Derek Dixon
(K=4948) - Comment Date 2/17/2004
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To my knowledge, Fuji s7000 and olympus 5060 have really good macro shots, getting a really small area, have a look in http://www.imaging-resource.com/
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Mark Peterson
(K=3452) - Comment Date 2/20/2004
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I have the Fuji Finepix S5000 and like it very much. It has a 10x optical zoom (35mm equivalent of 37-370mm). The close focus is about 3.5 inches. Here is a sample of a macro shot I took with the camera (hand held).
http://www.usefilm.com/image/265322.html
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Neil Dolman
(K=26883) - Comment Date 2/20/2004
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Have you thought about the Canon G5? I compared it to the Nikon 5400 - no comparison, much better and easier to manual focus than the nikon - sorry nikon!
Greetings Neil
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Michael Wagner
(K=298) - Comment Date 2/20/2004
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The Nikon 5700 and 8700 both force you to always view the image via an LCD monitor--this is fine for still photography, but for macros with a potentially moving subject, I have found that the lag time for the image makes the photography more difficult. The Nikon 5400 is easier to use, and the Canon seems to have a more user friendly physical design (I haven't used this model).
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Emanuele Calvagno
(K=14353) - Comment Date 2/20/2004
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I'm use a Canon G3, and i Think that this camera is wonderful for macro shot.
Try to search Mark Plonsky portfolio.
And if you want see mine, too (but i am a amateur...)
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John Beavin
(K=4477) - Comment Date 3/12/2004
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Mark Peterson ? Ive had a look at your macro shot, It is superb, I have a fuji 602z but have not got around to fully exploring it yet.
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Robert Currie
(K=3241) - Comment Date 4/12/2004
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Stephen, have a look at my wife's macros (Linn Currie). She has a Minolta DiMAGE Z1. It has a 38 - 380mm lens (35mm equiv.) and in super macro the subject can be as close as 4 cm from the lens. There is a 28mm wide angle converter available also. The Z2 has just been released with a 5Mp resolution. Pricing is good for all the features you get and about 1/3 the price of the A1.
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Jon Alexander
(K=47) - Comment Date 4/19/2004
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The Z2 is a 4mp camera but goes up the 3cm for close ups, and the Nikon 8700 and 5700 will do 1.2 inches. I just happen to know cause I sell em all but I'm mainly interested in macro.
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Dwight Parker
(K=253) - Comment Date 4/19/2004
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My owners manual for the A1 says I can get up to 9 inches away (approximately)... now that may be a misprint, but if not, is a long ways off from 3 cm...
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Dwight Parker
(K=253) - Comment Date 4/19/2004
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Oops... found this on a web page...owners manual may be misprinted after all...
Macro Focusing distance Wide angle:
8.3?20 in.
(21?51 cm)
Telephoto:
5.1?19.7 in.
(13?50 cm)
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Fabio Nigro
(K=83) - Comment Date 7/4/2004
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Fuji s7000 is the best for macro....see my photos if you don't belive me!
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Phillip Swanson
(K=7013) - Comment Date 7/18/2004
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i own the minolta dimage A1 love the camera, dont really like it for macro though, wont get close enough, i tried the other day, and didnt work the way i wanted, plus the flash sent out a funky shadow that took up half the picture, its a shadow from the lens being zoomed, the flash hits it, and puts a shadow in the pict. all in all i like the camera a lot, but not for close ups, for that ill use my 35mm
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Phil Monger
(K=296) - Comment Date 8/3/2004
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Id get the Fuji s7000, as long as the lens isnt touching it will focus!! Cant be beaten for the price
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Maggie Rodriguez
(K=215) - Comment Date 8/31/2004
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Steve I you put this forum up a while ago but just in case I found this site to be useful for all of my Macro Photography
http://azone.clubsnap.org/insectguide/page01.html
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Sean Dewis
(K=566) - Comment Date 9/9/2004
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I've got a Fuji S5000, and that'll pretty much focus down to almost touching the subject.
I've been looking into close-up filters to be able to get in that little bit more.
Does anyone have any experience/advice on closeup filters?
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Brenda Guiles
(K=6128) - Comment Date 9/16/2004
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Hi Stephen!
Was wondering if you made your choice yet? I now see that this thread was started long ago! LOL! FWIW I use a Nikon 8700 and it works pretty well, any images in my gallery here right now were taken with it, and they are all macros of butties! I could also show you a gallery full of macro images done with a Minolta if you are interested.
Brenda :)
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Stephen Bowden
(K=64141) - Comment Date 9/19/2004
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Hi Brenda,
Yes I went ahead and bought an Olympus C8080 and although it is a super camera the EVF is next to useless for super macro.
Very difficult getting it to focus sharply in manual focus - and a waste of space in autofocus !
However, when I do get the focus spot on the results are spectacular.
I wish I had some spare dosh for a DSLR - the Canon EOS20D looks promising but I would need a new wife ... err actually I would need a new body because she will kill me lol
Best wishes,
Steve
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Rich Swanner
(K=-3732) - Comment Date 1/1/2005
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Stephen I bought the Canon 300Dwith the 18-55mm lens and two extra lenses the 70-200 f/4 L series zoom and the 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro. After the rebates I saved $435. The whole deal online was about $100 less than the 20D body alone. I figured down the line I will pick up a 20D or whatever is the newest body, and i still will have an excellent 300D body-lens and two state of the art lenses. As far as Macros go this is from the 100mm on the 6.3 mgpxl DSLR Canon 300D. This is a fly.
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Stephen Bowden
(K=64141) - Comment Date 1/1/2005
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Oh wow, that is absolutely outstanding Monterey !!
Thankyou very much for replying - I wish the 20D's were for sale for less than $2100 (body alone) over here in the UK and I would buy one as soon as the shops re-open.
A very Happy New Year to you, I will look out for more of your photos :-)
Best wishes,
Steve
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Zyle II
(K=1535) - Comment Date 4/12/2005
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tips useful for macro photography.. http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article.htm
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Patrick Ziegler
(K=21797) - Comment Date 5/2/2005
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Stephan:
I don't know what camera but I think DOF is what you should be thinking. So camera and lens are important. I think if I where to dive into it seriously I would want good ttl metering and the ability to control DOF and a good macro flash (ring flash) that is ettl metered. The flash will eliminate the need for a tripd most times (freeing up your creativity) and also give you the ability to shoot at smaller apatures, (deeper DOF).... Canon has some good lenses and flashes and then it's just a matter of Mega pixcells you want.. The nice thing about cannon is being able to mix so many lenses and bodies, even between film and digital....
But DOF is king in macro photography.
Good luck... Can't wait to see the images!
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Joe Johnson
(K=8529) - Comment Date 5/27/2005
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As Pat says, no matter what you use, the depth of field is all important. A little more light can sometimes boost that slightly. But at a certain high magnification, you're stuck with a slim sliver of focus, no matter what. And the trick is putting that on the insect, say, as it is moving, and as suits the angle and shot. Sometimes only your eye will tell you afterward if it was right. Most of the time, you won't get that focus field where you want it. It's that simple. Digital is great for this, because you can just delete those images, and try again.
Aside from the macros I've posted, you might look at the work particularly of Peter Houtmeyers and David McClenaghan, and also Tom Crowning, Armando, and Arif Tanju Korkmaz. All at this site.
But I think while the camera body, film or electronics, is very important, the key to a good macro is good glass, a good lens. You can use closeup filters, diopters. And to a point they aren't bad. And some good macros have been posted to this site, using these. The better solution is a good lens. I use the reversed lens method of an always-open Minolta MD design, 1:1.4 (though the much more expensive 1:1.2 might be preferable) with coupling ring. You'll see that some, mentioned above, use far more expensive gear, and specially spaced macro lenses designed to give even higher magnification. And, as well, their detail and clarity is unsurpassed. Diffuse lighting is also important. You have to get light on the subject, but not blow out the white spots or areas. I throw the flash with a homemade tube and diffuse the light when it exits. Others may use reflectors or strobes, etc.
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Morgan Estill
(K=3786) - Comment Date 6/1/2005
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I've had great results with my Canon S1 IS (Image Stabilation) with and without the Canon 250D Close-Up lens.
I've been taking a lot of pictures of butterflies with it at the Albuquerque Botanical Gardens. (We've got a butterfly pavillion there.)
The S1 IS is only 3.2MP, but the quality of the lens is quite excellent. Also, there'es the S2 IS which is a ~5.0MP with similar features.
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* James *
(K=20200) - Comment Date 6/26/2005
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i agree with fuji S7000. it has a macro and a super macro, S5000 has a good macro function as well. in fact, with the super macro you can get within 1 cm of the subject. look at my portfolio for a few examples.
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Marcus Armani
(K=36599) - Comment Date 7/8/2005
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I have to agree the fuji 7000 does do nice macro for the money.. If you really want to see something impressive, If you ever get into the prosumer market like a 20D or even a 350D canon makes a dedicated macro lens that goes from 1X to 5X lifesize....
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Tony Howell
(K=163) - Comment Date 10/6/2005
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Now one has suggested it yet, but even a D30 with a decent lens on will out perform a 6MP compact! 10d's are selling new in the UK for £500 now and I recently brought a 300D plus 512 Sanddisk and 18-55 for £235.00, Personally I am now waiting until Fall 2006 when 5d's go under £1000.00 for my next body purchase.
I only have the sigma 150mm APO HSM DX Lens, and forget ETTL ring flashes as ETTL and ETTL 2 dont work in AV mode and program shift locks at 1/60 F4, on the 300d and 10d anyways! as flash output has to be calculated you can use a Centon ring flash on the 150mm Sigma with no vignetting, yes 55mm ring flash on 72 lens, due to FOV crop.
Here is an exmaple of DOF not working for me
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bad dof
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Tony Howell
(K=163) - Comment Date 10/6/2005
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and here is DOF I am happier with
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dragon
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Stephen Bowden
(K=64141) - Comment Date 10/25/2005
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Fantastic macro Tony - wow it has been a while since I started that post !!
I am now the proud owner of a DSLR (Canon 20D) but still saving up for a nice lens. I do know of the MP65 lens that Marcus refers to and I believe David M has posted photographs of bedbugs using the same lens - incredible detail !!
Thanks once again to everyone that commented, and to the viewers I hope the responses helped out all of you also :-)
Steve
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Kambiz K
(K=37420) - Comment Date 2/18/2006
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The best one would be Sony 717 or 828. It is perfect for close photography.
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