Help me select a camera on this budget

While not in the budget, I use a Fuji X-Pro2... However, I am perfectly happy using my LG V20 since I have to resize and reduce the quality of the photo regardless.

I do use the X-Pro2 occasionally when I feel the car is just THAT DAMN SHINY!.... I generally feel Fuji cameras (Sony sensors tweaked by Fuji) seems to produce great dynamic range which helps keep the shinies in check while showing all the darker details. I also only use bigger sensor cameras for things I know I want to view up close and personal on my screen.

You can easily get a generation (or 2) old Fuji (or any brand) for next to nothing (X-E2, older Ti, D series, sony, etc) I have my X-E1 and do not feel the X-Pro2 is a game changer... since my subject... doesn`t move. A lot of people get caught up with higher end cameras (I am guilty), newer cameras (also guilty), but cant even use 8% of the camera`s potential (yes...yes.. guilty). I say find the most awesomest older camera for the money and just use it... your lens are more important in this case anyway, some used deals tags along a nice lens.

Bigger sensors aren`t always better for our subjects, bigger sensor = less depth of field, which means you can only highlight small sections of your car at any given time. It can be great to create pseudo-artsy (not artsy at all) photos with "ZOMG BOKEH" but really... a gigantic shiny car... that only has one slice of a panel in focus? (just my opinion)...

So basically I mean get the best older camera your budget allows, or as many recommend a nice point and shoot.

Do you need video? if thats the case... P&S all the way, easier to control, and work with (panasonic is great).

Don`t forget micro 4/3 systems from olympus and panasonic. great for our purposes.
 
If you go DSLR, you can always run it in auto mode until you get a better feel for the functionality.

I`ve got an older canon 40d and it suits my needs perfectly. No, you do not need a big kit for shooting cars. A typical 18-55 would be all you need. There is an AIO lens option, like 18-200.

For a smaller work area it`s nice to have something in the 10-24 range to get wide angle shots.

75% of my detailing photos are with a 28-75 lens, 20% with a 10-24 and 5% with a 50 prime.

If you go the canon route, I feel a 40d is perfectly fine. Otherwise, jump up to the 70d or 80d.

My 40d with a Tamron 28-75 does great and is within your budget.

I`d also set some money aside for editing software like Lightroom. Also a decent tripod. A wired or wireless shutter remote wouldn`t hurt either.
 
IMO I would get a new phone. I have a samsung mirrorless camera and while it does take better pics, my iphone7 plus is really exceptional.

The best thing you can do for your pictures is learn how to use lightroom. Here is a pic I took on my note 4 3 weeks ago with some tweaking in LR.
 

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The sensor of a DSLR is much larger than camera phone and point-and-shoot sensors, and with that size comes greater ability to capture light and write it to a storage medium—i.e., take a picture.

I bought our 5D Mark II when it first became available and have taken about 70,000 images with it. The lens I use the most is a 24–70mm 2.8L, but the "magic maker" is the 70–200mm 2.8L. We have a full studio here in our home. Before the 5D, we had the 20D, and before that we had a PowerShot G2. Before that we had a Rebel 2000 film camera. My father gave me a Canon AE-1 for Easter when I was in fifth grade and it served me well through college.

Keeping up with a body, external flash, extra lenses, storage cards, and other accessories is an extreme inconvenience when traveling with an ADHD kid, so much so that it can adversely affect one`s mood. Losing or breaking something can be very costly.

You can`t go wrong with a Canon DSLR.

There are some pro photographers (Katrin Eismann immediately comes to mind) who are shooting Sonys.

You definitely want to shoot in raw format unless you need a greater number of images shot in one burst (like of a golf swing), and if you`re shooting raw, you want Adobe Lightroom for processing (editing and exporting) and managing your images. Kelby Training is one of the best places to learn anything related to photography nowadays.

Put the camera in Program mode (P) to start with. Then start playing with depth of field (blurring backgrounds) using Av mode, which is a semi-automatic mode (you set the depth of field and the camera chooses the appropriate shutter speed).
 
So tonight my wife and I took the bambino out trick-or-treating and I carried our 5D and 580EX Speedlite. There was only one problem: the CompactFlash card was at home. That made me think of this thread.

But we had two iPhone 6 Pluses with us, and we never leave their storage cards behind.
 
I shot an extensive "portfolio" of my CTS-V this afternoon, only using my iPhone 6 Plus. Making it very easy to text the "condition, etc, pics" to an online Merc dealer. The phone produced very accurate/clear pics. Some "wide-angle distortion" if used too closely, but these phones AREN`T that bad, folks.

Long-range-distance shots? Forget About It. Shots that you want to enlarge to 16 X 20" for a huge print? NO. But for most situations, my phone takes great pics.

(Let`s hope the Merc salesman is impressed too?)
 
what about the a5000 from sony? on sale for $349

Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Retractable Lens Black ILCE5000L/B - Best Buy

Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Camera with 16–50mm Retractable Lens: You can improve your photo portfolio and preserve memories, all with a single camera. The Sony Alpha a5000 features a 20.1-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS sensor that enables you to document moments in realistic detail. The included 16–50mm lens features a compact design, so it`s easy to take on the go.

ISO 100–16,000 --- how much do I really need? that stat seems to drive price up considerably when the ISO is higher

I like that it has wifi and NFC to transfer files to my cell phone easily for posting online





then I found this just now...

200 bux off for $599.99
that`s a lot of stuff I don`t know how to use but its a "full kit" from what I can tell

Canon EOS Rebel T6 + 18-55 / 75-300mm Lens + 14 Piece Bonus KitKIT INCLUDES

  • » Canon EOS Rebel T6 18MP DSLR Camera With 18-55mm Lens
  • » Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Zoom Lens (Black)
  • » Transcend 32GB SDHC Card Class 10
  • » Transcend 16GB SDHC Card Class 10
  • » Polaroid 8 inch Mini Tripod With Ball Head For Compact Cameras & Camcorders
  • » Polaroid Studio Series 52/55/58mm .43x HD WAL + 2.2X Telephoto Lens
  • » Polaroid Studio Series Pro Slave Flash Includes Mounting Bracket
  • » Polaroid Memory Card Wallet - Bulk Packaging
  • » Polaroid Hot Shoe 2 Axis Double Bubble Spirit Level For Canon & Nikon
  • » Polaroid 5 Piece Deluxe Camera Cleaning Kit
  • » Polaroid 50" inch Camera Tripod With Carry Case
  • » Polaroid Optics 58mm 4 Piece Camera Lens Filter Set (UV, CPL, FLD, WARMING)
  • » Ritz Gear USB OTG Multi-Function SD/MICRO SD Card Reader/Writer
  • » Polaroid Lens Cap Strap (Fits all lenses)
  • » Ritz Gear Compact Camera Bag
  • » Polaroid Screen Protector (3-pack)
 
This is a great buy

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1188053-REG/canon_0511c001_powershot_g9x_digital_camera.html

I love photography. I have a Nikon D300S that I love but not to many people want to deal with different lenses.

For detailing and times I want a pocket camera I have a G10-it is amazing and relatively cheap. This one I linked is the newer version, and there is a higher end version at $ 679, I don`t think you will need for detailing.

Good luck-go try before you but and don`t make the mistake to buying from professional online reviews as you may end up with a camera that is too complicated for your intended use, that that will impact your ability to enjoy it.
 
I would stay away from things like the Ritz camera kit -- most of it consists of high-profit, low-quality crap that you don`t need or want. You`re better off just getting a camera and the few accessories you really need/want. I would check out B&H Photo, they have excellent prices, are reputable, and also have buying guides to help you make a decision.
 
As an avid photography enthusiast, I`ll try to share some advice here...

If you plan to take the time to sit down and really learn how to use your camera, understand how exposure works, and understand how the various settings effect the final outcome, then I would absolutely recommend a DSLR type camera.

I wrote the following 4 articles a while ago that you may find helpful...
http://www.autopia.org/forums/membe...155-photography-basics-1-basics-exposure.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/membe...otography-basics-2-exploring-depth-field.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/guide-to-detailing/176939-photography-basics-3-exposure-modes.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/guide...basics-4-file-formats-38-post-processing.html


I personally shoot Nikon, but you cannot go wrong with any of the major brands (Nikon, Canon, and now Sony is making great strides with their cameras). You can pick up an entry level DSLR for well within your budget, and for someone who has no experience with real photography, it is a perfect opportunity to spend little money and see if it is something you are interested in learning more about. As your skills grow, you may find you would like to upgrade to higher end gear at which point I highly recommend purchasing used equipment as it will save you tons of money. Another thing to note is that with DSLRs, the LENS makes way more of a difference in the overall image quality than the camera body itself. Pay for glass first, then upgrade your body as needed.


If you do not plan to spend the time to learn how to properly use your camera with some manual input, then you will not see a major difference in the image quality of a DSLR vs. a Point and Shoot as the same logic used in the "auto" mode of a DSLR applies to the Auto modes in all cameras (phones included).


Hope that helps
-Zach
 
Zach-

Where you been? Miss your posts.

You must have a ton in the camera, lets getem up. We could use some auto-porn.

Always love the detail and the pictures in your posts.

All the best-Jeff


zmcgovern45 said:
As an avid photography enthusiast, I`ll try to share some advice here...

If you plan to take the time to sit down and really learn how to use your camera, understand how exposure works, and understand how the various settings effect the final outcome, then I would absolutely recommend a DSLR type camera.

I wrote the following 4 articles a while ago that you may find helpful...
http://www.autopia.org/forums/membe...155-photography-basics-1-basics-exposure.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/membe...otography-basics-2-exploring-depth-field.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/guide-to-detailing/176939-photography-basics-3-exposure-modes.html
http://www.autopia.org/forums/guide...basics-4-file-formats-38-post-processing.html


I personally shoot Nikon, but you cannot go wrong with any of the major brands (Nikon, Canon, and now Sony is making great strides with their cameras). You can pick up an entry level DSLR for well within your budget, and for someone who has no experience with real photography, it is a perfect opportunity to spend little money and see if it is something you are interested in learning more about. As your skills grow, you may find you would like to upgrade to higher end gear at which point I highly recommend purchasing used equipment as it will save you tons of money. Another thing to note is that with DSLRs, the LENS makes way more of a difference in the overall image quality than the camera body itself. Pay for glass first, then upgrade your body as needed.


If you do not plan to spend the time to learn how to properly use your camera with some manual input, then you will not see a major difference in the image quality of a DSLR vs. a Point and Shoot as the same logic used in the "auto" mode of a DSLR applies to the Auto modes in all cameras (phones included).


Hope that helps
-Zach
Click to expand...
 
JSFM35X said:
Zach-

Where you been? Miss your posts.

You must have a ton in the camera, lets getem up. We could use some auto-porn.

Always love the detail and the pictures in your posts.

All the best-Jeff
Click to expand...

Hey Jeff - I`m still around... no real time to keep up with Forum Write Ups like I used to, but I have an ongoing thread on AGO titled "What we`ve been up to in 2016" that I post in from time to time, and a few full write ups from this year. Tried copying it to Autopia, but this site only allows a couple videos per post, so it would have taken too much time to break it all up (I`m lazy).
 
zmcgovern45 said:
Hey Jeff - I`m still around... no real time to keep up with Forum Write Ups like I used to, but I have an ongoing thread on AGO titled "What we`ve been up to in 2016" that I post in from time to time, and a few full write ups from this year. Tried copying it to Autopia, but this site only allows a couple videos per post, so it would have taken too much time to break it all up (I`m lazy).
Click to expand...

We just recently changed it from 4 to 10 videos per post I believe if you wanna give it another shot :)
 
512detail said:
what about the a5000 from sony? on sale for $349

Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Camera with 16-50mm Retractable Lens Black ILCE5000L/B - Best Buy

Sony Alpha a5000 Mirrorless Camera with 16–50mm Retractable Lens: You can improve your photo portfolio and preserve memories, all with a single camera. The Sony Alpha a5000 features a 20.1-megapixel Exmor HD CMOS sensor that enables you to document moments in realistic detail. The included 16–50mm lens features a compact design, so it`s easy to take on the go.

ISO 100–16,000 --- how much do I really need? that stat seems to drive price up considerably when the ISO is higher

I like that it has wifi and NFC to transfer files to my cell phone easily for posting online





then I found this just now...

200 bux off for $599.99
that`s a lot of stuff I don`t know how to use but its a "full kit" from what I can tell

Canon EOS Rebel T6 + 18-55 / 75-300mm Lens + 14 Piece Bonus KitKIT INCLUDES

  • » Canon EOS Rebel T6 18MP DSLR Camera With 18-55mm Lens
  • » Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Zoom Lens (Black)
  • » Transcend 32GB SDHC Card Class 10
  • » Transcend 16GB SDHC Card Class 10
  • » Polaroid 8 inch Mini Tripod With Ball Head For Compact Cameras & Camcorders
  • » Polaroid Studio Series 52/55/58mm .43x HD WAL + 2.2X Telephoto Lens
  • » Polaroid Studio Series Pro Slave Flash Includes Mounting Bracket
  • » Polaroid Memory Card Wallet - Bulk Packaging
  • » Polaroid Hot Shoe 2 Axis Double Bubble Spirit Level For Canon & Nikon
  • » Polaroid 5 Piece Deluxe Camera Cleaning Kit
  • » Polaroid 50" inch Camera Tripod With Carry Case
  • » Polaroid Optics 58mm 4 Piece Camera Lens Filter Set (UV, CPL, FLD, WARMING)
  • » Ritz Gear USB OTG Multi-Function SD/MICRO SD Card Reader/Writer
  • » Polaroid Lens Cap Strap (Fits all lenses)
  • » Ritz Gear Compact Camera Bag
  • » Polaroid Screen Protector (3-pack)
Click to expand...

If shooting from a tripod (highly recommended for shooting paint correction to get the exact same shot before and after), then you will always shoot ISO 100. The higher your ISO, the more image noise you will have that cannot be easily removed. Newer cameras can shoot fine at 1600 with acceptable noise, which will help with shooting interiors. At a decent aperture (f4ish) you shouldn`t need to go higher than ISO 1600 with a steady hand and ok light.

If you are in your own shop, you have a lot of control of lighting and don`t need to force the shot with high ISO (read: 3200 or higher). Even if you are mobile and have a correction light or string flash light, you can make due without the high ISO.

A high Max ISO number for the particular camera can also indicate a better or larger sensor when compared to another camera; but that is a very board statement, not to be taken as gospel.
 
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