Best camera for coral shots under $500?

[SlavicSavage]

I work at a LFS and the owner is planning to move our store online and have portions of our coral selection available via the internet to be shipped to customers throughout the country. Being the tech nerd of the employees he has put me in charge of finding us a good camera with which to take pictures of the many corals we will be getting in to put each one online so people can see the exact specimen they will recieve with their order.

Basically my question is, what would be the best camera for this task around or under $500? My father is a photographer, so I know how to use both more complicated SLRs and point and shoot cameras, and would prefer something a little more manual rather than a totally automatic point and shoot style camera. I was going to use my Fuji FinePix S1 Pro, but it has been giving me trouble, and also I don't trust leaving it at my work where other employees might use it and drop it into the water.

I plan on using a tripod and also fabricating some kind of submersable box to use to get good clear pictures.

If theres anything else good to know to offer a recommendation please let me know.

Thanks

 

[icenine2005]

Might look into the Cannon G9 or Nikon P5100. Not SLRs with some manual controls.

 

[jccash]

I know this is over 500 bue spend an extra 50 bucks and buy the Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel.

 

[breutus]

Or if you have a costco card they often have them for 429!

 

[Shooter7]

A couple pics I managed to get off my Canon A650:

$310 at B&H

 

[m.gumbert]

I reccomed the Olympus 720 SW. It is small like a point and shoot yet still offers options for the seasoned photographer. My mother is a professional photographer and loves this camera for scuba diving. Did I mention it was submersable? I also love this because I can keep it in my firefighting gear because I don't have to worry about it getting wet. Also takes great pictures!


Here is a link....

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1225&fl=2

 

[selliott]

Check out the canon 20D or 30D

 

[dragonette]

I got my canon rebel xt with the 18-55 lens and the memory card DELIVERED for 543.00 from amazon

Id step it up a little and just go for one of those.

Good Luck
Jess

 

[golfschosen1]

I just got the canon G9 and I love it I have a DSLR as well but wanted a point and shoot i got it for 450 it has raw mode and shoots very clear pictures and true to color its a nice camera

 

[ianiwane]

You guys suggesting the DSLRs are all forgetting that to get really good macro shots he is going to have to spend another 400 dollars on a macro lens. That will be way out of his budjet.

 

[selliott]

you can get a canon 50mm lens for 100 bucks it's not top notch but it works well.

 

[klumsyninja]

I too have the Cannon G9 and am very impressed with its capabilities. It has a decent aquarium setting on it too for your less technical co-workers