WTB: New Camera that can Photograph Bugs

[JohnBoy777]

I gave my granddaughter (11 y/o going on 18) a jewelers loupe I had laying around and she discovered that bugs are fascinating creatures up close - who knew. So now I want to get her a digital camera that can take photos of bugs up close.

My photography experience was using Kodachrome and pushed Ektachome (both words showed up as misspelled as I typed this - very funny) with macro and telephoto lenses on a Minolta 202... so I'm useless here.

I want a camera that can photo or video bugs up close and personal, and won't tick me off when she breaks it... so nothing too pricey.

Thanks for the help gents, John

[ttpete]

That's kind of tough. All of the inexpensive ones will have a close-up mode and you can use the zoom to an extent. I'd go someplace where they have them on display and try different ones. Some will be better than others.

[Grainbelt]

+1.

Macro photography is some of the toughest I've attempted. Really really close up bug photography requires a lot of light, a tripod, and a really good lens on a really good camera.

Almost any modern digital camera will have Macro mode, usually denoted by an image of a flower. Some also have 'super macro'. Basically select that, zoom in, and hold it as close as you can with it still achieving autofocus.

I'd seriously consider dead bugs and a decent microscope, which opens up viewing the things swimming in pond water on a wet tray and other 'tiny' things that you can't normally see with the naked eye. For what you'd spend on a camera she'll be able to see a lot more, and more clearly.

[potatoho]

IIRC they have cheap ($50?) usb microscopes for close up work.

[13]

How big of a bug? These were with an iPhone.





I believe this was with a 100mm macro lens.

[09Prodigy]

Olympus TG-2s

I own the TG-1 and love it.

[wxwax]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Almost any modern digital camera will have Macro mode, usually denoted by an image of a flower. Some also have 'super macro'. Basically select that, zoom in, and hold it as close as you can with it still achieving autofocus.

This. For a young girl, should be fine. Use flash to try to extend the depth of field.

[Grainbelt]

I stand by my original suggestion of wasp spray and a microscope.

[Solaros1]

Canon G series have an excellent macro mode and the articulating screen on a G12 lets you get the camera down low and still get an idea of what you are photographing. Good all around camera that you can pick up for a little over $240.

[EvanADV]

Used canon dslr. Anything will work. Something like a Rebel XTi should be really cheap by now. Articulating screens with live view came out with the T3i and later models, but they will cost more.

Canon 50mm f1.8 lens (aka Nifty Fifty). They can be had for <$100 new. Cheaper used. Best value in photography, some would say.

Kenko Extension Tubes will run you around $100 new. Cheaper used. These allow the short focus distances required for what you want to do.

Buy it all used and resell for the same price invested if you don't wish to continue. Resale value is one if the beauties of photography.

Learn to shoot manual and in shutter priority/aperture priority modes (search YouTube for some basic tutorials). You'll need to keep your camera steady and shutter speed very high.

Have a blast! PM me if you have any questions!

[EvanADV]

Originally Posted by EvanADV

Used canon dslr. Anything will work. Something like a Rebel XTi should be really cheap by now. Articulating screens with live view came out with the T3i and later models, but they will cost more.

Canon 50mm f1.8 lens (aka Nifty Fifty). They can be had for <$100 new. Cheaper used. Best value in photography, some would say.

Kenko Extension Tubes will run you around $100 new. Cheaper used. These allow the short focus distances required for what you want to do.

Buy it all used and resell for the same price invested if you don't wish to continue. Resale value is one if the beauties of photography.

Learn to shoot manual and in shutter priority/aperture priority modes (search YouTube for some basic tutorials). You'll need to keep your camera steady and shutter speed very high.

Have a blast! PM me if you have any questions!

Examples: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...d.php?t=806478

[NikonsAndVStroms]

Originally Posted by EvanADV

Used canon dslr. Anything will work. Something like a Rebel XTi should be really cheap by now. Articulating screens with live view came out with the T3i and later models, but they will cost more.

Canon 50mm f1.8 lens (aka Nifty Fifty). They can be had for <$100 new. Cheaper used. Best value in photography, some would say.

Kenko Extension Tubes will run you around $100 new. Cheaper used. These allow the short focus distances required for what you want to do.

Buy it all used and resell for the same price invested if you don't wish to continue. Resale value is one if the beauties of photography.

Learn to shoot manual and in shutter priority/aperture priority modes (search YouTube for some basic tutorials). You'll need to keep your camera steady and shutter speed very high.

Have a blast! PM me if you have any questions!

If you choose to going this route a used Sigma 50mm macro would be a better choice at about the same price....for a little more money (300-320) a 105 macro would give more working distance.

But my half sister is about the age and I'm not sure I'd give her a DSLR yet. With point and shoots it doesn't seem to matter on the price they all have about the same minimum focus distance of ~1-1.5 inch so as long as she's taking photos of things that wont bite her it's all good.

[JohnBoy777]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

+1.

Almost any modern digital camera will have Macro mode, usually denoted by an image of a flower. Some also have 'super macro'. Basically select that, zoom in, and hold it as close as you can with it still achieving autofocus.
.

Thanks for all of the replies - I think I'll take her out to shop for a simple digital with a macro mode. That'll be fun.

[DriveShaft]

Originally Posted by JohnBoy777

Thanks for all of the replies - I think I'll take her out to shop for a simple digital with a macro mode. That'll be fun.

That'd be my recommendation for starters. The relatively large depths of field of compact cameras with decent macro modes lends itself well to the subject, if you can get close. It's one area in which large sensor cameras don't have that much advantage. You don't need to go particularly high-end. It's intrinsic to the diminutive size of the sensor. Just remember...certain scenes will lend itself better than others, and "lots of light" is pretty much a ground rule.

As a step up, in a little while, if the interest is still there, the more exotic techniques using extension tubes + macro lens on an interchangeable lens camera buys you the ability to further magnify images, and "get close" with your image without getting physically close, and a little more exposure latitude. But if the kid is just starting out on the learning curve, all of that is probably lost on her for a while. A compact camera would give her things to try, things to pay attention to, feedback, and stands the chance of actually being with her when she spies a bug worth shooting.

[Sniper X]

I have a fuji S2000 or something like that for a Point and shoot, works well in macro mode and costs under 150. This Colt is bug sized.