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I just bought myself the Canon S5IS. I been on here for a while and haven't been able to post my progress so here we are. My latest buy for the layout was today, Bought my first #6 RH Peco SL turnout and my ADM grain hopper oh and the Walthers "bible". Since the Walthers turnouts are never available I planned on spending the extra to get peco, ones that I won't have much trouble with later on.
And pictures of my first structure.
You get a new camera and I just lost mine. I think that my daughter may have hidden it. Maybe it's a sign for a new one. I've always been a Canon guy so maybe this one could be on the list.
Nice work for using a new camera. Practice with the lighting and macro modes since those are the two variables that usually make or break model photos.
Thanks for the replies.
I was doing alot of reading in the nice thick user manual. The macro mode is a little tricky. It has regular macro mode and super macro mode all the way to 0. I'm trying to get use to the ISO setting in the manual mode. The pictures keep ending up choppy, I guess from lack of light. I'll keep messin with it.
You can more or less forget about the super macro mode unles you want to get extremely close photos of a small area, such as the cab of an engine. The focus is fixed in this mode, so you have to be a certain distance away from the subject.
Macro mode is better, you can zoom in and out, but it too will restrict what you can do. Best just to use the normal focusing, and choose the AV mode - Aperture Value, and select f/8. That will give you the maximum depth of sharpness. Always use the camera on a tripod or support, and choose the lowest ISO - 100 for best quality.
I took this shot last week on my HO scale modules using my Canon S5 with these settings:
Micheal, the shots look good and will get even better with more practice. I noticed on your layout, some of the curves you have drawn are very sharp and will probably cause trouble for the car you have pictured. Just thought before you get too far. As far as too little light, set the camera on something and use the timer so you are not touching it when it takes the photo. For clarity use the smallest f stop you can. This will increase your exposure times and will make a solid base for the camera more important. I do a lot of macro photography and almost never handhold the camera. I either use a tripod or set the camera on whatever is handy and reasonably solid.
Thanks guys for the advice.
The lines I drew on the table are kinda like a referance guide to how the track will lay. But once I put the track down It won't be that sharp. Like the one off the main looks real sharp. I was able to get 22 and 24 radius on the layout which I'm happy about.
Thanks for the compliment Doug!
For the foam I used 2" thick foamular extruded foam from Home Depot.
I used just an jagged bladed kitchen knife to cut out, form the ditch and lake.
I used Elmers wood glue to glue the 2" foam to 1/2 plywood then painted the foam with a Hickory Brown interior flat acrylic latex paint to kind of simulate dirt/mud.
I just order a double track girder plate bridge from walthers and I can't wait to see the after effect of the lake and bridge togather.
Thanks for the info and extra pics. I was thinking about 1" foam, but I think the 2" looks better. Be sure to post a pic of the new bridge when you set it up.
Maybe it's a sign for a new one. 
I've always been a Canon guy so maybe this one could be on the list.
