Good Macro Camera with lighting

[zootjeff]

Hi,

I am looking for a camera for shooting computer parts (circuit boards, etc) with fine detail. Most of the shots will be from 1" to 24" away.

I was looking at the S2 IS as a place to start because it's macro goes down to 0", but I'd really like a camera that is capable of providing "macro lighting" like a ring light adapter does. The flash at this range is very painful to use. I'd like to do FLASHLESS photos if at all possible and it would be great if a point and shoot camera had a hand full of White LEDs built in for a Macro Oriented Digital Camera.

I haven't found anything like this..

I was thinking about getting a "Sony HVL RLA Macro Photography Ring Light" And then trying to figure out what kind of camera to buy for it.

I'd like to pay less than 200 for the ring light and around 300-500 for the camera. I don't need more than 3 megapixels but I am most interested in EASY FLASHLESS macro shots. The application requires easy setup, point and shoot and no post processing. Circuit boards have a lot of tin and silver finishes that look like hell when a flash comes in from a weird angle at short range and casts a shadow over the parts of the board. Think about taking pictures of a scale model of NewYork from the air. Light ideally comes from the same point that is grabbing the image to avoid shadows. That's why I think a ring light (NOT FLASH) would be ideal.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks for your help!

Jeff

[George Riehm]

Hi,

I am looking for a camera for shooting computer parts (circuit boards, etc) with fine detail. Most of the shots will be from 1" to 24" away.

I was looking at the S2 IS as a place to start because it's macro goes down to 0", but I'd really like a camera that is capable of providing "macro lighting" like a ring light adapter does. The flash at this range is very painful to use. I'd like to do FLASHLESS photos if at all possible and it would be great if a point and shoot camera had a hand full of White LEDs built in for a Macro Oriented Digital Camera.

I haven't found anything like this..

I was thinking about getting a "Sony HVL RLA Macro Photography Ring Light" And then trying to figure out what kind of camera to buy for it.

I'd like to pay less than 200 for the ring light and around 300-500 for the camera. I don't need more than 3 megapixels but I am most interested in EASY FLASHLESS macro shots. The application requires easy setup, point and shoot and no post processing. Circuit boards have a lot of tin and silver finishes that look like hell when a flash comes in from a weird angle at short range and casts a shadow over the parts of the board. Think about taking pictures of a scale model of NewYork from the air. Light ideally comes from the same point that is grabbing the image to avoid shadows. That's why I think a ring light (NOT FLASH) would be ideal.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Thanks for your help!

Jeff

You would be better off using a light-box and a couple of incandescent lamps.

[zootjeff]

You would be better off using a light-box and a couple of incandescent lamps.


Is this something that I can put up and take down every time I need to use it in a lab that doesn't have a place for a full time station?

What is wrong with the light rings?