Kermit wrote:I am pressuming i need at least 5x Zoom (Not digital) and at least 12 Megapixels. I also want it to be Li-on so i dont have to buy batterys. I have a couple in mind but want to see if they pop up in the replys.
Advice please, any links and even any close up bud shots to show would be great..
For taking photos of small objects such as buds, look for a camera with a macro feature, or with a short minimum focusing distance. eg. most of the smaller Canon cameras have a macro mode.
Don't use the zoom for bud shots. When you zoom, it decreases the amount of light that gets into the camera, meaning you either have to increase the ISO (more noise) or decrease the shutter speed (causing camera shake problems). On top of that, camera shake is amplified when you are zoomed (for proof of this, try looking through binoculars with shaky hands!)
Instead of zooming, move the camera as close as you can. All cameras/lenses have a minimum focusing distance, its usually mentioned in the specs. Go for a camera with a small minimum focusing distance, so it can focus on something just 1-2 centimeters in front of the lens.
Another piece of advice, you really don't need 12 megapixels. Even though the images are larger pixel-wise, you don't necessarily get more detail in the image. In most cases, todays 12 megapixel compact cameras are using the same lens and the same sensor as last years 10 megapixel model. They have just crammed more pixels because thats what most consumers think is important. I've used a 10 megapixel digital SLR for commercial sports photos, which were printed at wall size and looked perfect. If anything, the bottleneck was in the resolution of the printer, not the photo.
I think the best compact camera on the market right now is the Canon S90, although its not cheap. There is also rumours the next model in this line will have HD video which would be pretty handy (for me anyway)
Another good choice is the G11, if you think you'll be using the manual controls. Only thing is, its relatively large for a 'compact' camera (but still much smaller than a DLSR)
