10 Best Camera for Close Up Shots 2023 – The Latest, In-depth Advice

Being in a position to capture close up photos can go a long way in helping you create extraordinary works of art. And with the right camera, you can confidently go ahead and capture details that would ordinarily be difficult to notice with the naked eye.

This way, you can tell stories that were never told before. Besides that, you can reveal new interpretations of natural phenomenon via larger-than-life pixels.

However, zooming closer to the subject often presents a number of challenges. These include:

• Difficulties attaining a sharp focus
• Blurring the background
• You can’t always use the flash

Because of such challenges, it’s important to invest in the best camera for close up shots. That way, you’ll be able to balance the focus and get high quality, ultra-sharp quality images.

Camera for Close Up Shots – Comparison

For a quick but equally accurate analysis of these 10 best macro cameras, here’s a quick chart. You can confidently use it to make a quick and informed judgment. Otherwise, you can always consult the full reviews below for an in-depth understanding of what different cameras offer.

1. Panasonic Lumix FZ80 Camera with 60X Zoom

Armed with a built-in O.I.S stabilizer, this piece of equipment from Panasonic stuns in many ways. First off, it’s among the few that can comfortably capture a burst of 4K photos.

Its powerful 18.1MP sensor makes it superb for capturing high-resolution images. That’s alongside a reliable 3-inch touch control LCD screen.

A closer look at this affordable up close photos camera reveals a great deal of power. For instance, it packs a built-in LUMIX DFD focusing system.

What’s that all about? Well, the DFD focusing system comes in handy in capturing high-quality images, fast. In addition, you get a travel-ready USB slot which makes it easy to recharge batteries.

To crown it all up, this unique camera provides you with a full-range 60X long zoom. That’s pretty much all you need to capture superior, wide-angle shots & far off moments.

Pros

• Extra-ordinarily long zoom
• Ability to capture 4K quality shots
• Has a fantastic image stabilizer
• Awesome performance even in low lit conditions
• Excellent viewfinder

Cons

• You may get soft pictures when you shoot them at the end of the zoom range

2. Sony Alpha a6000 DSLR Camera with 24.3MP Sensor

The alpha 6000 is renowned for its powerful CMOS sensor. As you know, a well-made processor with over 24 megapixels is super capable of doing a stellar job.

But in order for that to happen, you need a few other systems which we’re lucky to report that the a600 already has.

For instance, it has a 179 point AF system, This rides on a built-in focal plane which does an incredible job of phase-detection.

On top of that, this point-and-shoot camera offers 25 contrast detect points. These go a long way in helping you deliver award-winning shots at all times.

As far as shooting in the burst mode is concerned, this unit presents you with a stellar 11FPS. That’s all you need for a versatile career.

Pros

• Great performance even in continuous shooting
• Powerful CMOS sensor
• Expandable ISO
• Friendly LCD screen with 921,000 dots
• Awesome viewfinder with 100% coverage

Cons

• A bit pricey for a point-and-shoot camera

3. Olympus TG-5 V104190BU000

If you like snorkeling and scuba diving, the TG-5 might be your knight in shining armor. That’s because it’s one of the few, best waterproof close up camera choices.

Besides being suitable for underwater use, this unit boasts a powerful image sensor. That’s a 12MP unit which excels when used in low light situations.

And not only is the sensor great but the camera is also quite superb at noise reduction. So, you end up getting some pretty clear, up-close shots.

Worth noting, however, is that this point and shoot camera is waterproof for up to 50 feet deep. The manufacturer also claims that it’s crushproof for up to 220 LBF.

We certainly haven’t tested its crushproof specs but we can confirm it’s a great performer, under water.

Pros

• Superb image sensor
• Great shooting speed (20FPS)
• Excellent performance in low light
• Built-in data log mode

Cons

• Sub-par WiFi connectivity

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4. Nikon D850 FX-Format DSLR

Tired of settling for the ordinary stuff? Perhaps it’s time for you to experiment with something extraordinary.

The D850 from Nikon comes with an extraordinary 45.7MP sensor. The sensor is renowned for its remarkable ability to deliver outstanding shots.

Indeed, this unit also stands out with its continuous shooting power. With the camera offering an incredible 9FPS, this full AF machine is a sure winner.

Best of all, you can comfortably use it to capture some 4K footage. And for awesome quality, you can always capitalize on its 120FPS slow-motion mode at 1080p quality.

Pros

• Awesome quality
• Remarkable resolution
• Tiny enough and with a good grip
• Great performance at continuous shooting

Cons

• Pricey
• Its 4K video mode doesn’t offer focus peaking

5. Panasonic LUMIX 20.3MP DC-ZS70S Digital Camera

As you know, all modern Panasonic cameras come with an optical image stabilizer feature. Commonly known as OIS, this feature is based on a 5-axis stabilization system.

Therefore, even if you’re still not confident at capturing shots, the Lumix would help you do a stellar job.

This is also partly due to the fact that this unit packs a 20.3MP. The sensor is pretty powerful and provides you with high-resolution images.

The Lumix further boasts an electronic viewfinder. This is a 166K dot unit which offers a wide and HQ view. In fact, it also has an eye-sensor which makes viewing easier even in sunny conditions.

Pros

• Powerful image sensor
• Excellent viewfinder
• Capable of capturing 4K videos
• Awesome 30X zoom power

Cons

• Not as intuitive as we’d like

6. Nikon D3400 18-55mm Camera

Nikon has an outstanding track record in the manufacturer of close up cameras. Indeed, their D3400 camera does a pretty good job at this.

First off, it presents you with a 24.2MP sensor. This is a CMOS sensor of the DX-format – probably one of the best at this game.

And for optimal performance, this cut camera packs an EXPEED 4 image processor. The processor does a stellar job of capturing photos seamlessly even during challenging missions.

Above all, the D3400 boasts a superior, native ISO of 100-25600. That works awesomely even in poorly lit conditions.

On the flipside, though, the camera’s continuous shooting power is at 5FPS. That’s below-par for fast action photography.

Pros

• Highly powerful sensor
• Excellent image processor
• No blurring of images
• Great performance even in low light

Cons

• No ideal for fast-action shots

7. Canon Powershot SX60 Digital Camera with 65X Optical Zoom

The Powershot SX60 from Canon is, no doubt, a great bundle of joy at its price. Retailing at the under 500 price tag this close-up shots camera boasts quite a few merits.

For instance, it has a 16.1MP sensor. Although this isn’t the strongest sensor so far, it still does an above-average job.

On top of that, this unit provides you with a DIGIC 6 image processor. This is based on Canon’s HS system.

Everything in this camera is geared toward delivering awesome shots. And thanks to the camera’s 65x optical zoom, you can really capture a great deal of detail with it.

Pros

• Great zooming power
• Awesome NFC and WiFi connectivity
• Great grip
• Compact in size
• Ability to capture images in RAW format

Cons

• Its image sensor could be better

8. Ricoh WG-50 Digital Camera with 16MP Sensor

This is yet another popular close-up camera under 300 that comes with waterproofing. And although Ricoh may not be the most popular camera manufacturer, we think the WG-50 is worthy of your time.

First off, it comes with a 16mp camera which is clearly the weakest we’ve reviewed so far. Therefore, if you’re after the best resolution quality, we’d not recommend this one to you.

But it’s also important to note that a 16mp power cannot be underestimated. In fact, anything with 12MP plus is great enough for a stellar, professional output.

The main selling point of the Ricoh is that its waterproof for up to 46 feet. It’s a superb choice for photography even when one is submerged.

Pros

• Well-built, weather-proof body
• Awesome LCD screen
• Great performance at continuous shooting (30FPS)
• A crushproof design

Cons

• Average sensor (nothing stellar)
• A bit bulky

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9. Nikon W300 Waterproof Digital Camera

The old quote – old is gold – rings true as far as the Nikon W300 is concerned. Known as one of the rare innovations from Nikon, the W300 stands out with its rugged design.

But looks can be deceiving! So how does the Coolpix perform? Well, to be honest, this camera stands out with its powerful resolution.

In fact, you can comfortably use this camera to capture some awesome 4K UHD music videos. And thanks to its superior waterproof design, you can use it underwater.

Its optical zooming power is, however, limited to 5X. That’s a bit too low compared to other cameras reviewed so far.

Therefore, we’d solely recommend this camera for underwater photography. You can still use it for your day-to-day photography but remember there are some better-made cameras for that work.

Pros

• Great underwater performance
• Awesome image resolution
• User-friendly software and design
• Built-in vibration reduction potential

Cons

• Difficulties connecting it to iOS devices

10. Panasonic LUMIX Digital Camera DMC-LX10K

This camera seems to have all your tiny needs dealt with, right from the onset. For instance, it comes with a powerful 20MP sensor. Besides that, it boasts remarkable stability even in zoom mode thanks to its Vario-Summilux optical zoom.

The DMC-LX10K comes in handy when recording of 4K content is involved. That’s alongside the fact that it has a 3-inch touch monitor.

The digital camera is highly intuitive, user-friendly and above all, reasonably priced (considering its features). 

Pros

• Powerful image sensor
• Awesome, touch-screen feature
• Comes with a well-made carrying case
• Comes with a 64GB SD card
• Great performance in continuous shooting

Cons

• Some Smartphones can do a better job than it

Handy Camera Settings for Macro Photographers

In this section, we are going to discuss in detail some camera settings, which we believe are very essential for macro photography.

In summary, these settings aim to give you the ideal focus point and sharpness, and then you could comfortably boast of successful macro photography experience.

Let us check out these settings, which include Manual focus, live view, burst mode, manual mode, and self-timer.

Manual Focus

This is one of the most essential features for a macro photographer, and we shall tell you why. For starters, manual focus is a crucial aspect of creative macro photography.

This is because it is the only feature that can guarantee you a high level of accuracy that is needed.

Then, macro lenses are poor for auto focusing, particularly at high magnifications. To avoid this frustrating wait, the manual focus feature would be of great help.

Do some practice frequently, and in the end, you should get there.

Live View 

This is another feature that would be vital for macro photography. For instance, you could check your focus point with maximum ease.

It gives you the capability to zoom on the LCD to provide you with the assurance that you are neither front nor back-focusing.

On top of that, it could also help in keeping your images clear by reducing the camera shake.

Aperture Priority/ Manual Mode

There is a reason why we have placed these two together. In macro photography, there are many things beyond our control, but the depth of filed should not be one of them.

This is because this area usually is in negligible figures, and you need to use this area to your benefit.

Therefore, adjusting your depth of field from one image to the other is very important.

How do you get this control? First, the Aperture Priority Mode ( AV) lets you set the aperture, thereby modifying the depth of field. After that, the camera would set the shutter speed depending on its internal light meter.

With the manual mode (M), you could control the aperture and the shutter speed as well.

Burst Mode

This setting gives you the capability of capturing several images in rapid succession once you hold down the shutter release button.

Depending on the model you are using, you could capture up to ten frames per second. This setting is most common in sports and wildlife, where split-second action typically happens.

Additionally, this setting helps macro photographers achieve the ideal focusing accuracy that usually lacks in the high magnifications which they usually work in.

Self-Timer 

As you shoot in low light conditions with a large depth of field, you may find that getting sharp images can be complicated. This may be caused by camera shake, which occurs as you press the shutter release button.

The self-timer setting would go a long way in helping you rid of this problem. Fortunately, it is available in most DSLRs, and it aims to help you attain maximum sharpness.

As a result, you could forget about blurry images and welcome clearer photos.

Camera for Close Up Shots – Buying Guide

Nothing beats the joy of capturing flawless close up shots. For that reason, we’d confidently single out a few factors to consider when buying a camera to meet this specific need.

Sensor

The sensor is the single most important feature for close up photography. For that reason, we’d recommend going for a large sensor. Anything above 20MP is large enough in our opinion. However, you can always bank on the smaller sensor if you’re planning to shoot pretty near the subject.

Zooming Power

Depending on your style of photography, you can always choose a huge or limited zoom. A huge optical zoom comes in handy at long-distance, outdoor shots. A limited optical zoom works best if you can get as close to the subject as possible.

Lens

While it’s possible to buy lenses later, it’d be a good idea to go for a camera with a great lens. A good lens, basically, is one capable of focusing within short distances. This way, you can focus on getting awesome close-up shots. In particular, we’d recommend going for a lens capable of capturing in 1:1 ratio.

Light Sensitivity

We’d always encourage you to go for a camera with a great sensitivity to light. Preferably, you should go for one with a wide aperture. Also, consider going for a unit with an expandable ISO. Normally, the higher the ISO, the better the light sensitivity a camera has. While at it, it’s worth giving prime priority to cameras capable of reducing image noise.

Which One Is The Best?

Our top pick for this review is the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 Camera with 60X Zoom. The camera is pretty powerful and dependable. Most importantly, it offers a great optical zooming power. Its ability to capture flawless close up shots is unrivaled to this end.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have an idea how each one of these 10 close-up shots cameras works, we hope you’ll be able to make an informed choice. Most importantly, we hope you’ll be in a position to take your career to the next level.