Bricks in Motion
We are a friendly filmmaking community devoted to the art of stop-motion animation using LEGO® and similar construction toys. Here, you can share your work, join our community of other brickfilmers, and participate in periodic animation contests!
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I may invest in a Canon DSLR camera when I get a job, however they're rather expensive. Do any of you guys have experience with purchasing cameras from ebay and what are your thoughts on it?
I'd go with a proper retailer, I know it costs more, but for that size of investment, you want to be sure that you have a warranty etc.
I can highly recommend the Canon EOS 450D, it is an awesome camera for the price and I have had some great results.
The EOS 500D shots HD Movies, but I wouldn't want that, I'd rather have the 450D that is just a camera and not a 'jack of all trades' gadget.
Last edited by Si665 (November 15, 2009 (03:19am))
Good point.
Yeah I tried the EOS 500D at London Heathrow Airport the other week and I loved the Picture Quality on it.
However the EOS 450D looks reasonable in terms of pricing, I may check it out some more.
EDIT: Actually it appears to offer everything the 500D does except video, yay.
I guess I got lucky getting my nikon D60 as circiut city was dying it was on a huge sale
Aled check out Flickr, you can search for photos taken with specific cameras so you can see what the image quality is like.
You need this link:
Flickr Group of EOS 450D owners, showcase
I particularly like this guy
Last edited by Si665 (November 15, 2009 (03:26am))
I suggest finding a local photography club. The chaps there are often upgrading and will usually on-sell their old gear at pretty decent prices plus you know the equipment works. You may need to hang around a bit and show off what you can do with an existing camera.
I found a (semi) local club and was able to pick up a chaps old 300D and a lens for a fraction of what it would have cost via eBay. I was able to take these photos with the 300D.
As for cameras, don't be taken in by the "you need loads of megapixels" speech. Where you want 10 megapixels + is if you are going to get your photos on billboards or in glossy magazines. If you are sharing them on the web, then even 3 or 4 megapixels would look fine (the dSLR's look a lot better because the image sensor is much bigger than in a compact and the lens makes a lot of difference). Plus once you start working out how to use all the functions then you can have a lot more fun with the camera.
Mind you, once you start out down the SLR path, it is very easy to want to get more and more gear - and it gets expensive quickly!
I bought two compact cameras from ebay so far and my experience was good. The models (Canon A510, G7) were already 2 years old when I bought them, so retailers didn't have them. The price was about a third of the original price so it definitely paid out. If older models have all the features you need, go with it.
Well, DSLRs are a tricky thing to buy. If you're a die hard photography fan (or a professional), you'll spend thousands on a camera alone (like my Dad's Nikon D2X).
Over the summer I was looking into a lens for my D100. (Macro Lens for Brickfilming, to be specific). Around $350 from B&H. For a lens. At that point, I'd buy a Powershot and finish.
So you see, DSLRs are indeed a hard thing to buy. Be careful, and good luck!
(Macro Lens for Brickfilming, to be specific)
I was looking into those as well and found out that macro extension tubes will do just as well for the average lego-sized target.
Macro tubes (wikipedia), more details.
Here's a photo taken with my 300D and a macro tube.
That is a very good option.
But wikipedia says that they need more of an exposure time. Light Flicker city.
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