(WARNING: Shameless website plug is next!)
I have used both a little 'point and shoot' camera as well as a nicer (read expensive) SLR camera when taking pictures for www.CoasterGallery.com. All of the pictures in 1999 were the old 'idiot' camera, while all the 2001 pictures were the newer SLR. I think you will notice that the newer pictures are of a much nicer quality. In addition, I get the pictures on CD which allows much nicer pictures for CoasterGallery.com than I got when I just scanned prints.
There is one exception... when I get permission to take "on-ride" pictures, I take just an old "point and shoot" shoot camera. (i.e. cheap, no zoom, no problem if I break it, etc.)
I do have one problem with digital cameras. If I want to make enlargements for prints, or if someone wants to use my pictures in books or magazines, a 35mm negative provides much higher quality. (Not that I have ever sold my pictures without a parks permission, of course!) Some of the more expensive digital cameras provide quality that is nearly equal to film, but I can't risk taking a $3,000 digital camera to a park.
When looking to take action shots of a train in motion, the most important thing is to make you that you get a camera with a fast shutter speed. I have burned a lot of film where the train is too blurry.
I hope this helps a little! Best of luck!
-----------------
Joel Rogers
CoasterGallery
www.CoasterGallery.com
I have a really good SLR, but my problem is I don't want to take such an expensive camera to a theme park.
I am a hobby photographer, In my home, I have turned the basement into a darkroom. Film and processing is not a problem, I just need a really good, 35mm
-----------------
So my wish list is now:
1) Back yard big enough for a coaster
2) Front yard big enough for an S&S tower
3) Basement with a dark room
-----------------
Joel Rogers
CoasterGallery
www.CoasterGallery.com
*** This post was edited by MrMightyMouse on 10/25/2001. ***
Joel:I recently took some photos in BGW and I hope to get your opinion on them when I get them processed and scanned. if you don;t mind. I am somethign of an amtuer photographer I took a lot of pictures of school events and stuff and I thinky 3 of my photos made it into the yearbook my senior year of HS so i was thrilled.
-----------------
All at once the ghosts come back reeling you in now.
-------------
-Defender of Shockwave
I would be happy to give my opinion of your pictures. Just remember, my training is in aviation, not photography!
-----------------
Joel Rogers
CoasterGallery.com
http://www.CoasterGallery.com
cia2420 said:
I dont have a digital camera, or a scanner. But I am going to SFGAdv. sunday and I need pics for my website!!! Is there any other way to get pics on the internet???
-----------------
Chris
Simplest answer, if you go to Rite Aid or whatever to have your film developed, check on the box for the picture CD. But if you do it some other way, uhhh...you're on your own.
-----------------
Drive to theme parks for the food, stay for the coasters!! Knott's Fried Chicken
hehe... anyways, almost all cameras will do the exact same thing, regardless of ones that "advertise" as being better etc.... its all in how YOU use it to your advantage and not the actual camera. :)
Alan Jacyszyn
CaptainJoel said:
I just put a "Dark Room" on my wish list for my dream home. How much did it cost you to set one up for yourself?
So my wish list is now:
1) Back yard big enough for a coaster
2) Front yard big enough for an S&S tower
3) Basement with a dark room
-----------------
Joel Rogers
CoasterGallery
www.CoasterGallery.com
Well, for setting up a dark room, it isn't that expenisve or diffucult.My parents have a empty room in a fully furnished basement. I figured this would be the perfect place for a darkroom. If you don't have a basement, try a extra bathroom.
In my dark room, the first step was painting the walls in 3 layers of black matte finish paint. This keeps light from bouncing off the walls.
Next, get a movers blanket (like what you use when you move furniture in a moving truck). Dye it BLACK...very black.
Have this cloth permanantly drape in front of the door.
Next, set up a wet bench,a place to put developer trays.
After that, make sure you have running water and some form of ventiliation.
Then you are ready for equipment. You can buy starter sets with everything you need for $100. If you do color prints, you need color filters and color photo paper.
An enlarger is probably the most expenisve part. You need one that can hold color filters. This type of enlarger costs about $200.
After that, get color photo film developing chemicals and color photo paper.
Have fun!
This whole process cost me about $800.
-----------------
I use a traditonal 35MM camera, a Canon Rebel G 2000. It has been nothing short of great. I would never think of taking it on a ride (buy a disposable for that) but I have fantastic shots of coasters. The best part about this camera (and there are others like it) is that you can go from full-dummy mode (everything automatic) to full manual, and everything in between.
You can also switch out lenses do get different effects. You can blur the coaster by slowing down the shutter speed or get a crisp imagine by speeding it up. And I like the sense of having a 'real' image in my hands than a file on my computer. If you do decide on 35MM, then you'll probably want a scanner, too.
My cam cost around $500 for the body, lens, some film, and the all important camera bag. A tripod or monopod would be handy, too.
Good luck!
If your really nuts and very mechanically inclined buy broken equipment on E-bay and fix it. That's what I've done for about half of my equipment. It becomes a hobby all by itself.
I also take a small disposable with me, and put it in my pocket, for those oh-so legal on ride photos. :)
-----------------
"They were rong, very rong." -Coolbrojoe
You must be logged in to post