I'm looking to buy a new camera.. what is a good mid range camera that gives good quality pics.. and is relatively easy to use.. with a reasonable price? Nothing fancy or complicated.. just basically decent pics.

I already have an old Cannon PowerShot A520.. it's probably my problem for not knowing how to use it efficiently. It takes great "landscape" pics outside.. but I have trouble trying to take pics of models on the desk inside.

Hisham

I have a Nikon Coolpix L200 and couldn't be happier. I got it at clearance prices. Canon makes some that are comparable, but cost that much more. You may still be able to find the Coolpix L200. It has an excellent range of zoom and the color is near spot on oob.

Thanks for the reply, Matt.. I'll look for that model here and see if it's available.

And just a small correction.. I HAD a Cannon.. after I made this post, I went and got it out of the closet to try it out again.. and.. it doesn't work anymore. Changed batteries and tried everything!! The last time I used it was during the uprising in January 2011.. Oh, well.. now I HAVE to buy a new one

Hisham

Check the battery contacts in the camera, may have
corroded if it was stored with batteries in it.

Clean with an eraser......it might work again.

Cheers,
Joe

Thanks for the tip, Joe.. tried but no joy No big deal, as I was thinking of buying a new one anyway.. I guess I was just hoping

Hisham

I have a Nikon CoolPix P6000 and it takes nice outdoors and general pics, and has a macro mode for when I take pictures at my modeling desk.

Hisham, I would think most modern day point & shoot cameras should do an adequate job. Other options would be a bridge camera such as the Canon PowerShot SX50, or go the DSLR route with a refurbished Nikon D3100/3200. All these are under $500 US.

Thanks for all your advice, guys.. I'll look around and see what's available here

Hisham

Hisham
The Canon is a great camera and if you can find a manual for it online all of the info you want should be there.
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/7/0900011217/01/PSA520510CUG-EN.pdf
(Macro mode can be found on page 44)
You should be able to do much with this camera, but should you decide to go forward with the purchase of a new one, send me a PM and I can make a few suggestions on type and place. Cheers.

I finally bought a camera a couple of days ago.. it's a Nikon Coolpix L320 which has 16 Mp and 26x zoom. It was on sale, so I thought it was pretty good value for the money. So far, it seems to be very easy to use.. at least with the basic functions that I need. I just picked it up and took some close-up pics with the macro function.. I'll post a couple of close-ups I took with it.. and please let me know if these count as good close-up pics. I still have to make a light tent though.

A 1/35 scale figure


A 1/12 scale bust


MENG's 1/35 scale Achzarit


Thanks for all your advice

Hisham

Hisham,

These close ups are great!
The sharpness is excellent for this type of camera.

Just watch the lighting,(Photo 1) a light tent will help a lot.

Cheers,
Joe

Joe.. yes, I'm going to use Hussein's feature on building a light tent for reference and try to build one

Hisham

Excellent close-ups Hisham.

Only problem with such good close-ups is that they will show how "not so great" my work is.. I wonder if I should have stuck with my cell phone camera

Hisham

Is there an on/off switch on the side?

Marc

ps: Hisham, I'm joking, just trying to make you smile after you sweared a little at me lol

You made me look, you #$&#....... no, just kidding

Hisham

Hisham,

I don't know the model of your non-working Canon, but some older ones (notably in the "A" series) had LCD failures. Canon used to repair the problem free of charge or send a replacement.

Whether or not this applies in your case depends on the model and if Canon is still being customer friendly.