Best Macro @ under £200

[kickn]

okay - I have some product photography to do that is going to be focused on very close in shots. I don't have a digital camera for this so its time to get one. I've spent the past couple of weeks going through reviews and back and forth but its crunch time now and I need to make a decision FAST :(

Anyways - I need a good - well balanced camera thats got good contrast (a lot of the pics are grey on grey or black on black with slight lighting effects). I'm not a pro by any means so I'm looking for something that will just do the job. Its got to be more then 3mp and I would prefer a SLR if I can manage it. Used is definately in.

The ones I've been thinking of so far are the minolta Z2 because of its super macro and the pics on steve's digicam review look good. I like the Fuji finepix S5000 and S5100 and think I can get one for a decent price.

Any thoughts suggestions/experience :)

[D70FAN]

okay - I have some product photography to do that is going to be focused on very close in shots. I don't have a digital camera for this so its time to get one. I've spent the past couple of weeks going through reviews and back and forth but its crunch time now and I need to make a decision FAST :(

Anyways - I need a good - well balanced camera thats got good contrast (a lot of the pics are grey on grey or black on black with slight lighting effects). I'm not a pro by any means so I'm looking for something that will just do the job. Its got to be more then 3mp and I would prefer a SLR if I can manage it. Used is definately in.

The ones I've been thinking of so far are the minolta Z2 because of its super macro and the pics on steve's digicam review look good. I like the Fuji finepix S5000 and S5100 and think I can get one for a decent price.

Any thoughts suggestions/experience :)

You should probably look at the Canon A75. Under $200, macro down to 5cm (2"), full manual control, very good picture quality, 3.2 MegaPixels will be good up to about 8 x 10 prints, and great for catalog size and website pictures. Uses standard AA's (preferably rechargable NiMH) and Compact Flash (lowest cost per MP).

Plus it's a good all around day-to-day camera.

I have used the A75 many times now and am always amazed at it's capabilities for ~$179-$199.

Worth a try.

[kickn]

sorry - that wasn't 200$ (USD) it was 200£ (GBP) which is about 350/400 usd ?

[kickn]

One of the ones I'm looking at is the finepix S3500 which I can get for £150 - any thoughts on that one as a camera?

[kickn]

Okay - here's where I am - a canon A85 or A95 or a fuji F440/455 or S5500 which I can all get for close to the same price - Whats the best choice?