Comments on: Pick a camera for me

Question: Pick a camera for me

cccorlew — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:18:19 -0800

I'm looking for a digital camera to copy books and such for onscreen presentations. Not spending a lot would be nice.

I know I could get a Nikon D-40 and a macro, but there must be a miore cost-effective alternative.
Needs a macro lens of reasonable quality . Resolution doesn't need to be very high. Manual white balance a must.

By: JohnR

JohnR — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:28:57 -0800

Check out the Canon PowerShot A590.

By: bshort

bshort — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:36:22 -0800

Take a look at the Ricoh GR Digital. It's small, relatively inexpensive and it has a mode that's specifically for taking pictures of text. In this mode it renders everything as black and white with no grays.

By: Mike1024

Mike1024 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:30:43 -0800

Here is an example of what my years-old Canon A80 can achieve can achieve with a +3 close up filter.

You probably won't be able to find a camera as old as mine, but the A590 is worth looking at, as JohnR says.

By: imjustsaying

imjustsaying — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:10:17 -0800

If books, even smallish paperbacks, are what you'll be shooting, you likely don't need a macro lens if you go the DSLR route. A 50mm f/1.8 ought to do it with sufficient minimum focusing distance and a minimal amount of rectilinear distortion.

If you can stand a little barrel or pincushion distortion, the almost any p&s camera which focuses close enough ought to do it for you.

One could make the case that you should handle prospective cameras either in a brick and mortar store or perhaps by trying a friend's prior to making this purchase. I'd start with the low cost Canon A series products and go from there if necessary.

By: cccorlew

cccorlew — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:11:44 -0800

Thanks all.
I guess I wasn't clear enough. I'm shooting images in books, not text. It's for art lectures.

I ended up ordering a Nikon D40 and packaged lens with macro capabilities. The lens got pretty good marks for a non-dedicated macro. Not having to buy the Macro (another $400) made it not-too-painfully-expensive (considering our budget)

I looked at the suggestions, but was concerned that the P/S cameras controls might be more cumbersome than a DSLR.