How good is Olympus D-560 Zoom for coin photography?

northcoin

My local Office Depot has this digital camera (3.2 megapixel, 3X optical zoom) available for under $150. It has a macro feature that allows close ups to .7 feet - 1.5 feet. Is that close enough when coupled to the 3X optical zoom to get excellent macro shots of coins? I assume this model is being replaced by a new one with more bells and whistles but usually this is a $250 camera. Is it a keeper or are there other Olympus models better suited to coin photography?

sadysta1

This is a good website

This website allowes you to compare two cameras click here. Just for fun - I chose Nikon CoolPix 950 based on images from this webite, find your camera then find mine (Nikon CoolPix 950) and scroll down to micro section and compare both images and you'll understand why I chose Nikon CoolPix 950.

northcoin

Thanks. Using that feature to compare macro is unclear. There seem to be large size differences and can't tell if the zoom feature was used in conjunction with the macro or if the macro photo shown is as close as one can get. Anyone actually taken photos with a macro setting that can only get as close as .7 feet and then used optical 3X zoom to get even closer?

mgoodm3

As a general rule using zoom will degrade the sharpness of a close up. A little zoom is OK.

4thStooge

I'm recommending an Olympus C4000 with a super macro to within ¾" of your subject. Four MP will produce a high quality 8 x 10 print.
Bought mine on eBay for under $200 (factory refurbished w/90 day factory warranty). Only caveat is that there is no zoom feature in super macro mode. Shooting most coins from more than about 4" is in, mho, a waste. The focus range on the D560 is 8". If you need alot of zoom (15x+ ?) and macro less than an inch, look at the Nikons. If Mega Pixels is your thing, check out the C5000/5050 model with super macro.

northcoin

Thanks. I see Costco Wholesale Clubhouse has the Olympus C4000 for $250 so it sounds like the extra hundred bucks would be well spent. Looks like a better lens too - at least a lot more glass and I think a 1:2.8 which seems to match a lot of the $500 plus models. I had been curious what their "super macro" feature was, thanks for clarifiying.

goose3

I just bought a C-5060. It should be here next week. I am eager to test it out on coins as well as my kids.

northcoin

That's the problem - there seems to always be a model up the food chain that is better. Curious, are the macro features on the C-5060 identical to those as described above on the C-4000? I see from the ad in my Crutchfield catalog that the C-5060 ups to 5 megapixels and the optical zoom is 4X , but zilch is said about macro features.

CoinAddict

Go here for reviews on the different cameras.

4thStooge

Olympus C400 specs and buzz around the sight and check out the specs on different Olympus models.