Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently am using a Nikon coolpix 4500 and I also owned the coolpix 900s and 995 previously, as well as a Canon Elan II(35mm). I love the swivel design and the flexibility the coolpix cameras provide. I take mainly outdoor photos while doing herping trips and I also do a fair amount of indoor macro shots. My problems with my CP4500 are mainly related to poor focusing in macro mode as well as noise problems, especially in low or contrasting light. I have been looking at the Coolpix S10, but the reviews haven't been that great. I am more drawn to this new iteration because of the swivel design rather than the long zoom, which I am not really interested in, so every other example in this class does not appeal to me much. The more I read up on which camera may be right for me, the more confused I get. I still have the Canon Elan and two lenses, but those will not work with IS of a current camera, correct?

Good macro is more important to me than probably anything else and that goes hand-in-hand with a good AF system, I think. My brother has a Canon Rebel (don't know which model) and he spends more time in the field cussing it than anything because it won't focus correctly in AF mode and he often can't get the angle to use the viewfinder or screen to use manual focus. I can hop in there and get an easy quick shot with my CP4500, but my pics are always much lower quality than his. So I am looking for a good trade off between the two. Any input from this mess I have strewn out here is appreciated much! Thanks.

My problems with my CP4500 are mainly related to poor focusing in macro mode

This is a common problem with all macro lenses, regardless of whether you are shooting a fixed lens camera or a top end DSLR. When you are close, it is harder for the lens to get a "fix" and most people just end up using manual focus when very close.

My problems with my CP4500 are mainly related to ....as well as noise problems, especially in low or contrasting light.

This is a result of having a very small sensor. This is one of the downsides to many smaller point and shoot cameras. Small sensors = more noise. DSLRs generally have larger sensors (physically larger, not more megapixels), therefore they can produce a less noisy picture.

I still have the Canon Elan and two lenses, but those will not work with IS of a current camera, correct?

What is IS? Do you mean image stabilization? In the canon system the image stabilization is in the lens, not the camera body. So if a lens is IS, it will be IS with any EOS camera body.

Your older Canon AF lenses should work on the current models of digital SLR that Canon has out. Try them on your brother's digital Rebel to be sure.

Good macro is more important to me than probably anything else and that goes hand-in-hand with a good AF system, I think.

Again, even the best AF systems struggle when you get really close. I like systems where the camera tries to get it right then allows you to manually override its focus.

And good macros are almost always the result of good macro lenses, not good cameras.

So I am looking for a good trade off between the two.

There are recent innovations that can solve at least one of your problems. The macro focusing problem isn't easy to solve, but the live LCD problem is.

I have three DSLRs and none of them have a live view LCD. I used to have it with my older point and shoot digital, and it was cool. But if you made me choose, I would never trade the image quality, power and convenience of a DSLR just for that one feature.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks Chris for taking the time to reply! It sounds like I have a decision to make on the trade-off of how much money I want to invest in order to get the photos that I want. I hadn't gotten far enough into my research to be aware that Canon puts their IS in their lenses, so while I could save some money by reusing my old lenses, I would not be getting the benefits of a modern lens. It sounds like I need to visit some stores to put my hands on some cameras. Thanks for your input; you're a great service to this forum! Great macro pic, by the way!

Derek