Non-DSLR Camera for faceup

do you have a price budget? I've heard about a $399 Nikon Point and Shoot that takes amazing pictures (supposidly as good as most DSLRs) I can't remember which model # though.

 

Whatever camera you buy, make sure you have some budget left over for a tripod and one or two desk lamps (that can share the same bulbs).

 

(Double post, but want the subscription update.)

Panasonic LX5 for $200. Competent low light camera with a good lens for a good price. Don't know how long it will last.
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-LX5K

 

It's more about light than the camera. I use a Canon SX 120 IS, you can get the newer version of that model, the SX 130 IS, for ~$175 on amazon right now and it's a great little camera, with good macro and a lot of manual options to get what you want out of it.

If you follow the link in my sig to my Flickr you can see what I've done with it (my photos are generally either it or from my phone), or go here: http://www.flickr.com/cameras/canon/powershot_sx120_is to see what the Flickr community in general has gotten out of that camera.

 

It is completely true that it's more about light than camera, hence my suggestion for lamps and tripod regardless of what you get.

Still, there are classes among fixed lens cameras that estimate their behavior and performance.

• There's cell phone cameras, which are generally lacking when sunlight is absent and have almost no manual controls. (Notable performance exceptions are Nokia 808 and 920.)
• There's the slightly better "common compact camera". They have a nice zoom range but are otherwise also lacking when sunlight is absent and may or may not have manual controls. (Generally most cameras without interchangeable lenses.)
• There's the low light compact, which are similar to the commons except they have slightly larger sensors and brighter lenses. Because they target a more upscale market, they have manual controls. (Panasonic LX5, Canon S100, Olympus XZ-2 and a few others)
• And finally large sensor compacts, which are generally very expensive but are more similar in performance to SLRs and mirrorless cameras. (Canon G1X, Sony RX100 and a very few others)

LX5 sold out mere hours on the website. Oh well.

LX5 vs S100: on paper, it's a fair tradeoff. LX5 has a brighter lens that is bulkier because of it. S100 is smaller, has a bit more zoom but gives up some of the low light ability at the tele end.

 

Agree. For pretty much all of the decently priced point and shoot cameras, if you have enough light any camera can give you a sharp and nice edge

It is at low light condition that you will see the hazy pictures (same with camera phone).... so with light and tripod pretty much either the Nikon, Cannon or Panasonic will do the same.

I have had 1 Nikon point and shot, 2 Cannon and 2 Panasonic - I like Panasonic better.

 

I have panasonic LX5 and the leicha lens make it take wonderfull pictures. It is exciting to work with this camera. I have a big nikon d80 DSLR, but that is too heavy for me to make sharp photos because of my leight weight, so I just use my panasonic. And when I worked a little as a journalist, i sometimes used careas for 20 000 usd, but still I now like my LX5. I think that explain that it is good to use

 

I poke around camera forums. This particular deal I found out from a post in the deals forum in the Micro Four Thirds user group. Just keep an eye on communities focused on the brand(s) you want.

 

Too many lamps to suggest a specific model. I said desk lamps, but they don't have to be--I just suggested them because they are small and inexpensive, so you can move them around easily and can afford to get two.

I would look for fluorescent lamps with brightness of 150W incandescent equivalent, which would be ~52W for CFLs or ~2700 lumens. You can go brighter, but then it becomes more about safety--don't blind yourself! Incandescent bulbs get too hot--not good for your doll or your electricity bill.

Regarding bulbs, get full-spectrum bulbs with a color temperature from 5000-6000K to get the most natural/neutral colors. Whatever bulbs you end up getting, use the same brand which will hopefully minimize individual color differences in the bulbs.

 

Just a notice to interested parties that the aforementioned Canon S100 is on sale for $250.