HELP!!!!....I wanna take decent macro photos....on a budget :(

[cet98]

Hello everyone"¦!
For a very long time, I have sat back and enviously admired so many of the photographs taken by so many of my fellow saltwater hobbyists and always wished to be able to take, in the very least, "œdecent" photos"¦.
I am well aware that the most advanced photographers out there own/use the higher quality (and higher priced) DSLR cameras for amazing macro close-ups"¦.unfortunately, like so many others, I am not able to afford (nor justify) the purchase of the more costly DSLR and Lens systems out in the market place.

This leads to the reason for my post"¦.Is there any way to use a P&S camera successfully enough to accomplish quality macro photography without the high price tag?

I have located the following cameras that seem to fall into my price range:

Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP ($192)
Nikon Coolpix L100 10MP ($248)
Nikon Coolpix L110 12.1MP ($199)
Nikon Coolpix P100 10 MP ($320....really a bit more than I'm budgeted to spend)


Thanks to any and all that can offer me an insightful opinion

 

[cet98]

wow....no one has an insightful opinion???

 

[xtm]

This leads to the reason for my post….Is there any way to use a P&S camera successfully enough to accomplish quality macro photography without the high price tag?

The quick answer is no. P&S cameras have:

- tiny sensors (which means more noise)
- significant shutter lag (translates to blurry/missed shots)
- built-in crappy lenses (generally poor optically and not built for 1:1 magnifications)

Finally there's not enough control on a P&S to manually adjust aperture, S/S, ISO, among other things. There are more advanced P&S like the Canon G11 and Nikon P7000 but for the price of these, you might as well just buy a DSLR.

I have located the following cameras that seem to fall into my price range:

Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP ($192)
Nikon Coolpix L100 10MP ($248)
Nikon Coolpix L110 12.1MP ($199)
Nikon Coolpix P100 10 MP ($320....really a bit more than I'm budgeted to spend)

For a starter macro rig, you're looking at the very least $600. Adorama has a D3000 body for $299, and you can get a Sigma/Tamron macro lens for around $300. This will get you a good body/lens combo for shooting macro but ultimately, you're also going to need a tripod-- don't cheap out on this-- none of those Walmart aluminum ones. A decent one will cost you at least $250. The cheap $30 ones at Walmart will not be usable, I guarantee it. Don't waste your money on those.

 

[samdaman]

Look for an ok one like a Rebel on craigslist.

 

[dublo8]

check adororama for the d3000 body or even an older nikon d40 or d40x. Most of these can be bought as kits with a 200mm lens and a carrying bag of some sort as well. They are great starter cameras and the rebel xsi? is another descent one.