Need a camera + lens to take macro shots

[Ns1]

So I might be in the market for a beginner DSLR

I'm aware of the drawbacks of having one

My priorities will be as follows

1. Macro shots
2. eBay pictures
3. Other

This may or may not become a hobby. As such, I'd prefer to buy used because of the uncertainty (hey, I'm a realist here =P)

I can budget up to 1k initially (yes I know lens will cost a fortune should I choose to proceed with this hobby)

So ATOT, whatcha got for me?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Every DSLR system will handle what you've listed easily. I think you need to expand upon "3. Other".

You can get Canon Xsi, Nikon D60, Olypmus E-520, Pentax K200D, Sony A300, with a macro lens for within your budget.

I listed cameras in alphabetical order, not in order of preference.

 

[pennylane]

The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro gets great reviews and can be found used for like $300 (I've seen it on craigslist) which seems like a good deal. Text

I don't know exactly how many mounts (for different brands) it comes in but it should come in plenty. You could pair it with any of the bodies that Flipped Gazelle posted (assuming it comes in all those mounts) and be under $1k. You may find you want a flash and/or tripod for macro work though.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

some kind of body, cheap 50mm f/1.8 and extension tubes. should be able to get all this for around 600 bucks.

 

[Ns1]

Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food



Sorry to go OT from my original post, but christ wtf do I need to do to take pictures like this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OH-m...Y/s1600-h/nin_7511.jpg

my shitty sony P&S definitely won't do that

*keep in mind that professional (which is generally defined as a separate lens) is strictly forbidden at concerts

see his other work here

http://amateurchemist.blogspot.com/

If that's a P&S then fuck point me in that direction

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food

Just out of curiosity, have you tried this with a decent compact camera? I've seen fine images of these types on DPReview, taken with a $200 point-n-shoot.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Ns1
Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food

Just out of curiosity, have you tried this with a decent compact camera? I've seen fine images of these types on DPReview, taken with a $200 point-n-shoot.

Yes, I'm especially not happy with the way the macros come out

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Ns1
Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food



Sorry to go OT from my original post, but christ wtf do I need to do to take pictures like this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OH-m...Y/s1600-h/nin_7511.jpg

my shitty sony P&S definitely won't do that

*keep in mind that professional (which is generally defined as a separate lens) is strictly forbidden at concerts

see his other work here

http://amateurchemist.blogspot.com/

If that's a P&S then fuck point me in that direction

NS1 that first pic was taken with a Canon SD800 IS

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd800is/

the 1st on on your second link was taken with a Nikon D200 with a lens that can do 17mm at F/2.8

i can list out all of them when i get home from work

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Ns1
Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food



Sorry to go OT from my original post, but christ wtf do I need to do to take pictures like this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OH-m...Y/s1600-h/nin_7511.jpg

my shitty sony P&S definitely won't do that

*keep in mind that professional (which is generally defined as a separate lens) is strictly forbidden at concerts

see his other work here

http://amateurchemist.blogspot.com/

If that's a P&S then fuck point me in that direction

NS1 that first pic was taken with a Canon SD800 IS

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd800is/

I'm prepared to be slapped with an uber obvious answer, but how did you know that?

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

In that concert photo link you posted, the camera used was a Canon SD800IS. In at least some of the photos from the 2nd link, he used a Nikon D300 .

When you are posting smallish photos, picture noise diminished and blurriness becomes sharper.

EDIT - EXIF info embedded in the photos tells the tale!

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Ns1
Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food



Sorry to go OT from my original post, but christ wtf do I need to do to take pictures like this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OH-m...Y/s1600-h/nin_7511.jpg

my shitty sony P&S definitely won't do that

*keep in mind that professional (which is generally defined as a separate lens) is strictly forbidden at concerts

see his other work here

http://amateurchemist.blogspot.com/

If that's a P&S then fuck point me in that direction

NS1 that first pic was taken with a Canon SD800 IS

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd800is/

I'm prepared to be slapped with an uber obvious answer, but how did you know that?

download image - right click - properties - summary tab lists pretty much everything unless you wipe it with programs that do that,

it was saved useing Picasa 3.0
in Opera (king of browsers) you can get the properties without Dling just pops up a lil window with all the info

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Ns1
Thanks guys

If it's anything, macro shots will be used on flowers + food



Sorry to go OT from my original post, but christ wtf do I need to do to take pictures like this?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OH-m...Y/s1600-h/nin_7511.jpg

my shitty sony P&S definitely won't do that

*keep in mind that professional (which is generally defined as a separate lens) is strictly forbidden at concerts

see his other work here

http://amateurchemist.blogspot.com/

If that's a P&S then fuck point me in that direction

NS1 that first pic was taken with a Canon SD800 IS

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canonsd800is/

I'm prepared to be slapped with an uber obvious answer, but how did you know that?

EXIF data. save the photo, right click, properties, and it shows camera info. or use EXIF Fox firefox extension to bypass having to save the photo and just do right click and property directly from the browser.

 

[Ns1]

thanks lol


Interesting; costco doesn't have the SD800 but has an SD950 for $330

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Ns1
thanks lol


Interesting; costco doesn't have the SD800 but has an SD950 for $330

SD800 has been discontinued. You can get similar results with any decent compact digicam, particularly if it has image stabilization.

Dude had a good seat, which helps. He didn't have to zoom in to get the shot.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Ns1
thanks lol


Interesting; costco doesn't have the SD800 but has an SD950 for $330

SD800 has been discontinued. You can get similar results with any decent compact digicam, particularly if it has image stabilization.

Dude had a good seat, which helps. He didn't have to zoom in to get the shot.

Man my current Sony cam must blow ass then cuz I can never get shots like that.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Ns1
thanks lol


Interesting; costco doesn't have the SD800 but has an SD950 for $330

SD800 has been discontinued. You can get similar results with any decent compact digicam, particularly if it has image stabilization.

Dude had a good seat, which helps. He didn't have to zoom in to get the shot.

Man my current Sony cam must blow ass then cuz I can never get shots like that.

I bet you could get a similar shot if you set it to ISO 400, or maybe 800. Which Sony do you have?

 

[virtuamike]

For macro, I'd go for a used body like a D200 or D2h that has a decent viewfinder and can meter with manual lenses (which you'll probably end up preferring for critical focus anyways). It'll save you money with manual macro lenses, plus you'll be able to use all the old extension rings, teleconverters, etc.