Ok I have had a brief look at the specs.

Apart from the fact that it is not a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) the features are  pretty good and you should be able to achieve some good results with it. I fact the current macro picture on the photo thread was take with my previous camera which is very similar to what you have got but poorer in specifications.

It only had 8X zoom and 8 Mega pixels. the picture was taken with a 2.5X Raynox attached lens.

Have you thought about what you want to do with close-up photography?

How familiar are you with the camera and its functionality?

How long have you had the camera ? (to get son indication of how well you know it)

That will do for a start 🙂

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@poddster wrote:

Ok I have had a brief look at the specs.

 

Apart from the fact that it is not a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) the features are  pretty good and you should be able to achieve some good results with it. I fact the current macro picture on the photo thread was take with my previous camera which is very similar to what you have got but poorer in specifications.

It only had 8X zoom and 8 Mega pixels. the picture was taken with a 2.5X Raynox attached lens.

 

Have you thought about what you want to do with close-up photography?

How familiar are you with the camera and its functionality?

How long have you had the camera ? (to get son indication of how well you know it)

 

That will do for a start 🙂

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plants mainly, insects

very familiar with my camera but only in a shallow way.

had this one for about 2 1/2 years. Had a cheaper lumix before that, had to be dragged screaming into the digital age.

Next question, how close and personal do you want to get with plants and insects? 🙂

Something like the macro pic on the photo thread?

Perhaps you might like to crack out your camera and take a few pics for the thread, that way there could be some improvements suggested if you are not satisfied of your results.

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@poddster wrote:

Next question, how close and personal do you want to get with plants and insects? 🙂

 

Something like the macro pic on the photo thread?

 

Perhaps you might like to crack out your camera and take a few pics for the thread, that way there could be some improvements suggested if you are not satisfied of your results.

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yes like the bees, plants will be easier at least they are fairly still. It won't focus on what i want, even when i put focus on manual. I'll give it another go tomorrow - not sure if i will post them if they are a blur.

Post one anyway 🙂 blurred or not and take not of what distance aprox. the lens is from the subject

ok.  

if I may interject here close up and macro are very different (quick google will show the difference)

macro photography can only be achieved with a dedicated macro lens. Close up photgraphy is when the subject fills the frame. Very different results. Any camera is capable of close ups (move in on the subject and focus). The macro setting is however not true macro

see below for close up versus macro.

thanks chuck, I can't get my camera to do either anyway. 

couldnt get mine to do anything either so i went outside and practised and wrote down each setting i used and learned from that where i was going wrong..and you tube, never underestimate the usefulness of youtube 🙂

Chuk, would you agree that the difference between a closeup picture and a macro picture is how close subject appears to be?