Camera suggestions for RR pics

The Canon S2 (and I assume the S3/S5) will focus down to 0cm - 10cm in Super Macro mode! In fact the instruction book has a warning to be careful not to damage the lens when shooting Super Macro mode. This is also another reason to use an adaptor & UV filter... because unlike with an SLR once the lens is scratched you're SOL.

Doug

I noticed the focal length listed on the lens in the picture. It was an observation on my part. A true fisheye covers 180 degrees, but rectangular formats tend to be corner to corner. Still, it makes for some interesting pictures.

Cheers, John

Some of those SLR lenses weren't cheap either, and I for one couldn't afford to replace too many. I like to use a Skylight 1A filter for lens protection.

The S2/S3 series seems a good choice of camera for wide angle and some close-up photography. It may be all the OP needs. I used close-up lens filters; more flexible and cheaper to replace if they get damaged. A nice feature of the filters is they could be used on any lens of their diameter as distance can be a good thing if personal safety is a concern.

Many years ago I purchased an assortment of lenses ranging from a 16mm fisheye, 50mm, 135mm, a 400mm telephoto, a doubler, as well as the set of close-up filters. Unfortunately, I now have a house, wife, cat and computer to support. :(

Cheers, John

According to DPR, the 35mm equivalent range for that lens is 36 - 432mm; so for the small "film" size the 6mm is just a mild wide angle, at least as I understand it.

On 11/8/2007 12:49 PM Steve Caple spake thus:

Correct; for 35mm, a lens wouldn't be considered to be a fisheye until it was down around 10mm or so. 36mm very slightly wide-angle.

True, at best it would be a moderate wide angle equivalency. A fisheye is minimum 16mm, the more expensive would be 7 to 8. At least in the Rokkor lens lineup produced by Minolta.

Cheers, John

lens lineup produced by Minolta.<

Do they still make Rokkor lens. Minolta is now combined with Konica, as in Konica Minolta so was just curious. Rokkor lens used to be one of the best!

Konica/Minolta has gone bye-bye in the camera market.

On 11/10/2007 11:00 AM Jack spake thus:

Yes, we know that. The question remains, what happened to Minolta's manufacturing operations: are they still running under a different name? Is the factory that made Rokkor optics still operating?

Good evening Jon;

To my knowledge, Minolta ceased producing the Rokkor lens lineup years ago. I can't recall which name their auto focus lenses were produced under.

When considering purchasing a digital SLR, Minolta was my first choice. Unfortunately, their cameras were too expensive.

Cheers, John

Jon Miller wrote: : : Do they still make Rokkor lens. Minolta is now combined with Konica, as : in Konica Minolta so was just curious. Rokkor lens used to be one of the : best! : Two years ago, I believe it was, Konica-Minolta transferred their camera operations technology to Sony.

Sony is not doing anything with film cameras, and certainly not the old Minolta MF technology.

Bruce

That would be what is referred to as NOS (new old stock). K/M hasn't made anything new in at least two years. I believe Sony inherited the technology and assets. Depending on how old your old Minolta lenses are, they may not work with a digital body. What Best Buy told you was something they have left in their stock they can't get rid of. If you do buy it, don't be surprised if you need some form of support for it and can't get it, at least not from the manufacturer.

I'm coming into this discussion late, sorry - but I just found this group (I have a question about identifying an old HO engine - but I'll post that in it's own topic).

Your most important feature almost eliminates everything under $1000 for a "full setup"... The really fast cameras are past that amount. If you truly can't live without no delay - then up your budget and get one of the really fast cameras. Otherwise you need to decide what compromise you can live with between a delay and your budget. Some of the faster focusing cameras below $1000 are - unfortunately - no longer made - as Konica/Minolta sold out to Sony - and Sony is only using Minolta's incredibly fast focus system (and other technology) in it's upper-end DSLR-series --- but alas they are way out of your budget ( the low end body alone is near your budget- with lenses and accessories - it puts it way up there).

However - having said that - there are still some Konica/Minoltas available that - while not "instant" can focus and shoot in under a second and often much faster - which -- with a little practice - renders most shots as desired. I have a low end model... very old and available for a tenth of your budget (used - the e-place) - which is a Minolta DiMAGE Z1. The Z5 is far nicer - faster, image stabilization, and more

- and I saw a nice one recently (again on the e-place) for less than half your budget.

One can talk about cameras all day - the proof is in the pudding... as they say. The top 2/3 of this page was taken recently with my Z1. The bottom photos (LORAM maintenance train) taken years ago with a film camera. BTW - the video clips were also taken by the Z1.

As you can see - many different conditions, etc. even moving trains at night and ALL HANDHELD - no tripod....

best regards...

One additional note about these photos - they are somewhat heavily compressed jpgs - down to 20% file size of original... and presented on the page at 72dpi i.e. 675 x 900-- The originals are 2048x1536 so even an enlargement to 8 X 10 is 192dpi - and with a good printer (Epson Photo R series or such) the image quality is quite good - you need a magnifying glass under good light to see the pixels. I just didn't want someone to think the images on the glimpses page were the full quality of the camera...

best regards...

You can also go with the Minolta Z-2. Granted the Z-1 is a 3.2 MP and the Z-2 is a 4.0 MP, a little low compared to the latest greatest, but we have been happy with our Z-1, with one exception which is why I think the Z-2 is better. On the Z-1 the switching between the viewfinder and the back LCD screen is mechanical and has broken three times on our camera (repaired twice on warranty) which does not get abused at all. My camera dealer says this is common to the Z-1. The Z-2 which is almost identical except for being a 4.0 MP switches electronically which is would be my choice between the two if you can find one. BTW Sony now does the repairs.

Agreed, and that's my point - if you want performance on a budget - it can be found IF you know what to look for. Sorry to hear about the problem with your Z1 - I guess I've been lucky - it has been *well* used for many years (having had several Minolta film cameras and as tough as they are - I've not been all that gentle with the Z1...

I know they were - I wasn't sure they still are (for cameras as old as the Z1). It's getting harder and harder to find parts for my XD-11 (anyone have an extra take-up spool?) - much less my SRT-101 (batteries) (grin!)...

best regards...

For macro shots with layouts, a compact camera is an excellent choice. Their macro mode and much bigger depth-of-field (due to the small sensors) is excellent for 1:87 shots. I am using a 4 Mpixels Canon A85. I chose this model because it had:

- good macro (and manual focus) capability

- full manual control (shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance - everything is controllable)

- uses Compact Flash cards, so I can share cards with typical dSLRs (In fact, I had already a 1 GB Compact Flash card before I got the camera)

- runs on AA batteries, so you can get alkaline batteries if your rechargeable ones Four Megapixels are enough for a half-page print, and I use this camera for documenting the various modules I build, besides various railfan photos.

Forget trying to shoot model details with a dSLR without a dedicated macro lens (= 400+ USD extra at the very least). A compact camera is cheaper than a macro lens (my Canon A85 came at 155 Euros with charger, batteries and a pouch), and more suited to 'trackside' pictures for 1:87 scale.

There are two main reasons for delay: auto-focus and shutter/image storage delay.

If you want really fast autofocus in dim light conditions, I would suggest at least a zoom lens with f/2.8 maximum aperture (smaller number = more light enters).

Canon has very fast auto-focus in most of their dSLR cameras, thanks to their USM (Ultrasonic Motor) lenses, with the motors inside the lens. Nikon has the 'silent wave' AF-S motors, and other companies are following with SSM (Sony-Minolta's and Pentax's term).

The typical kit lenses included with most dSLRs are slow in focusing, compared to more pricey/faster lenses. I would suggest you try a mid-range dSLR with a good lens. Ergonomics play a major role in these matters.

Mine favorites in the midrange dSLR category are the Canon 40D and the Nikon D80, and probably the Sony a700 is pretty good too. Olympus E510 has a good reputation too, along with Pentax K10. Only the Nikon, though, is lower than 1000 USD, leaving enough change for getting a kit lens (the 18-70 is considered a very nice lens), plus memory cards etc.

Hope this helps, N.Fotis

A question. Knowing Minolta is owned by Sony and is effectively dead I have lens that fit a SRT101 and XG-M camera body/s. I have some very expensive lens that fit these bodies including a MD VFC 24mm. Is there anyway to adapt these lens to modern digital camera's?

The MD VFC was purchased especially for MRR pictures and I think cost about $500 at the time.