need help quick: affordable (~300) camera with reasonable macro mode

[gorcorps]

Short notice, but I have a limited corporate budget to buy a camera that will be used mainly for up close pics... so a semi-decent macro mode would be nice. It doesn't have to be great, just the best in the ~300 price range.

The caveat is I need it tonight, so it needs to be something I could nab right now at Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc...

Please help me me AT, you're my only hope.

 

[gorcorps]

Played with them, will get a Panasonic dmc-zs8 for 250

 

[Redfraggle]

Nikon S8100 had the closest macro I saw on a P&S. Too late now I guess though.

 

[akshatp]

ZS8 a great choice

 

[gorcorps]

Nikon S8100 had the closest macro I saw on a P&S. Too late now I guess though.

They had that one ($50 more) but I noticed it was having a harder time focusing on the close ups I wanted it to focus on. I'm sure there's a manual focus which would help, but for ease of use for more than just myself the zs8 is better.

 

[Redfraggle]

They had that one ($50 more) but I noticed it was having a harder time focusing on the close ups I wanted it to focus on. I'm sure there's a manual focus which would help, but for ease of use for more than just myself the zs8 is better.

Good to know. No point in having awesome macro capability if it doesn't work well.

Right now, I'm still sort of on the Fuji FinePix f550 exr. Trying to narrow down choices for a trip, and I do love macro and would definitely use it on said trip.

 

[gorcorps]

I've notice one little snag with close photos. Even at zero zoom the lens sticks out quite a bit. So much so that if you try to take a close macro picture the flash will cast a shadow that can cover half your pic. It focuses and without the shadow would actually be a good picture... so I don't know why it's designed this way. But I can just back up a tad and zoom in and be just as good I guess.

 

[iGas]

I've notice one little snag with close photos. Even at zero zoom the lens sticks out quite a bit. So much so that if you try to take a close macro picture the flash will cast a shadow that can cover half your pic. It focuses and without the shadow would actually be a good picture... so I don't know why it's designed this way. But I can just back up a tad and zoom in and be just as good I guess.

Lens in the way is the problem with macro, hence the use of ring flash, or use off camera slave flashes.

 

[corkyg]

Better yet, use a copy stand or use natural light.

 

[gorcorps]

Better yet, use a copy stand or use natural light.

Not always possible unfortunately. I'm using it either on site or during travel for various defects in steel rolls and sheet. Dimly lit industrial conditions with a need to take pics without moving anything other than the camera. I may be able to use an external flash but I'm not sure. It's one of those things where they make things like a flash ring for high end DSLR cameras, but those types of cameras aren't really usable for me. But then I run into issues like I am now where the cameras I'm limited to aren't really meant for macro shooting

Ah well, I'm not in it for artistic and printing reasons... I just need enough detail. I'll be okay with just backing up a tad to not cast a shadow, and zooming in ever so slightly. It'll be good enough for our uses.

 

[iGas]

Better yet, use a copy stand or use natural light.

Copy stand is not going to work for everything.

Natural light work well, but there are 2 limitations one is that the lens cast shadow onto the subject at close up or you have to shoot toward the sun. The second is higher chance of motion blur (flash work well at freeze motion).

 

[bearxor]

Not always possible unfortunately. I'm using it either on site or during travel for various defects in steel rolls and sheet. Dimly lit industrial conditions with a need to take pics without moving anything other than the camera. I may be able to use an external flash but I'm not sure. It's one of those things where they make things like a flash ring for high end DSLR cameras, but those types of cameras aren't really usable for me. But then I run into issues like I am now where the cameras I'm limited to aren't really meant for macro shooting

Ah well, I'm not in it for artistic and printing reasons... I just need enough detail. I'll be okay with just backing up a tad to not cast a shadow, and zooming in ever so slightly. It'll be good enough for our uses.

How about going to walmart or whatever and buying a cheap (usually around $5) keychain LED flashlight? Would get you a nice, bright external light source you can hold in one hand while you hold the camera in the other.

Just an idea.

 

[iGas]

Not always possible unfortunately. I'm using it either on site or during travel for various defects in steel rolls and sheet. Dimly lit industrial conditions with a need to take pics without moving anything other than the camera. I may be able to use an external flash but I'm not sure. It's one of those things where they make things like a flash ring for high end DSLR cameras, but those types of cameras aren't really usable for me. But then I run into issues like I am now where the cameras I'm limited to aren't really meant for macro shooting

Ah well, I'm not in it for artistic and printing reasons... I just need enough detail. I'll be okay with just backing up a tad to not cast a shadow, and zooming in ever so slightly. It'll be good enough for our uses.

Pocket size requirement, then the only alternative is a point and shoot such as the Canon S95 or a micro 4:3 with fast lens + high ISO setting, and shoot at the highest resolution for cropping.

Personally I would have a cheap dedicated DSLR with all of the gears attached to it for macro and have a dedicated hardcase with cut out/s to fit the camera & gears in full mounting position. An off camera flash bracket isn't expensive and will do the job in a pinch or a dedicated ring flash.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=643&N=4294204370