Good cameras for miniature photography?

[MrKlipp]

It\'s time for me to get a new camera.

I\'ve got a good lighting setup, and I\'m pleased with the results I\'ve been getting, but I\'ve hit a point where my camera just isn\'t picking up the detail present on the model to my satisfaction.

I\'m looking for recomendations of cameras that others are using for photographing minis that they are very happy with.

Regular camera reviews haven\'t done me a lot of good, since this is fairly specialized work, and a camera that is otherwise brilliant but has a subpar macro model really won\'t help me out much.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Nikon Coolpix Series (5400)
Fuji Finepix,
Canon

Any of the above manufacturers, try looking on Ebay for them.
Personally I used a Nikon Coolpix 5000 and have no complaints with it. (Except battery life).

 

[Duende]

I don\'t know much about other cameras..

I use a Konica Minolta DiMage Z1.

Good battery life, I use rechargeables with it, so that helps, and I also have a DC adapter so I can just plug it in as well, if I really need pics while batteries are in the charger.

Pretty easy to use too, of course, reading the manual helps. Price isn\'t bad either.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[Avelorn]

Well. which pricerange are you heading for?

Most Nikon have good macro abilities, but there are other cameras in other brands with basically the same result for a better price. Fuji Finepix is as series with both good and bad macro cameras. I tried out the s5000 for example, and it wasn\'t all that good. Canon usually have very nice cameras to a fine price.. A520/510 for example. But it\'s all up to how much you want to pay for the camera.

My tip is to choose a camera that is good allround. I did research on this subject half a year ago and picked up a sony P100. It\'s a great camera, but many models have been released since then.

Good sources for reviews.
http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.megapixel.net
http://www.steves-digicams.com

 

[Legacy Account]

Canon EOS 350D with a 50mm macro. It\'s the bollocks.

 

[Godlikebuthumble]

Meh... for my first pics I used stills from a JVC digital camcorder the sad results are still to be seen...
My current cam is a no-name 3 point something MP, not great, but not too bad either. However,
Angie bought a Nikon (?) Coolpix with 5 MP a couple days ago... so our next pics should be rather good... if we get to use it right... :flip: Really nice cam, goes for about 270 Euros, btw.

 

[supervike]

RTFM!

Originally posted by Duende

Pretty easy to use too, of course, reading the manual helps.

egads!! I have my camera manual and my life insurance policy right next to my bed....If I ever need help falling asleep, I just have to read a paragraph from either!!lol

 

[Duende]

Originally posted by supervike
[ I have my camera manual and my life insurance policy right next to my bed....If I ever need help falling asleep, I just have to read a paragraph from either!!

I don\'t read it straight through! If I can\'t figure something out by playing around with the buttons, then I look it up in the manual. But fooling around with the camera hands-on is the best way to learn the functions. If you can\'t figure out any particular thing, then look it up.

@ MrKlipp- I\'d also recommend going to local stores that sell cameras, just so you can handle any promising-looking models and get a feel for it. Then once you have an idea of what you\'d like, shop online for the best price.

Hope this helps!

 

[EricJ]

I\'m with DR on this one, I use Nikkon Coolpix 5400, and never had a reason to look for anything else

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally by Supervike

RTFM!

That dreaded acronym! *Shudders*

But yes I have \'Read The Flaming Manual\' just to understand the complexities of the camera.
For someone who can usually work out the usage it was enlightening and I would recommend it (occasionally).

 

[MrKlipp]

Originally posted by Avelorn
Well. which pricerange are you heading for?

Well, I\'d like to get somethingfor not too much more than 300$ or so, but I\'m more concerned with getting a camera that will do what I need it to do than the actual price.

Most Nikon have good macro abilities, but there are other cameras in other brands with basically the same result for a better price. Fuji Finepix is as series with both good and bad macro cameras. I tried out the s5000 for example, and it wasn\'t all that good. Canon usually have very nice cameras to a fine price.. A520/510 for example. But it\'s all up to how much you want to pay for the camera.

I was sort of considering an Olympus C-5060. It looked like it had all the manual controls I could want, and seemed to have great macro support, but again, I\'m going to be using the camera almost exclusivly for miniature photography, so I\'d like to get something that I\'m sure will do well with that.

 

[Avelorn]

You know what I\'d suggest you\'d do if you\'re really into it.

Go to http://www.dcresource.com/ and other sites and compare the Macro shots between the different cameras in your pricerange. Pick the one in your pricerange that you like the best. Be sure to do a search with the desired manual functions.

this is for example a comparasion between two models that fulfil your wishes. The coolpix is one year older though.
coolpix5400
Olympus C-765

I think I\'ll go with the flow and recommend the coolpix5400. It seem to have superior Macro to most other cameras in that pricerange and all the manualfunctions you\'ll need.

 

[Lavinia]

I have a Kodak Easyshare. Might not sound great to some of you, but I think it works quite well. I photographed not only mini\'s with it, but also flowers and garden spiders. If anyone\'s interested, I\'ll try to get some pic\'s online. For now, I\'ll just say lighting and a tripod are everything

 

[Nomis]

big thank you!

Originally posted by Avelorn
Good sources for reviews.
http://www.dcresource.com/
http://www.megapixel.net
http://www.steves-digicams.com

Avalorn thanks a lot for these links - I have been trying to decide on a new camera since my (really my wife\'s) Nikon Coolpix gave up the ghost a few months ago.

The reviews were really informative and I have just bought a brand new Canon S2 IS with a free 256 mb card on ebay after narrowing down my choice to three different cameras. - I have saved over a hundred pounds plus the price of the card!

 

[Legacy Account]

Good choice Nomis - that\'s a belter for the cash. The image stabiliser in the lens is shit hot....

 

[Nomis]

I certainly hope it is - perhaps when it arrives I will start posting some minis.

OOps! - one thing leads to another - perhaps I\'d better paint some