tippytoes

Greetings,
I am a rank amateur with an old Panasonic Lumix (unused for a while as pixel count left behind by newer equipment) who needs to move away from her iPhone to photograph gemstone jewelry. Apparently I need a 1:1 ratio, a macro lens, and I would prefer to shoot in RAW. This is notwithstanding the set-up I will need for good photos. However, as mentioned in other posts, with Black Friday coming up, I'm thinking this may be the right moment to leap. I'm hoping to spend around $500 (realistic?) and would consider reconditioned. Any thoughts? Thank you.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Welcome to UHH. Consider Panasonic - Lumix DMC-LX10 20.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black. Outstanding lens for macro.Price is $600
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1280826-REG/panasonic_lumix_dmc_lx10_digital_camera.html

whwiden

$500 might be a bit low. But with refurbished you might get close. I would look at a Nikon 40mm macro for dx lens because you said you want to photograph jewelry. This lens is great but requires you to get close to the subject. Then I would look for a Nikon dx camera, d3100 to d3400. You might expect to pay $270 new for the lens. With special sales, $399 or even lower might be possible for a d3400. Refurbished might save even more.

Bill_de Loc: US

Something that might interest you with this camera that really works well:

Post Focus and Focus Stacking Another attribute of the 4K capabilities is a unique focusing method called Post Focus. This function records imagery as a 4K MP4 file at 30 fps and shifts the specific point of focus throughout the burst shooting in order to offer a range of distinct focusing ranges to choose from. During playback, via the camera's touchscreen, you can then tap the specific region of the image you wish to be in focus and an 8MP JPEG file will be created. Multiple individual files with different points of focus can be created from the original burst, and focusing assist functions can also be used to gain even more precise control over the specific in-focus region.

A built-in focus stacking feature lets you program the capture of a sequence of photos with shifting focus. This technique allows you to utilize the highest performing aperture as well as increase the depth of field in your final image.

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jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You have lots of good choices, and refurbished will save you money.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

GGerard

What is your desired final output? Web or prints?

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I'd look first for a used Nikon D5200 body and a macro lens of at least 90mm so you don't have to get so close. Also since you're short on money and you'll be controlling light you may want to just go with a regular 50mm lens and close-focus rings.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Depending on what you do with your images you do not need a fancy high pixel camera. If all you do is post images on the Internet, eBay or make prints smaller than 8x10 then even a 5MP camera with a 50 or 90mm true macro lens will do. Images for the Internet are generally VGA resolution. In other words, less than 1.5 MP total content. I still have a old Konica-Minolta 5D that I shoot stuff for eBay and the Internet because my Sony a99ll does not shoot that low of resolution. You do not need to shoot in RAW since the image has be converted to JPEG to post. So why not shoot JPEG to start with. When I shoot RealEstate photos I shoot in my Sony a65 the lowest resolution and JPEG, because most of the images get sent on the Internet or are printed no larger than 8x10 on the Agents office printer. I shoot that way so the Agency does not want to spend the time to convert images to lower resolution in able to post on the Internet. Many very fine older true macro lenses are out there and quite reasonable on eBay or KEH. Spend the money on a good used lens and then buy a used camera to fit your needs. There is lots of great used equipment out there. Don't forget your lights. You can buy Regular LED bulbs in DayLight color. No need to get fancy studio equipment. Don't forget to always use a tripod. Using a $3000 camera to shoot eBay and Internet photos is like putting a high end Bose audio system in a Model T Ford. Just a waste of money. Happy Shooting

Cibafan Loc: Virginia

Take a look at the web address below and then look for a old Nikon AIS macro lens in the 50 or 100 mm length.
https://www.bfads.net/stores/nikon/ads/black-friday
Good luck with your quest.

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

Yes. Call Cameta Camera. Speak with Enzo. You could get a Nikon refurb D3400, add either a Sigma or Tamron macro lens refurb. $500 may be just a bit too little, but you should get close. The guy is not a "heavy" salesman. He seems to know his stuff and I've had several good dealings with him. Tell him David from San Rafael referred. I've bought several cameras from him.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

It may sound crazy but the macro and focus stacking on the latest Olympus TG is pretty damn good.

Lemon Drop Kid Loc: Greeley, CO

You don't really need a DSLR or a macro lens. Here is a sample of a set of earrings I photographed with a Panasonic Lumix FZ200.

(Download)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

500? You will most likely spend that on the lens alone!

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I was in your shoes about 3 years ago, looking for my first dslr, and this is what I did and what I recommend. I bought a used Nikon D3100 on ebay. They sell today for $200 or less. I bought the Nikon Micro Nikkor-P 55mm f/3.5 Manual Focus Lens. They sell on ebay for $50 or less. This is a 1:2 macro manual focus lens that mounts on the D3100. I bought the Nikon M2 Macro Extension Tube for 55mm Micro-Nikkor lens. They sell on ebay for $25 or less and turn the 55mm lens into a 110mm 1:1 macro. Total cost to you would be less than $300. Also you need a post processing program like Photoshop to crop the picture, resize it if necessary and make the colors and brilliance pop.

A couple of things I learned about macro. I don't need auto focus. I do a rough focus manually with the lens then move the camera (either hand held or on a tripod) using the 6x live view magnifier on the D3100 to nail the manual focus. Second is that a 1:1 macro is often too close. It also has a very limited depth of field.

Attached is a 1:1 macro of a quarter using the above setup. I placed the quarter on a black velvet mini bean bag (hand exercisor) and illuminated the quarter with a desk lamp. I moved the camera, handheld, until all parts of the quarter were in focus (i.e., in the same plane as the lens). I set the camera to iso-1600, 1/500 sec. I set the lens to f11.
Best of luck to you.

(Download)

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Good advice. I had forgotten that actually auto focus is a real pain in the ....for critical macro work. It is so much easier to do as you described on setup and focusing. I have also used the screw on close up filters (less than $20,for a set of 3)