Why I Love My Cheap Little Digital Camera

ifloat · Post by **ifloat** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:19 am

Walking along the beach, I snap this. I barely slowed down, just aimed in the direction of the water and snapped. I liked the way the sun hit the water.

Looking at the photo later, I see what appears to be an anemone and some interesting green blobs.

There's pretty much detail in this shot when it's cropped down further. Not bad for a quick shot. This thing was tiny, as you can see by the size of the sand grains.

With my camera in the housing, I cant use the optical viewfinder at all, and in the sunshine I can't see the viewscreen. All of my pictures taken on St. John were snapped blind. It was a surprise to see what some of the images contained after I downloaded them to my computer.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:34 am

I totally know what you mean about not being able to see the view screen. The picture that I entered in the photo contest was a lucky shot. I didn't know what I had until I downloaded it. But what I was seeing was beautiful, so I knew I would capture something good!

Your anemone shot is awesome. I like the detail in the cropped one, but I like the water reflections in the first & second ones.

Wakey · Post by **Wakey** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:42 am

That's what I love about digital, you don't have to pay for any of the pics, good or bad so snap away!

When I shoot I take multiple shots with different settings and if they are awful, I delete them after I view them from my PC.

ifloat · Post by **ifloat** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:43 am

I loved that picture you posted. Maybe in a few years after I get over the awe of seeing things under the water, I will be able to get some gorgeous ones like yours.

I'm seeing all sorts of things in my STJ photos I didn't even know were there, it's a big surprise to look back at them and a lot of fun.

I agree, the watery reflections add to the shot here. I was just shocked at how much detail there was on something that I didn't even stop to frame. When I shot with an SLR and film years ago, I spent minutes setting up each shot. Now I just skip along blithely. Snap! snap snap!

It makes vacation a lot more relaxing.

California Girl · Post by **California Girl** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 12:45 am

Now that point n' shoot cameras are so good and there's Photoshop, I really love taking pictures.

samoka · Post by **samoka** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:15 am

I know what you mean - I used to be afraid to take pictures in case they weren't "good" - now I don't care - plus I never used to get the film developed so that is another plus - samoka

PSUWethr · Post by **PSUWethr** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:01 am

Beautiful shop....I would be lost if it weren't for Photoshop to save the day!

ifloat · Post by **ifloat** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:01 am

Photoshop is my friend.

Rachelle & Joe · Post by **Rachelle & Joe** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:00 pm

FANTASTIC SHOTS !!!!!!!!!!!! I do the same thing & get some realy cool shots !!!! These are Beautiful ! way to go ! Rachelle

toes in the sand · Post by **toes in the sand** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:49 am

Great pictures ifloat. You didnt mention what type of camera you used, and did you say it had a waterproof case? Did the case come with the camera or did you get it seperate?

I have a cheapy point & shoot 35mm with case. I want to find cheap digital with case.

My favorite camera quit on me a few years ago. It was a 35mm API (?) that gave great landscapes and flash underwater.

ifloat · Post by **ifloat** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:30 am

For this trip I brought along a $100 Canon A590IS in a $30 dry bag type case with an optical port...fine for presetting the camera on a mode and then shooting, hard to access the more sophisticated controls. I wouldn't feel too bad if this camera got wrecked.

Also a Canon <$200 A720IS in a $155 Canon underwater housing that allows full use of controls.

I'll be talking more about the cameras when I do the trip report wrap up, maybe later today.

Joshie · Post by **Joshie** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:28 am

Berlingirl · Post by **Berlingirl** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:26 am

Joshie wrote:I love your cheap little digital camera too, ifloat.

It's taken some mighty fine photos.

The ones above are fantastic.

Looking forward to more.

-j

He took the words right out of my mouth!

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:53 pm

I'm amazed that your great pictures came from a cheap little camera! I have had a couple different digital cameras, in about the $200 range I guess, and they don't snap fast enough for any but posed shots. There is a delay between when I click and when it takes the shot.

Since my latest camera was ruined by a rogue wave on our last trip, I'm up for a new one. I look forward to your post about cameras and anyone with thoughts on a good camera (but still less than $300 or $350) I would certainly appreciate!

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:12 pm

ifloat wrote:With my camera in the housing, I cant use the optical viewfinder at all, and in the sunshine I can't see the viewscreen. All of my pictures taken on St. John were snapped blind. It was a surprise to see what some of the images contained after I downloaded them to my computer.

Old habits die hard - I tend to carefully frame and expose shots because of film costs back in the day. I probably should shoot more stuff willy nilly with the digital and see what happens.

More and more point n shoot cameras dont even have an optical viewfinder...grrrrr...
I hardly use the LCD. I'm old school in that regard.

Now I have to go chase some kids off my lawn.

usvi-on-line