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You
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Camera
Camera
 Choosing
the right camera system is a highly personal choice and no one camera
is right for everyone. I started my learning experience with my father's
old, manual Canon A-1 and AE-1 Program cameras. I really liked working
with these manual cameras since the forced me to learn how to adjust shutter
speeds and aperture settings to get the photographs I wanted.
Like many other photographers though, I was soon lured by more modern,
autofocus cameras as well. I always enjoyed using manual focus cameras
and still use one for some animal work, though most of it is done with
a newer autofocus camera.
Since I like using both manual focus and autofocus cameras, I decided
to buy Nikon cameras since I can use newer, autofocus lens with older,
manual focus cameras and older, manual focus lenses on newer, autofocus
cameras. This inter-operability allows me to use the same set of lenses
for all my cameras.
When photographing animals, there are some features that have helped
us increase the number of good photographs per roll and we encourage you
to consider these features when choosing a camera system. These features
include:
- A wide selection of accessories for your camera and flashes and lenses
- This includes good support for macro (or micro, as it is also
called) equipment for taking closeup pictures of cats and other small
animals.
- Fast flash sync - A camera with a fast flash sync speed (1/250) is
very helpful when using fill-flash outdoors. Fill-flash is technique
that allows you to balance the light of your subject with the light
on the background to get a nice, evenly exposed photograph.
- Motor drive - We usually spend about 10-15 minutes posing and reposing
an animal to get four usable shots. The time when the light, exposure,
and expression are just right totals about ten seconds of that time
so the last thing I want to worry about is cocking my camera.
- Auto focus - I've worn glasses since the first grade so obviously
my vision isn't that great. After shooting hundreds of rolls with my
Nikon F100 I've learned that it can focus much faster than I can. This
allows me to spend my time getting the best expression from my subject
instead of searching for the right focus.
Also, you must decide if you will choose a digital
camera or film camera.
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