Best compact camera for macro shots (1 Viewer)

[davidg]

My much loved Nikon 995 appears to be reaching the end of its useful life and so I'm looking for a replacement. Over the years I've tried various alternatives but have always returned to the 995 for its ease of use and the quality of pictures of even tiny subjects - I'm mostly interested in photographing insects.

Can anyone suggest something suitable before I start searching ebay for another 995? My requirements are a simple point-and-shoot compact obviously with good macro mode and preferably with good low-light performance.

Many thanks,

David

 

[rob lee]

Hi David,
I used to have both the 995 & 4500 & as you know they can both still hold there own against a lot of todays modern cameras particularly when it comes to macro. A few years back i got a Canon A640, which was fantastic for macro with its 1cm close focus, magnified centre screen & manual focus for when the camera wants to focus on something you dont. The increased screen size was also a bonus. I watched one on ebay the other day go for £75. I`ve since purchased a G10, but to be honest there is`nt a huge amount of difference between the two in image quality, you can just crop the images smaller with the G10, both can be customised as well. Another bonus with these cameras i think is that you can buy adapter tubes for them & then attach the various Raynox close up lenses which are excellent for micro moth shots. Attached shot was taken with the A640.

 

[davidg]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the suggestions. Funnily enough the A640 was one of the cameras I tried out but couldn't get on with and quickly reverted to the 995. It's still knocking around somewhere so I might give it another go.

One of the great advantages of the 995 is the filter thread around the lens which I use to attach the SL-1 ringflash - does anyone know if a similar arrangement is available with any newer models?

David

 

[rob lee]

995 on ebay at the moment ends at 18:45ish, starting bid £40, no takers yet. Alternatively, how about a 5000/5100 ? You can get an adapter to provide a 28mm thread which is what i presume you need for your macro light.

 

[davidg]

995 on ebay at the moment ends at 18:45ish, starting bid £40, no takers yet. Alternatively, how about a 5000/5100 ? You can get an adapter to provide a 28mm thread which is what i presume you need for your macro light.

Yes, I'm watching the 995 - don't tell anyone else about it!

I don't know the 5000 or 5100 - what make are they?

Cheers,

David

 

[Sandpiper]

They are also made by Nikon.

Mike

 

[tperry]

David,

I'd be interested to know which compact camera you chose in the end as my (very compact) Samsung NV3, which is five years old and well used, has started to misbehave and I fear that it is on the way out!

I went into the new Jessops store in Gloucester a couple of months ago and they appeared to have nothing that was compact that had a good super macro facility.

Tony

 

[davidg]

Hi Tony,

In the end I opted for a 2nd hand Panasonic Lumix FZ50 which had been recommended to me by a couple of people off-forum. Paired with a Raynox macro lens some of the photos I've seen have been very impressive. Unfortunately it does take some time to set up shots which is a bit of a drawback when dealing with impatient micros! I haven't produced any usable photos at all and am tending to revert to my faulty 995 which, when it works, is simple and quick.

I'll persevere with the Lumix but I really wanted a camera that I could take quick macro shots with rather than a near-DSLR.

So not much help I'm afraid but I'd be interested to hear what you decide to replace your NV3 with.

David

 

[tperry]

Thanks for that David.

I already have a Tamron 90mm 1:1 macro lens for my Sony DSLR so I am after replacing my NV3 with "like for like"; I use it mainly for getting record shots of moths at my trap that I don't immediately recognise and that I feel are likely to escape when I try to pot them. I also carry it everywhere with me in a pocket so I can record any species I come across when I am out and about.

There doesn't seem to be a new camera available that is nicely compact that focuses down to 1cm and performs well in poor light.

It seems a little bit of a backward step to purchase a secondhand or reconditioned model (but I may eventually have to go this route) so I suspect I shall have to be patient for the time being and see if anything arrives on the market.

Fortunately my NV3 is still working intermittently but I have to open the battery compartment and"jiggle" the battery around to spark the camera into life; this is, somewhat frustrating to say the least, if you are eager to capture an image of a flighty moth!

I will post here if and when I do manage to find a replacement.

Regards, Tony

 

[Bird_Bill]

Sounds like some oxides might be fouling electrodes in battery cell chamber Tony. A pencil eraser twirled gently in there might well clean it up for you.

Have a little 7 year old olympus P&S with 37mm threads. Use an old vivitar enlarging lens reveresed on adapter with it. In spite of having other, larger macro formats that might be far more capable, P&S fits in shirt pocket and weighs just ounces. All the older stuff, branding aside seems to offer more flexibility compared to newer stuff. Those older CCD sensors seem to have pop regarding color saturation in a realm of their own too.

 

[Davebutterflyman]

Hi David

I have been using the FZ45 for a couple of years now and have been very pleased with the macro images it is capable of,used in the main for insect photography. Whilst i can't offer much help with your query i am delighted to have seen this thread because i have just googled lens accessories for Panasonic Lumix and did not realise that there was a decent range of add-ons etc.

This thread however might just cost me a few hundred quid!

The only thing i can say on the downside of the FZ45 is it doesn't appear to perform well on macro in low or poor light...shame really because the 14.1 MP does produce some very crisp images and allied with a 24x zoom makes for a decent all round utility camera which would suit many forms of photography.

The dedicated macro facility is good and ideal for quick image capture (impatient micros aside) but i am now intrigued by the additional lenses that are available and i feel obliged to at least try the 2x Telephoto...would be rude not to! unless anyone can advise to the better?

Sorry i can't help David and hope you manage to sort something out soon but this thread has helped me out no end so many thanks for that.

Dave.

 

[Ptarmi]

By the way, any thoughts on the Close Up Lens for the Panasonic Lumix FZ100/150?

It doesn't get a very good review on Amazon.

Perhaps the Macro setting on the 150 is good enough for close up, detailed shots, without adding a lens?

Cheers,
Dick

 

[rob lee]

Dont know about that lens, but for the same kind of money you can get a Raynox DCR-250, just search the net for a few reviews. I use one with my Canon G10 & am more than happy (recent pic attached) If you search Flickr for a guy called Patrick Clement he has several examples of the lens on an FZ150, having recently upgraded from an FZ50.

 

[Ptarmi]

Dont know about that lens, but for the same kind of money you can get a Raynox DCR-250, just search the net for a few reviews. I use one with my Canon G10 & am more than happy (recent pic attached) If you search Flickr for a guy called Patrick Clement he has several examples of the lens on an FZ150, having recently upgraded from an FZ50.

Thanks for the tip Rob. I see it gets great reviews over on Amazon.

I'm just waiting for a Panasonic DMW-LA5E - Conversion Lens Adapter, would the Raynox DCR-250 fit onto that OK?

Cheers,
Dick

 

[rob lee]

The Raynox comes with a 52-67mm spring clip adapter, so if your Panasonic adapter has a filter thread within this range you will be okay.

 

[tperry]

Thanks for that David.

I already have a Tamron 90mm 1:1 macro lens for my Sony DSLR so I am after replacing my NV3 with "like for like"; I use it mainly for getting record shots of moths at my trap that I don't immediately recognise and that I feel are likely to escape when I try to pot them. I also carry it everywhere with me in a pocket so I can record any species I come across when I am out and about.

There doesn't seem to be a new camera available that is nicely compact that focuses down to 1cm and performs well in poor light.

It seems a little bit of a backward step to purchase a secondhand or reconditioned model (but I may eventually have to go this route) so I suspect I shall have to be patient for the time being and see if anything arrives on the market.

Fortunately my NV3 is still working intermittently but I have to open the battery compartment and"jiggle" the battery around to spark the camera into life; this is, somewhat frustrating to say the least, if you are eager to capture an image of a flighty moth!

I will post here if and when I do manage to find a replacement.

Regards, Tony

I did promise to post when I replaced my NV3 - eventually I bought a Canon PowerShot A4050 IS (exclusive to Jessops apparently) which I am quite pleased with. Not been a lot to use it on recently - except this!

 

[Wildmoreway]

I think that Andrew uses some of the Raynox adaptors for very close Macro work, so it may be worth looking at some of his images. I think his current camera is a Fuji HS30.