Suggestions for Compact Digital for Macro?

[seanachi]

I'm actually asking for a friend whose camera just died. She's looking for a compact digital that will be both a good all around vacation/kid pics camera, that will also take good macro shots. Advice?

[Jon]

Does she use manual controls (like setting the shutter speed and/or aperture), or is she a "full automation" user?

If the camera accepts an adapter for filters and auxiliary lenses, it can do some very good macro work. For examples, see the A70 Super Macro Sticky (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50124) (which technique works with any other PowerShot that accepts an add-on lens).

[seanachi]

At present she's a full automation user, but she's willing to learn how to use manual controls. She likes the idea of being able to go either way. At the moment she's trying to decide what kind of replacement camera to get since her current one died. Her business is hand-crafting doll clothes, so she's looking for something that does good close ups, though not quite so fine a detail as those impressive insect shots you took!

[Jon]

Those aren't mine . . .

Doll clothes . . . How big are the dolls, and is she photographing the entire garment or zooming in on details? Are the photos being used on the Internet or in print?

[seanachi]

Most the dolls she works with are approximately 12", though she has some that are 4-5". She does both the entire garment "modeled" and details. The pics are used online for her store.

[Jon]

Well, for on-liner use resolution isn't all that important; she's going to have to downsize anything that she posts anyhow; it'd be about as easy to just crop the original to suit as to resize it.