Re: Soliciting opinions on cameras

Dear Russ,
We will start by saying that we are first professional photographers in NYC
(SKID Photography) and secondarily plantsmen in CT.  (If you got the
wholesale Sunny Border Catalogue, we shot the cover, although we primarily
shoot Rock & Roll portraits.)

>2)  I need to get digital capability, so I can set up a web page as well as
>add (gasp!) color photos to my catalog.
>3)  Quality (high resolution) is an issue, but so is cost.

Digital cameras (actually 'filmless capture cameras'... the images are not
'digital' until they are downloaded) are 'not there' yet.  They are too
limited, too expensive, and too slow for high quality 'field' work.

One gets the most control from shooting color negative film.  Printers
(like catalogue) can now scan from color prints as effectively as from
transparency film (slides).  In fact, in an odd step backwards, the new
digital scanners accentuate grain, so now after years of 35mm format being
commercially acceptable for magazines, most publications now want medium
format images....._Unless_ one does prints from 35mm negatives, and scans
are done from the enlarged prints.

But back to the subject:
Almost all professional cameras these days have the capability of
automatic,  manual, or a combination of modes.  One thing that is nice
about many of them is that they can tell you when a certain object in the
viewing screen is in focus, even in 'manual' mode (very handy with close-up
work).

>I give slide presentations,  so a new 35mm body seems to be a must.  Since
>95% or more of my plant photos are taken on a tripod with a remote shutter
>release, and since I've had poor luck using an auto-focus on flower shots,
>I'm leaning towards a good old fashioned manual focus, manual setting SLR
>camera.   Any recommendations?  BTW, the existing lens is bayonet mount, if
>that counts.

Unless you buy another Olympus, it is unlikely your old lenses will fit any
other brand camera (you may want to check out the possibilities at a used
equipment shop), and we do not know if the updated Olympus can still take
the old lenses (Nikons will).  But even if they do, the newest cameras have
very advanced exposure technologies, which will not function with the old
lenses (the lenses will work, but cannot take advantage of the advanced
functions).  For example, the newest Nikons actually 'read' the color and
incorporate that into the light meter readings.

We would say that in current 35mm SLR's, in general, Nikon and Canons have
the best systems.

>As to the digital question, there seem to be two options I can follow:  Buy
>a good, high resolution D-camera and take analog and digital photos of
>everything, or buy a higher resolution slide scanner so that I just take
>35mm pictures.  Any experience with either or both?  Any experience scanning
>slide on a flat bed?

Buy the scanner, not the 'D-camera'.  You should talk with someone
(reputable sales staff) who can recommend the best technology for your
needs.  However, if you are only doing web site imagery, you do not need a
very high end scanner.  Your scans only need be 72dpi (as compared to 300
dpi for print reproduction).  'Photoshop' (or some other software) will be
able to correct any scans you do.  It should be said that there is no such
thing as a 'perfect' raw scan....They all need to be corrected, or at least
calibrated, to suit your own needs.  Remember when viewing  scans on your
computer screen, that it too, must be calibrated....it's a little
complicated, but once your are up and running, it's easy.

For camera equipment (they also carry scanners and printers), we have found
that B&H Photo/Video in NYC have the best prices.  They are very reputable
(we have no connection with them), do mail order and have an '800' number:
800-947-6650.

If we can be of any further help, please let us know,

Bill & Harvey
SKID Plants  Zone 6  CT  USA


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