Recommend me a camera

[trawg-lo-dyte]

I'm a newb. I'd like to do a grow journal but the cam on my phone is crappy/blurry. If I get a camera I'd like to be able to use it to view trichomes too. Will a 16X optical zoom do that? The top seller on Amazon is Kodak Pixpro FZ45 @$90, would that be a good choice? Is there something cheaper. Please don't suggest a bunch of high dollar cameras, $100 is pushing it for me and I'm only considering it because I occasionally need a camera for other things.

So, yah, I guess my main question is if this Kodak Pixpro FZ45 will take decent pictures and let me zoom in to check the trichomes for cloudiness and orange tint. Or, if someone knows of something better in the <$100 range (perhaps used on eBay or something).

Also, I give my grow about a 50/50 chance of failing spectacularly, so the purpose of a grow journal may wind up being comedic value. If I fail, at least somebody can get a laugh out of it!

 

[Mossy]

Are you sure it is your phone...not just hand blur.....?... watching site post I find most phones as good as cameras...

Kodak was always my go-to brand........they were good.

Now I use a Canon... they are more expensive...but reconditioned is good.

The magnification is beyond what you need to get decent tric shots.......

If you can get a decent quality...no blur.. original shot you can zoom in and crop shots for good close ups.

 

[JP1]

Maybe try cleaning the lens on your phone. The microscope I use to see trichomes is $30

 

[trawg-lo-dyte]

The phone is a Hot Pepper HPP-L55B. The camera truly is horrible, incapable of taking non-blurry pictures. I realize this may be hard to believe in an era where most any phone can take a decent picture, but this one cannot.

The reason I tolerate it is the phone is just for an $80/yr SIM card with talk/text only (no data). I really don't use it for much except phone calls (although I can do a few smart phone things when connected to wi-fi).

So, yah, I pay $80/yr for a SIM card and I have it in this phone which isn't good for much except sending/recieving phone calls. Even the text is limited, no attachments, no emojis, no group chats, just simple text messages.

So now I'm sort of thinking maybe I'll just get a camera to take pictures, and I might as well get one that can view trichomes. The reason I want to make sure the camera can view trichomes is so I DON'T HAVE TO spend another $30 on a microscope. That's the whole reason I asked.... I want to avoid spending additional. lol.

Anyway, I found some used Kodak Pixpro's much better than the FZ45 (like an AZ405) for $60. So, I think I'm on the right track but if there's any camera nerds who really know their stuff and can help me find a goodie, let me know.

 

[Olderfart]

In the opinion of this camera nerd, nothing else will buy you a better look at trichs for $30 than one of those wireless (or wired for that matter) microscopes. With a dedicated camera, you would almost certainly require a macro lens to fit it to come anywhere close. Bottom line is that to match that magnification with other camera gear will cost a hell of a lot more money even if you find it second hand. Good luck with it, if you have questions about a specific option, feel free to shoot me a link and I will have a look for you.

 

[BII]

Can anyone recommend a digital camera and/or the lens(es) best for covering the .5-10 inch range, such as photos of buds and colas? Do I want digital and/or optical magnification, pay for image processing or good lens(es)?

 

[WildBill]

Maybe try cleaning the lens on your phone. The microscope I use to see trichomes is $30
View attachment 1716409View attachment 1716410

I bought the very same one again. When I lost the cover some bug spider or whatever must have done something inside there to screw up the picture.
I had just bought another microscope but the Depth of Field was just incredibly narrow, shallow, whatever you want to call it.

 

[WildBill]

Can anyone recommend a digital camera and/or the lens(es) best for covering the .5-10 inch range, such as photos of buds and colas? Do I want digital and/or optical magnification, pay for image processing or good lens(es)?

I can recommend one not to get!

Kodak PixPro FZ43
I think it's fairly clunky interface and it eats batteries like crazy! Pictures can be OK, but they're usually not.