Hi All... I'm new to this forum but wanted to know if I got the right camera... I just bought an Olypus C-3020 Digital camera for taking close up photos of some of my sci-fi model work and really love the versitlity of setting all the options, but will have to work on the ASA and the F-Stop settings a bit more until I feel comfortable with what each one does. I have looked online at some tutorials and have found some really good information. But all in all, would like to know if this is a good camera. Here's one of the pics I have taken.

The F-stop settings are what set the size of the camera's aperture, the hole that opens up to expose the ccd (i believe that's what it is in a digi cam, I use film, so normally I would say to expose the film). F-stops can go from 22 to 4 and sometimes lower. Basically, the smaller the F-stop number, the bigger the size of the hole of the aperture. Each step you take down from F-Stop 22 will let in double the amount of light that the previous f-stop let in. Also, the F-stop is also mainly used to control the Depth of Field in an image, ie: the range of acceptable focus. The higher the number, the greater the depth of field, thus, the majority of the picture will be in good focus if you set your focus properly, aside from very close up objects. The lower the number, the shallower the depth of field. If you set the aperture to it's largest setting, the range of focus is extremely limited, so you wanna make sure when focusing through the viewfinder (or lens on an SLR) that your focus is pinpoint accurate. Neither high or shallow depth of field is good or bad, it dep4ends on the type of image you want to capture. Also, the lower the number of the aperture, the less time that will be needed to expose (cuz the hole is bigger, allowing in more light). As for ASA, that stands for the "film speed," the speed at which film reacts to light. As a predominantly 35mm film user, I really can't help you out with what it does for a digital camera. Basically though, your image quality will "degrade" or become "granier" the higher the film speed you use, but the image will be exposed much fast at the same time. Last I read, most digi cams tend to start sucking once you go past ASA 400, but I wouldn't know for sure. It's a field of playing trade-offs really. hope that helps.

i have the caomera and so far i am in love with it... i wont leave home without it... drives my kids nuts....mom!! stop taking pictures.... lol your shot looks nice

Attached Link: http://www.dpreview.com

oh yeah, as for the camera, i dunno either, but you'll find reviews of it on dpreview.com if u search it up most likely. Basically, if the camera serves your needs extremely well, then it's a good camera for you.

Wow a fellow modeler. But such dedication. To buy a digital camera to photograph Monogram ( or is it Revel Models ) nice work with the damaged casing. Some suggestions photograph this at say 3:00pm you'll get more light and one can see the detail better. Bsteph

cool a couple of modelers....I build automotive models. I,ve been taking digital pics of them for a couple of years now. Up until recently, i used an Olympus D360L, which is a decent little 1.3 megapixel camera. I recently (like 3 or 4 weeks ago) bought the Oly C4040z to do other forms of photography as well. I'm still learning how to shoot macro with the C4040. I did get some decent shots with my 360. Here's a modified I built in an example of shooting models. Jack

Attached Link: http://davisworks.net/models/index.htm

Very cool helpful information and it's great to know there's some modelers on here... the reason I take the photos of the models is that I run a model resource site online call Master Modeling... I like to take photos of the progress of building a model to studio quality using average store bought model kits. If anyone would like to see some of my model work, you can do so at the attached link. I'm hoping that with this new camera I can get better detail of some of the work I've done.