Inline FabricationPBcastcoRepackboxMidSouth Shooters Supply
RotoMetals2Lee PrecisionLoad DataWideners
Titan Reloading Reloading Everything
Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 88

Thread: Which camera do you suggest?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master



    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,116

    Which camera do you suggest?

    I want to take pictures of my firearms and some equipment to save to disc in case of the worst happening; I have no knowledge of cameras or photography, so I expect to take some time "working up" the photos to the quality I want.
    I think that I want a digital camera, but since this is probably the only thing that I'd be using it for, I don't want to break the bank. I want to take close ups for serial numbers and calibers and if that adds to the cost or complexity, so be it.
    I would appreciate your advice, and thank you.
    Last edited by wch; 07-28-2013 at 11:39 AM.
    Gun control is not about guns.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    StratsMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    St. Charles, MO
    Posts
    575
    Find a box with small writing on it, similar to serial number size... shouldn't be hard to find one. Take that to a camera store or Sam's/Costco and have them show you models appropriate to your task... I expect there are many new digital cameras that will do the trick for less than $100... Probably gonna need a "macro" feature so you can focus and zoom close in... The most difficult thing I found with photographing guns is getting the background correct so the lens would open up and you could actually see the serial number... a black serial number on a black frame doesn't stand out very well... and if you have a really light background, the automatic features of the camera will adjust to the light background instead of the dark frame of the gun. Then you can't see ANY detail on the frame...

    If you're not sold on what the retailers offer, you can hit garage sales armed with your new education. I don't like my current pocket-size digital camera for close-ups as much as I liked the 10 year old, 3-megapixel Fuji that I sold at a garage sale for $35... with close-up lenses, bag and other goodies!! Should have kept that camera for documenting stuff and just bought the new camera for vacation photos.... but if you look at used/garage sale cameras, make sure that they have the correct cords to attach the camera to your computer, or a removable memory card (ie: SD card) or you won't be able to transfer the pictures to storage...

  3. #3
    Boolit Master



    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,116
    Thank you for the informative answer.
    Gun control is not about guns.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    RobS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    4,518
    Digital so you can download them to the computer, send them to your email and save them to an outside media source of some sort i.e. cd, dvd, jump drive etc. You could also print off a hard copy if you needed to. Good suggestion on a Macro mode so you can focus in closely on the serial #s.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Nevada
    Posts
    208
    I am using a old Olympus E-10, it was a high end camera in its day, has a great lens and its only 4 mega pixel but takes great close-ups and its is digital. I think you should be able to buy one for no more than 150 this is a full size SLR.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    GLL's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    3,580
    I still use a very old (13 years) Canon G2. It is only 4 mega pixels but has 3x optical zoom, white balance, and macro settings. It does just fine for me !









    Find a good used camera from someone you know.

    Use a tripod !

    Jerry
    S&W .38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    RobS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kansas
    Posts
    4,518
    Darn GLL...............more of your gun and mold porn.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    2,377
    I just use my stupid phone.
    I have a nikon d5000 , but its easier with my phone. I can email them straight to my computer.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    a.squibload's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    2,156
    A side light across the numbers can bring them out,
    an LED flashlight works for this.
    My old Fuji digital has a tube around the lens
    for mounting 55mm filters, got some closeup
    lenses for a few bucks at a camera store.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master

    mold maker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Piedmont (Conover) NC
    Posts
    5,429
    Light levels and direction will go a long way toward the details you want. A macro lens setting allows really close ups of detail, and a tripod gets rid of the shimmy shakes.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master



    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,116
    Thanks to all of you-I now have a starting place.
    Gun control is not about guns.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy Geppetto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Waukesha, WI
    Posts
    100
    I shoot a fair amount of macrophotos for my work. For something like serial numbers, nearly any camera, including Cell cameras can work. A tripod or even a simple rest can be your friend if its an older camera or if you have shakey hands. Get a feel for the focus of the camera and try out the pre-focus features (on most digital cameras, its done by "half" pressing and holding the shutter button) after the camera pre-focuses, then it takes the photo much faster.

    If your interested in other photography besides just your serial numbers, you can hardly go wrong with a cannon Rebel dslr, even a T2 or T2i. Not the cheapest camera ever, but can take spectacular pictures of wild life, landscape and pretty good macros if you have a good rest. Plus, the large image sizes allow you some usable zoom when digitally editing photos. You can take a lower magnification photo of your gun, and then crop to the serial number area and not have excessive pixelation.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master brassrat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    conn.
    Posts
    979
    I took this with my new $85 camera.


  14. #14
    Boolit Master



    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    1,116

    Brassrat

    Quote Originally Posted by brassrat View Post
    I took this with my new $85 camera.

    OK, that looks like the thing I need; care to tell me which camera I'm looking for?
    Thanks.
    Gun control is not about guns.

  15. #15
    Banned

    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    fayetteville/ft. bragg NC
    Posts
    1,553
    optical zoom!

    GLL, great pics.

  16. #16
    Boolit Bub MWesner55's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    38
    Buy the best camera you can afford. Ask a sales associate. They will know what to offer.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master ACrowe25's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    535
    Have a price range and stick to it. It's not all about the camera, but there are a few breakpoints you need to hit. With that being said... Simply practice practice practice and you will have some amazing pictures as seen in this thread. It's not the camera that takes the pictures, it is you!

  18. #18
    Boolit Master brassrat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    conn.
    Posts
    979
    My camera is an outdated, but new, Canon Powershot.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master


    gmsharps's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    742
    My old Canon Power Shot S90 is hard to beat for a point and shoot. It has the largest sensor in it's class which by the way is the heart of the camera. The smaller the sensor means less quality images. The optical zoom is only a 3.8 but works for most of what I need. It has a reasonably fast lens 2.0 to 4.9 so taking pictures with existing light works very well.It has a easy to use menu and you can set a custom configuration to have the presets done as you turn it on. It also has manual setting when the auto does not give you what you want. It is proably more than you would ever have a use for but is there if you need it. You should be able to find a used one from the likes of KEH photo, B&H photo or Adorama. There are a couple of newer and improved models of this camera called the S100 and something else but the S90 would more than cover most of your needs. I didn't mention they are tough. I have been carying mine through Iraq and Afghanistan for several years now though sand storms extreme heat on helicopters and cargo planes that feels like it will vibrate your teeth out and it is still holding up fine. I'll be in extreme heat where it exceeds it's operating temps and it just shuts down until it cools off a bit and just starts going again.

    gmsharps

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
    a.squibload's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    2,156
    Taken with an Iphone 3gs, shrunk with Photoshop.
    Nothing special, one incandescent light and one fluorescent
    running in the room.
    I used the phone recently to update my collection of
    serial number pics.



    It helps to rest a finger or heel of hand on something.

Page 1 of 5 12345 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check