Kindly Make Me a Digital Suggestion

[ruben]

Hi Folks,

I am in need of a digital camera, THE CHEAPEST AVAILABLE, for a single purpose, making pics of cameras and small gear to post to RFF. Therefore I think the macro option should be present.

I don't mind about any other detail, like production year, overall megapixell, ect. Within my sole need, I am looking for the cheapest.

You can both suggest me a model to follow at eBay, or in Israel, or even propose me your camera for sell.

But in the late case, Kindly abstain from offering cameras with overall capabilities justifying a bigger than necessary price,

Kindly target yourself for the minimum price for the task.

And since I am a newbie in the field, kindly give me the FULL name of the camera.

Cheers,
Ruben

[zuikologist]

I have a Lumix FZ7 which I picked up very cheaply. Macro down to about 5cm I think.

The Ricoh p&s models have macro to 2cm.

[Bill58]

You can buy my unused, NOS, highly regarded (esp. for low light) Fuji F30 for $225 (what I just paid for it) plus shipping from Korea.

Memory card is extra but at my cost also--I'll have to look and see what I paid for it.

Such a deal..........

Bill

[mfunnell]

I'll second leicasniper's view. I've had great experiences with Canon's small-sensor digicams (for what they are). Nothing against other brands - its just that Canon makes digicams that I've used with some success and have recommended to others, none of whom have had any complaint (rather the opposite). Other brands probably work just as well, I just don't know 'em.

Personally, I use a rather supersceded "Digital IXUS 40" (aka SD300). Its a 4MP pocket camera (so has few photographic controls) that has lived in my pocket for years and suffered the beating (and even an unscheduled swim!) that entails without ever skipping a beat. It can still take a decent photo, though.

...Mike

[Pherdinand]

every suggestion given on the internet is a digital suggestion:D

Buy a webcam, Ruben. ;)
edit: here's an example with my built-in webcam

[Pherdinand]

OK if you reallty really need a maro, then webcam is not the best suggestion. One thing: get one with a reasonable screen and some manual controls.
I got a digi PS olypus as a present... Used it for casual nonsense shots and macro. It has VERY good macro - when it works.
But i won't suggest it to you becuse it has a TINY screen on which it is next to impossible to see where the macro mode focuses.And 4 out of 5 times it focuses behind the subject on the background. I brought it to Drakensberg mountains with me (next to rolleiflex) with the sole purpose of taking macro shots of special flora for my botanic sister. Luckily i took multiple shots of everything - when i checked them at home, really most of them are out of focus, and the grass behind is nice sharp. Annoying.
Also, it has NO control on the speed/aperture/iso/white balance at all. Sometimes works fine, see attachment, many times does not.
It also has a "super macro" mode which is even more limited, but seems to handle focus better - probably because i get REAL close and subject fills most of the frame.
Ah and i banged it in the mountains on its face, lens open. Not too hard, but the lens motor is broken, so i pull-push the lens in/out manually when switching it on/off, and zoom is not really operational:D But still makes pictures!

[nzeeman]

maybe you could try panasonic lumix dmc-lc5 . it is very cheap used on ebay and places like that(because of rumors about some problems with image - which are just internet rumors - you can check on flickr) , and its a pretty nice camera so you sometimes can use it in real life and have some digital photos just for fun.

[ruben]

Hi folks,
Thanks so far.

Would you mind start talking PRICES ? or PRICE ESTIMATIONS ?

Thanks again,
Ribem

[mabelsound]

Fuji F30. 200 or less. Best cheap low-light macro digital on the market.

Here's a photo I took with it.

http://inverseroom.creotia.com/images/studio/15.jpg

[ruben]

Any of the A500 series Canon P&S cameras would do what you want and should be a bargain used. The A540 or A560 do great macro.


Hi leicasniper,

This is the camera I bought for my daughter some year ago, new.

I find your proposal a bit "uncomfortable" for me for 2 reasons. But before I display them, I and you must take into consideration I am a real ignorant in the area.

a) PRICE & AVAILABILITY
The first problem is that this stuff at eBay, used, is shipped inside the US only.
Buying it from a known RFF member, no problem. Buying it new in Israel is too expensive for my budget. Buying it used in Israel is transgressing my 10 commandments for a smart and lasting deal.

b) THE TARGETED CAMERA
Here I am really walking on eggs of ignorancy. But it seems to me you are targeting a very successfull line, and releatively new. True, this camera is small and cheap relatively, but too much featured for my needs. Hence prices will be higher.

I think it could be smarter to target cameras within the digital age, that have been outdated by younger models and for this reason their price may be really cheap, even new.

What I am asking after all ? macro + no flash option + ridiculous resolution for RFF level.

Cheers,
Ruben

[ruben]

I would like to spend, new inside Israel, up to $100.

But again leicasniper, I understand your care for quality. It seems there is a minimum you are not ready to go below. I appreciate your intention.

Cheers,
Ruben

[M. Valdemar]

A Nikon Coolpix 990 from eBay. Best macro capability and flawless photos. Probably get a mint one under $100.

[Colman]

Have you considered a mobile phone with a decent camera on it? Some of the Sony Ericsson ones are pretty decent and have things like exposure compensation and a macro mode.

Some keys, on my Sony Erissson k750i or something like that - several years old, with the histogram corrected in Aperture and scaled down 50% at medium quality jpeg.

http://homepage.mac.com/careilly/.Public/ZZ3F76AD04.jpg

I don't know how the Israeli phone market works, but assuming you have a mobile, and if they upgrades the same way they do them in the Irish market, you could pick up a k750 equivalent for the price of extending your phone contract. Assuming you have a mobile phone, of course.

[kshapero]

Kodak Brownie and pretend. very cheap.
happy Purim.

[lZr]

Ruben,
There is no chip new cameras in Israel, because of the $ value. The vendors got their stock while $1 was 4.4 NIS and now it is 3.4 NIS, but the NIS camera prices are held up. You will need also SD or XD card(s) for the camera. Get yourself Universal Card Reader.
Update yourself about from DPreview site and look for new generation cameras. This will give you the real price and good choice. Every camera comes with software, manual and cables for stils and connection to TV.

My recomendation is Oly family cameras

Good luck


EDIT: The same holds for Euro. Most Israeli vendors are Importers from Europe

[mackigator]

Hmmm, how cheap? Some of those Canon A series units will be very cheap and, considering that, quite capable.

If you want to kill two birds with one stone, consider targeting the Panasonic Lumix Lx1 used. It can be had for less than $200, its small, good lens, has macro, shoots RAW (rare indeed), and it has great manual controls. It has some other nice features I won't list here. Some use this and its successor camera (LX2) for stealthy street style work in imitation of rangefinders. It's not perfect in that last regard but it is light years ahead of many small digicams.

The LX1, likes its brethren, is noisy above ISO200. It's a couple of years old and, when it was out, was soon replaced by the nearly identical LX2. So its a good camera that shouldn't be too much in demand at the moment. It sold in smaller numbers than the Canon's, though, so there are fewer of them to go up on Ebay at any one time. I would not pay more than the $200 for one and I'd look for a working but used (and showing signs of use) to save a buck.

http://photography.search.ebay.com/lumix-LX1_Digital-Cameras_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsac atZ29997

[julio1fer]

Ruben, find a large camera store in your city and ask for used deals. You should be able to grab a very nice Canon A510 or equivalent in other brands, for the budget you want.

Choose something that uses AA batteries, 3 MP, and has a macro mode. Manual modes would be nice to have but you don't really need them for your application.

[ruben]

Ok, In israel through internet purchase this is the best I can find; Canon PowerShot A450

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07011801Canona450460550.asp

The minimal price for new camera is some 138 American dollarettas.

Cheers,
Ruben

[M. Valdemar]

You're making a big mistake. The Nikon 990 is one of the best close-up cameras ever made. Superb macro capability. The best eBay camera ever made.

Here's a shot for eBay straight out of the camera, window light, no post processing.

You can get one very cheap, uses AA batteries, CF cards.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7020/samplepc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[ruben]

You're making a big mistake. The Nikon 990 is one of the best close-up cameras ever made. Superb macro capability. The best eBay camera ever made.

Here's a shot for eBay straight out of the camera, window light, no post processing.

You can get one very cheap, uses AA batteries, CF cards.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7020/samplepc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Hi Valdemar I do believe you, Currently only two samples on offer at eBay. In a few moments I will give you the price in Israel...

Ok, no offers in Israel shops at all, then I went to eBay UK and there is a single sample for sale in 2 days from now, the camera already at 51 duros ! :)

I am not running to buy, I take into consideration your advice, but the facts by now are hard.

cheers,
Ruben

[ampguy]

7MP, equal to the Canon 5d :D, probably $130 to $150 ish in price.

I'll second leicasniper's view. I've had great experiences with Canon's small-sensor digicams (for what they are). Nothing against other brands - its just that Canon makes digicams that I've used with some success and have recommended to others, none of whom have had any complaint (rather the opposite). Other brands probably work just as well, I just don't know 'em.

Personally, I use a rather supersceded "Digital IXUS 40" (aka SD300). Its a 4MP pocket camera (so has few photographic controls) that has lived in my pocket for years and suffered the beating (and even an unscheduled swim!) that entails without ever skipping a beat. It can still take a decent photo, though.

...Mike

[NickTrop]

Panasonic Lumix FZ1. Only 2.1 megapixels. Bit of a "cult" camera. Small, lightweight "Leica" asp lens with 12x optical zoom with macro capabilities and image stabilization. Hack the firmware (on the web, free) to give it aperture and shutter priority, making it an FZ1v2. It picked up where the Uzi (the original small sensor/big zoom digital by Oly) left off.

Makes great 6x4's, 5x7's and I even printed acceptable 8x10s with it. More than enough megapixels for the web. The 2.1 horsepower puts people off, so they go cheap.

[ampguy]

with about 6000 photos through it. It's OK for web photos, and 4x6 prints, uses 2AAs, SD cards. Very little manual control though, and noisy over ISO200. VF present but useless, and LCD screen is postage stamp size.

Ok, In israel through internet purchase this is the best I can find; Canon PowerShot A450

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07011801Canona450460550.asp

The minimal price for new camera is some 138 American dollarettas.

Cheers,
Ruben

[ruben]

Panasonic Lumix FZ1. Only 2.1 megapixels. Bit of a "cult" camera. Small, lightweight "Leica" asp lens with 12x optical zoom with macro capabilities and image stabilization. Hack the firmware (on the web, free) to give it aperture and shutter priority, making it an FZ1v2. It picked up where the Uzi (the original small sensor/big zoom digital by Oly) left off.

Makes great 6x4's, 5x7's and I even printed acceptable 8x10s with it. More than enough megapixels for the web. The 2.1 horsepower puts people off, so they go cheap.


Hi Nick,

No camera offer at eBay worldwide, only accessories.

Cheers,
Ruben

This thread is starting to become of interest beyond my small issue, how good digital cameras dissapear as if they never existed.

[kuzano]

You can buy my unused, NOS, highly regarded (esp. for low light) Fuji F30 for $225 (what I just paid for it) plus shipping from Korea.

Memory card is extra but at my cost also--I'll have to look and see what I paid for it.

Such a deal..........

Bill

This camera is considered one of the best low light compact digital cameras bar none. Here is a link to Steve's Digicam conclusion page on the camera:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/fuji_f30_pg5.html

They are almost impossible to find, even on eBay. If you don't buy the camera from Bill even though it's a bit over your budget, I will be following up to his posting when my "monthly ship" comes in next month if he still has it.

In fact, I am going to contact him after posting here to express an interest for future purchase.

[mackigator]

OT: Interestingly, I have a Coolpix 990 and Coolpix 4500 on my desk at this moment. The 990 has a broken - inconsistently engages - power/A/M/play switch and a haywire settings dial - both needed but fixable controls - but works otherwise. The 4500 has a broken zoom control, so its fixed at wide. It also works otherwise.

I was considering getting them repaired and possibly one of them converted to IR. Anyone have a better idea? Worth repairing? I have $0 in the cameras now.

[Al Patterson]

A Nikon Coolpix 990 from eBay. Best macro capability and flawless photos. Probably get a mint one under $100.

At one point someone here at RFF had a Nikon Coolpix 885 for sale. It's 3 megapixles, and I have one, but I have it slated for a cheap slide copier, so it's not for sale. Check the auction site, they are selling for under $100 US.

The 990 or 995 are also decent cameras for your task.

[ruben]

This camera is considered one of the best low light compact digital cameras bar none. Here is a link to Steve's Digicam conclusion page on the camera:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/fuji_f30_pg5.html

They are almost impossible to find, even on eBay. If you don't buy the camera from Bill even though it's a bit over your budget, I will be following up to his posting when my "monthly ship" comes in next month if he still has it.

In fact, I am going to contact him after posting here to express an interest for future purchase.

Dear Friend,
Don't loose your time and contact Bill immediately. No chance for my budget.

Cheers,
Ruben