Very good value for money. Gets good user reviews on the web.
Up close should not be a problem with a lens like that.

Allways good to try one at a photostore before you buy.

Sander

This months Consumer Reports has ratings on cameras up to $300 and 10 pixels.Cannon wins. They also do a short review of more expensive cameras with all the gee-gaws. Or you could get the C.U. 2007(8?) book.

I think the 8 mgp will help you more with the close ups than the 6x zoom. My camera has a 10x but I actually never use it for plant pictures. My camera has trouble focusing when I try zooming into anything that is already pretty close. Instead, I usually use the macro setting for close ups, which works well.

Zoom is more for taking shots from a distance.

Gonzer, I also hardly ever use the zoom function on my camera. When I want to 'blow up' something, like a tillandsia flower, I just bring the camera to almost on the subject with the lens as little as 2 or 3 cm away. Then the camera is still able to focus perfectly. To do it this way, you need bright light, the flash is useless so close. If you want to do it at night, then stand a bit back, zoom in and take the picture. But then sometimes the subject is so small that the camera focusses on the surround in stead of on the small flower - even with the 'spot focus' turned on. This is just how taking pictures works best for me!

Japie

Well, I went ahead and found me a nice Olympus w/5X zoom which works great. Had all the stuff I'm used to. I've got to admit it works great, especially on this small T. ionantha from Guatemala on top and a background blur on my 1" (2.5cm) T. kirshneckii. Not too many $$$ either. At least I'm back in the fold with a camera that works.

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Beautiful pictures Gonzer, very nice detail. Now we are going to have a hard time to keep up with you!! Japie

Very nice Gonzer, excellent detail in that ionantha shot....was that straight off the camera, or enlarged on computer...? What is the spec of your new camra...?

I am in mourning, after the All Blacks got beaten by France in the rugby world cup...so may console myself with the consideration of a new purchase...

Devo- We do not talk about such tragedy in the GW- we've been to South Auckland show to avoid jinxing them (1995 still fresh in mind) but some fool brought a radio in. Bought lots of plants in blind haze & came straight to this site for calm but wound is still unhealed- have to wash down some merlots (alas they say alcohol impproves memory!)!Sorry for rant,totally off topic- put it down to shock, going out to do some hammering now!

Devo, it is an Olympus FE-240, 7.1 megapix w/5x optical zoom. Very light and compact.

Hi gonz,
That photo of the Tillandsia is outstanding,one you'd expect to see in an educational article about trichomes,and their functions
[IE:Tillandsia,Paul T.Isley III].
Great photography,great camera.
Bob

Bob, it's really funny you'd mention that area of Paul's book. Try for the life of me, that 'dissertation' on trichomes is a million miles over my head!