[LRTJS]

Ok all my fellow DC camera buffs, you know the ones who post all these great pictures I need some advice. My daughter is in architecture school and needs a very good digital camera. I know nothing about them. I know there is something about pixels. How many do you need for the camera do be a really good one? What are some reasonably priced brands?
Thanks!

[GrumpyDad]

Fianally something I can help with.

I know my way around all formats of film cameras, and have been printing digitally for a few years now, but have only recently dipped my toes into digital cameras. There is really good, then there is pro quality, I am going to make an assumption that your daughter needs really good.

I've done some architecture work over the years and the three things I've found useful are lots of resolution, wide lenses, and movements.

Movements are used to correct "line convergance" that is the habit of straight lines (like the side of a building) to seem to angle towards each other when you tilt the camera back or forward, and are generally only found in large format cameras and in special "shift lenses". However some of the newer digital software allows you to correct this imperfection ( we used to do it by tilting the easel when printing {I know too much info}). So we won't even worry about movements other then to recognize they are there.

So next we need to look at wide lenses. By wide you are generally talking about a lense that is the equivilant of a 20 to 24mm in the 35mm format. There are three ways to get a wide lens. The first is with a camera which allows you to switch lenses, the problem is these start about $1500.00 and go up pretty quickly, (I personally lust after a Nikon D100 to allow me to use my investment in Nikon lenses). The second is with zoom lenses, here you can sacrifice a bit of sharpness for the zoom ability and the lenses normally only go as wide as a 28mm equivelant, not really enough. And lastly, some of the nicer "pro-sumer" cameras have optional converter lenses available, an example would be the Nikon CoolPix series cameras. ( I am a Nikon loyalist, however any of the better brands like Canon, or Fuji will do essentially the same thing.)

Finally resolution comes into play. Here you need to consider what size pictures she wants to make and how real they need to look. It is generally considered a rule of thumb in digital printing that to make a photo-realistic image, that is one that looks like it was captured on 35mm film, you need a resolution of between 240 and 360 dpi ( some insist 300-360 dpi ). Doing the math an 8" x 10" picture would require a rock bottom, absolute minimum 1920x2400 or 4.6 megs of info whereas a 5x7 print only requires a little over 2 meg. Now there are software programs to help this along, but these are some ballpark numbers. ( The images I work with are in the 18 megabyte or larger range ). There is a pretty steep price difference between a 2 and a 5 megapixel camera so you really do need to see what she will do with her output.

I hope this helps some, if you would like to ask more questions I would be happy to try and answer them.

Good luck,
-harry

[LRTJS]

Harry, thanks so much for the information! I am going to ask her some more questions and I will be back asking some more questions of you soon! The 1,500 dollar camera would defintely be a problam so hopefully we can find a compromise. The architecture program itself has already cost me a fortune, and deprived me of several DW trips~But hopefully it will be worth it one day when DD designs and builds me a beautiful retirement home in Florida!!!

[lopo]

There have been several posts on DC about digital cameras. You may want to check the archives.

And, darn! I remember using a website that offered lots of info (objective) about them but I cannot find the link anywhere now. (I had a hard drive crash a few months ago and lost all sorts of stuff including my great bookmark list.) If I can locate the url again, I will definitely post it for you. I'll poke around a bit more . . .

[MickeyMac]

LRTJS - that is wunnnerful! Where is your DD going to school? My DS wants to become an architect. Flops between that and a professional lacrosse player. LOL!

I highly suggest sticking to a camera company that also makes digitals, as GrumpyDad recommends. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc.

Ask her how true to convergence she needs, or if she can use her eyes to compensate for what she needs to draw. I'm guessing the teachers will allow for some levity here, so you could get away with something in the $400 to $800 range. I think you could get away with a decent 4MP+ (she will probably have to either do blow-up work or large shots?) and again, as GrumpyDad says, try to find something with a wider angle lense (for some reason, the Olympus comes to mind? dunno why, have to gander over to the following website, but I thought they had a new camera coming out with a wider angle lense)

I use www.dpreview.com a *lot*. Like now, so I can check and see if I remember the right commercial... :D You can send it to your DD and she can check out the technicals, if this isn't to be a surprise.

[PharroutRacing]

This site has every thing about cameras you could want. He brakes it down so you know what he is talking about.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/

[CowboyMickey]

Originally posted by GrumpyDad
.....Movements are used to correct "line convergance" that is the habit of straight lines (like the side of a building) to seem to angle towards each other when you tilt the camera back or forward, and are generally only found in large format cameras and in special "shift lenses". However some of the newer digital software allows you to correct this imperfection ( we used to do it by tilting the easel when printing {I know too much info}). So we won't even worry about movements other then to recognize they are there.....

.......And lastly, some of the nicer "pro-sumer" cameras have optional converter lenses available, an example would be the Nikon CoolPix series cameras.....

Wow...what a reply! Lots of great info there Harry...helps me too! To chuck my 2 cents worth in, I've been looking for ages at upgrading my Sony digital. After much research (using both the sites mentioned in posts below), I've gone ahead and bought the Nikon Coolpix 4500. My dad uses one now, and he's been a very keen photographer for many, many years, so his opinion counted a lot with me. He's taken some superb shots, even printed them out in A3 format, framed them and sold them! So I've got no worries about the quality of the shots taken. One of the other reasons I'm going for this camera is that it takes the Nikon fisheye lens, which will enable me to do full 360x180 degree shots.

One interesting aspect of the camera is that it does have the built in 'movements' convertor (as described by Harry above) which remove the problem of line convergence on parallel lines. I've seen and used this on the Nikon 4500, and it works brilliantly.

I haven't got my camera yet, but hopefully I'll have it soon...I ended up buying it from New York, as it is at least $350 cheaper on the USA side of the pond! For my Nikon 4500, it cost around $400. If you want, you can see more info about it here.

I agree with Harry...if anyone knows anyone giving away Nikon D100s, please let us know! (I wish....;) )

Hope this helps,
CM

[lopo]

PharroutRacing, that is the site I was trying to locate. (I've bookmarked it again for future reference. Thanks!)

[LRTJS]

[quote]Originally posted by MickeyMac
[b]LRTJS - that is wunnnerful! Where is your DD going to school? My DS wants to become an architect. Flops between that and a professional lacrosse player. LOL!

IMy DD is in architect school at Auburn University. It is one of the top 10 in the U.S. She loves it but it is so very hard. They are treated almost like an intern in a hospital. She lives, breathes, thinks and eats in the architecture studio. This next semester she will be living off campus in what they call rural studio. They will be desingning and building a home! Next year she will be in Europe for 6 weeks. Wunnerful for her, expensive for me, but it is worth it. It is a five year program and hopefully will open many doors for her.
Thanks for all these site on cameras. I will be looking and comparing and trying to make a decision soon. You are all fantastic! If one of you has the time could you check out this deal and tell me what you think?
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2....PROD_ID=538674

[GrumpyDad]

LRTJS,

I looked at the camera you posted and the first thing that caught my attention is that it is a refurbished unit. That basicly means someone else broke it, returned it, and the fixed it and are reselling it. For the money I would be a bit leary of this as the microelectronics in these cameras can be finicky when treated roughly. Secondly, she really is going to need a wider lens that this camera provides and it does not seem like this one has the capabilities for converter lenses to be added.

Here is a link to the site where I spend all my camera money. They are very reliable and the equipment is fairly priced, check them out. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...rch&Q=&ci=6224

-harry

ps: Just hired an architect for my current rehab project. I tend to work on homes in the Prairie style and this guy blew me away with his knowledge. Wish I had realised in my college days how much I love designing homes! Of course, after helping my youngest DD with her algebra, I remember that my math skills are a bit suspect :whistle: .

[PharroutRacing]

You are welcome lopo. That site helped me pick mine out last year. I have a Olympus 720UZ(that I love). Now just one year later they come out with the 750UZ that thing is sweet. Only if I would have waited. 10x optical (this is the important one)and 4x digital. Talk about Zoom Zoom. This is it. http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_se...=2&product=910

[LRTJS]

Grumpy Dad, thanks so much for pointing out that it was a refurbished camera. I don't want any part of that! I am going to spend a lot of time on these web sites you guys sent me and then I will be back for advice for my final decision. You have all been so very helpful!!
Leslie

[MickeyRon]

Originally posted by CowboyMickey
I haven't got my camera yet, but hopefully I'll have it soon...I ended up buying it from New York, as it is at least $350 cheaper on the USA side of the pond! For my Nikon 4500, it cost around $400. If you want, you can see more info about it here.

You have got to be kidding me! I spent $350.00 on my Nikon 2100! I had left my old digital HP camera in the taxi in PHX and we were on our way somewhere and did not think we could miss pictures of the DD's... However, I think Circuit City seen me coming!! Where did you get that deal?

All the pictures I have posted have been taken with the Nikon 2100 and I am very happy with the print quality, but I would have preferred the 4500 for $50.00 more!!