Digital Cameras

[Timothy C. Tyler]

I got a Sony F707 5.0 pixels and print with an Epson photo 785. I made a rich (dense-high res) shot of a model, standing at about 60mm zoom. This was her from head to foot with some of the room included. I printed out just a close-up of her face on an 8x10. You see her contact lens in the photo.

[Nathaniel Miller]

I got the same camera a couple of weeks ago, and the resolution is incredible. Features are good as well.

[Mike McCarty]

When you are photographing with a digital camera how do you control the depth of field? For film cameras you would adjust the fstop or aperature. Is it similar for the digital?

[Timothy C. Tyler]

Mine is. I use aperature priority lots with this very issue in mind. This one operates much like the slrs. Some magic stuff happens inside that I don't want to understand. These cameras that cost less than $2,000. can be much slower. I can't affod the ones that will use your existing lenses and let tons of light in.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Wow, I am really jumping in here late. Just the word Nikon sounds expensive to me, so if anyone is still looking for a camera, I have had great luck with the Sony Cyber-shot 3.2 mega pixels. The mega pixels is the main feature to look for. If you want any images to remain "fine" you should not go lower than 3.2. Unless you are a professional photographer and might be shooting for outdoor, this format should work great.

Regarding printers: I was going to link you to the greatest software for color inkjet printers, but just saw they no longer support it. If you have an Epson or other more commercial type printer (mine is an 1140) try to locate a copy of "StyleScript"; this is a knock-off of postscript ripping software for printers. You cannot tell the difference between a color laser and an inkjet with this software, images look wonderful, color is good; not print proof acceptable but comp-wise it is great. The only drawback is it really slows down the proccess.

Remember when printing, regarding paper choices, most people do not realize they must go in and select the paper they are using based on the print quality and color matching selected... there are a number of choices, plain, photo, matte, glossy, card, etc. If you run a nice glossy photo paper with it set to plain, you are not going to get as good resoulution.

Good luck!

[Timothy C. Tyler]

Mike, the better ones allow you to adjust everything like before plus more. The cameras can read the light source temperature and there's no printing or neg shift.

Everything is new, but when you spend over $750 or so you get all features that the film cameras provided. I thought the learning curve moved pretty easily into digital.

p.s. Unless you spend over $3K you do have a smaller maximum aperture (and lens) which simply must require longer exposures - maybe about 25% more on my camera.