Macro icon
All compact cameras, whether the most basic or the most advanced, come equipped with either a macro or super macro mode or both.
Despite this, some are more successful at shooting macro than others.
Even among cameras that have both the macro and super macro modes, the degree of success varies, depending on many factors which I shall attempt to list down here. Feel free to add anything that you think I might have missed out.
Without further ado, here are nine things you should look for when buying a compact camera for macro photography.
1. Macro, super macro or both?
This is quite obvious but a good compact camera for macro photography should have both the macro and super macro modes.
2. Ability to zoom in super macro mode
A compact camera normally allows zooming in macro mode but can you do the same in super macro mode? Some cameras do not allow you to do this. What these cameras do in super macro mode is to set the lens at wide angle and that is it. No zooming, no nothing. All you can do is to move the camera close to the subject and press the shutter.
This can be both good and bad, depending on one’s preference. Not being able to zoom in super macro mode means that there is no way you can further magnify the subjects you are shooting.
A bee ready to take a flight
This also means that you need to get your camera close to the subject to get a good macro shot; bear in mind that some of these subjects, like insects, will take a flight if you get too close to them.
[Note: This is quite a huge topic that deserves an entry of its own. Will write one in the near future, complete with test shots of how these modes operate; be sure to come back or subscribe to this blog's feed via RSS or email]
3. Focusing distance of at least 2cm
I guess this is no longer an issue now. All compact cameras are now offering close-up photography with a minimum distance of 2cm; some at 1cm or zero cm. Still, this is among the things you should look for when buying a compact camera for close-up photography.
4. Burst mode feature
Some compact cameras offer a decent continuous shooting mode, from a slow 1.1fps (like the Canon G11) way up to 10fps (like the Sony Cyber-shot TX1) and some even at a higher frame rate albeit at a lower resolution.
High continuous shooting is certainly a welcome development in compact cameras.
This is particularly useful in shooting objects that moves continuously either because they are alive or because they are being tossed about by the wind.
Lock your focus and press the shutter and let the camera take the pictures in rapid succession. Chances are one or two of the many shots you have taken will be in focus.
5. Shutter speed and aperture control
Baby lizard
Some compact cameras offer DSLR-like shooting control where you can shoot in Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes, which, needless to say, are a boon to compact cameras and macro shooting.
Of particular importance is the speed priority mode to complement the burst feature because it is quite pointless to be able to shoot in burst mode at a slow shutter speed. It defeats the whole purpose of putting speed into the snapshooting process.
6. High ISO capabilities
When shooting macro, especially with long zoom cameras and with macro conversion lens attached, you almost always run out of a good light source, unless you are shooting outdoor in bright sunny day.
You, therefore, need a compact camera with high ISO capabilities, not just in terms of number but also in substance. Any compact camera which are able to produce decent image at ISO 800 will be a good camera for macro photography.
Having ISO capabilities will also complement the speed in which the camera can shoot macro. Simply put, the higher the ISO capability of a camera, the better the camera is able to handle burst mode and fast shutter speed.
7. Does the camera accept conversion lenses?
Taken with SX1 IS with Raynox DCR-250 super macro conversion lens attached
Sometimes, being able to take close-up photograph is not enough; often times you want to get close to the subject and at the same time, magnify the image several times over to create a giant out of a tiny insect or capture amazing details of flowers or foliage.
In this case, you need a super macro conversion lens. The downside is, not all compact cameras accept conversion lens. If your idea of close-up photographs is a full frame of a fly’s compound eyes, then you need a conversion lens.
Be sure to check whether the camera you want to buy has this feature. If not, then, ask for the next camera in line.
8. Short or long zoom?
Apart from the macro or super macro modes, you can also shoot close-up photographs by zooming on them, especially if you are using superzoom cameras such as the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS, SX20 IS, SX10 IS, Sony Cyber-shot HX1, Olympus SP590UZ, Pentax X70, Nikon P90 and so on.
With these cameras, you can shoot close-up photography from two metres or less.
But there are also other things to consider apart from the ability to zoom on a subject from a distance — different zoom length requires different degree of magnification from a conversion lens.
Super macro spider before conversion lens
Obviously, it is of little use if you mount a macro conversion lens with small degree of magnification on a short zoom camera like the 3x optical Panasonic LX3 as the magnification achieved will be minimal or none at all.
On the other hand, you don’t want to attach a conversion lens with an extraordinarily huge magnification on a superzoom camera unless you want the photographs to be microscopic or that you have a huge reservoir of patience in trying keep things in focus because the larger magnification, the harder it is to focus.
Spider macro after conversion lens
I’ve written a case study of sort on how these conversion lenses work on long and short zoom cameras using the Raynox DCR-250 super macro conversion lens as a reference.
9. Shake reduction
Some compact cameras come with shake reduction and although I don’t think this is an absolute necessity, this will be an added advantage any camera’s macro shooting ability.
That has been my list of nine things to look for when buying a compact camera for macro photography.
One last thing — this probably is a sweeping statement but here we go anyway — compact cameras which are able to shoot decent macro photographs are also cameras which are competent in shooting other types of photographs.
Get the camera’s macro shooting right and you will be fine for the rest of your snap-shooting requirement. Just a thought, don’t quote me on this…
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