Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
(OP)
Hi all,
I am looking to buy a digital camera for our group's use in the workplace. One of the primary functions will likely be in the form of macro (close-up) shots of small areas and parts. This is generally helpful in documenting part failures such as breakages due to shock testing, gear tooth flaws or failures, and highlighting blemishes and imperfections. The camera will also be used to photograph larger scale test set-ups as well.
I have borrowed a camera from another group on our site, and I have really struggled to get decent close-ups. I would like to find a camera that can take these types of photos without having to make so many attempts. It seems that the focusing feature is what is giving us problems.
A very old Sony Mavica that records to floppy disks seems to perform best, but the recording medium is now outdated as most of us no longer have disk drives in our PC's. We would prefer to write to a SD card, and would also like a USB option as well.
Can anyone recommend a digital camera of reasonable cost (<$300-400) that they have had success using in a similar fashion?
Thanks in advance.
I am looking to buy a digital camera for our group's use in the workplace. One of the primary functions will likely be in the form of macro (close-up) shots of small areas and parts. This is generally helpful in documenting part failures such as breakages due to shock testing, gear tooth flaws or failures, and highlighting blemishes and imperfections. The camera will also be used to photograph larger scale test set-ups as well.
I have borrowed a camera from another group on our site, and I have really struggled to get decent close-ups. I would like to find a camera that can take these types of photos without having to make so many attempts. It seems that the focusing feature is what is giving us problems.
A very old Sony Mavica that records to floppy disks seems to perform best, but the recording medium is now outdated as most of us no longer have disk drives in our PC's. We would prefer to write to a SD card, and would also like a USB option as well.
Can anyone recommend a digital camera of reasonable cost (<$300-400) that they have had success using in a similar fashion?
Thanks in advance.





RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
Mike
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
I see BestBuy has the current version of my camera (DSC-W55) on sale for $170 right now, I'm tempted to upgrade to the new one (7.2 MP).
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
I've seen this almost every place I've worked: company buys camera and equips it with cheap, off-the-shelf rechargeable batteries instead of the goo made-for-the-camera battery. Result: battery always dead when camera is needed or dies after 3 shots.
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
I also agree with TheTick on getting a good long life battery.
Andy W.
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
Regards,
Cory
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RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
http://www.dpreview.com/
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
I don't have any need for the video microscope, but what a great piece of equipment.
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
-Ease of operation. The importance of this depends on how many people will be using the camera
-Weight/size. If the pictures should often be taken under less than ideal situations e.g. where you have to hold the camera at a difficult angle without being able to see the screen completely then a small lightweight camera may be preferred to a more bulky and heavy SLR.
Best regards
Morten
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
... and for cheap digital microscopes, 'Digital Blue' makes a children's microscope capable of taking digital pictures and movies. It can be purchased from most toy stores or from E-bay. The pictures aren't high definition by any means but often are good enough to show simple illustrations on the computer screen.
Also don't forget there are still a lot of good SLR cameras (film type cameras) out there that are capable of making high resolution close-up pictures. Prior to the ditigal age, there were many cameras with available close-up attachments (lenses, bellows, add-on lenses, etc.) If you don't need the picture right away, one can always make a digtial copy when the film is processed.
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
Interesting to see so many replies to this question. Trust me, for the macro shot you want do, a point and shoot is your best option. I do macro shots of my plastic models to support my articles that I publish for the web and for an international modeling magazine. I have great success using the old Nikon Coolpik and recently, I bought a new Panasonic Lumix DMCFZ18 for only $400. It shoots great macro. I also support the recommendations for Cannon Powershot as it shoot great macro. Do not get an digital SLR for this application because of your specification for a camera in the $400 price range. With any SLR, you also have to buy a macro lense separately and that costs $800+ on top of the camera cost.
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
They have a macro and super macro mode. Also you can add lenses to the camera if you want for better macros and it is a 12x optical zoom in case you want to go from macro shooting to something far away and large
RE: Digital Camera Recommendations for Macro Shots
So far, we have been very happy with the ability of the camera to quickly and easily take close-up shots in macro mode.
I also read a tip recently where a blogger suggested using a scanner to take shots of small items as well, and that seems like it might occasionally be useful.
I am uploading a spreadsheet that shows a few cameras that I compared in case anyone else is interested:
http://fil