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#1
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Photographing Inscriptions: Nikon Coolpix 8800 or Canon Dig Rebel XT?
I'm leaving for Europe in a few weeks. While there, I hope to
photograph and cataloque any ancient inscriptions (ie GreeK, Latin, Etc) that I may find. Most of these inscriptions are outdoors, the majority of them carved in stone. My primary goal is to preserve these inscriptions by photographing them, with the intention of publishing them in a book with an accompaning illustration. I'm not interested in national geographic results, just a sharp, high quality image of the inscription. I have decided between either the Nikon Coolpix 8800 or the Canon Digital Rebel XT. The Rebel may be a better camera, but with the extra lenses required to match that of the 35-350mm lens of the Nikon, I am not certain if I can justify the extra cost for the lenses. The only necessary item that I have been informed to bring by my friends in Europe, is a zoom lens. I may also use photoshop to enhance the images if necessary. Any suggestions would be appreciated, as well as any tips/suggestions for photographing inscriptions in general (ie time of day, flashes, etc) Thank you |
#2
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I would go for a Nikon 8800 in your case.
It is a fantastic camera if you are shooting outdoors and your subjects do not move - which is exactly your case. The 35-350mm lens is a piece of art, and will bring the inscriptions which are all the way up there, right under the roof, so close to you that you'll cry. The "in-built" image post-processing in point-and-shot (which in fact is the 8800) will give you sharp and crisp images. And you wil have the whole thing +(NB!) a spare batery and mre memory in a relatively small bag! I had an 8700, moved up to 8800, then to EVOLT - ust because I need a faster camera. Otherwise, Nikon Coolpix 8800 is a great camera. Cheers, SB "dmango1" wrote in message ups.com... I'm leaving for Europe in a few weeks. While there, I hope to photograph and cataloque any ancient inscriptions (ie GreeK, Latin, Etc) that I may find. Most of these inscriptions are outdoors, the majority of them carved in stone. My primary goal is to preserve these inscriptions by photographing them, with the intention of publishing them in a book with an accompaning illustration. I'm not interested in national geographic results, just a sharp, high quality image of the inscription. I have decided between either the Nikon Coolpix 8800 or the Canon Digital Rebel XT. The Rebel may be a better camera, but with the extra lenses required to match that of the 35-350mm lens of the Nikon, I am not certain if I can justify the extra cost for the lenses. The only necessary item that I have been informed to bring by my friends in Europe, is a zoom lens. I may also use photoshop to enhance the images if necessary. Any suggestions would be appreciated, as well as any tips/suggestions for photographing inscriptions in general (ie time of day, flashes, etc) Thank you |
#3
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dmango1 wrote:
I'm leaving for Europe in a few weeks. While there, I hope to photograph and cataloque any ancient inscriptions (ie GreeK, Latin, Etc) that I may find. Most of these inscriptions are outdoors, the majority of them carved in stone. Off camera flash will be your friend. If either won''t work with an off camera flash, that would be a deal killer for me. -- Stacey |
#4
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On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 19:58:03 -0400, Stacey wrote:
dmango1 wrote: I'm leaving for Europe in a few weeks. While there, I hope to photograph and cataloque any ancient inscriptions (ie GreeK, Latin, Etc) that I may find. Most of these inscriptions are outdoors, the majority of them carved in stone. Off camera flash will be your friend. If either won''t work with an off camera flash, that would be a deal killer for me. I agree with Stacey, The lighting is much more important than the camera for this type of photography, and flash off-camera is a good way to get better lighting. Charlie Hoffpauir http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/ |
#5
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If I were to tackle that project, I would use a Nikon D-70, the
kit lens (18-70mm) and an SB-600 flash. For photographing inscriptions you wouldn't normally need a long telephoto, the kit lens should work. Either the SB-600 or the SB-800 will work as a wireless flash with the D70, enabling you to get the oblique lighting you will need to bring out inscriptions. -Raf -- Misifus- Rafael Seibert http://www.ralphandsue.com |
#6
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Misifus wrote: If I were to tackle that project, I would use a Nikon D-70, the kit lens (18-70mm) and an SB-600 flash. For photographing inscriptions you wouldn't normally need a long telephoto, the kit lens should work. Either the SB-600 or the SB-800 will work as a wireless flash with the D70, enabling you to get the oblique lighting you will need to bring out inscriptions. -Raf I have a Sony 10/20W video light. Could this be used in place of an off camera flash? Are there any advantages to flash lighting over constant/video lighting? Thanks. -- Misifus- Rafael Seibert http://www.ralphandsue.com |
#7
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dmango1 wrote:
I'm leaving for Europe in a few weeks. While there, I hope to photograph and cataloque any ancient inscriptions (ie GreeK, Latin, Etc) that I may find. Most of these inscriptions are outdoors, the majority of them carved in stone. My primary goal is to preserve these inscriptions by photographing them, with the intention of publishing them in a book with an accompaning illustration. I'm not interested in national geographic results, just a sharp, high quality image of the inscription. I'd go for the Rebel XT with the kit lens and the 1.4 50mm lens for natural light and sharpness combined with speed, should you be shooting in shade or indoors. Good luck with your project. -- John McWilliams |
#8
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In article .com,
dmango1 wrote: Misifus wrote: If I were to tackle that project, I would use a Nikon D-70, the kit lens (18-70mm) and an SB-600 flash. For photographing inscriptions you wouldn't normally need a long telephoto, the kit lens should work. Either the SB-600 or the SB-800 will work as a wireless flash with the D70, enabling you to get the oblique lighting you will need to bring out inscriptions. -Raf I have a Sony 10/20W video light. Could this be used in place of an off camera flash? Are there any advantages to flash lighting over constant/video lighting? Thanks. For your subject matter, I would suggest that the only nuisance might be that the batteries for the video light source would weigh more. For live things, like small insects, the extra heat might be a problem. A *benefit* of the video light is that you can more easily judge (by naked eye) the effects of light placement without spending a lot of time zooming in your display and examining the results. Good Luck, DoN. -- Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564 (too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html --- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero --- |
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