jaseredjacket1987
10 years ago
hi all, up until lately ive been using my iPhone for pictures (ok quality but the flash- light exposure is crap) but I think the time has come for a shiny new camera- I don't want to spend hundreds as it will defonately get broken- any suggestions on a decent camera with a good flash? also- theres a lot of decent picures with illumination in vast caverns on here- ive always struggled with lighting pictures...:thumbup: is this just off your lamp beam or can I purchase something to help with light? all replys are greatly appreciated :)

[tweak]Subject title modified[/tweak]
ebgb
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10 years ago
this one could run and run... It's almost as divisive a subject as lamps!

I've had great results with little compacts, effectively I've been gowing through the ones that family members upgraded over the years until they finally die

and just bought a camera with the daftest name ever - fuji 'BigJob' because it is ruggedised, waterproof dustproof and is happy being run under the tap to clean it and has big buttons and most importantly was only 35 quid on ebay

seems ok so far

http://bf494.co.uk 

simonrl
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10 years ago
I'd give definite consideration to one of the waterproof/shockproof Panasonic Lumix range.

http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/cameras-camcorders/lumix-digital-cameras---point-and-shoot/tough-compact-cameras.html 

I really like mine (a bit older than the models currently offered).

Here's a photo taken by blackshiver on his - can't say I've managed to get anything this good on mine, but it gives you an idea of what it can do:

🔗Coniston-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-78207[linkphoto]Coniston-Copper-Mine-User-Album-Image-78207[/linkphoto][/link]

My regular underground camera is a Panasonic Lumix GX1 and again I'm very pleased with that.
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
remoteneeded
10 years ago
Forget on camera flash at it is only really designed to light up things a small distance from the camera. Also in a damp underground environment it will also illuminate all the water in the atmosphere leading to hazy pictures with spots where drips are falling.

A lot of the good pictures you are seeing are taken by placing the camera on a tripod, opening the shutter for a few seconds, and 'light painting' which involves waving a torch around to illuminate the scene bit by bit. So as well as a new camera you need to get a tripod as well.

Flash can be used underground and produces excellent results, however it must be an off camera flash and generally you'll need a minimum of two. You'll also need to buy flash triggers and which type you buy will be dependant on your camera and whether it has a hotshoe or not.

Willy Eckerslyke
10 years ago
"remoteneeded" wrote:

Flash can be used underground and produces excellent results, however it must be an off camera flash and generally you'll need a minimum of two. You'll also need to buy flash triggers and which type you buy will be dependant on your camera and whether it has a hotshoe or not.


You don't need all that. Just sit the camera on a tripod with an open shutter and a single cheap flashgun can be operated manually as many times as you like. I'd suggest trying that before buying any more expensive kit.

BTW, can someone please edit the subject line of this thread? It makes my brane hurt.
"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"
simonrl
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10 years ago
"Willy Eckerslyke" wrote:

BTW, can someone please edit the subject line of this thread? It makes my brane hurt.



Done 🙂
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
Willy Eckerslyke
10 years ago
Thanks! :flowers:
"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"
rufenig
10 years ago
Look for something that you are not afraid to drop in a puddle!
Don't pay more than you can afford to loose.
Look for something that takes AA batteries, not a dedicated battery that will allways be flat when you see a good shot!
Look at the specification for a manual setting and an exposure that says B (Brief) this means that you can hold the shutter open.
If the shutter release will take a cable, that will prevent shakes.

E-bay is your friend.
Willy Eckerslyke
10 years ago
"rufenig" wrote:

B (Brief)


Bulb actually.

;)
"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"
Peter Burgess
10 years ago
... and a tripod mount, but I guess most do these days. Or not?
Trewillan
10 years ago
"jaseredjacket1987" wrote:

...I don't want to spend hundreds as it will defonately get broken...



Why should it definitely get broken? Can't you just try a bit harder to look after stuff?
J25GTi
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10 years ago
"Trewillan" wrote:

"jaseredjacket1987" wrote:

...I don't want to spend hundreds as it will defonately get broken...



Why should it definitely get broken? Can't you just try a bit harder to look after stuff?



Totally agree here... There is no reason for it to break just because you are underground. Just be careful with it.

The only time we ever broke and kit was when we lowered all the kit down the pitch it hit the "bottom" that was actually just a ledge. It then fell about 6ft off the ledge to the bottom.

But now we make sure we send a person down first to receive the kit and make sure the bottom is the bottom :glare:
Barney
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10 years ago
RJV
  • RJV
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10 years ago
Nah, go for a small ruggedised Canon or something. :tongue:

Shove it in a pocket with a small torch and a cheapo lightweight tripod and you can expend your energy exploring, not lugging a briefcase around!

Oh it will break too. Pretty much everything that goes underground seems to eventually, even ammo tins, Oldhams & camo jackets! 😮
simonrl
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10 years ago
Horses for courses really...

If you want to get into photography proper take Barney's advice and get an DSLR.

If you want to take good photos but you want something small and light take RJV's advice and get a pocket compact.

I would seriously consider the little waterproof Panasonic Lumix (and Canon) models. They'll survive dunking and (to an extent) bashing. I've snorkled with my little Panasonic, it can be put on a tripod and whilst it doesn't have a bulb setting it can do 15 and 30 second exposures.

Start small and reasonably inexpensive is my advice. Couple of hundred on a good compact, tenner on a cheap tripod (you will get fed up of replacing them so eventually you'll buy a better one) and a bright torch for light painting or back lighting.

Get into flashes, slaves and DSLRs if you find you really enjoy photography.
my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by
AdM Michael
10 years ago
Take a look at the Ostwig User Album or my photos in the Sir Francis Level User Album. All photos at Ostwig except for the rescue exercise were taken with a Panasonic Lumix FT3 and at Sir Francis with a FT25.
A current FT5 or FT25 on long exposure plus adequate lighting and a tripod should be good enough for most places. I tend to use my FT3 and FT25 a lot.
Morlock
10 years ago
Best lighting is probably soft focus LED similar to old Cree R2 units combined with a tripod and timed exposure. I'd get a cheap compact camera 'till you decide if you want reasonable records of your explorations or something better.
royfellows
10 years ago
Problem with LED torches is the beam which means some fast wrist action.
Powerful bare LEDs give me good results so there is probably some percentage in getting a powerful LED torch cheap from China and removing the reflector to replace with say a cut aluminium disc and fit the LEDs onto that.

I think I did a thread on some conversions a while back.
My avatar is a poor likeness.
Morlock
10 years ago
I think the standard R2 soft focus beam is probably OK for certain passage dimensions, image was taken at 15s at f2.8 with lamp stationary.
I've not tried anything large, yet.

🔗Upper-Silica-Silica-Mine-User-Album-Image-49241[linkphoto]Upper-Silica-Silica-Mine-User-Album-Image-49241[/linkphoto][/link]
NewStuff
10 years ago
There's also the Sony NEX (Now rebranded as Alpha's) if you want small and compact but with pretty much all of the features of a DSLR except the optical viewfinder. As a bonus it can, should you decide you want to go down that route, take almost any old manual SLR lens.
Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC
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