Cheap decent digital camera for macro shots

[static416]

Hey
I'm looking for a cheap digital camera I can take macro shots of my tank with.

I have a digital camera at the moment but the problem is that when you take shots without the flash to preserve the natural color, the shutter speed is so slow that everything comes out blurry. And shots with the flash make everything look like I'm lighting the tank with a flashlight in my hand and all the colors go to crap.

I need something that I can take decent pictures with that will give me a decent optical zoom for the macro shots and allow me to take shots without the flash while keeping the shutter speed up.

Any reasonably priced digital camera anyone can recommend that will do this for me?

Thanks
Eric

[Fuse]

That's not a difficult question to answer ;)

Generally speaking, a digital camera's ability to take good low-light shots (without a flash) depends on three things:


A good lens. Look for a camera with a "fast" lens. The faster a lens, the less light a camera needs in order to make an exposure. Lens speed is indicated by a number like "f5". Lower is better. Cheap digital cameras typically have lenses that are around f4-f5 (or worse). Better cameras average f3.5-f4. Digital SLRs with a really good lens might be under f3. Zoom lenses generally aren't as fast as prime lenses. For comparison sake, my old Olympus 35mm SLR has an uber-fast f1.4 lens :victory:

A good sensor. The newer digital SLRs don't come with the fastest telephoto lenses, but they make up for it by having great big CMOS (light sensing) chips. The bigger the chip, the less light the camera needs for a proper exposure.

If all else fails, it pays to have a steady hand. Or just increase your lighting by adding another MH or two :D

[ajx22]

Talk to Mitchell on these forums - as he was using a cheap Casio digital camera - that was taking AMAZING macros. I can't remember the model of it - but send him an email or PM - and I'm sure that he'll give you the details.

I also think that Flavio from ORG has one as well.

HTH

[xexxxe]

Hey
the shutter speed is so slow that everything comes out blurry. And shots with the flash make everything look like I'm lighting the tank with a flashlight in my hand and all the colors go to crap.
Thanks
Eric

when lowering the shutter speed... you should definitly use the tripod... that way you can even lower it to 30/1sec to even 1/1sec...(this does not apply to taking pix of the fishes though... only still objects) and when taking the picture(macro)... face the camera directly 90 degree to the glass... not in an angle unless its a wide shot...

if you want to try macros... try getting the close up kit/attachments from henry's .... try it and if you don't like it .... return it...

what cameras do you use right now?

there are no cheeeeap cameras... you get what you paid for much like skimmers, reactors bulbs what not... you are looking at bare min. about 4-500 for cheaper end decent camera...

if you don't want to spend money try looking into./using tripods AND close up lens adapter... put it on auto and no flash set the shutter speed to <30/sec(i'd stongly advise you use the tripod... you may not even need a new camera)... or check the classified for digicam i have listed...

cheers

[static416]

The camera I'm using right now is a Fuji FinPix 2300 from about 4 years ago. It works great for taking pictures of your friends at a party when your drunk, but anything else it kinda sucks at.

I was briefly looking at getting a Canon Digital Rebel, because my parents and my older brother both have the film version and all the accessories for them (lens, remotes, tripods, remote flashes) but I stopped being interested when I saw the $1200 price tag.

And I totally believe that you get what you pay for, its just that spending $1200 on camera to take pictures of my fish is a little crazy, even for me, the guy whos spent over $8000 on animals in the last 2 years, while in university.

So after all that, I think a used one is the way to go, but xexxxe, can't find the listing for your camera in the classifieds.

I might even be interested in a film camera if I knew it would work well and would give me better quality shots than a digital at the same price.

[xexxxe]

advantages of having the digital is that there are no film cost and you can view and delete/save whatever you take w/o the processing time... and if you are not an expert of photography... believe me you will be ending up spending more for the film and developing...

i would stick to digital for now... and like i stated earlier, try the tripod or the close up lens... you should not need to use the flash with all the lights from the tank... just play around with the exposure and shutter speed on tri(once it works out, just remember the setting and keep using it)... and the focusing... lots and lots of practice... i am not sure what kind of manual functions you have on your camera ... but set the focus and try moving the camera back and fourth slightly to take different shots(never trust the LCD viewfinder!!!)... remember you are not wasting any film here...

about my digicam... i had sent you the pm.. let me know if interested...

good luck~

[Fuse]

The camera I'm using right now is a Fuji FinPix 2300 from about 4 years ago.

I have have the same camera (my first digital). You are right, it's pretty crappy for low light shots. It helps a bit if you set mode to "manual" and then set "EV" to "-0.9". Because you can't set a shutter speed or ISO on that camera though, chances are you won't be able to get any decent shots of fish.

If you are looking for a new (or used) camera, try to find one where you can set the shutter speed. For used cameras -- film and digital -- try Henry's at Queen and Church in Toronto. The Henry's store on the SW corner is for used gear; the one on the SE corner is for new. I was there last weekend; they have a pretty decent selection of used, "open box" and discontinued digital cameras. I believe Henry's backs their used gear with a 180 day warranty.