MarkyT said:
Can anyone recommend an inexpensive but not junk digital flash camera with
macros capability that would be good for photographing detailed sections of
a radio chassis or any other electronic equipment? I'd use it to document
disassembly, for photo attachments to show which elusive or obscure part I'm
trying to find, etc. From the limited reading I've done, it sounds like I'd
need a 3 megapixel camera for sufficiently high resolution that won't
distort if there's a need to zoom in on a section of the photo.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks!
Mark
This is a good idea IF you can find a cheap camera. I use a $5 Fuji
2400Z 2.1MP camera. Main problem with it is that the batteries are
always flat when I need to take a picture. I'm also finding flash to
be of limited utility. Dynamic range is a problem with closeup flash.
Focus is an issue with low light. I always end up using bright lamps
from multiple directions and turning off the flash.
BUT, if you have to pay the going rate for a camera, you'd be better off
buying a camera good enough for all your camera needs. Last thing you
need is another $100 camera that uses different storage media, cables
that get lost, where's the charger? etc. The macro/zoom features that
you want tend to keep those cameras priced high in the used market
3MP sounds like a good idea until you think about all the storage
you're gonna need to save the pictures. As a practical matter, I'm
finding depth of field and lighting issues diminish my ability to
zoom in on part of the picture after the fact. Better to zoom in before
you take the picture. I find high resolution very useful almost never.
Assuming you have a computer in the lab, a USB webcam can be a good choice.
I like the Intel CS330. 640x480, nice closeup capability, snap button
on the camera, shape that's easy to hold, easy to focus. They made a
zillion of 'em and they can be had almost free at garage sales, swap
meets etc. I have one mounted in a hood
for use as a scope camera. I tried using an optoisolator to trigger the
cam off the scope sweep. Too much lag to be useful.
Drag out your nice camera on the rare occasion you need it.
But there are also a bunch of webcams that aren't worth the powder to
blow them up in this application.
mike
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