My camera

[Seanu13]

Hey guys/gals!

I was just given a Sony Cybershot H20 as an early birthday gift and I've always wanted to get into photography but never had a decent camera. This one isn't a TRUE DSLR, it just kind of looks like one. You can get a lens adapter and then add on the different lenses (macro, telephoto, etc) but they dont have the dials and numbers on them like true SLR camera lenses. Its all still handled by the camera which doesn't let you change the aperture too much. It'll let you switch between like 3.5 and 8... and thats it. and for some reason it'll every now and then let you switch between 4 and 9. idk why yet.

Anyway, my question is, can I still get good macro shots with the limited ability to change the aperture? I still haven't totally figured out how to get certain effects out of changing it and the shutter speed.

Here is a link to my flickr acct that shows the one macro of my Leo I took

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38118352@N00/

 

[Mel&Keith]

I don't really know anything about your camera so I'm no help. But, it doesn't have a macro setting? I looked at the basic functions on Sony's site and didn't see it listed. The gourmet setting sounds kind of cool though, food is hard to photograph! LOL

 

[Seanu13]

Lol the food setting I think just makes the color more "vivid" but I didn't like it when I tried it out on flowers and such.

It does have a macro setting but I still can't get super close, unless i have unrealistic expectations of close.

Its from looking at pictures like this that I have the idea of what close is:

http://www.flowerpicturesflowerlove.com/index_flower_pictures_2.htm

 

[Mel&Keith]

The macro setting on my Canon point and shoot will get that close but there has to be plenty of light since you can't use a flash. Mine focuses at about and inch and a half. Try taking some macro shots in the sun and see if it focuses more easily.

 

[Matto]

To get a shot like that moth you need a lens that comes close to 1:1 magnification. SLR macro lenses do this, I don't know how close point and shoot macro modes get but I've seen some do a pretty good job. I'm sure the macro lens adapters from sony would help as well.

When the available apertures are f/4 and f/9 instead of f/3.5 and f/8 are you zoomed out? A lot of lenses lose light as they get longer so they show the new effective aperture.

 

[Nubster]

Here is a close up of an Iris from my yard. Matto is pretty much correct that you need an actual 1:1 macro lens but that is not to say your camera can't take nice closeup shots. You just may have to do some cropping to get in where you want. This is straight out of my camera, no crop.