Need help finding DSLR to Photo Jewelry

[iowaredhed]

Budget

* What budget have you allocated for buying this camera? Please be as specific as possible. I would Prefer to stay in the range of $400 to $800, but may be willing to pay a little more.

Would look at A Point and Shoot, if thats my only options with my budget and specs needed

Size

* What size camera are you looking for? Or does size not matter at all to you?
Does not matter
Features
Macro mostly, would like NOT to have to buy a lens, if possible
How many megapixels will suffice for you?
Whatever a professional photographer thinks I need for photos only going to be printed or viewed on pc ...8x10 print size but good detail
* What optical zoom will you need? (None, Standard = 3x-4x, Ultrazoom = 10x-12x, Other - Specify)
Not sure how much I need

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10)
Very, as I am a graphic designer, so Im pretty picky

Do you care for manual controls?
I dont mind. I have used Old SLR cameras and I get the hang easy

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?
Photos of jewelry...and my kids sometimes

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?
Yes

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?
Yes

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?
Probably not TOO much

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate?
Havent really worked with too many, so I have no preferrence, just not that SVP crap. Or generic named

Are there particular models you already have in mind?
None yet

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)
I would not mind having Image Stabilization, but I cant be too picky with my budget

[mcenut]

The trick photographing jewelry is lighting not necessarily the camera you use. Even a good point and shoot camera used with a light tent, studio lights and a background sweep would give you excellent jewelry pictures.

This link, though attempting to sell their products, does give good advice as well: Jewelry photography tips (http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/jewelry_photography.htm)

If I was to buy a DSLR for photographing jewelry, I'd purchase the following:


Canon Digital Rebel XT (still can be found around $510 USD)
Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens (you really need macro for photographing small objects) $470 USD
A light tent with tabletop lights (cost can range from $50 to over $300 depending on quality and where purchased.)

[iowaredhed]

Thank you for your help. I purchased the Digial Rebel XTi and it came with 3 lens, which one is the macro. I also purchased a light tent. I am completely happy with it, other than I can not figure out how to be able to use the screen to eliminate using the viewfinder to take photos. When I look through the viewfinder it looks really blurry to me, but my eyes are kinda bad. I love the focus points and think that the sensor cleaning feature is great. Im use to using a point and shoot digital, so it will take some getting use to, but when I put my heart to it, I do it.

Anyways, If anyone knows how to make the screen the viewfinder, or if it is possible, please please let me know, I would completely appreciate it.

Thank you

[Ray Schnoor]

Thank you for your help. I purchased the Digial Rebel XTi and it came with 3 lens, which one is the macro. I also purchased a light tent. I am completely happy with it, other than I can not figure out how to be able to use the screen to eliminate using the viewfinder to take photos. When I look through the viewfinder it looks really blurry to me, but my eyes are kinda bad. I love the focus points and think that the sensor cleaning feature is great. Im use to using a point and shoot digital, so it will take some getting use to, but when I put my heart to it, I do it.

Anyways, If anyone knows how to make the screen the viewfinder, or if it is possible, please please let me know, I would completely appreciate it.

Thank you
You cannot see a live image on the XTi LCD screen. You have to look through the viewfinder. There is a diopter correction knob on the top-right of the viewfinder. You use this to change the focus of the viewfinder to correspond to your eyesight.

Ray.

[Riley]

Olympus dSLRs offer LiveView, and are the prime proponents of this system
there are 3 models to consider
the E-330, which is being discontinued right now, and is in clearance at Cameta Auctions on ebay, it has a flip LCD which would be useful

then in newer and really technically superior cameras
the E-410, due in late April
and the E-510 due in June (we think)

US Pricing / Product Configurations
The E-410 (SRP $799 with kit 14-42 f/3.5-5.6Olympus Digital lens)
(possibly body only for $699 too)
EVOLT E-510 Body Estimated Street Price: $799
EVOLT E-510 with 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $899
EVOLT E-510 Two Lens Kit (Body, 14-42mm and 40-150mm Lenses) Estimated Street Price: $999

how small is the jewellery, just like down to rings and things or what ?

[DonSchap]

There are flash collars available, that might provide excellent close-up lighting on a EF 50mm, EF 35mm, EF-S 60mm lens. Camera body? XTi?

A budget this small for a good DSLR is a problem.

You might check out a Pentax or Samsung. Canon, Nikon and SONY are going to blow the budget quite handily.

[mcenut]

Thank you for your help. I purchased the Digial Rebel XTi and it came with 3 lens, which one is the macro. I also purchased a light tent. I am completely happy with it, other than I can not figure out how to be able to use the screen to eliminate using the viewfinder to take photos. When I look through the viewfinder it looks really blurry to me, but my eyes are kinda bad. I love the focus points and think that the sensor cleaning feature is great. Im use to using a point and shoot digital, so it will take some getting use to, but when I put my heart to it, I do it.

Anyways, If anyone knows how to make the screen the viewfinder, or if it is possible, please please let me know, I would completely appreciate it.

Thank you

Simple answer is No, you can not use the LCD as the Viewfinder like in a point and shoot digital camera.

However, there are a two options:

1) Use the EOS Utility to control and take pictures on your computer. If you have a laptop that would make it portable.

2) Purchase a viewfinder adapter. I've never used any of these but they are available. Canon makes the Angle Finder C that makes it possible to look through the viewfinder at a 90 degree angle. The eyecup looks larger so it may work. Another option is the Zigview LCD angle finder (http://www.zigview.co.uk/)
It is costly but looks to do what you want.

Sorry I can't help more. I use the eyepiece and have no problems even though I also wear glasses.