Best Camera for Reef Photography >600

[Henryreef]

Hey I was wondering what you guys thought the best Camera >600 is for reef photography. Any thoughts, ideas & recommendations are appreciated. Please give me a link to the Camera you recommend / are talking about.

Thanks

 

[dendronepthya]

My vote would be a Canon 5D2 digital SLR with a Canon 180mm f/3.5L macro lens.
Canon 5D Mark II: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-II-DSLR-Digital-Camera-Review.aspx
Canon 180mm macro: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-180mm-f-3.5-L-USM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

180mm focal length on a full frame camera with live view for macro focusing is a dream.

 

[Henryreef]

Thanks dendronepthya! That is a sweet camera and macro lens, just a little out of my price range (at 3,000+ for Camera + Lens)

 

[dendronepthya]

Oh, I misinterpreted your post. x>600 is greater than $600

 

[Seasapience]

I'm looking at buying a Canon Powershot SX101S.
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_SX10_IS/
I've never used it but it seems to have everything that I need for the money including a swivel LCD screen and a sweet "supermacro mode". They go for $300-400...

 

[jthao]

any dslr under $600 is fine. it's the macro lens that you gotta pay more for. for under $600, you can get a Nikon D80, Nikon D60, Nikon D40X, then save up for a macro lense.

 

[Henryreef]

Seasapience -- I have heard good things about this Camera, apparently it has a very nice Supermacro mode. At 10mp and about 350$ very nice camera --thanks

jthao -- yeah Macro lens are very expensive, I am trying to find a camera that has a nice macro with out buying a macro lens. Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Henryreef]

Anyone with experience with the Nikon D60? Seems like a good price

see link http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ogle-_-Digital+Cameras-_-Nikon+Inc-_-30113088

 

[dendronepthya]

Another route is to get a used DSLR and a decent macro lens. I think you can find a 100mm Canon for $450 or so and then a Canon 300D digital SLR for about $150-200.

Half-way through this thread, I showed two comparison pics to show you can still get a lot of good shots with a really old DSLR:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1613008

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Canon G10, as opposed to SX10IS

 

[Henryreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14793419#post14793419 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dendronepthya
Another route is to get a used DSLR and a decent macro lens. I think you can find a 100mm Canon for $450 or so and then a Canon 300D digital SLR for about $150-200.

Half-way through this thread, I showed two comparison pics to show you can still get a lot of good shots with a really old DSLR:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1613008

hmmm.. I think this is a good idea, just where would I get a used macro lens though?

 

[Henryreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14793470#post14793470 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
Canon G10, as opposed to SX10IS

Gotcha, really like the Nikon D60 though

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

So your budget is not $600...it's more like...double that. You realize of course the D60 in that link is a fairly crappy rig for a reef tank. In the world of DSLRs, $600 gets you the bottom of the line current camera with a training wheel lens. You now need a $500-$900 macro lens at the very least. A decent fish lens would go a long way as well. That will cover your tank. If you want to shoot mountains or other stuff...well...more $. Don't forget to add $300 for a tripod!!! I mean heck that is already half your budget.

 

[tyoberg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14793496#post14793496 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Henryreef
hmmm.. I think this is a good idea, just where would I get a used macro lens though?

www.keh.com

I've bought several from the BGN category and have been pleasantly surprised each time.

 

[Henryreef]

TitusvileSurfer - I am on a budget and just wanted to see how far $600 would go. I am not looking for the best, top-of-the-line stuff, I am just looking for an improvement over the Point and shoot camera I own.

tyoberg - Thanks for the link!

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I'm just saying $600 won't take you very far with the camera in that link. $1200 is more like it.

 

[tyoberg]

KEH has a used 105 f/4 Micro AIS for $144 (manual focus and non-metering on a D40/D60--both non-issues for macro use, IMHO). Mmmmmm tempting.

2/3rds down the page for a review (he rates on a 0-5 scale and often breaks it down by different camera bodies).
http://www.naturfotograf.com/lens_spec.html

 

[Henryreef]

tyoberg - His review speaks very highly of that lens, where did you find it priced at $144? I checked ebay and it was 300$ (still a good price considering that it is a macro lens)

 

[Henryreef]

Also any thoughts on the Canon G10? it is $419 and 14 mp.

From review on side of page:

Pros: A RAW format point and shoot! With built in image stabilization! Great macro shots, great white balance, good color balance, good indoor photos, great people photos, good flash. I absolutely love the exposure dial combined with live preview
Cons: Terrible!! long distance daylight photo quality. If you plan on doing lots of (infinite focus) photos outdoors in full daylight or scenic shots I would look elsewhere.

It's definitely a point and shoot camera, but its also much MUCH larger than most. Still pocketable, still palmable. Hard to find a suitable case for.

Sounds like it is decent in macro but awful at anything distant. I really want a good macro so I can take pictures of my reef, and I think the main purpose of this camera is for reef photography.

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-Digital+Cameras-_-Canon+USA++Inc.-_-30120281

 

[tyoberg]

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/Prod...=&ID=25&BC=NK&BCC=1&CC=6&CCC=2&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=