Advice on Camera Purchase.

[Honeydewman]

Very shortly I shall have some money to spend on a Camera.

I am looking for a camera that will do distance shots and well as ultra closeups, like some of Woods excellent shots.
A camera that also facilitates video recording function.

I have a ball park figure of £500.00.

It doesn't have to be brand new either.

My experience of camera is limited to the 7 mp Kodak or Canon digital camera.

I would love any advice from members.

[Zarbi]

Maybe you should consider going for a package deal like there is on this Canon camera?
www.ukdigitalcameras.co.uk/digital-cameras/canon-sx30.html

Nikon and Panasonic make good cameras too, but it is personal choice as to what is a good all rounder

[Jenny]

I have the Panasonic G10, which is similar to an SLR but lighter with plenty of features. I have also the Canon Ixus which has a good Macro, better than the Panasonic actually. It is really down to personal choice, as I did have an SLR years ago but found they are not all they are cracked up to be and very heavy especially when filming ants.

Nikon and Canon are the leading makes at the moment. You have to take a lot of factors into account, weight, size and features also whether you want add on lenses in the future. My preference when out and about, is to be able to slip the camera in a pocket I am the one that usually takes most of the close ant shots you see not Wood The higher the pixels the sharper the photo will turn out.

Video on cameras is limited, and can be poor quality on playback.

[Wood~Ant]

I must admit I am not very good at taking close ups, so I use a camcorder mostly for ants; and Jen takes 97% of all the ant photos you find around the Ant Hill.
I have a Sony a450 which is a digital SLR, a little Fuji Finepix for general work and a Fuji S9500 which is an SLR clone; but none of them take great close ups without adding a decent macro lens.

Jen's Canon Ixus is the best for taking ants and is small and light, but a good SLR digital which allows for interchangeable lenses will take any kind of photos, from macro close ups to wide angle panorama shots.
It is best to pay over £350 if you can afford it for a decent camera, and the brand make does make a difference when it comes to quality and features, so choose wisely