recommend a good computer and digital camera?

04-26-04: Prpixel Asked:
Didn't anybody read the original post? All he wanted to do with his new computer and camera is surf the net and post some pictures on Ebay and Agon when selling items.

Nope, just came up with a random answer like everyone else. Dunno' about the others, but I do one of those Johnny Carson things by holding my laptop up to my forehead and just intuit the answers. Wow, seems like all these answers seem to address the very same subject. Imagine that? By gosh, yet all of them are slightly different opinoins, and some not so slightly different.....go figure. Some folks even took the time to expand reflect upon the original questions and provide insight that goes beyond them basing their answers on there very own experience. What in heavens name could they have been thinking?! Perhaps they may have thought that other folks, aside from the person who asked the questions in the first place, may look at the same thread seeking out useful opinions and information on the same subject. Oh wait, I forgot, no one bothers to search the archives! They just ask the same old questions over and over again. So I guess you are the only one who did read the original question Prixel. GoodOnYa' for that!

Marco

RW - I'm not quite clear on why you'd find it surprising that a question about photography would result in responses from those who knew about photography. People who do it to make a living and actually depend on their gear to put food on their table and pay their mortgage had damn well better know the tools they work with, just as you'd better know your development apps! As had been said on more then one post, the drawback to a Mac will be available software for diverse applications. If the question is addressing Photography (as it was) and Graphic Design then I'd always recommend a Mac as making those processes relatively simple, fast and stable, as well as being very intuitive in the case of their integral applications like iPhoto. I didn't read about anyone telling this guy to go out and drop 3 large on a brand new G5. Used G4's are abundant in virtually every city and town across the US as well as on the Internet, at very reasonable prices and are plenty of Mac for what the poster require. Heck, even a G3 is a dead-stable platform to run any version of OSX on and still not be lacking for basic applications. Those can be had for only a few hundred dollars. As far as surfing the Internet goes, money invested there should go into a DSL or Cable conection as most of the browsers do a fine job, and virtually all are available at no cost.

Prpixel - Glad to hear the PC is finally catching up with Mac where stability is concerned. All I can say is that it's about time. PC viruses are still a problem, especially on boxes that send and recieve email and surf that net. Mac's remain relatively impervious to that and I can say that I've absolutely never had a virus or worm on my Macs over the years. Mac has such a stronghold on the photography/design community at large. BUT recent tests are showing the the Pentium 4 processor is actually faster (compared to a dual-processor G4 which is NOT the current state of the art) in many Photoshop proceses and especially in converting raw files (crucial to a pro, or anyone wanting the utmost in quality from their digital images). Anyone interested in those recent tests, which have come under much scrutiny and criticism since Macs have always been considered the faster route, can read the original test on Rob Galbraith's Website. Incidently, the PC's used in this test were all over $3K as was the Mac (as configured). I don't know how the G5 and OS10.3 have changed the balance. Apple has a strong reliance of the graphics/photography community on their choice to use Macs above PC's because they've always been superior. If PC's continue to improve as they have been in these realms, then Apple may be in big trouble since the graphics community has always been one of their most staunch supporters

Obviously you don't need to spend large coin to just do snapshots and surf the web. If the original poster just wants to buy something brand new and as cheap as possible, and wants to play games on their computer, and perhaps eventually become a Prototyper for Microsoft.... well then, go get yer'self a chop-shop PC and have at it. I, myself, prefer the stability and reliability of Macs when using them in grahics applications. They have a long history based on these strengths and continue to do these things very very well.

Marco

Gunbei is absolutely correct. Megapixels do not tell the whole story and are certainly NOT an indication of image quality necessarily. There are cameras that produce a with 4 megapixel ccds that will produce consistently better images than cameras producing double that. The biggest jump in image quality you are likely to invest in in the prosumer camera is jumping up to the (physically) larger CCD of most of the (prosumer and professional) SLR cameras, and taking advantage of the RAW file capabilities of those cameras (much larger files which require conversion to use as jpegs or tiffs). Again, even there, numbers don't tell the whole story...use your eyes, consult the reviews. The numbers game, especially megapixels, means about as much in the consumer/prosumer camera market as it does in high-end audio It is used in the consumer market as a marketting gimmick. Definitely consult the review sites and magazines that have already been recommendded by Gunbei, Prpixel and others. If you are limiting your blow-up size to the typical 8X10 inches or so, as Gunbei suggests a good 3-4 megapixel camera can do that quite well.

To clarify a few points in Prpixels post; Pro SLR cameras are available in 35mm SLR body-style from around 4 megapixels to 14. As an example; The 4 Megapixel Nikon D2H is a remarkable camera, as is the 11 Megapixel Canon 1DS. Each tool has it's advantages, and each one produces amazing images for the state of the art today. Both have their advantages and drawbacks. The digital backs used on Hasselblad and other medium format cameras have been around a long while, and just like the consumer market are getting better and better. They are still quite expensive $10-20K on average, and up until recently most had to be tied to a laptop in order to shoot. There are also digital backs available to shoot with large format 4x5 inch cameras. If you shoot a lot of pictures, digital is certainly the cheapest way to go. Keep in mind on digital cards you dump the files onto your computer, wipe the card clean again and shoot over and over. Film still has an edge in overall quality, but the average person will not take advantage and may not even notice or care about those diffferences.

Marco

Nick Said:

"One final comment: any camera with manual options (which the 770 has, by the way) will teach a person a lot about lighting, exposure control, composition, etc. I don't think anyone would argue with this."

Simply having the options available on a camera will not teach a person anything at all. Learning how to use the options and actually making a habit of using them on a regular basis may teach a person a whole lot. It may be semantics, but it is very true. I've met lots of folks who buy THE ULTIMATE (fill in the blank) and never use the thing to anything near to its potential. Like folks who buy sport bikes with gobs of torque and horsepower, and then ride them three times a year, eventually selling them at great loss to buy the next BEST FASTEST blah, blah, blah. A tool is just a tool. It's the person who wields it who will creates the results with it.

Marco

Vinamese -

That's Pokeydammit who's the good horse. Gumby is just a green slant-headed boy with big eyes and no genitalia to speak of (no wonder he's pissed off!). Gunbei (Dean) is a good egg.....no wait, that's Humpty Dumpty!! FerChrissake Dean, what the heck are you anyway?!

As fer' massage; if you really could not get up the next morning, (and I'm assuming you had not downed a pint of tequilla on the previous evening), then you either had a piss poor massage therapist, or you need to get your ass in better shape dude! Quit listening to that devil-music and get your butt out the door and get some excercise! At least that's what my wife tells me when I ask for a massage! :-D

Marco

Absolutely, though I can't guarantee exactly where the hair will grow. The Cary hairpiece idea sounds great except that if they were in a hurry, your friends may forget to unplug all the cords before donning the piece. I've heard that strapping any of the ARC Reference series components to your ankles helps you loose weight too. Tube replacement can be required more frequently if you do not remove them before those morning jogs. Same deal with the cord removal too, although some folks use the cords to secure the amps to their ankles (make sure to get long enough wires though). Also, I've heard that the Thor gear can enhance your sex life. Something about the shape of the things, I dunno, just make sure to power them down before trying that one.

Marco

I'll give you yet one more professional recommendation for the Mac if you have not figured it out by now. In the world of photography and graphic design and image manipulation Mac rules. Period. End of story. I've been taking pictures since I was five and been a pro for over 20 years. The vast majority of profesionals in the fields of photography and graphic arts have relied upon Macs for as long as I can remember (just as has been demonstrated here on this thread). The only reason not to go that way is if you anticipate the need for proprietary software (such as gaming software as someone already suggested) which is not available for Mac. One other great perk about Macs is they are far more stable than PC's and far less vulnerable to viruses, worms, rashes and constipation. As far as digital cameras, there is so much out there that would do a great job for the needs you mentioned, and that technology is changing so fast that by the time I typed a recommendation for a point-and-shoot solution it might be obsolete. The Nikon prosumer solutions that Albert reccommends as well as others (D70 & D100) would be a great tool to have if you don't mind the size. If you are just looking for a snapshot solution to put stuff on the Internet and do the occasional picture of the family you may not want the bulk of a prosumer camera, even though the features and quality of the images are significantly better if you get serious about your digital shooting. I'd heartily second recommendations for Nikon's lineup of prosumer and professional digital cameras and a used one may be a great option if you can verify it's provenance. For point and shoot; as I said, there's a new model out every week it seems. I've seen stuff from Nikon, Sony and Canon that all have offered up some great features in the past as well as offering very satisfying results. The main drawbacks I see in going with a point and shoot is shutter lag (newer cameras are getting better and better about this), rangefinder and or tiny lcd viewing screens, and slow cycling time to shoot a burst of images one after the other. There are other drawbacks as well, but those are the ones that bug me the most. Biggest plus? Portability and economy, though some of the prosumer cameras are offering a whole lot of bang for not a lot of buck these days.

Good luck!

Marco

Photography Website

There's way to much laughing going on here! For god's sake, this is a serious forum. Straighten up and fly right! Keep'yer ginsu knives for those tin cans that need cuttin' up. All you folks needing a good massage, getting old and tired, and considering Hairy Cary (Cary's new Suicidal Amplifier with lifelike hair) ought to come out to Seattle and have my wife work on you.....she's a massage therapist specializing in deep tissue and injury rehab. She doesn't care what computer platform you use, and sure as heck doesn't give a rat's ass about your high-end gear. Even Vinamese may become a convert, though not without shedding a few tears and crying out for mercy once or twice! As for me getting a massage, it's like the old saying about "..the shoemakers children never getting new shoes...." I'll just hop on my motorcycle and take a long ride in the mountains.

Marco