12 Best Cameras for Macro Photographers: Buyer’s Guide

How much to pay for a camera to take professional macro images?

If you decide to purchase a macro photography camera, you must clearly understand its functionality. First of all, this type of camera should be used for shooting at short distances. Such models allow you to focus on the object and be very close to it.

If you are planning to photograph small items at a size equal to a 1:1 ratio or more, a specialized camera for macro photography will be an excellent choice. I offer you a list of the most suitable cameras for this genre.

Macro photography gives you an incredible opportunity to explore and capture the tiniest details of the surrounding world. Using the Macro Mode available in digital cameras you can get good focus even if your lens is not far from the object. Some macro cameras allow you to shoot less than one inch from an object. Others require you to keep the lens a little further.

However, it’s important to understand that inspiring macro photos taken by professional photographers are heavily processed. Photographers make colors more saturated, adjust contrast and perform other manipulations with colors. If you don’t have any editing experience, you can always order FixThePhoto services.

Zoom Type: optical 3x | Sensor: APS-C 24.1 MP | Focusing: 9-point focus system | Screen: 3in | Weight: 1.04 lbs

If you're looking for a good macro camera at an affordable price, this Canon product is the best option for you. Its body is made of aluminum alloy and polycarbonate resin. Besides, it has a fiberglass chassis. This camera comes with textured covers with a deep grip on the front and a small thumb on the back. These features make it convenient and safe to use. Like other cheap Canon cameras, this option has a menu with fast access through the Q button.

You can use the AF system when composing photos with the viewfinder. It performs precisely and fast even in pretty low light conditions. Camera settings are very simple and intuitive, so it is suitable even for beginners. It delivers bright and saturated pictures even if you photograph using the Auto and Standard image styles.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 1.00x | Sensor: 26.1 MP | Focusing: Intelligent Hybrid AF | Screen: 3.0 LCD monitor | Weight: 16.8oz

If you enjoy traveling, you can take this camera with you on a trip and use it to take stunning macro pictures. It has a 35mm field of view and portable body with extra protection, which allows you to use it in different weather conditions.

In case you have the X100 version, you may want to replace it with this model as it comes with a set of newly added features. Using this camera, you can shoot 4K video as well as 1080p footage at 120fps. Besides the weather-sealed body, it has an upgraded autofocus system and a pro-level lens.

This camera will be especially useful for photographers who like Fujifilm devices and are looking for a model that doesn’t weigh a lot.

Zoom Type: optical 3x | Sensor: APS-C 24.2MP | Focusing: 11-point focus system | Screen: 3in, 921,000 dots | Weight: 0.8 lbs

If you are looking for a camera for macro photography, the Nikon D3500 is a great option to consider. It allows you to take high-resolution photos with an impressive level of detail. You can use it with a variety of macro lenses, which makes this model suitable for photographers with different budgets and needs.

The camera has intuitive controls. It makes it perfect even for novices. You can take photos in Guide mode and follow the tips on the LCD screen to select the right settings depending on the situation. However, the rear screen doesn’t have touchscreen functionality. Because of this, you will need to use physical buttons and dials to adjust the settings. As the screen can’t be tilted, it will be difficult for you to take low-angle photos. Other than this, the camera doesn’t have any significant shortcomings. It stands out among other models sold in this price bracket for its extensive lens compatibility.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 1.00x | Sensor: 20.9 MP | Focusing: multi cam 20k, 153 point AF system| Screen: 3.2 | Weight: 1.90 lbs

This camera produces great JPEG images. If you adjust the low sensitivity, you can take photos with high details. The sensor allows you to get clear photos with fine details throughout the frame, which makes this model the best macro camera for those who work in different light situations. Working with high ISO values you will not be disappointed either. If you are attentive and accurate, then even at ISO 12,800-51,200 you can observe some kind of image smoothing in the pictures.

All the details are preserved even at such high ISO settings when you are viewing in A4 format or printing in normal form. You will get JPEG images with reduced noise. Earlier I saw it in RAW photos. This macro camera provides accurate exposure thanks to universal metering which requires almost no exposure compensation. If you are on a tight budget and don’t have much money to spend on photography gear, take a look at my review of inexpensive full frame cameras that will help you take pictures with perfectly saturated colors.

Zoom Type: 5x optical zoom | Sensor: 16 MP | Focusing: manual | Screen: 3.0 | Weight: 8.2 ounces

This macro camera has a 16MP CMOS sensor capable of showing excellent results when shooting in good light. Photos that were taken on a sunny day stand out with low noise, brightness, and precise detail. Unfortunately, you can shoot only JPEG files. The RAW format is not supported. It is worth noting that some photos slightly lack clarity around the edge.

In general, this cheap macro camera succeeds in daylight shooting. Macro mode is activated by simply pressing a button on the bottom of the controller. You can take close-up shots in Smart Portrait, Auto Shot, Pet Portraits, and Underwater shooting modes. With enough daylight, autofocus works quickly and accurately.

If you are shooting at dusk or outdoors, then the AF system may need a little more time to focus on the subject. Besides, it costs no more than other professional cameras under $500, which makes it a perfect option for newbies.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 1.00x | Sensor: 45.7 MP | Focusing: 153 focus points, 99 cross-type sensors and a dedicated AF processor | Screen: 3.2 | Weight: 2.02 lbs

The Nikon D850 has an impressive level of detail which is achieved thanks to a 45.4 million pixels sensor. This feature makes this model one of the best macro photography cameras. You can create large prints with many clear details. However, to get such amazing results, you need to use the appropriate lens.

Taking focus-stacked photos is often a challenge. This macro photography camera has a special focus shift feature that allows you to take a sequence of up to 300 shots. The focus position gradually moves from the starting point to infinity. You can adjust the shutter interval from 0 to 30 seconds.

However, keep in mind that this is a pro-grade model. If you are on a budget, make sure to take a look at my list of entry levels DSLR cameras.

Zoom Type: optical 4x | Sensor: 1/2.3-inch | Focusing: 25-point AF | Screen: 3in | Weight: 0.56 lbs

Olympus Tough TG-6 is a perfect option for photographers interested in macro photography who enjoy shooting underwater or often work in severe weather conditions. Its body can withstand shock impact well. You can effortlessly switch between different modes when taking macro photos, which makes this camera suitable even for beginners.

This camera for macro photography has several advantages that make it better than some other models available on the market. It supports focus stacking and focus bracketing. In addition, it has excellent close-focusing distance. The only shortcoming of this model is that it has a small-sized sensor, which makes it less convenient to use. It is compatible with a limited choice of lenses suitable for macro shooting, however, it still allows you to find a lens that suits your needs best.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 1.00x | Sensor: 24.1 MP | Focusing: AF | Screen: 3 | Weight: 0.85pounds

This upgraded version of the famous EOS M50 features an impressive performance. Its improved specs allow you to create amazing macro shots as well as great content for vlogging and other purposes. The 24.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor delivers cutting-edge image quality. You also get 4K UHD 24p and HD 120p for slow-motion video, a powerful DIGIC 8 image processor, and other useful options.

With added stability and versatility, you can easily keep the subject in focus. The camera allows you to shoot both vertically and horizontally for a more advantageous angle. Besides, it provides clean HDMI output for high-res, high frame-rate streaming.

Zoom Type: digital teleconverter | Sensor: 24.3 MP | Focusing: 8 way focus lever + 325 focusing points | Screen: 3 | Weight: 1.03 lb

The X100F is a macro lens camera fitted with a highly efficient 24.3MP image sensor that captures an amazing amount of detail. Photos become slightly less detailed as you increase the ISO value, but even at 6,400 they still look impressive. If you’ll stick to shooting at the lower ISO values, you’ll take very clean photographs with great color accuracy.

I was also pleased with the camera’s dynamic range. At lower ISO, it’s possible to capture a lot of details in shadowed and highlighted areas (if they weren’t clipped) and recover them during the photo retouching stage without damaging the picture’s quality. In addition, this camera has 4 latitude stops and Fujifilm’s own Dynamic Range mode.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 1.00x | Sensor: 16.3 MP | Focusing: AF | Screen: 3 | Weight: 1.10 lbs

Whenever I need the best macro camera that can handle shadows or highlights, I can rely on E-M1’s two HDR modes that help me make images more detailed. One of them makes subtle adjustments with the other being harsher. The automatic White Balance offers amazing accuracy that boosts the picture quality and provides a coherent color palette regardless of the shooting conditions, which makes it the best macro camera at this price range.

Unedited images also have nice colors. You can use some of E-M1’s customized color settings if you want to achieve a distinct look for your photographs. Regarding the amount of noise on higher sensitivity values, I must note that this camera has surprised me.

The noise is barely visible at lower ISO settings (up to 1600), after which it becomes more noticeable in the darker parts of the shot. That being said, the image quality remained satisfying all the way up to ISO 6,400.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 25x | Sensor: 20.1 MP | Focusing: high-density tracking AF technology | Screen: 3 | Weight: 2.32 pounds

This Sony camera has a 1-inch image sensor that allows you to take incredibly detailed photographs with high sharpness. While the pictures are a bit softer on the far end of the telephoto optics, that doesn’t impact their quality unless you’re planning on printing them in large sizes.

The zoom functionality of Mark III deserves a special mention. It has a 25-times optical zoom that has an electronic “Clear Zoom” function, which offers nice performance and is perfect if you need to get a closer shot but can’t approach your subject.

Zoom Type: optical zoom 1.00x | Sensor: 20.9 MP | Focusing: manual and auto | Screen: 3.2 | Weight: 1.66 lbs

This macro photography camera allows taking highly detailed pictures at low ISO values, but this model’s true strength is revealed when you increase the sensitivity. Even if you increase it up to 12,800 and there is a bit of chromatic noise, the results are still good.

As you can guess, luminance noise is a serious issue when shooting at 25,600 and 51,200 ISO, but photos look better than other cameras can produce at these settings. I don’t advise you to go any higher though, because images will be too murky and soft. The dynamic range is great. It allows you to capture shadow details and take a decent quality photo even if it was underexposed by 5 stops.

If you are still wondering, which model suits your needs best, make sure to check this list to select a professional camera under 1000 dollars.

You have to consider several aspects when choosing the best camera for macro photography:

The lens is probably the second most vital choice you have to make if your goal is to take great macro photos. A must-have characteristic of a macro lens is 1:1 magnification that allows you to capture objects in their lifelike size. The minimal focus distance is also an important factor since it determines the distance you can have from the subject and still focus accurately.

If you’re leaning towards purchasing a DSLR close up camera, you should give preference to models that have a Live View feature that allows you to use the display as a viewfinder. It’s also great if the camera has an articulating screen since it will help you avoid many uncomfortable situations when taking macro shots.

Lastly, there’s one more thing you need to think about when choosing a macro lens. Even though they are mostly designed for one specific purpose, a lot of photographers use them for general needs too. Thus, if you want to find a universal lens that can shoot good macro, a 50mm model can be a great pick. As long as you remember these things when searching for the best camera for close ups, you shouldn’t experience any trouble finding the perfect option for you.