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Author Topic: Looking 4 camera - bee pics  (Read 7675 times)

Offline gottabee

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Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« on: February 19, 2007, 09:39:07 pm »
I am looking for a good digital camera with a sufficient macro lens for detailed bee pics. You guys have some awsome close detail pics out there! Is there a relatively inexpensive digital point and shoot with a good macro lens right out of the box? Thanks.

Offline 2-Wheeler

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2007, 12:05:20 am »
I've been using an Olympus C-7000 Zoom (discontinued). It has 7.1 Mpixel, 5x optical zoom and 2 modes of Macro. It also has plenty of manual controls to dial-in custom settings. They are cheap now and you can easily buy a full kit in good shape on ebay for about $150.  (I just sold mine there.) There are also factory refurbs for about $200 with warranty.  My only complaint was slow shutter response.

I just upgraded to Nikon D200 (Digital SLR).

Olympus C-7000 specs: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/cpg_archived_product_details.asp?id=1136

Full review: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/olympus/c7000z-review/

Sample pictures from C-7000: http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?topic=6324.0
-David Broberg   CWOP#: CW5670 / CoCoRaHS #CO-BO-218
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Offline lively Bee's

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2007, 12:18:47 pm »
I gave my father a Kodak Easy Share C875 8mp for christmas and I got to tell you it takes some very nice up close pic.

My brother aslo bought one and he loves it also cost 163.99

both came from here http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=KDC875

you might look into the z710 http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=KDZ710 for right at $200




Offline Kirk-o

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2007, 06:49:47 pm »
I got a cannon its pretty good
kirk-o
"It's not about Honey it's not about Money It's about SURVIVAL" Charles Martin Simmon

Offline Belzabeya

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2007, 07:35:22 pm »
I think I got a good tip for you.  First, I would recommend a digital SLR as opposed to a “soap box”. I have a Nikon D50 and I love it, not counting the fact that you can find it used for a great price right now because everyone is looking to get into the D80 (6 Mega Pixels in that kind of camera is REALLY GOOD).  The next thing you do is get “extension tubes” for your camera instead of buying and expansive macro lens. The down side to not spending $600 -$1000 for a true close up lens is that you don’t get as much “depth of fields” but it is still pretty good. I am so amazed by those extension tubes; I take pictures of things I can’t see with my eyes.  If all goes well you will be able to count the hair on your bees.  Have fun!
P.S. I can't attach a picture or a link to my post because I am a "newbee" on this site.  I do have shots to show you if you want, I will just need your email. 

Offline lively Bee's

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2007, 11:32:32 pm »
Belx I have a D200 dslr with 3 lens and a macro lens.  The multiplier lens that you are talking about realy slows the shutter speed down on a camera it is well worth the money to buy a nice macro lens.  A dslr is only as good as the len and the shutter speed.

If they are on a budget a point and shoot is the best option for the money.  But every one has his or her on needs and wonts.


Keith

Offline 2-Wheeler

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2007, 01:05:54 am »
Nikon DSLRs and beekeepers, cool.  8-)

Do either of you (lively bees or Belzabeya) have any close-up photos of bees you've posted?  I'm sure some of us would love to see them.
-David Broberg   CWOP#: CW5670 / CoCoRaHS #CO-BO-218
Blog: http://beesandblooms.blogspot.com/
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Offline KONASDAD

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2007, 10:04:03 am »
This pic taken on an Olympus Camedia 5mp w/o its macro option being used. The camera has two macro options though.
"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".

Offline Belzabeya

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2007, 10:16:46 am »
I do think that cost is an issue for a lot of people, but to a point. You have to pay a little money to get something good. The D200 with a macro lens takes you over $2000 easy.  My setup with the D50 and the extension tubes would be about $600-$700 if you buy it new.  I have taken some pictures of bees showing details that I have never seen before.  The slow shutter speed does not seem to have a big impact.  The depth of field is bothering me a little bit, but is acceptable considering the cost.  I do not think that buying a point and shoot is a good investment because you can't upgrade the lens.  I would love to share some pictures but I can't post any because I am new on this forum and it won't let me (I think it has something do to with spams).
Anyways, I would love to see a picture of bees taken with the macro lens I can't afford, and see how my extension tubes compare. Livelybee, can you share some pictures?  If someone give me an email to send my pictures to, maybe he/she can post them for me....
(my icon was taken with my extensin tubes)

Offline Drone

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2007, 10:39:43 am »
Hey There!

Here are a few shots that Belzabeya took last weekend...

i150.photobucket.com/albums/s86/Drone_05/frontcloseup.jpg
i150.photobucket.com/albums/s86/Drone_05/sippingbee.jpg
i150.photobucket.com/albums/s86/Drone_05/babybee.jpg

She's sure that she took all these shots, but I think I may have pulled the trigger one one of them (well, maybe not).

I hope you can see these - it's my first time using photobucket and I tend to be a bit of a spaz with new stuff.

-John

Offline Drone

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2007, 10:41:21 am »
I wasn't able to post a URL (since I'm a new bee) so you will have to copy the above links into your browser.

-John

Offline lively Bee's

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2007, 02:47:19 pm »
I will post some pic when I get the chance.  I will also post some from the cannon point and shoot that we have also.  I use verizon dial up so it takes me a while to get them loaded Comcast has never ran the line to my house so that I can get high speed cable.

Belz you are correct when you say the body and the lens will cost around 2k I paided $4500 for the body and the 4 lens that I bought.  we looked for months before we decided on the D200.  We still use are point and shoot also when we are use out and about and dont wont to case 15lbs of camera and gear with us.

Offline Belzabeya

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2007, 02:58:08 pm »
Well, the point I was making is that your setup is expensive, VERY expansive.  I looked up the price for your D200 (body only) and it looks like you get it for $1300.  Not including the expansive macro lens.  I think that my setup will make an advanced amateur pretty good macro shots of bees for not that much money ($600-$700).  Can't wait to see your pictures. Did you see my pictures? (see above posting from Drone).  Love them bees!!!!

Offline michelleb

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2007, 03:16:57 pm »
I'm also a Nikon D200 shooter, but then again I shoot professionally---so of course I'm gonna say "get the best glass/camera you can afford". But at the same time, I've had fun with extension tubes too.

Like with beekeeping, you can spend as little or as much as you want---it's all relative to what you want to do.

Sadly, I rarely take my gear to the beeyard--cobbler's kids wear no shoes kind of thing--and I love seeing everybody's awesome pictures.
Pocket Meadow Farm

Offline lively Bee's

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2007, 05:27:35 pm »
I am no pro I would not even say that I am a advanced amateur I am 100% rookie.  I can take some of the worst pic you have ever seen with a camera.  my wife takes most of the photos but the bee stuff kinda freaks her out when they start buzz'n around :) I kow that i ruined some shots with a multiplier that came out blurry b/c the shutter speed was to slow so after that I just save up and buy the len that I wont.

Offline wtiger

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2007, 03:58:47 am »
I've been happy with my olympus sp-510uz.  Pictures and be a little grainy indoors in low light on auto without minor adjustments, but it can take some fantastic pictures with a little tinkering and I've been very impressed with it's 2 macro settings.

Offline Drone

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2007, 08:08:59 am »
I was wondering if anyone was able to look at the links I posted earlier in this thread.

They were taken using extension tubes. If you look at them, and have a way to zoom in (i use Photoshop), the detail is pretty unbelievable.

Plus, they are the most beautiful bees you will ever see. But then, what else would you expect from a proud parent? :-D

-John

Offline gottabee

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #17 on: February 22, 2007, 09:40:10 pm »
Hey Drone,
That babybee shot is awsome!

Offline gottabee

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #18 on: February 22, 2007, 09:46:42 pm »
Konasdad,
You took that shot with what?? Olympus what model?

Offline lively Bee's

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Re: Looking 4 camera - bee pics
« Reply #19 on: February 23, 2007, 12:15:01 am »
For the last 2 days I have tried to get photos uploaded to my web site but all it says is
0 uploads were successful.

I dont know if it is my slow internet or what.   It is a coppermine photo album I have the pic size set to allow photos from me upto 10,000k and 4000 x 4000 pix and they still seem to fail.  the only other thing I can do is drive over to my brothers house this week end and use his high speed internet and see if I can get them to upload

I said in a post before we also had a cannon point and shoot well I was wrong it is a olympus c-3000 3.3 mp you can see photos that were aken by this camera on my web site

www.fireandfleet.com/gallery

I will do my best to try and find out why i cant get the pic uploaded to my site. 

I love hardware I just hate the software needed to make it work  :-X

 

anything