AboutScott Valentine Expertise Most anything about digital post processing (Photoshop, etc), effects, and image restoration, some technical information about digital imaging systems, light and electron microscopy, optical physics and image analysis. I can help with shooting basics, lighting setups, and getting the most out of your digital camera. I am also an 'expert' here for Photoshop (Computers/Technology > Software > Graphics Software > Photoshop).
I am currently writing a book for Adobe Press on composite artwork using Photoshop CS4.
Experience I've been an image analyst and advanced amateur photographer for over 6 years. I run an Adobe user group, focusing on digital media, and have lectured on digital image capture systems. Currently, I am an administrator for a rather large instructional Photoshop forum
Organizations Adobe User Groups, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Advanced Imaging Specialists
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Physics, University of California, San Diego
Awards and Honors Winner: Best in Show and several category first place awards - Imaging Professionals of the Southwest Print Competition (multiple years)
Expert: Scott Valentine Date: 1/1/2008 Subject: Simple digital camera?
Question Hi Scott - What's a simple little digital camera for taking indoor closeups of
pictures for eBay listings? Nothing fancy, expensive or difficut to use - I only
sell one or 2 items a year but need to take some pictures.
Answer Hi Michael. While I can't give you a specific recommendation, I can give you some general pointers on selecting a camera that will work for you.
I would suggest you look at major brands of mid-level point-and-shoot cameras. Nikon and Canon are my two favorites, but that's mostly personal preference. For eBay listings, you won't need anything more than 4-6 megapixels, but the market is such that you can find the best price points around 6M or higher.
You will need something that has a tripod mount, supports auto white balancing, and allows you a few different shooting modes, including close up, portrait and landscape. Most current cameras support these features, so you should focus on the following...
Brand you are comfortable with
Software you can use easily (check online reviews)
Layout and controls that are easy and make sense to you
Warranty
Type of memory card
Price
Most of these will be personal preference, so you should do a little online research for reviews, then go into a couple of stores to actually hold the cameras that interest you. This will help as much as anything, but can be confusing if you aren't previously armed with knowing what you want.
For memory cards, stick with Compact Flash or Secure Digital. These are the most widely supported, with SD taking over the compact market. CF cards can be less expensive, but they are bigger.
For price, you should hunt on a few bargain sites after you decide on your top 2-3 models. Bensbargains.net, dealnews.com and others will have search functions (dealnews lets you sign up for alerts) so you can find what you want quickly. If you are patient, give it a couple of weeks to see if your model comes up in a deal. Unless you need it now now now, don't pay full price in a retail store. That being said, many retailers will offer price matching or have great sales now and then. Keep an eye out.
My guess is you can probably get away with under $400 for a good, recent model, small tripod and 1-2 memory cards.
BTW - I do suggest you have several memory cards, opting for smaller multiple cards in case one fails. That way you won't be reliant on one large card to hold all your pictures.
Even though you didn't ask about lighting, you might be interested in getting an inexpensive shooting rig from someplace like WalMart - they have softboxes for around $40. While they are not high grade, they are portable and easy to use. They will help you control reflections and shadows on your objects.
This will help you track, edit, organize and sort your images. I find it to be much better than any camera software, and you can even grab your images from the camera or card reader without using the camera software.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, or would like some clarification, please feel free to ask!
