It's a small, small digital world...

With regards to the OP, it's not a miniature model, it's life size, real, big and tall. The photography is the trick.

Read up and get some education on what's called "Tilt Shift" photography.
It's a very cool process, and produces some outstanding results.

From Wiki:
"Tilt-shift photography" refers to the use of camera movements on small- and medium-format cameras, and sometimes specifically refers to the use of tilt for selective focus, often for simulating a miniature scene. Sometimes the term is used when the shallow depth of field is simulated with digital postprocessing; the name may derive from the tilt-shift lens normally required when the effect is produced optically.

"Tilt-shift" actually encompasses two different types of movements: rotation of the lens plane relative to the image plane, called tilt, and movement of the lens parallel to the image plane, called shift. Tilt is used to control the orientation of the plane of focus (PoF), and hence the part of an image that appears sharp; it makes use of the Scheimpflug principle. Shift is used to adjust the position of the subject in the image area without moving the camera back; this is often helpful in avoiding the convergence of parallel lines, as when photographing tall buildings.

And some really cool examples:
50 Beautiful Examples Of Tilt-Shift Photography


Google tilt shift photography and you'll get all kinds of goodies.

With regards to the later conversation, my first SLR was a Minolta X-570. *with* the auto-winder/power grip!!! I later upgraded to the X-700! Whoohoo!

Propbet, I have used "tilt" on bigsize cameras like Linhof and on Hasselblad medium size, but now it is coming also to my smallest Micro Four Third. A must have...

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1009/10092208lensbabycomposertilttransformer.asp

Hasselblad Medium Format.
Now you're scratching me where I itch!

Ah, the eternal Canon / Nikon tribal wars. If you're bored enuff, here are links to more chit-chat:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1002&message=35281633

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1002&message=35595658

http://photo.net/beginner-photography-questions-forum/00X82E

http://forum.digitalcamerareview.com/what-camera-should-i-buy/17812-looking-new-camera.html

Kelly Cook
(Sony A200)

Thanks, Kelly, for the Canon-Nikon comparos.
You have an A200 that's, what, 3 years old?
What would you, for roughly the same dollars or loonies, consider replacing it with?

I got that old A200 on a closeout deal, insanely low price. For a low budget buy today, just walking into the nearest store, I'd suggest a Canon T1i (aka EOS 500D). Hit the big online camera sites and there are also some nice closeout deals now for the Nikon D5000, Olympus E-30, and Sony A500.

I am keeping an eye out for something more advanced to replace my A200. That rather loose shopping list includes the Canon T1i, Canon EOS 40D (used), Nikon D3100, Nikon D90 (refurbished), and Sony A33, A500, A560. Current prices for these are all in the same ballpark.

DSLR shopping is almost as complex as yacht shopping! At least with the cameras we have a lot more hard data to digest. And no DSLR is really a dud, regardless of brand. Get the one that puts the biggest grin on your face.

Kelly

Loren,

You may want to look at perhaps a used D200 or D90. The D5000 does not have an internal autofocus motor. If you want autofocus it may not be the best and I would recommend one of the other two. Having the in body AF motor will allow you to buy less expensive glass.

They may be used, but will be comparably priced. The D200 also has a magnesium body instead of the polycarbonate of the lower end Nikons. Not a big deal for most, but it did feel like a much better camera.

I prefer Nikon for a number of reasons. They feel better in my hands. They don't seem to change their mount every decade or so like canon. If I had an old Nikon instead of the Canon, I would have been able to use that glass on it. Go out and see what feels better to you, bodywise, and go from there.

Hope that helps.

Scot

Kelly and Scot--greatly appreciate the info, especially as you both mention the D90, which I assume is the Mercedes of the cameras mentioned.
Even though I might not immediately be able to take advantage of all the capabilities, I lean toward well-made, semi-pro, able to last a dozen years, repairable, non-obsolescence type stuff.

I'd never thought about a used/refurbished camera. Any thoughts on where one might find these without worries of buying a problem?

Seems like the D90 has it's replacement coming out soon(?)
No regrets for waiting, is there?

Of course some members of the Canon tribe would want to have a word about Nikon automatically getting the crown. In my view as a hobbyist all of these cameras are well made and will last. Semi-pro is largely a design issue. The more you pay, the more pro the camera, for any brand. Obsolescence is impossible to escape, as the auto focus and sensor technologies are constantly improving. Now video has come to DSLRs!

If you're a tightwad, some $$ can be saved with refurbs, even more so with used cameras. Some more popular online outfits for this are Adorama, BHphotovideo, calumetphoto, and KEH. Amazon has lots of used camera sellers, you have to pick your way through those (Amazon does provide user ratings). A local camera store may have a used camera too, never hurts to check.

D90 prices are now sliding due to the coming D7000 that looks like its replacement. More on the D7000 here -

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/NikonD7000/

D90 stocks appear to be Ok right now. It can be tricky to determine exactly when stocks run out for any "senior" camera. That requires close tracking of street prices. Once they are gone, game over.

Kelly

Great video Fish! But why do it on a cloudy day..?