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Home | Selecting a Camera | Cameras, Controls | Lighting | Jewelry | Flatware | Glassware | Clothing | Artwork | Coins |
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Selecting a Camera for eBay Photography |
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At the right, I've listed the current compact models which meet basic requirements as eBay cameras. Each will focus to 2 inches or less. Also each includes a manual white balance option, useful for achieving accurate color. Finally, every one of these models offers both automatic and manual exposure control. The links will take you to pages with more details, reviews and price information. For eBay use, you don't need a high-resolution digital camera. Almost any digital camera will produce a 640x480 pixel image at its lowest resolution setting, which is a big enough photo to fill a standard VGA computer monitor, or about 2/3 of a 17" monitor. A 640x480 image is only equal to 1/3 of a megapixel. At 1 megapixel, you have a huge image with enough room to crop out unwanted image areas. If you also want to make prints of family photos or for other purposes, you'll want more resolution. As a rule of thumb, a 2 megapixel camera can make acceptable 5x7 prints; you need 3 megapixels for good 8x10 prints. Every camera on this current list offers at least 6 megapixel images. For an "eBay camera," you want...
Among older models, you can find bargains in used cameras. You don't need many megapixels, so even the FujiFilm FinePix A205 2MP
Recently discontinued models which also offer value are the Fujifilm Finepix F50fd,
Among the inexpensive models on the current list, the Canon PowerShot A590 IS
The mid-range models, with current prices in the $200 — $399 range, typically have longer zoom range lenses, more megapixels and extra features, such as face detection. Most of these would make good family cameras, as well as being suited for eBay use. Good values here are the Canon SX110 IS,
The premium models, with prices starting at $400, appeal to photo enthusiasts who want a compact camera with all the control (and often nearly the speed) of a professional model. Each of these models will also accept external flash units. A few have unique features, such as the Casio EX-F1 Any camera I've listed here would do a good job on eBay photos. The choice depends on how much you value a larger image size, a bigger LCD screen or a longer zoom lens. None of these are necessary for eBay work, but they can be handy features for your other photography. I have not included subcompact cameras on my list. To achieve their tiny sizes, subcompacts, while capable of good results, sacrifice some features needed on an eBay camera. I have also excluded digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras. While these can do a good job on product photography, they cost more than a compact model and require a special macro lens to focus at very close range. If you're serious about photography, an SLR can be a great investment, but it is not at all required for eBay or other website photography. If you want some help with your photo techniques, please use the links to my series, CameraJim's Guide To eBay Auction Photography.
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will fill the bill. You can find that on the used market under $50. Another in the same price range is the 
which focuses even closer than the Fuji.
the 
the 
and the 
.
and 
combine good image quality and a wealth of optional controls not often found at such low price levels. What you trade off with these inexpensive cameras is speed. While they are more than suitable for eBay product shots, their slow response times may be frustrating if you want to capture active subjects.
which sports a 10X zoom, and the 
a responsive model with an 18X Leica-branded lens.
, which can shoot bursts of up to 60 frames per second or record movies in full HD format. Most premium compacts, however, concentrate on getting the basics just right, such as the 
and 
favorites of pros and serious amateurs who want capable compact cameras.
