Best Macro Camera

I have just started looking for a digital camera for school. I am in a dental residency program where I have to take a bunch of intraoral pictures for presentations. I want to spend less than $800 for the camera and I need a camera that will take good macro photos. I have been looking at the canon G2 and the Nikon CP 4500. Are these the top two in my price range or is there another one that takes better macro photos?
Thanks

Amir D. Hosseini said:

I have been looking at the canon G2 and the Nikon CP 4500.
Are these the top two in my price range or is there another one
that takes better macro photos?

Click to expand...

All reviews rate the CP4500 tops regarding macro capabilities. An optional accessory is a ring light that surrounds the lens and would be a virtual necessity for close-in oral shots.

As Canon fan, I would have to say, in your price range, the Nikons can't be beat for their macro capability.
Les
D60

B BROWN said:

Bob112444 said:

I have been looking at the canon G2 and the Nikon CP 4500.
Are these the top two in my price range or is there another one
that takes better macro photos?

Click to expand...

All reviews rate the CP4500 tops regarding macro capabilities. An
optional accessory is a ring light that surrounds the lens and
would be a virtual necessity for close-in oral shots.

Click to expand...

Les said:

B BROWN said:

Les #39998 said:

I have been looking at the canon G2 and the Nikon CP 4500.
Are these the top two in my price range or is there another one
that takes better macro photos?

Click to expand...

All reviews rate the CP4500 tops regarding macro capabilities. An
optional accessory is a ring light that surrounds the lens and
would be a virtual necessity for close-in oral shots.

Click to expand...

--

Click to expand...

--The Nikon CP950 and 990 were excellent. I'm not so sure about the CP4500 since I've never had one.

However, I can recommend the Sony F707. I great for marcos. I use this camera for close up work and it is outstanding.

You might have trouble getting the lens in someone mouth. Just kidding.

JoeR

JoeR said:

Les said:

B BROWN said:

JoeR said:

I have been looking at the canon G2 and the Nikon CP 4500.
Are these the top two in my price range or is there another one
that takes better macro photos?

Click to expand...

All reviews rate the CP4500 tops regarding macro capabilities. An
optional accessory is a ring light that surrounds the lens and
would be a virtual necessity for close-in oral shots.

Click to expand...

--

Click to expand...

--The Nikon CP950 and 990 were excellent. I'm not so sure about the
CP4500 since I've never had one.

However, I can recommend the Sony F707. I great for marcos. I use
this camera for close up work and it is outstanding.

You might have trouble getting the lens in someone mouth. Just
kidding.

JoeR

Click to expand...

I have a friend with a Nikon 775 and a 9 something and they are amazing at macro shots. I think the 775 min distance for macros is around 1.5 inches. As another option, you can always add macro / close-up lenses to better cameras.
--
Canon A40, Canon EOS

I don't think anything would be better suited to dentistry work than the CP4500 with the LED ring light. I personally own a CP4500, and the macro capability is stunning.

-Chris

brutal said:

JoeR said:

Les said:

B BROWN said:

brutal said:

I have been looking at the canon G2 and the Nikon CP 4500.
Are these the top two in my price range or is there another one
that takes better macro photos?

Click to expand...

All reviews rate the CP4500 tops regarding macro capabilities. An
optional accessory is a ring light that surrounds the lens and
would be a virtual necessity for close-in oral shots.

Click to expand...

--

Click to expand...

--The Nikon CP950 and 990 were excellent. I'm not so sure about the
CP4500 since I've never had one.

However, I can recommend the Sony F707. I great for marcos. I use
this camera for close up work and it is outstanding.

You might have trouble getting the lens in someone mouth. Just
kidding.

JoeR

Click to expand...

I have a friend with a Nikon 775 and a 9 something and they are
amazing at macro shots. I think the 775 min distance for macros is
around 1.5 inches. As another option, you can always add macro /
close-up lenses to better cameras.
--
Canon A40, Canon EOS

Click to expand...

Chris Birkett said:

I don't think anything would be better suited to dentistry work
than the CP4500 with the LED ring light. I personally own a
CP4500, and the macro capability is stunning.

-Chris

Click to expand...

Hi Chris,

The CP4500 is an excellent macro tool, just as all the CP series before. The CoolLight SL-1 ring light is next to useless for anything reflective or for getting shots beyond about 5 inches.

My suggestion for a dentist contemplating using the CP4500 for intraoral photography would be to look into getting the DigiSlave RF-50 Ring Flash which doesn't produce the appearance of tiny "spaceships" on any reflective media and is magnitudes stronger for macro illumination. The DigiSlave is much more expensive, but is a true ring flash while the SL-1 is simply 8 tiny high intensity lights which can be seen on your photos just about like looking in a mirror. Useless for opthamology, nearly useless for intraoral and not even suitable for macro photography of watches.

Probably the best use for the SL-1 would be small insects or light absorbent subjects such as text print.

Lin

The

http://208.56.82.71

With a Dentist and Dental instructor in the family, the 4500. The swivel body and shape will be helpful as well.

I am not sure, but there is also dental specific equipment. You might wish to check (you probably have already) to see whether there are specialty cameras or attachments for the profession--and whether there is a special purchase program available to you.

Go easy on the patient! Not sure we want you to post the results!!!
(Smile)

Lin Evans said:

Chris Birkett said:

I don't think anything would be better suited to dentistry work
than the CP4500 with the LED ring light. I personally own a
CP4500, and the macro capability is stunning.

-Chris

Click to expand...

Hi Chris,
The CP4500 is an excellent macro tool, just as all the CP series
before. The CoolLight SL-1 ring light is next to useless for
anything reflective or for getting shots beyond about 5 inches.

My suggestion for a dentist contemplating using the CP4500 for
intraoral photography would be to look into getting the DigiSlave
RF-50 Ring Flash which doesn't produce the appearance of tiny
"spaceships" on any reflective media and is magnitudes stronger for
macro illumination. The DigiSlave is much more expensive, but is a
true ring flash while the SL-1 is simply 8 tiny high intensity
lights which can be seen on your photos just about like looking in
a mirror. Useless for opthamology, nearly useless for intraoral and
not even suitable for macro photography of watches.

Probably the best use for the SL-1 would be small insects or light
absorbent subjects such as text print.

Lin

The

http://208.56.82.71

Click to expand...

lharris said:

With a Dentist and Dental instructor in the family, the 4500. The
swivel body and shape will be helpful as well.

I am not sure, but there is also dental specific equipment. You
might wish to check (you probably have already) to see whether
there are specialty cameras or attachments for the profession--and
whether there is a special purchase program available to you.

Go easy on the patient! Not sure we want you to post the results!!!
(Smile)

Click to expand...

There are only 35mm specialty attachments available - nothing for the CP series, but the best results being seen are using the DigiSlave. We are working on a conversion for the Vivitar ring flash for Nikon cameras which will be equal to or better than the DigiSlave unit at a much lower price (I do a good bit of macro consulting work for both dentists and opthamologists).

The variety of 35mm attachments available are impressive, but like anything aimed at the medical profession, the prices are prohibitive. Actually, the CP series Nikon cameras have proven extremely effective for intraoral photography and are superior in many respects to anything available to the 35mm platform. Below is a link to the DigiSlave site where you can see that "nasty" intraoral up close and personal

http://www.srelectronics.com/rf50.html

Best regards,

Lin

http://208.56.82.71

hardsuit wrote:
bar none its the cp 4500 nikon. at $699 its a good value.
its 1cm autofocus is surpurb. my tests on a $20 bill were amazing.
in 4mp I could photo the 20 on the left and zoom in to reveal
the $20 microprinting w/o much loss. another test with a stiched
manufactuer label on tamrac bag revealed enough detail to see
individual stiches at zoom. both were taken at 4mp w/ built in flash.
worked best about 4 in away and zoomed in. accually this camera has
mid zoom macro function to retain sharpness, unlike its compedators
who use macro at max zoom or wide angle, not the sharpest choice.
for your intraoral images I recomend useing a miror and then shineing
a light onto it , photographing only the reflection. another possbility
is the nikon coollight which is a white LED ringlight. I have not seen
any results with this yet as its a new item from nikon to compliment
the 900 series and 4500cp.
good luck, keep smileing.
--
' lets see what's out there.....engage'

Thank you very much for everyone's help. Nearly all the responses were for the 4500. I feel confident buying the 4500 based on your recommendations and later on the ring light and lens. You guys are awesome.