Banner image

Whats a good camera for corals? (1 Viewer)

reef junkie

reef junkie

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2009
Messages
3,621
Location
White Bear Lake
I'm looking to buy the family a new camera. Looking at a Nikon cool pix p500. My normal point and shoot camera had a hard time getting close on corals. Now I know I have seen some awesome pics on this site. So some incite on the right camera or if this one would do justice would be great. Please any info would be helpful, Thanks. Wanting to keep the budget under $400.
 
Stay away from Casio. I have their bridge camera (I can get the model if you'd like) the macro setting still needs to be 1.5 feet away.

I am going to return it soon.
 
Model of my Coolpix is S3000. I'm usually a fan of Nikon, especially their DSLR's My dream is to get a D3100. Haven't seen much info on the p500.
 
The Cannon G series does not have the zoom I'm looking for. Any other ideas? Not afraid to look at SLR's. Or where is a good place to get educated on a camera? Not best buy......National Camera Exchange?
 
Nat Cam is ok, but they are the ones that sold me the Casio. That reminds me. I have to go visit them today and return the casio. Their return policy is MUCH better than BB at least.
 
fivesmallworlds said:
Model of my Coolpix is S3000. I'm usually a fan of Nikon, especially their DSLR's My dream is to get a D3100. Haven't seen much info on the p500.
Click to expand...

I have the D3100 and its worth the money. Since you are already into the $400 range, might want to save/up your price.

A kit for a D3100 can dip below $600. I know I bought mine for $570.

Keep a lookout on http://slickdeals.com for camera deals.
 
I like the d7000 or 7d. Great camera for everything. But carrying around a slr sucks. I tote around a canon g series. U don't need a huge lense because u just need to get closer!
 
bought the d3100. very happy. picked up some lenses. question though. whats a good macro lense? picked up a good zoom lense and a apature (spelling) lense. but want close ups of corals, insects, flowers etc.... thanks.
 
I think the only macro lens that would work, with auto-focus capabilities, is the nikkor mirco 105mm VR. The only problem is that it's kind of expensive ($900 i think new). There are other options that you can take though. You could get a Tokina 100mm f/2.8 ($400) with comparable sharpness to the nikkor 105mm, but you would not have AF or VR. You could also invest in some extension tubes ($125-ish). These put a space in between your lens and your sensor, which causes you to have a much shorter focusing distance, more info here . I use extension tubes with a nikkor fixed 50mm f1.8 for all of my macro shots. my only complaint is that all of my photos have a very shallow depth of field when i used them. I plan on buying the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 as my next lens, because of its price(i'm a college student:beerchug:)
 
reef junkie said:
bought the d3100. very happy. picked up some lenses. question though. whats a good macro lense? picked up a good zoom lense and a apature (spelling) lense. but want close ups of corals, insects, flowers etc.... thanks.
Click to expand...

I got the nikkor 85mm macro AF/VR f2.8 and love it. It ranges aroudn $550+
 
Its all in the lens not the camera you want something with a low f shutter.
 
Tokina 100 f2.8 usually scores the highest for macro lenses and runs about $450. It focuses a little slower than the nikons but has the best picture quality.
 
Nate,

I'm pretty sure there are other Nikon macro lenses that autofocus (though you have been shopping for these things more recently than me). You are correct that the 105 VR is the only one with VR, but VR is not so useful in macro shots anyway (very useful though if using the 105 as a short range telephoto, or for portraits or something like that).
 
Stoneyj33 said:
Tokina 100 f2.8 usually scores the highest for macro lenses and runs about $450. It focuses a little slower than the nikons but has the best picture quality.
Click to expand...

Better picture quality than the Nikon 105 VR? Really? The 105 VR is an absolutely stunning lens - it is hard to imagine it getting much better, but I have not researched the Tokina.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top