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Digital Camera suggestions please?

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shermlock

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've searched here and RC for camera suggestions. I've gone to steves and dg and I just got back from Best Buy but now my head is swimming with all the info. I don't know what to do except post what I want and see if somebody can point me in the right direction.
Here is what I want:
1. Under $500
2. Must take close macros: I am hesitant to buy the canon powershot line as I have the A70 and after reading tons of info on it (after purchase of course), it is not a good macro camera and does not do well through glass.
3. Must have an adjustable white balance
4. Must have average or better battery consumption
5. Megapixels: I'd like to be at or over 5, I don't know why, I guess it just sounds cool.

Thanks for the help,
Scott
 
#2 ·
shermlock said:
I've searched here and RC for camera suggestions. I've gone to steves and dg and I just got back from Best Buy but now my head is swimming with all the info. I don't know what to do except post what I want and see if somebody can point me in the right direction.
Here is what I want:
1. Under $500
2. Must take close macros: I am hesitant to buy the canon powershot line as I have the A70 and after reading tons of info on it (after purchase of course), it is not a good macro camera and does not do well through glass.
3. Must have an adjustable white balance
4. Must have average or better battery consumption
5. Megapixels: I'd like to be at or over 5, I don't know why, I guess it just sounds cool.

Thanks for the help,
Scott
Click to expand...
#2 and #5 will not be easy given your stated price point listed in #1. That being said, I would suggest you look seriously at the new Olympus SP-350 http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1188 as the "Super Macro" mode will focus down to 0.8" and the camera gives you 8.0megapixels, all for $399. Additionally, it uses rechargeable AA batteries and so long as you get some good quality batteries (2700 mA hours or better) they'll last a good long while.

Another neat thing about this camera is that it shoots in RAW format... very handy for getting some wickedly high resolution photos. Plus, Olympus has some of the best optics (lenses) on the market. Personally, I only feel that Sony has a better lens as they have a deal worked out to use Carl Zeiss glass in their lenses. All in all, the Olympus SP-350 is one of the most capable and full-featured poin & shoot cameras you will find, especially when given the value for the money.

Oh yeah, almost forgot... this camera is equipped with a hot shoe too. This will allow you to purchase and use a much more effective flash as opposed to using the almost useless built-in flash.

-Jimbob
 
#3 ·
Have you been to www.dpreview.com ? THat site has just about every camera I can think of listed. Some of the user reviews are pretty bad, but the official dpreview in depth reviews are pretty good.

Personally for macros it is hard to beat Nikon's cool pix line, I also like the Panasonic line of point and shoots, like Sony they went to a world leader in optics for the glass, they use Leica glass! Pretty hard to beat that!

I agree with you about Canon p&s, they are more geared to "jack of all trades" status. Now if you had a larger budget, you could get in DSLR and then be all set. I understand only having so much to spend though! We can't all be RICH! :D
 
#5 ·
ya i have the sony H1 awesome camera.. only flaw is it uses two batteries instead of 4 but... decinet life.. aweseom rear lcd and you just go to the store and buy the 4 pack of nimh batteries and charge them so that when your two die you pop in the other two so it works pretty good like that...i will try and get some pics of my tank loaded for ya to see the macro it takes...
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Thanks a lot folks. That was exactly what I was looking for. I said dg up above but I ment dp. I've spent a lot of time on that site.
As for the amount I am willing to spend, I wouldn't mind spending more but I just don't think I'll use the features in a post $500 camera. We are just point and shooters and clearly not photographers. I have spent the better part of the last two months getting my wife to believe that we "need" another camera (my macro fish shots are not good) for family use (yeah right!).
Thanks again for all the replies and if anybody has anything else to add, please do so.

I have a couple of questions:
1. Does the Olympus SP-350 have time and date stamp? I couldn't find a very clear answer.
2.How close are you able to get with the macro features of the Sony dsc-h1?
Thanks again,
Scott
 
#7 · (Edited)
i just bought the sp-310 new for 263.00 off of ebay it takes phoenominal macros the lens can be as close as 2 cm in super macro

the auto focus is super fast and with 7.1 megapixls you can really get in there.

also the white balance can be adjusted manually red to blue R4 is what i use

heres a macro i took the other day....then zoom out :D

Image


Image
 
#8 ·
shermlock said:
I have a couple of questions:
1. Does the Olympus SP-350 have time and date stamp? I couldn't find a very clear answer.
Click to expand...
The SP-350 does not place a Time & Date "stamp" onto the visible image of the picture. All digital cameras, however, record the date/time information in the Exif data for every picture taken... The SP-350 has an automatic time/date calendar that is valid through the year 2099.
 
#9 ·
here is a picture of a pumpkin back around halloween...
Image


here is my cool bandit acro crab..
Image


and these are green star poylps

Image

this is from a sony h1.. nothing extra just the camera. i really want to buy some macro lenses for it but for now this will be fine... i guess.....
sorry the tank ones are fuzy. i did not use a tripod... so... i guess they would probaly be clearer if i did.....
 
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