Digital cameras 101

[TJ]

as the subject says, im planning to go into these 3 fields of photography. the problem that im facing is in camera choice. ive been asked to consider the nikon 5400 but after doing some reading up on my own, the panasonic Z3 is a good contender as well. ive gone thru some of the posts in dppreview and one bit of advice stood out; get a cam that suits the photographer's needs. the problem is these two cams are good on their own accord. i just need more information from people that own these two cameras so that i get a clearer picture and perhaps help me make the best final choice. after reading the forums in dppreview ive come to understand that the creator of this blog could help me out. so gail, if you wouldn't mind, could you drop me a line as to what i should roughly expect with either camera? before i forget, i've also set my budget to include the adapter and telephoto lens for the nikon 5400. in doing so, im sure that i would have enough to get the Z3 and perhaps get a conversion lens for the z3. any help is greatly appreciated.

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi TJ,

Welcome to the Q&A Board.

Yes, I own both the Nikon 5400 (I've had it for a year) and the Panasonic FZ3 (which I've had for only two weeks). I consider them both great digital cameras which are difficult to fairly compare because they are so different.

I bought the 5400 because of it's wide angle and macro (close-up) capabilities. I bought the FZ3 primarily for it's long telephoto lens with image stabilization.

I haven't owned the FZ 3 long enough to answer your question about it's macro and portrait capabilities. But I do know that the Nikon 5400 is top notch for both of these picture taking scenerios.

One feature that, imho, makes the 5400 superior over the FZ3 for macro photography is that it has an articulating LCD. The LCD can be repositioned when you take photos at odd angles, making it more easy to see the image, compose and review on-screen settings.

The Nikon, which I bought right after it came on the markets, cost $250 more than the FZ3. It is a lot studier and better built and it has more options and settings. While the FZ3 is not cheaply made, the body is made out of plastic. It does have enough settings to obtain a lot of creative control...but the 5400 has more which may be important if you need the additional options.

If you take a lot of macro and portrait shots, you may find yourself use ing a tripod quite often. The screw thread on the Nikon is made of metal, it is plastic on the Panasonic so I tend to think you'd have to be more careful with the FZ3.

If you're a serious photographer and plan to take a lot of photos, and can only buy one digital camera, I'd probably go with a camera that no only addresses my photo taking style, but is sturdy.

I don't know how much this has helped but it's important that you and others understand that the digital camera you buy is a very personal decison. Go try them both out at a local photo shop, and discover which feels better ergonomically in your hands. This is important too.

Bottom line, I don't think you can go wrong with either camera...select one which has the majority of features and capabilites you need.

If you have related questions, please ask.

[TJ]

hi gail, thank you for your input. it has been a real eye opener for me because not only are you are speaking from personal experience when dealing with these two cams, but also because my finals are taking up alot of time. so any input is greatly appreciated. in the review of the CP5400 in dpreview, they mentioned that the camera tends to pivot/wobble when placed on a tripod. is that true? if it is, do you or anyone else have any tips on rectifying this matter? also, in my previous post i have mentioned that i have enough for the camera and the telephoto conversion lens. i was wondering which would be a better initial invetment plan; the lens or a hot shoe flash? any help is greatly appreciated. thanks again.

[ShutterbugGail]

review of the CP5400 in dpreview, they mentioned that the camera tends to pivot/wobble when placed on a tripod. is that true? if it is, do you or anyone else have any tips on rectifying this matter? also, in my previous post i have mentioned that i have enough for the camera and the telephoto conversion lens. i was wondering which would be a better initial invetment plan; the lens or a hot shoe flash? any help is greatly appreciated. thanks again.

Hi there.

You're welcome.

I do a lot of close-up photography. I have three different tripods (including one mini) and a monopod. I have never experienced the 5400 wobble or pivot.

As to where to invest first, a lens or an extermal flash which sits on a hot shoe (the FZ3, as you know, does not have a hot shoe so you'd need a bracket to use an external flash)? Again, try to decide based on your shooting style.

I have to be honest and say that I am not a fan of using add-on lenses, though many, many people are perfectly happy with them. I tried some with my 5400 and found them inconvenient (for MY personal shooting style), they were heavy and, in some cases, blocked part of the optical viewfinder and the flash. In fact, when I found I didn't care fussing with an external telephoto lens, that's why I decided to look for a second camera with a long telephoto lens, which I find more spontaneous to use.

An external flash, particularly one with bounce capabilities, if far superior than the built-in camera flash. If you take a lot of portrait and inside shots, you may find it a must to use a good external flash. I have the Nikon SB-30 which, unfortunately, doesn't have bounce capabilities. But it does work as a remote slave flash in conjunction with the built-in flash, so I can hand-hold it or set it on a tripod to get the bounce effect.

Hope this helps too and that all goes well with your finals.

[TJ]

hi gail, thanks again for the input. so far ive got one vibe from all the advice that you have imparted on to me and that is to get a cam that suits my needs best. i also have a feeling that somehow, i will get the CP5400 first and go on to get another cam that will allow incredible amounts of zoom. this is the most plausible course of action because getting a cam that combines these two ideals will blow my budget out of proportion. ill be sending in another post towards the middle of november with a finalized idea and perhaps pics of my chosen cam as well as samples that i will take, thank you for your time,advice and patience gail. without them, i might still be mulling on unnecessary plans.

[ShutterbugGail]

hi gail, thanks again for the input. so far ive got one vibe from all the advice that you have imparted on to me and that is to get a cam that suits my needs best. i also have a feeling that somehow, i will get the CP5400 first and go on to get another cam that will allow incredible amounts of zoom.

that's exactly the route I've taken. In fact, when I got the 5400 I thought is would address everything. Then I realized how much I missed a long telephoto. Like I said, lens adapters didn't satify that need, so I searched for a second camera with a long zoom lens which would fit into my budget . I'm glad I went this route.

Do keep us updated.

[TJ]

well...my exams are finally over. been goin out to look for the CP 5400 but so far to no avail. will need to venture further to locate it. been looking around at other possible alternatives and i must say, the idea of a super zoom cam (like the panasonic FZ3) is really tempting. but most likely the purchase will be of the CP 5400. ive also heard stories of lag in the cam. is this true?clarification is much appreciated. thanks. the purcahse will be made in acouple of days so look out for a new post soon. tahnks again

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi TJ,

Hope your exams went well! I'm glad I'm finished with the stage of life where exams and finals are part of it.  

but most likely the purchase will be of the CP 5400. ive also heard stories of lag in the cam. is this true?

Yes, compared to my FZ3 the lag time of the Nikon 5400 is longer. Some of the newer digicams coming to market have vastly improved the lag time. But for your areas of interest (abstract, macro and potrait photography), I think the 5400 may indeed be your best bet. None of the areas seem to need blazing fast speed. Each area needs a set-up, unlike action shots. Of course, the 5400 does offer several good burst shot modes.

In addition, the 5400 offers more creative control settings and it is known for it's fine macro capabilities (though Nikon users claim the 4500 is still "king of macros"). And, unlike the fz3, more accessories are available for the 5400 such as remote controls, filters, etc. which may interest you as a photographer.

The 5400 is made of more rugged materials. I often take macro photos in a Florida Scub (preserve). I am, of course, careful with it, but I'd be less concerned about it if it took a little bump. I'd be a lot more concerned if the FZ3 took a bump.

I sometimes set my 5400 on the ground to take a macro shot (I do try to bring a pad with me but at times forget). I'd never feel comfortable doing that with my FZ3...but then I didn't buy the fz3 for macro or portrait shots.

You may be able to order the 5400 online if it's no longer available locally. Here are some important tips to consider when shopping online:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/buying-digital-camera/shopping-for-digital-camera-online.htm

I'd like to say that I love my two digital cameras. They are both very different and each has strong and weak points. I use each for different reasons so don't try to compare them. However, based on what you've described TJ, I think the 5400 would best suit your current needs.

I'll be checking in again later if you should have any further questions.

[TJ]

hi gail, well..im just one step away from being the proud owner of a Nikon CP5400. can't really wait for the day i do get it though. and with all the homework i've been doing on the 5MP,4-6x zoom cams with manual controls and a few other choices, a friend of mine wanted to know what is a good camera for his younger brother who is just starting out. i recommended the CP5400 but im afraid he might be overcome with the controls and functions. is this possible for a newbie? also, i recently found out that the low light problem that is faced by the CP5400 is only applicable in cases of really, really, really low light. am i right? besides these few last minute queries, im pretty much set and im prepared to face its drawbacs i.e. slow startup, slow writing, focusing problems and all.

all i can say is thank you for the info and these past few weeks have been bascially hunting for the best deals. hope to give you the good news of my purchase within a week's time.

TJ

[ShutterbugGail]

a friend of mine wanted to know what is a good camera for his younger brother who is just starting out. i recommended the CP5400 but im afraid he might be overcome with the controls and functions.

Hi TJ,

Glad you've decided on the digicam you want. The 5400 is a fine camera, just give yourself time learning to use it. My 5400 blog has a lot of tips about it.

As to the 5400 for your friend's brother, remember that it does have a Simple mode, as well as scene modes, to use it as a point-and-shoot. Most advanced digital cameras do.

Saying that, the 5400 is probably an overkill and more than most new digital camera users need. You can find other feature-rich consumer digital cameras which do not have such a high learning curve. They are geared for novices who do not want to fuss with controls and image editing. Some of them even have scene-assist modes, with a screen overlay to help with composition. Some of the newer digicams even reduce red-eye automatically in the camera.  

Here are two lists of some of the most popular digital cameras. Have your friend narrow a list down to a few cameras which fit their budget, then pick one with the features they most want.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,118522,00.asp

http://www.epinions.com/Digital_Cameras/show_~top_sellers

recently found out that the low light problem that is faced by the CP5400 is only applicable in cases of really, really, really low light.

It is often caused more by low contrast than low light. In these situations where I fail to lock focus, I point the camera on a more contrasty part of the subject, lock focus, then recompose. If it's a scene, I lock focus on a contrasty area that is of equal distance as the subject is to me, lock focus then recompose before taking the shot.

When you get you camera, let us know how it goes.

[TJ]

yes...i got the CP5400. it was a bit later than expected but better late than never i guess. i paid abt 450USD (give and take 10%) after conversion for the standard package cam, a tripod (from nikon), a 256 mb CF card and a spare battery. im still reading the manual and trying to get around to getting used to the cam. i hope to be able to post at least a shot or two soon. bear in mind that none of my shots will  be National Geographic material.

[ShutterbugGail]

i hope to be able to post at least a shot or two soon. bear in mind that none of my shots will  be National Geographic material.

LOL. Not many of us have that type of material either.

Thanks for getting back to us. Enjoy the camera and if you have any questions, let us know. We look forward to seeing some of your shots!

For those not familiar with how to insert images at the board, here's some information. We ask that images be not too large because of the way the board has been structured. If you wish to show large images, please place links to your online gallery in your message.

http://www.digicamhelp.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=errors;action=display;num=1089641725

[TJ]

well...i finally signed up.  ...all i need to do now is to take more macros and hopefully put one or two shots up for public scrutiny. give me a few days for that to materialize and we'll see how things go from there. wish me luck fellow photographers. heheh!

[ShutterbugGail]

We wish you luck and look forward to seeing your photos, TJ!

[TJ]

hi everyone. here are some pictures which i think are absolutely terrible . go to the website to view the pictures. any constructive criticism or advice is greatly appreciated. thanks.

http://asia.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/skylinefan23/my_photos

[Mike54]

Hi TJ,

My first impression is that you were hand holding, to far away and with a wide aperture. For those type of shots get as close as possible (and still focus), use a tripod (and perhaps the self timer) and set the aperture at f/16 or higher.

I also found a link in SBG's 5400 blog to a thread she started over at dpreview. There may be some good tips and tricks in it for you as well.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1007&message=7759544

[TJ]

hey mike. thanks for the input. yeah, i was hand holding as my tripod cant reach that height(for the pictures of the red flowers)..the plant was a potted plant that was abt 5 feet off the ground. ill play around with the apertures and focusing (perhaps using manual mode) and see how things turn out. thanks again mike.

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi TJ,

Moderator Deb has written an outstanding article on Macro photography, which I know you will find very helpful:

http://www.digicamhelp.com/learn/camera-techniques/macro-photography.htm

Follow her suggestions and you'll see a huge improvement in your close-up shots. Keep practicing and experimenting until you get the hang of it.

I often use spot metering when taking macro shots. I spot meter on or near the brightest area so it doesn't look washed out. The other areas may become a tad underexposed (darker) but it can be adjusted with image editing software.

We'd love to see more of your shots and watch your progress!

[TJ]

hi guys, i just added 4 new shots. personally, the pictures of flora was taken with a tripod and with the manual functions being toyed around with. hope all is satisfactory (yeah right...) the picture of the droplet is in my opinion, a picture that can be further improved. also, since i got my cam, is it about time i moved over to the creative photography thread of this Q&A board. i think that would be a more suitable course of action. what do you guys think? let me know. hope you guys like the photos. merci.

[ShutterbugGail]

hi guys, i just added 4 new shots. personally, the pictures of flora was taken with a tripod and with the manual functions being toyed around with. hope all is satisfactory (yeah right...) the picture of the droplet is in my opinion, a picture that can be further improved. also, since i got my cam, is it about time i moved over to the creative photography thread of this Q&A board. i think that would be a more suitable course of action. what do you guys think? let me know. hope you guys like the photos. merci.

Wow TJ, what an improvement in the four shots compared to the first! The one with the droplet is really great. You have focus, exposure and depth of field right on.

Some of the other photos, at least on my computer, look somewhat over compressed which reduces detail. Do you resize them before uploading?

Manual settings are fine, but you may also want to try aperture priority...you set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed (yes, use the tripod for this AND the self-timer). You may eventually want to try adjusting exposure compensation...for similar shots to the eight you've displayed, try -.1 or -.7.

Question: what focusing mode do you use? For macro shots, I use manual focus and can set one of the five focus points exactly where I want it. If you have continuous autofocus on, I recommend you shut it off.

Yes, it would be best to ask these types of questions in the creative photography thread since others seeking that type of information would go there.

Keep up the great work; look forward to watching your progress.