Best camera for macro photography for a very stingy person?
June 18, 2018 5:26 AM Subscribe
I want to take some photographs of coins. However, every time I go to buy a camera I end up thinking wow, for that price I could have [insert coin here]. So, despite needing and wanting a camera to take macro photography of my coins, I'm really struggling to bring myself to spend money on it... so... what is the best camera for taking good close-up photos for the minimum cost?
I'm asking here because, while there are great articles online about coin photography, I can't find one that suits the variables of "recent" and "cheap".
I'm asking here because, while there are great articles online about coin photography, I can't find one that suits the variables of "recent" and "cheap".
Response by poster: Stillnocturnal: No objections at all to buying second hand; I do feel like I'd want some advice and opinions though before going to a physical store as I wonder about being sold more than I need....
posted by Hadrian at 5:48 AM on June 18, 2018
posted by Hadrian at 5:48 AM on June 18, 2018
Cheapest possible answer: have you already tried buying one of those macro kits for your phone? Something like this? I was genuinely shocked at how good they can be, and you can get them for just about any phone for under $20. If it works, you're good to go, and if not, you're only out ten bucks.
posted by mishafletch at 5:53 AM on June 18, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by mishafletch at 5:53 AM on June 18, 2018 [10 favorites]
It depends on how you define "recent" and "cheap."
My five year old Fujifilm X20 has excellent macro modes, and used ones are under $400.
The same can be said for the Pentax MX-1. (Macro samples here.)
They are both "only" 12 MP, but unless you are wanting to make huge enlargements, that shouldn't be a concern.
There are countless other cameras on the used market just as good for your use, but I only list these because I have owned them both for years and use them regularly. They are great all-around cameras, and I love shooting close-ups with them.
At the $400 price point, there are certainly new cameras capable of good close-up photography. $300-$400 for a new compact camera seems to be the sweet spot for "low cost" and "quality." The Lumix ZS70S looks promising, but I haven't used it.
Mishafletch's answer is worth considering also. I have used a macro lens attached to my iPhone and have gotten decent results. The better quality lens you buy, the better your results, of course. But if your phone has a decent camera, it's worth a try. (Samples I took with my iPhone 5s and a clip-on macro lens: Tulip, Bluebells.)
posted by The Deej at 6:07 AM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
My five year old Fujifilm X20 has excellent macro modes, and used ones are under $400.
The same can be said for the Pentax MX-1. (Macro samples here.)
They are both "only" 12 MP, but unless you are wanting to make huge enlargements, that shouldn't be a concern.
There are countless other cameras on the used market just as good for your use, but I only list these because I have owned them both for years and use them regularly. They are great all-around cameras, and I love shooting close-ups with them.
At the $400 price point, there are certainly new cameras capable of good close-up photography. $300-$400 for a new compact camera seems to be the sweet spot for "low cost" and "quality." The Lumix ZS70S looks promising, but I haven't used it.
Mishafletch's answer is worth considering also. I have used a macro lens attached to my iPhone and have gotten decent results. The better quality lens you buy, the better your results, of course. But if your phone has a decent camera, it's worth a try. (Samples I took with my iPhone 5s and a clip-on macro lens: Tulip, Bluebells.)
posted by The Deej at 6:07 AM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
have you already tried buying one of those macro kits for your phone?
Yes! Assuming you have a phone with a camera, this is by far the best option. I have one of these and it's a lot better than I would expect. Along with some good lighting, you will be set.
posted by jessamyn at 6:36 AM on June 18, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yes! Assuming you have a phone with a camera, this is by far the best option. I have one of these and it's a lot better than I would expect. Along with some good lighting, you will be set.
posted by jessamyn at 6:36 AM on June 18, 2018 [5 favorites]
For cheap, well ebay. Look for older Nikon or Cannon. A 55mm manual macro lens can be found well under $100 and a decent older body under $50.
lens example
body example
Remember serious photographers say: "It's the glass that counts", the lens, and both cannon and nikon made high volume great lens's.
Good forum thread on the exact topic.
It will take care and research to ensure the lens and body work together, but all the info is very googlable, it's just a lot of detail.
Also find some kind of tripod or mount, a cable release, and read up about basic lighting, that will make a bigger difference than the camera, basically build a mini-stage so all the lights are balanced and filled and after getting settings right (manual takes experimentation) you'd set a coin down on a pedestal and click. Less costly camera equipment is totally practical but does take a bit more study, bit cameras have been great for years so bargains are out there.
posted by sammyo at 6:40 AM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
lens example
body example
Remember serious photographers say: "It's the glass that counts", the lens, and both cannon and nikon made high volume great lens's.
Good forum thread on the exact topic.
It will take care and research to ensure the lens and body work together, but all the info is very googlable, it's just a lot of detail.
Also find some kind of tripod or mount, a cable release, and read up about basic lighting, that will make a bigger difference than the camera, basically build a mini-stage so all the lights are balanced and filled and after getting settings right (manual takes experimentation) you'd set a coin down on a pedestal and click. Less costly camera equipment is totally practical but does take a bit more study, bit cameras have been great for years so bargains are out there.
posted by sammyo at 6:40 AM on June 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you have a camera with an interchangeable lens already, they make lens reversing rings that work well for high magnification. A reversing ring gives you a lens that's more fiddly than a purpose-built macro lens, but you can get extremely high magnification with run-of-the-mill wide-angle lenses for the same camera. You'll need a tripod, cable release and lots of light, though.
posted by spacewrench at 12:29 PM on June 18, 2018
posted by spacewrench at 12:29 PM on June 18, 2018
You can rent an amazing and expensive macro lens for an SLR (like Canon's 100mm f/2.8L macro) for about $40 per day/weekend.
posted by sindark at 1:39 PM on June 18, 2018
posted by sindark at 1:39 PM on June 18, 2018
Just Nthing advice to buy an older camera. Cameras that are five years old are still great cameras and many can be had for under a hundred bucks.
posted by smoke at 2:23 PM on June 18, 2018
posted by smoke at 2:23 PM on June 18, 2018
Depending on your specific needs in terms of macrophotography, you could consider trying out the LUMIN app -- it's a magnifying app for smartphones that uses your existing camera, combined with illumination. It's an older app, but it still works fine on my iPhone 5S.
It's surprisingly good at getting zoomed-in close-up photos of all sorts of things. I've used it as a real-time magnifying glass to read incredibly tiny writing on medicine bottles, and even used it in combo with a smartphone clip/tripod to get even steadier macro shots of jewelry and other tiny objects.
It's a very inexpensive option at about $2
iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/lumin/id480343142?mt=8
posted by Jade Dragon at 5:19 PM on June 18, 2018
It's surprisingly good at getting zoomed-in close-up photos of all sorts of things. I've used it as a real-time magnifying glass to read incredibly tiny writing on medicine bottles, and even used it in combo with a smartphone clip/tripod to get even steadier macro shots of jewelry and other tiny objects.
It's a very inexpensive option at about $2
iTunes Store: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/lumin/id480343142?mt=8
posted by Jade Dragon at 5:19 PM on June 18, 2018
I was going to suggest renting. You can go to the rental place and describe your needs. They likely have macro lenses as well.
But... what are you taking the photos for? A macro lense for your phone will take awfully good photos good for most uses.
posted by xammerboy at 11:09 PM on June 18, 2018
But... what are you taking the photos for? A macro lense for your phone will take awfully good photos good for most uses.
posted by xammerboy at 11:09 PM on June 18, 2018
How macro do you need it to be? I work in a bullion shop, and this is a photo my colleague took with their iPhone 8 (be sure to use Ebay's hover-zoom feature to see detail).
posted by oneirodynia at 1:09 PM on June 19, 2018
posted by oneirodynia at 1:09 PM on June 19, 2018
On the cheap: I picked up a three-in-one kit from Amir, like this one on Amazon (US), or this (UK). Here are photos I took for examples.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:43 AM on July 14, 2018
posted by filthy light thief at 9:43 AM on July 14, 2018
« Older Short hair, don't care? Except I do. | Appetite loss in the elderly: is there anything... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by stillnocturnal at 5:39 AM on June 18, 2018