I need a new camera for doing reviews, the 1.3MP Vivitar a friend gave me just isn't up to the task.

godfoot tried to fill me in on what to look for and made a couple of recomendations, I am leaning toward the Olympus over the Canon, any thoughts? I am a total camera Noob!

Olympus 3.2-megapixel 10x Digital Zoom
http://www2.buydig.com/shop/product....ate&sku=OMC740

Canon PowerShot A75 3.2MP 3x Digital Zoom
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...120-122&depa=0

EDIT: Jess told me this is what I might need for my purposes, Thanks!





1: Price $200ish > $1502: Macro lowest distance possible 3: Aperture F2.8 for low lighting conditions

4: Optical Zoom 3X - 6X

I was originaly trying to find something for 150$ or less, but it seems to be worth it to bump it to 200$ (Like getting a 9800Pro instead of a 9600XT)
So If someone knows of a better camera for my purposes in this price range, I may use it occasionaly family pics or car shows

Here are some pics from the Vivitar but they are pretty lame

Doesn't look to terrible at a medium distance or far away...

My Quad 4 Cavalier over the weekend !




Some new crap I picked up over the holidays







This is what happens when I try and get a detail shot though...

It's a Swiftech waterblock given too me from a guy at work with major corrosion problems!!!!

For close ups you want a camera with good macro some have super macro. I prefer 3" or less. Hmm for $150 that'll be pretty tough to find, but I'll try for you.

PS: That Canon A85 you mentioned is really nice, yet not in the $150 price range.

I know Zennzzo really liked his 3.2 MP Fuji (S3000?) for close ups.

The Canon A75 is great and you would really like it.

Also, check out the HP R707 which is what I now use, check out the latest Enermax PSU review, I quite like it. The macro mode for close ups works well, her is a sample:

Even with a good camera close up shots are difficult. With my 5 year old Kodak, they are just about impossible. The macro is weighing in heavily on my decision as I also look for a new camera. I will be interested to see all suggestions in this thread. The ones I've been looking at are $600 or more, it would be a lot easier to convince Household 6 to spend $200.

I was going to suggest Zennz's Fuji S3100 since it's really good for macro, but it's not quite in the $200 or less price range.

I know what you mean. My old Power Shot A20 is not great at macro either. I have been drooling over the Fuji S5100 based on Zens great pics with the S3100.

I would also recommend the Canon A85 cam; it's a great all-around camera, but it's around $250-275...

For $200 you can get the Fuji FinePix A340...it's got a 3.6" macro mode and is 4.0MP, or the Nikon CoolPix 4100 which has 1.6" macro mode and is also 4.0MP...actually, the more I look at is, the more I like this Nikon model...but I haven't done a lot of research on cams since I got my S400.

Here's a few macro shots from my Canon S400... (careful 56k'ers...they're big )

One of my Pink Roses

Inside a DangerDen RBX

The corsage my mother wore at her wedding 2 weeks before she died

My socket-T CPU

These are nice cameras in the 150 to 200 price range Necro

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...il.php?cam=444

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...t_a400-review/

There's a really large list located here...
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...=22&submit.y=4

I'm looking to get a new camera, too, but unfortunately, I've spent so many years with my trusty Canon Rebel XS that to hold any camera in my hand that doesn't have the SLR style body is way too different for me. That actually limits my options as far as what kind of camera I'm going to get. Heck, I lose sunglasses that small all the time so that's another reason why I want an SLR style body.

Yeah, I know. That's probably one of the stupidest things that you've ever heard, huh? Oh, well. My money, not yours.

Rob

Rob I know what you mean some of these new small cameras feel flimsy, and disposable. I just got a camera not quite SLR, but it's "SLR-Like" not a bad price either around $389-$499. I'm a sucker for manual focus. It's called the Panasonic DMC FZ-15.

A few pics I took....

G-Skill Ram - Full size just cropped
Washington - Cropped and resized
Building - Resized 800x600
RBX Inside - Resized 800x600

First two are macros shots, and the last is just an outdoor picture. Since a few people are interested in how cameras do in the macros area I included 2.

The Olympus still has 10x optical zoom, manual focus and programming and less than 6 inch focus (don't remember the exact number) andI can attest it takes wonderful pics. I used one for my Logisys keyboard review and didn't even know how to use it and got great pics.

I have the Powershot A75 and it is a great all around camera. it is good as an automatic as well as a manual camera. there are a lot of manual control for it and it work well for point and shoot also. That is what i recommend for 150-200 dollar camera. i've research it before i buy it. The A75 is the newer version of the a70 in the jessalba link and it have more feature plus a bigger lcd.

I have an Olympus c4000 - great camera and it can be found refurb for right at your $200 mark. Has alot of manual options but I just use it in auto mode with great results.

Just found this deal over at NewEgg.com.....

Nikon Coolpix 5400 5.1MP,4X OPT, 4X DG, 1.5" Lcd,CF/MicroDrive Digital Camera

Model# COOLPIX 5400

Item # N82E16830113112

Specifications: Imager:1/1.8" 5.26MP CCD Megapixel:5.1MP Zoom:4X OPT,4X DG,16X Total Aperture:F2.8/W-F7.9/T(max) File Formats:TIFF,JPEG,QT Recording Media:CF/MicroDrive Movies:640x480 Interface:USB Battery & Battery life:EN-EL1 Li-on 315 shots(LCD on) Size(mm):82X82X25.5(WxHxD) Package Contents:16M CF, cables, EN-EL1 battery&charger MH-53, cap Warranty:1Yr

Regular price is $479.00, but until the end of March, they've got a $200 mail-in rebate so that brings the price down to $279.00. Here is the LINK.

They've also got the Nikon Coolpix 5700, normally $712.95, with a $150 mail-in rebate, bringing it down to $569.95. LINK

That is great deal Rob, however I have YET to remember to send in a rebate form, so I just avoid them now.

Plus I hate the fact you have to wait months for the stupid things to show up (If it ever does) Plus I refuse to have 200$ tied up that long.

I had to rethink my budget recently, because of my "Orb Buster" project (Should be re-named "Wallet Buster!") I realy can't afford 200$ at this point, so I may have to drop my requirements a bit and settle for something around 150$

I'm looking too Necro. So far my list includes the Canon Powershots specifically the A510 and A520 (read the new A75 and A85) and the SD200 and SD300.

The SD200/300 are the only Canon's with the new Digic II chip. (Read Digic II as "better faster") A 3 cm minimum macro length. 3.2 and 4 megapixels respectively. 3x optical and 10x combined. Looks pretty sweet.

I'm also checking out the Nikons, but you have to hit at least 300 bucks before Nikon is competitive.

In the $150 range I'd strongly consider the Canon A75 since you can find some really good deals on them. The Nikon Coolpix 3700 takes excellent shots in that same price range, not near as many features as the A75 though.

Or 4 megapixels on a budget...the Kodak Easyshare 7430.

I can't make up my mind. So I thought I'd confuse you too.

I have a Kodak DX6440 and I like it a lot, I bought it when it cost ~300 but its in the 200-250 range now.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...il.php?cam=483

I took all the pictures in this directory with it: http://andrevas.sbcars.net/images/photo_ex/

id go with a canon. they seem to be pretty good at focusing for closeups and have a focus assist light (at least on the ones i have) which is really nice to have when takeing such photos. try to go with compact flash instead since its chaper.
the real ultimate in close up is a SLR or SLR style camera since you can manually focus if it wont do what you want. but that is robably out of your price range.

Here's a couple of places I've found with good deals and good customer service ratings for anyone following this thread and shopping in the same price range (and slightly higher) as Necro.


Here's a place with the Fuji S3100 for $159. 5 star rating at pricegrabber.

The Canon SD200 for $224 at Beach Camera. These guys have awards out the ying yang for customer service.

Canon A510 for $179. Same as above.

Outstanding price on a Canon S-60 $289, I'm a little leary though. Sounds too good to be true, that's 70 bucks lower than anyone else for a faily high-end camera.

A Nikon Coolpix 4800 for $298.

Kodak Easyshare CX7430 for $168. Second best 4 megapixel price on a good camera.

Solid, I apologize in advance if it seems I'm insulting your intelligence, that is not my intention...

I am usually tight on cash for electronics and such, so I get what I can easily afford, and play with it AMA possible. Oftentimes, when I'm snapping pics for a thread post or whatever, I will find myself taking multiple pics of the same shot, with different flash settings, etc. I know it takes up a bit of space on the built-in memory bank in my little camera, what with wide-angle and close-up shots, but I usually end up with a couple of shots that I'm really happy with.