I hate lugging my bulky and much heaver dimage to take pinky photos. Plus, people always notice a big camera, while I can just pull out the fujifilm, take some photos and no one's the wiser LOL

I want to replace both cameras really, and since I have a manual minolta with some lenses, I will probably get a minolta digital SLR camera as they can share the lenses

Minolta D7D is a very good DSLR~

I am using Nikon D100 (DSLR) & Canon S45 (DC)
Both of them are over 2yrs old.

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I am looking forword to get a Canon A95 (DC) to replace the S45
The reasons I give myself are:

1. It is a DC that can under my control, I don't like the DCs that control me.  What I mean is, I want to have M, AV, TV modes.  Not using the pre-set modes.

2. It's LCD is flipable, so I can place the dc close to the floor and shoot pinkys, instead of lying on the floor

3. Marco, AA battery...  

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Now-a-day, there are more DSLR in the market.
Nikon D70 & Canon 350D have a very good price, under US$1K
They are also lighter weight.
(only I know Canon 350D is a bit slow)

another class would be Nikon D100, D2H, Minolto D7D, Fuji S3Pro, Canon 20D...
they are all good.  D100 released over 2yrs, so, it is cheaper in the market now.  The others would be around US$2K

Lenses are important too. Sorry, I am only familiar with Nikon, you may check on the spec. of different brand.
For Nikon, in general, AF 35/2, 60/2.8 are the best for taking pinky photo.
Of course, other lenses are good too.  I am just saying in general.

Sorry, saying too much
I may let other big brother & big sister to say some more.

Eeeek !    I just bought Canon Powershot A95 !    It was the flippable lcd that did it.. it's arriving on friday! yay yay yay !   No more lying on the floor or my bum sticking up high in the air LOL