PHOTOGS: What camera do you use to take your pictures?

[HahvadYaad]

Some of you have wonderful, magazine caliber photographs from your vacations and I'm wondering what camera, lens and type of flash you are using, esp. when taking photos at dusk or at night and if you're using colored filters (if so, which ones) to capture the sky and sunsets toward the evenings.

Also, are you using digicams or old school? Also what speed film if not digital?

[dexter]

We have taken photos with our Nikon N-50, but for the past two years I have used an Olympus 5050 digital. It works much better for posting on the internet and for collecting in my photo files on my pc.

[cruznliz]

We also are Olympus Digital fans. We currently have an Olympus 3020 and love it. Also just purchased a Fujifilm FinePix A205 digital camera for under $100 http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif for me to carry around in my purse. It's a little more point & shoot "friendly" than some of the fancier digitals but still has 3X optical zoom. I love our cruise slideshows and also the freedom to pick and choose which pictures to print and share. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Grand Princess Transatlantic - August 27, 2004
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;27;21;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100

[GloriaF]

We are also Olympus Digital fans, although our camera is a few years old and probably obsolete, it still takes good vacation photos.

DH used to lug a 35mm and all the filters, but I think the little digital is just as good.

Gloria

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001
Grand Princess, Western,April 2002
Regal to Hawaii, April 5-20, 2004

[jerryr]

I have purchased several digital camera's and I prefer the Olympus cameras. Spend $400-500 and get a good one.

You can see examples of our Olympus images at:
http://members2.clubphoto.com/jerry198964/guest-1.phtml

Images prior to 1999 are scanned images, anything after that is with one of our many different Olympus camera's, with the later images being done with newer versions from Olympus.

Jerry

Grand Princess 11/04; Coral Princess 11/03; Nordic Empress 3/03; Royal Princess 7/02; Inspiration 11/01; Ocean Princess 3/01; Galaxy 11/99; Destiny 11/97; Sensation 2/97

[CaptData]

I'm Sony. I use a cam corder and digital. Digital is DSC-P8. I also have a Kodack that I loan out.

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2006;12;5;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500 Until we sail away on the ocean blue



Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03
Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03
Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

[LarryF]

Nice Pics Jerryr. I have an olympus D510 that has done me well for the past few years. I am now looking at buying an olympus C740, C750 or c765. I cannot decide which I want more, 5 megapixels with 3 X optical zoom or 4 megapixals with 10 x optical zoom. I cannot seem to find a 5 meg camera with a 10 x optical zoom in my price range $400 - $500. I also cannot decide whether to buy online, at a store or wait until our cruise in June and buy it at Brouchands or the Royal Caribbean store in St. Thomas. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=8b0000&cdt=2004;6;5;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
on Caribbean Princess June 5, 2004

Larry

[jerryr]

LarryF

I wouldn't worry to much about going past 3X. When you go beyond that it makes it really hard to take a good picture without a tripod. You have to have really good light to use something beyond 3X with a digital camera.

If you go to 4 or 5 megapixels on the camera and shoot at 3x then you have a lot of latitude, after-the-fact, to really zoom-in on your subject with proper cropping.

Jerry

[sarasotasteve]

When you are in the market to buy a digital camera go to pricegrabber.com I got this clue from a Cruise critic member back in Dec. and bought a Sony PSC 72 and love it.sb

Grand Princess Sept 2001
Grand Princess Sept 2002
Grand Princess Oct 2003
Star Princess Oct 2004

[Casey12]

I have a Kodak dx6440 and love it. It is 4 MP and 4 optical. Have no problems with the optical zoom being above 3x. I probably won't recommend going up to 10x.

[spongerob]

I have an Olympus C-750. The 10X optical zoom more than makes up the 4 MP resolution. Like film cameras, spending extra money on optics will reward you with better pictures. I agree with the comment that a tripod is a handy thing to have in all but the brightest light conditions.

Just completed:
Caribbean Princess Apr 3/04
Golden Princess Apr 10/04
Coming up:
Tahitian Princess Oct 14/04

[LarryF]

Thanks for the info jerry and spongerob. It all gets overwellming sometimes!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=8b0000&cdt=2004;6;5;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
on Caribbean Princess June 5, 2004

Larry

[MVPinBoynton]

I have a Canon S45. It is a 4 meg cameral, but I normally just use the 1600 X 1200 which only uses 2 meg. Works great for printing normal size pics and for the web is more than adequate and you can put over 400 pics on a 256 card. I had an Olympus 3000 and loved it, but I really like the Canon better.

Mike


See our reviews and pictures at Mike and Carol's Website (http://www.thepreismans.com/)

Costa Classica 3/94
Celebrity Mercury 4/98
Carnival Destiny 4/99
Crown Princess 7/01
Norwegian Star 11/01
Grand Princess 12/01
Sun Princess 3/02
Celebrity Constellation 11/02
Brilliance of the Seas 6/03
Navigator of the Seas 11/03
Jewel of the Seas 06/04
Tahitian Princess 02/05

[Jemnibabe]

I am another extremly happy Olympus user. Purchased an Olympus C740 10x right before our Panama Canal cruise in Jan. and got some unbelievable shots, especially nice close-ups of monkeys, sloths, etc. in Costa Rica. Using the digital was way better than any other form of camera as far as posting pictures and emailing. You just can't go wrong with a digital. Judy

[tomcarson]

We have 2 Kodaks and 1 HP. My HP makes for a great paper weight. I love the easy menus with the Kodaks. It is the easiest camera to operate.

[bob&karen]

Can't argue with any of the choices named above. I personally use a Canon Powershot S400 as I find it a good, positive tradeoff of nice picture quality combined with a TINY footprint that makes it convenient to keep in my pocket at all times. (Just ask Spongerob, two of us on our recent Golden cruise had little Canons and we drove everybody crazy with our constant picture taking).

You can see some of the output in the Golden Princess pix at the link below. I've boosted the contrast and reduced the resolution for web viewing, but you can still get a good sense of the general quality. I've found that 4 megs gives you enough resolution that you can do alot of cropping and still get a decent print.

Bob

http://www.animationlibrary.com/Animation11/Geography_and_History/Islands/Ship_at_island.gif
"These moments we’re left with - may you always remember
These moments are shared, by few
And those harbor lights, lord they’re coming into view
We’ll bid our farewells much too soon
So drink it up, this one’s for you -
Honey, it’s been a lovely cruise."
-- James W. Buffett

Carnival Triumph, April '02
Carnival Sensation, January '04
Golden Princess, April '04

Carnival Sensation, Golden Princess / Caribbean Princess pix at: Cool Cruisin' Pix (http://community.webshots.com/user/mageesworld)

e-mail: bobandkarenny@yahoo.com

[LarryF]

That is so funny! Thanks for the pics and good laugh!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=8b0000&cdt=2004;6;5;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
on Caribbean Princess June 5, 2004

Larry

[starsjohn]

I use a Fujifilm s2 pro which I mount my older Nikon lenses too. I also use a Canon G5 camera as a backup. These cameras are good picture-takers under almost all conditions. The s2 requirers expensive digital memory due to its 12 mega-pixel per image capability. Also eats up the batteries. This camera is mostly used by professional and advance amateur photobugs.

A new digital SLR camera that provides great pictures and can use the older Nikon accessories, is the Nikon D70, which is getting great reviews.

The only problem, so far, with the Canon G5 is that there is significant delay from the moment you pressure the shutter release to when the shutter fires.

I take a 80gig storage drive to download the memory chips when full. The chips are just too expensive to buy any number of them at this point in time.

John

[kruisey]

Have a digital Nikon 5700,only problem slow to shoot a speeding object,but it had a great zoom and the resulting pictures are of an excellent quality.Will be getting a Nikon D70 when the price drops a little.These digitals are like buying a new computer the price drops as soon as you buy it and there is always a new model in the works.Are'nt the accessories for digitals expensive ?? http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[marlinmike]

I use a Oly 2100 which has a 10x optical and 2.6x digital zoom and 2.1 megapixel CCD. It also has an image stabilizer, which I really like, however, I'd like more pixels and a faster focus. I purchased this camera three years ago and would like to upgrade. You can see what a 10x - 2.6x zoom will do on the Tracey Arm pics located at:

[jhannah]

Another Sony person here. I use a DSC-S85 (5 MP) and my DW a DSC-P72 (3.2 MP.) We like their ease of use and output. Our Epson printer even works with the P72 in matching output to the data recorded along with the photo. Really great. Go to www.printimagematching.com (http://www.printimagematching.com) to see what camera and printer combinations have this function.

'Vegas Jim

[JohnnyO]

Sony here....DSC-P92...still have yet to use it on a cruise as we just purchased it a couple of months ago....it has seen a couple of weddings and a car crash(its pictures of my car really helped in getting proper compensation)...the wedding pics were great....some were better than the professional photos that they paid for...I need to get one of those 1 gig memory sticks if I want to always have the quality of the 5MP on a regular basis.

Where do I get one of those storage drives?

JohnnyO

[NEW YORK LADY]

I just purchased the Olympus D740 and am very happy with the pictures. (I am not the best picture taker in the world and could still shoot very good quality pictures.) I found the 10X zoom to work wonderful and I got some good closeups that were not out of focus. I've never used a tripod and my pictures are excellent. This was just my first batch of pictures which were actually "test" pictures to see how I liked the camera. This is replacing my old Toshiba digital which ate batteries like crazy and also seemed to have a problem with turning off after about 30 seconds. I would turn the camera on, pass it to my husband to take a shot and it wouldn't work because it turned itself off. Very frustrating. The new Olympus is great and was very easy to use and learn.

Jackie

[Coral]

Another person with 2 Kodak cameras. A dx4900 and a new dx6440.

[augie]

My "main" camera is the Olympus C5050Z. I bought that one because Olympus also sells an underwater housing for it and I like to take pictures when scuba diving.

It is also an awesome topside camera, as attested to by some of the respondents in this thread.

I don't like to take it to places where it will get exposed to harsh conditions or wet (the housing doesn't work to well topside as it would get too hot inside) so I bought a pocket sized point-and-shoot Olympus Stylus 400, which is a 4 mega-pixel camera that is also dust and splash resistant. It doesn't have nearly the flexibility that the C5050 does, but it takes good pictures and is easy to use.

[jhannah]

JohnnyO, do a search on eBay. There are always lots of Memory Sticks listed.

'Vegas Jim

[brucejr]

I have lots of cameras, a point and shoot Fuji film camera, an old Pentax MEsuper film camera, a digital Canon A20 2 meg pixel with underwater housing which is a great point and shoot camera, and finally an Olympus C5050 with an Olympus underwater housing. I think the Canon cameras are just a bit better, but the Olympus housings are better and the C5050 is a fine camera. Together they are probably the most popular digital underwater combo.

I like the C5050 better than the newer replacement, the C5060 because the older camera has a 1.8 lens which is faster than the newer 2.8 lens. A faster lens is better for ambient light photography.

I agree that a tripod or monopod is essential for decent low light photos. Too bad this isn't practical underwater http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

I really like Digital photography. It has many benefits over film. You see exactly what you are photographing if you use the display. The cost per print is much lower as you print only the photos you want, not a whole roll to get the 2 good photos. The images are easy to edit and correct on your computer. Digital photos are easier to share over the internet.

The biggest downside is the shutter lag, or delay, between the time you push down the shutter button and when the camera takes the photo. This is because the camera has to focus and do some exposure computations before it can record the image. It is something you just have to get used to and plan accordingly.

Two bits of advice, rechargeable batteries are a must have for digital cameras, and get a couple of large memory cards.

<font color="FF6600">
if there's a way to construe my post as non-argumentative, please do so.</font>
Cruise photos on my Home page (http://www.brobertson.org/)<font color="990066">
Spring Break was on the Grand Princess </font>21, March 2004
So when is the next cruise?

[starsjohn]

When looking at the rechargable AA cells, some of the new ones can supply up to 2300milliamps power which is better for digital cameras than the older 1800milliamp cells.

For photo processing on my 24 day Pacific Theatre cruise on the Pacific Princess, I am going to use a small Vaio 505 laptop with photoshop 7.0 for processing photos, Adobe photo Ablum 2 for display, Fuji software for RAW image transfer, backup storage via CD burner on the Vaio and an external Sony Vaio DVD burner. I will also make a mass storage backup on a Fastrak 80G hard drive that can read the Compact Flash memory cards direct. For astronomical image processing of two comets, I will use FITS file format software by Software Bisque and FIT-X with 32-bit processing via NASA.

Also, would highly recommend to all to obtain a UV or polarizer type filters for you cameras to protect the lens and cut the glare in in your photos. The polarizer will make the take glare of the Sun from objects resulting in bluer skies, greener plants, cuts reflections from glass, etc.

John

John

[PhotoMan]

I primarily use the Canon 10D, Fuji S2 or Kodak 14N, on our vacations. The Canon is my favorite, however. All those cameras are digital SLR's.
6.3 megapixels, 6.1 megapixels, and 13.8 megapixels, respectfully.

For those photos at dusk or night, I never use a polarizing filter. (It is a must during the day, though.)You can lose almost two stops with it, and since in the evening you need all the light you can get, I simply put it away.
On the Canon I primarely use a Canon 550ex Flash and a Sigma 70-200mm 2.8 lens, and Canon 28-70 2.8. Also a fixed 50mm 1.4.
On the Kodak, which is my portrait camera, I use the Nikkor 35-70 2.8, and a long 200-400 Tamron lens. Likewise for the S2, which has a Nikon mount.
I don't recommend Microdrives, because they aren't very stable in my opinion. A 512 card is what I find best, although I will stick a gig card in sometimes.

As far as processing, Our studio uses Miller's Lab, out of Kansas, for certain digital orders. They have a consumer website that is better than any online lab in the nation (you'd be hard pressed to find a better one.) The website is www.mpix.com (http://www.mpix.com)
I highly recommend them.

It's good to see so many good photographers on Princess Lines!

Cheers.


Here a few pics from our southern caribbean cruise on the Dawn.
http://community.webshots.com/user/sell_out

[HahvadYaad]

Thank you for the information. I have a small digicam -- a Canon Powershot I purchased when they first came out a few years back but I can only get definition under certain lighting (full sunlight).

I've been lugging around another huge Canon EOS for years (my personal favorite) but it's too big and heavy, esp. w/all my lens attachments, but I love the clarity and the color of the pictures -- unbelivably vivid and strong color.

I'd like something similar. I checked out the new digital EOSs but they are expensive, I'd rather buy a really cheap car with that kind of money, or an Hermes handbag...lol http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif. I'm not willing to pay that much just yet since I really love my current one.

My main problem is dusk/evening shots -- I need to buy a new flash since the batteries destroyed my old one and a new flash can range anywhere from $100-300 in which case I don't know if I should invest in the flash since I love my EOS so much or just fork over the money for a new digi EOS.

Does anyone have any experience with Canon Rebels? The name just turns me off though...I hate the idea of carrying a camera that has the red Rebel word on it.................

[JohnnyO]

jhannah....

Thanks for the info....I do need more for all of the pics I take...

JohnnyO

[CruiseFever]

After a lifetime of vacations and cruises seen through the viewfinder of various cameras I bought DW and both DD's Sony Digitals and retired from picture taking.

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/120x120/DSCV1.jpg

They can take stills or videos and we've been very pleased with the results.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[jam1274]

This seems like the right place.

I have been shopping for a new digital for a while. I have used an old Kodak 2 mega pix for a few years.
I tried the canon S50 last yr for a couple of weeks the prints were great but other than higher resolution I didn't see much of an advantage over my old cam.
I returned it.
The problem was I wanted more lens than these
small fixed lens camera's have.eg wide,tel photo,macro.
In the last month I narrowed my choices down to the Canon 10D, the Nikon D70 or the Canon Rebel.
Leaning toward the 10D.
Check out DeadEd's photo's Link on tahitian Princess board. He used 10D.
But then I saw the new Canon Powershot Pro 1
8 MP CCD, 22x total zoom, 7x optical, High end glass, 28mm to 200mm fixed lens, and you can add an optional telephoto extender to take it over 300mm.
I like the smaller size than the full Slr's easier for the wife to handle.
I am trying it out right now .But would appreciate any imput from others.
I can return.

Tahitian Princess 05/27
John

[DeadEd]

Yeah, I use a Canon 10D now with a Canon 28-70/2.8 and a Canon 70-200/2.8 lens. Here are some of my Tahiti photos from a couple months ago. (http://www.estimated.com/html/tahiti7.html)

On the same site you can see my Alaska photos (http://www.estimated.com/html/alaska.html) but those were all taken with film: Canon EOS3 (same lenses as above) and Fugi Astia film (for the most part). A couple Alaska photos were taken with the Canon powershot s10.

[pengu1n]

A good place to research your digital photography purchases is http://www.dpreview.com/
There are reviews of many different cameras and storage devices. I have a Sony DSC-P1, 3.3 megapixels, several years old. Every time I decide to upgrade (although I am happy with my pictures from it), something new comes out & I decide to wait for the price to drop!
I use an Archos AV 140 Jukebox Multimedia device to store my pics when traveling, to decrease the # of memory sticks I need (think I took 3000 pics last vacation). Wonder how many I'll take on my next cruise - 6/13 on the Golden Princess.

[navigator]

For some excellent advice on digital cameras, go to www.kenrockwell.com (http://www.kenrockwell.com). Ken is a professional photographer with many years of experience. As you will see, he avoids technical gibberish,exposes manufacturers' hype, and makes some outstanding recommendations. By the way, he says a good photographer can take excellent photos with a disposable camera.

[starsjohn]

.....and when conditions get too tough for the digital camera, I pull out th old trusty Leica M3 and M6 film cameras which have been a favorite of photojournalists worldwide. There is no delay in the autofocus as there is no autofocus, just the fingers. When the battery goes dead, these mechanical marvels keep right on clicking except for the exposure meter.

Underwater photography, I have a Nikonos V system with lenses, flashes. Its a no longer made system using film, but was a premier favorite with divers and there is still a big supply of parts and accessories on the net. I hope to put the fuji s2 pro in an underwater housing in the future.

John

[HahvadYaad]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>By the way, he says a good photographer can take excellent photos with a disposable camera.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I agree -- I've take a few really great scenic shots w/ disposables and waterproof disposable, but they're still limited on what they can do.

Someone here posted their Caribbean pictures of (I think it was) the Carribean Princess and maybe Island Princess(?) docked side by side and it must have been taken anywhere from 6:45-8 p.m.

It was a really awesome photo (esp. the lighting and had almost a non-tacky bluish neon quality to it) -- I'd love to know what camera he/she was using. It was def. digital! I hope that person reads this and can share what lens or optics they used! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

The photo was of the front of the ships docked w/ a wooden pier in between the two. That person had such great photos!

[PhotoMan]

Hey photographers,
Has anyone used the Sigma SD10 or Pentax ist on their cruise? I'm interested in seeing some images from these cameras.
Also, anyone know if it's true that Princess is going to cut Nikon out and go with Canon? I was speaking to a Princess photographer onboard the Dawn and he said Princess was trying to change.
Just curious...
Cheers.
Photoman

Our cruise pics from the Dawn Princess.
http://community.webshots.com/album/129110151gQmkTD