Best Compact for Macro use (1 Viewer)

[tittletattler]

Hi all,

I currently use the Nikon P5100. The macro function is OK although it only focuses down to 1.16 inches (0.8 with the P6000?). Also, the camera really struggles to focus on small, slim objects. For example, it won't focus on the smallest damselflies that sit half way up very slim reed stems (ie, Scarce Bluetail). I also failed to get a decent shot of Bog Orchid yesterday as the camera would not focus.

Which compact cameras:

• Will focus closest
• will focus on small objects
• have a very good depth of field (ie, whole subject is in focus at close range)
• manual focus

Thanks in advance,

Andy.

 

[dannat]

i would get a ricoh..i have an r8.. manual focus was added after he r7..the super macro goes to 1cm & i have found it o be a great camera - i think the current model is an r10..if you check the macro sub forum here i took a pic of spider australia with it

 

[fmhill]

Hi all,

I currently use the Nikon P5100. The macro function is OK although it only focuses down to 1.16 inches (0.8 with the P6000?). Also, the camera really struggles to focus on small, slim objects. For example, it won't focus on the smallest damselflies that sit half way up very slim reed stems (ie, Scarce Bluetail). I also failed to get a decent shot of Bog Orchid yesterday as the camera would not focus.

Which compact cameras:

• Will focus closest
• will focus on small objects
• have a very good depth of field (ie, whole subject is in focus at close range)
• manual focus

Thanks in advance,

Andy.

Andy,

I have a Nikon L100 that does what you ask surprisingly well in my opinion. I can not compare it to other point and shoot cameras as to its closeup capability however I have a Nikon D300s and an assortment of Micro-Nikkor lenses, close up extension rings, as well as the Nikon PB-6 Bellows attachment and with few exceptions, the Nikon L100 does it all with no special attachments. If I need a macro photograph in a hurry, its the L100 that gets the job...

Frankly, the Nikon L100 is outstanding as a macro photography camera in my estimation. The only thing on your list it does not do is manual focus however I've never found that to be an issue... There are occasions you may have to release the shutter button and press it again to get the focus mechanism to re-adjust itself, but this has never been an issue as I see it. It doesn't happen very often and is fast enough not to be a problem has been my experience. I've used it as close as 1-2 cm from a subject with no problems.

You can see macro photographs I have taken with the L100 here:
http://www.4shared.com/dir/mxtLtJE0/Wild_Flowers.html

Note that the top of each thumbnail image tells you which camera was used. The majority of these photographs was taken with the L100...

 

[rob lee]

Canon G10 for me, has all the manual control you need, 1cm close focus, centre of screen enlarges in manual focus mode & excellent resolution at low ISO. All cameras will struggle with depth of field at close range. The G11 reinstated the rotatable screen which is very handy.

 

[tittletattler]

Canon G10 for me, has all the manual control you need, 1cm close focus, centre of screen enlarges in manual focus mode & excellent resolution at low ISO. All cameras will struggle with depth of field at close range. The G11 reinstated the rotatable screen which is very handy.

Thanks chaps and sorry for the late reply!

The G11 will focus down to 1cm in macro mode wheareas my Nikon P5100 focuses down to 4cm.

Rob - do you have any images you can share which have been taken at 1cm from the subject? I'd be interested to see how good the depth of field is at that range.

Thanks, Andy.

 

[heakl]

Canon G10

Canon G10 for me, has all the manual control you need, 1cm close focus, centre of screen enlarges in manual focus mode & excellent resolution at low ISO. All cameras will struggle with depth of field at close range. The G11 reinstated the rotatable screen which is very handy.

Hello Rob, (anybody)
I have become the owner of a Canon G10 more by accident than design and don't have a user manual, perhaps just as well as I wouldn't understand it anyway. Can you give me tips on manual focus for macro photography, I'm trying to take pictures of flowers and can hardly ever got auto focus to focus on the flower?

Alan

 

[Musoman]

Hi Andy, i've taken a few macro shots with a Pana Lumix FZ18

At full wide angle, its 1cm, at full tele its 1 metre

 

[deansmith]

see someone mentioned a ricoh i have a r7 it does have manual focus but its a pain to use and it does focus down to 1cm with very good image results - i still wouldn't recommend one though there so fragile mine has been knocked very slightly and once in a padded case and broken both times, the firmware has crashed a few times and it just feels weak id suggest a samsung model the nv range are brilliant little cameras

 

[Andrew]

The Canon A480 will focus down to 1cm and is very cheap at the moment. Good for a second camera. I got one from Canon on eBay for about £40.

 

[Musoman]

Makes me wonder what sort of macro an A590IS can shoot, as i just picked one up for £60

 

[Andrew]

That will have a two inch macro focus distance.

 

[Musoman]

Thanks Andy - thats good enough for me

 

[Rockwolf]

I highly recommend the Olympus SP590! Superb macro facility on it! See my Flickr stream for some examples

 

[tittletattler]

The Canon A480 will focus down to 1cm and is very cheap at the moment. Good for a second camera. I got one from Canon on eBay for about £40.

Hi Andrew et al,

Sorry for not responding to some of you before now.

I'm now looking at this from another angle: My five year old son wants to take photos of bugs and stuff when we are out and about. He is very keen and finds an awful lot of things that I would have otherwise have walked past!

The canon A480 for £40 appears to be the best option. Before I saw Andrew's post, the best and cheapest option I could find was the Samsung ES67 for £54 which could focus down to 5cm. So thanks Andrew!

I'd be surprised if there is a better option. Anyone?

Father Xmas will now be contacted in writing (does he now except emails?).

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[mantice]

For static macro that doesn't require fast AF and if 4mp is ok - I'll say Nikon really did a good job with Coolpix 4500.

Apparently it is one of the few compact with internal focus and swivel to fit on microscope and spotting scope with ease.

 

[tjsimonsen]

For static macro that doesn't require fast AF and if 4mp is ok - I'll say Nikon really did a good job with Coolpix 4500.

Apparently it is one of the few compact with internal focus and swivel to fit on microscope and spotting scope with ease.

Agree 100%. I still have mine and it's probably the best compact I've used.

Thomas

 

[tittletattler]

For static macro that doesn't require fast AF and if 4mp is ok - I'll say Nikon really did a good job with Coolpix 4500.

Apparently it is one of the few compact with internal focus and swivel to fit on microscope and spotting scope with ease.

Indeed I still have the Coolpix 4500 and a 990! I now use the P5100 for digiscoping simply because it has more Megapixels but I loved both the 990 and the 4500. Unfortunately they are too big for a five year to lug around....

The Canon A480 is now in short supply but there are other options available. The Canon A495 can be bought in Jessops for £59.99 and also focuses down to 1cm. Best of all, it is available in blue; his favourite colour!

This site is great for checking out camera specs:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a495.asp

Cheers,

Andy.

 

[Andrew]

The Canon A480 will focus down to 1cm and is very cheap at the moment. Good for a second camera. I got one from Canon on eBay for about £40.

In the time that has elapsed, I have sadly not found the A480 to be as good a camera as I thought it would be. I have put it back on eBay after managing to replace my Samsung NV3 for now.

The hunt for a lightweight pocket camera with good macro continues but for now I am glad to be reunited with the Samsung.

 

[tittletattler]

In the time that has elapsed, I have sadly not found the A480 to be as good a camera as I thought it would be. I have put it back on eBay after managing to replace my Samsung NV3 for now.

The hunt for a lightweight pocket camera with good macro continues but for now I am glad to be reunited with the Samsung.

Hi Andrew - what didn't you like about the Canon A480? The Samsung NV3 and NV4 are hard to get hold of now.

 

[Andrew]

Afternoon, I found the A480 to be pin sharp close up down to 1cm but the problem was the light conditions had to be well thought of first as the camera could not balance the exposure and often ended up with blown highlights meaning a lot of fiddling with the exposure compensation which got tiresome. I found an NV3 on eBay in good nick for £27. Silver though but I will paint it.