Camera needed

Not sure what you mean by "brakeing" (sic) the bank" but try COSTCO for affordable cameras.

My Samsung PL210 has a closeup function that works very well. It's also the camera I take my videos with. It has 10x optical zoom too. I love it. I paid $140, but I think the price has dropped. Samsung makes good optics.

See my Cox Engine of the month entry for an example. That's just set for general photo taking, not closeup.

The Canon Powershot's are a great camera Joe. I have the Powershot Digital SD870IS. 15X power zoom on Macro setting, which is what you probably will be using. No viewfinder, just a big screen on the back that is really clear. 8 megapixel, IMAGE STABILZATION,,you really want that feature. Photo and video feature. I bought a 8 gig card and on the high quality photo setting I can take about 1000 pics and shoot a 10+ min movie. The movie feature takes a better quality movie than my brothers $1000 dedicated movie camera. It's a great little point and shoot camera with a bunch of other features for the money.

I researched the heck out of all of the available point and shoot cameras and the 870 was the best bang for the buck,,at that time.

PV Pilot wrote:The Canon Powershot's are a great camera Joe. I have the Powershot Digital SD870IS. 15X power zoom on Macro setting, which is what you probably will be using. No viewfinder, just a big screen on the back that is really clear. 8 megapixel, IMAGE STABILZATION,,you really want that feature. Photo and video feature. I bought a 8 gig card and on the high quality photo setting I can take about 1000 pics and shoot a 10+ min movie. The movie feature takes a better quality movie than my brothers $1000 dedicated movie camera. It's a great little point and shoot camera with a bunch of other features for the money.

I researched the heck out of all of the available point and shoot cameras and the 870 was the best bang for the buck,,at that time.

Strongly agree with PV !

ALL of my Tach Race photos, and 99% of the non-video frame photos I post here are from my little Cannon "flat camera" I bought about three years ago. It's been dropped a few dozen times...always it seems onto concrete...it's little battery door is held shut with a piece of Magic Tape, and it STILL takes great photos. The Macro is excellent, and it tolerates pretty low light. You can disable the flash and see what it can do with room light-which I like to use. Mine uses AA Alkaline cells...so I pack spares and don't worry if it's got a good charge or not.

That's my take anyway.