Macro Camera

If you want a simple point-and-shoot type camera, you can find Nikon Coolpix cameras and Canon Powershot cameras with add-on macro lenses. Both camera types can be found with image stabilization, which is a handy feature for close-up work. Try Amazon to compare models and prices.

Needless to say, Nikon, Canon and others make SLR-type digital cameras that allow fully interchangeable lenses, for which you could get a macro lens. It all depends on how much money you want to spend, and how much ease-of-use you need.

I use a Lumix - not a compact model but has very good macro function. I tried a few other brands, looking for something more pocket sized, but didn't find anything as good.

For getting around corners and into tight spots, there are specialty lenses out there, I've seen em but don't seem to have the right search term to pull one up in a second.

I second Lumix: I have a DMC-ZS3 (aka DMC-TZ7) and I also owned the TZ3. My roommate is often shocked when my small camera smokes his DSLR at macro shots (he is using a standard lens and a macro lens would whoop my camera but my camera's lens is not just for macro shots: it has 12x optical zoom).

My camera is a couple of years old so the newest version is actually the DMC-TZ7.

I just had my A70 (3.2 MP) fixed by Canon for free. IF it is the bad CCD problem they found from one manufacturer, you may be able to take advantage of the free fix as well.

Send their repair service an email with your details and they will usually respond within 24-48 hours. It took them 2 weeks (shipping and repair time) for my camera at $0 cost to me.

I'll send you a PM with the contact email address.

Thanks for the suggestions I'll check those out. The camera I owned before my current Panasonic was a Lumix & that worked well, I can't remember how good the macro was though. I'll check out the repair option although we may go for new anyway as the use of the compact flash card in the old Canon is a bit inconvenient.

Played around a bit with the settings on my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 & got some reasonable results. This was taken at a distance of about 2".

I find I get the best shots by using the macro setting at a distance of a foot or a couple feet and without using the zoom. Open it up in the gimp and crop the small item, scale up if necessary.

I must admit it's a compromise compared with the ol' 35 mm. But who can afford the film and processing, those days are gone..

Using the macro setting and 0 zoom is definitely the way to go. Check out these: The first is a very close pic of my dog's eye and the second is of water droplets coming out of the spray head of my kitchen sink. (taken with my DMC-ZS3 aka DMC-TZ7. The images come straight off of the memory card (no cropping or other mods))

Bonus: In the second pic if you view the picture full size and zoom in on the droplets on the right side you can see the reflection of my face in one of the droplets.

(right click to open the full version)

Nice!

"you can see the reflection of my face"

Thanks for the warning.

I could live with the processing cost but not the delay. The images are frequently part of a discussion, often by e-mail, so they are needed in short time.