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Can someone point me to a digital camera with a GOOD macro for guitar closeups/portfolio/website? Also I want video capability. $150-$200 range oughta do it?

I know I can go shopping, but need the camera, and no time for research. We have Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, circuit city, Best buy etc.

If there's a good quick website with current info, I'd check that out....

Not looking for a digital SLR or an $800 studio set up

Canon A590. Just picked one up recently for about $150 bucks. It was on sale. Can be bought at practically every place you mentioned, and with 8 megapixels you'll be able to crop fairly well. Nice camera for the money.

My .02

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Bill, Where? Target has it for $180. Gonna check it out.

Terry,

If you can go for used, NIkon's Coolpix 995 or 4500 can focus down to about 1/2" without add-ons. Works well in point and shoot mode or manual. The 995 goes back to about 2001, the 4500 to about 2005. Got my 4500 on ebay about six months ago for $180. If it's for pics on the web, the need for high pixel count is a myth. They don't make them anymore to the dismay of many ebay coin sellers, but they're cheap and reliable.

I just took this handheld, under a desk lamp, about an inch away. It's just under 140k. Have a look at it enlarged.

Check dpreview.com

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

i've found steve's digicams to be quite useful.

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yakmatter.com

I have been really happy with my Panasonic Lumix series camera. Mine is 7.8 Megapixel with a 6X optical zoom, which is very useful. I use the zoom all the time. The older camera had a 3X optical zoom and it just didn't get it done. With good optical zoom you don't need to get within 1/2" of your subject. The newer version now available is 10.1 Megapixel with 5X optical zoom. The lenses are Leica lenses, and the quality is good. It allows easy white adjustments from the back. The only thing I wish it had was an Automatic Time Lapse mode that would take a picture every X seconds. Can't have everything for less than $200. Here is one shot using the Optical Zoom for a close up.

And here is another, taken through one of those magnifying lens lights with the circle fluorescent bulb in it. It is great for stuff like this.

I'm not saying the other suggestions are not as good or better, I'm just saying there is more than one way to ....well you know.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Digital camera have gone the way that stereo receivers went a couple of decades ago in that many of them now use the same key parts and there is very little difference in the performance and excellent results that most any mid-priced digital camera offers today. In fact many of the "name brand" DCs are manufactured in the same plants regardless of the brand. A DC offerer simply provides proprietary parts such as the case and a spec and a contract manufacturer knocks them out.

As Pat said mega pixels are not all that important and you are pretty hard pressed to find anything under 5 MP for $200 or less these days. Flash memory is dirt cheap right now and is faster than ever. For what we do including web site pictures 5-6 MP is plenty when you consider that you will have to Photoshop your images down under 100 kb anyway so your pages load quickly.

I have two that each was the top of the line of Sony and Nikon's offering 5-6 years ago. By todays standards they are both still superb cameras and I can do anything important that I could do with a new camera today. With one exception.... image stabilization is really the first advance in DCs that is very useful in a long time. And it not expensive either so if possible go for a camera with image stabilization.

For macro shooting SLRs have an issue in that their lens gets in the way of the integral flash rendering the flash nearly useless. Where pocket cameras without a protruding lens do better with flash pictures in macro mode. A glass lens as opposed to plastic is always desirable too.

Actually DCs today are an amazing value, they are all pretty good cameras and for under $200 you can buy a camera that holds it own with a $1,000 camera of 5 years ago.

If you can spend a little more, the Canon S5 is an awesome camera. I'm shooting with the S3 right now, basically the older version, and have no regrets.

It can focus to 0". I can copy slides by holding them against the lens barrel. 12X optical zoom and image stabilization are great. Lots of other features that make it great, too, but won't go into that now.

Its really hard to go wrong with Canon digital cameras. (spend a little more and get the S5)

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Terry,
Here are a few shots my wife took with our little point and shoot Canon Powershot SD850 IS. You can get it from Amazon for $229 free shipping. I love this camera! If my wife can take this good of a shot, you know it must be good!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I haven't read this enitre thread so I apologize if this has already been mentioned, but check out dpreview.com. It's a great web site that you can get a ton of information about all of the latest digital cameras out there. They have in depth reviews, sample photos, side by side comparisions, features searches, etc.

http://www.dpreview.com

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Seems Canon keeps coming up, so here's a different one for you. I have a Digital Rebel SLR (the original 6.1), and was looking for a P&S.

Since I love zooms, the Canon SX100 was hands down the winner for me. Funny thing is, it has more auto features than the Rebel (way more), more mp (10), and the zoom is way bigger than the stock lens on the Rebel. Shoot speed can't touch the Rebel, but it is way faster than what I've seen from older model P&S.

AND, it fits in the pocket. Okay, a big pocket because the lens makes it about twice as thick as the other Point and Shoots. Besides, it has face recognition and optical image stabilization which really kicks in a zoom range. The SD card is ultra fast compared to the microdrive (remember those) I have in the rebel. My 4g card runs over 4K pics at normal resolution (I think around 4-6 mp).

Oh, forgot. Yes, it has macro.

I'll throw out a vote for the Canon Powershot A720 IS, which is very similar to the A590 IS, I can't recall the differences at the moment I know it has a higher digital zoom upto 6x which I really liked. I even shot some photos at full zoom in somewhat lowlight and got some great shots. However, sadly it was just stolen from I believe the guys who were zapping termintes in the garage. I had it out in the garage (in its case of course) because I had been taking pics of the project and boom it was gone. Very sad loved that camera. I got it as a gift and it was so nice that even though I have an open choice now, I want that camera! For the most part you can find those online for just under $200 free shipping. Fry's an electronics store carries them locally for me, but they are sold out.

Also, if you want a great deal on the A590IS, go to Dell's website, check under electronics and right now you'll find a deal for the A590IS plus a 2gig memory card(I think) for around $155 if I recall correctly. Probably the best deal around unless you find it used. I've been trying to get ahold of Dell for the A720IS because I know someone who got it from Dell for $170 and they no longer have it listed there. Best of luck. Jason


EDIT(I love edits still)-Here is the link for the A590IS from Dell http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Digital_Point_Shoot/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1660964

Canon G9- cost a little more but you may not need another camera. Going for $450-ish, fully manual or auto, image stabilization (means no flash needed for macro, or "calm" posed shots- open up the white balance a bit and go for it- even if there is a little movement on your or the subjects part- this camera rocks.

From a recent trip top the keys

Red wasp, about 1" in life,


Mangrove flowers taken from a canoe- meaning some movement- the flowers are about 1/4" or less in size,


and a reflection of the mangroves from the water turned upside down for a little surreal look.


I am currently looking into the Nikon d300, but that's a personal thing..

Good luck- remember- cheap doesn't always mean good- a good camera is a huge help with web design, or life in general. Bad photography is easy to spot- good photography in todays world is expected given how good the cameras are.

Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Not to hijack, but holy cow. Looking at some of these images makes me think about getting with the new camera technology program!
I've always like Canon's user interfaces, from printers to DV cameras, pro cameras, and point &shoots. They really seem to "get it".

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I have a Canon Power Shot S5IS for about a month now and I am very happy with it so far. It does alot and it will take me a while to learn it all. I like the fack that it will do an hour of video with the right card. Although it goes for $300 .

Chris, If you want a few user tips, I'd be happy to offer you some of my experience.

BTW, it won't be long before you really start to appreciate the articulated screen.

Also, while most people keep theirs set on "auto", I like to keep mine set on "C", for custom. It just seems to produce what I like more often. Not having the d*** flash always on is very nice, too. You just lift it to activate it.

The AA batteries are a great way to go, too. With rechargeables, they seem to last forever.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/