camera for $100

[Raybdbomb]

For the past year or so I've been using a used Canon A70 3.2MP camera I bought used on here anandtech FS/FT with a memcard for ~$60. My biggest gripe with the camera is that it simply would not take a closeup. Every time I tried, it would just blur.

So that camera finally broke, now I'm looking to buy another (different) camera used. It simply HAS to be able to take a good photo closeup, else it's worthless to me. I have a $100 budget.

Any suggestions?

 

[troytime]

define close up?

to me, close up is 3 inches

for 100 bucks, i don't think you're going to get any great macro capabilities - but there may be some good used options out there

 

[foghorn67]

I would try to find a list of sub 100 buck cameras, and then look up the specs of close focusing distance and magnification.
And it won't be a true macro. That is usually a 1:1 to one ratio, or maybe .5 magnification. .25 or .33 magnification is quite respectable if you can find that.

 

[magomago]

did you put the macro on(ie: the flower icon) ? how "close"are you looking to get?

I used to have an A70 and I could easily get within maybe 4-5 centimetres of my object and take some nice macro

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: magomago
did you put the macro on(ie: the flower icon) ? how "close"are you looking to get?

I used to have an A70 and I could easily get within maybe 4-5 centimetres of my object and take some nice macro

Yup...I agree with you. I have used the a40, a95, and a620; all took decent macro shots as long as you hit the macro button.

 

[Raybdbomb]

well, i want pictures like these
http://img95.imageshack.us/my....mainboardmarkedkj1.jpg
http://llamma.com/PSP/images/r...r/LCD/111805%20111.jpg
http://llamma.com/PSP/images/r...r/LCD/111805%20106.jpg

 

[Raybdbomb]

Originally posted by: magomago
did you put the macro on(ie: the flower icon) ? how "close"are you looking to get?

I used to have an A70 and I could easily get within maybe 4-5 centimetres of my object and take some nice macro

i tried with and without "flower mode"

 

[ElFenix]

dpreview says A70 covers an area of 62 mm by 47 mm. which isn't bad.

powershot S1 IS covers an area of 54 x 40, which is a little better. not sure how high they go on ebay however.

those are both at the wide end

S2 IS does 85x63 on the long end, which is a bit bigger, but there is hardly any distortion or vignetting. and it can do a super macro where you can put the object on the lens. that results in a 20x15 area. very small. those probably go for a bit more on ebay.


a620 does 21x16, which is almost as good. likely a cheaper camera to pick up too.

 

[magomago]

i don't see how those are not possible on the A70 :x maybe I'm just being forgetful, but I remember always getting that close without a problem

 

[otispunkmeyer]

maybes a second hand canon SD300 or something? i have an SD400 5MP, 3 x zoom and in macro mode it can get very close, not touching the lens close but 3-5cm close. its a very good camera and i prefer the build and design of that line of cameras to the newer designs in the same line (SD800 etc) it just feels and looks better.

i think the SD300 is 4MP which, lets be honest, is all most people will ever need.

i even found digital macro mode to be useful at times..... basically macro mode where you used the wide end of the lens so you can get 3-5cm away and then zoom in using digital zoom. i find 2x digital zoom works rather well.

 

[Raybdbomb]

right, but $100?