Macro photography can get expensive very quickly, as can any genre of photography. The “toys” that photographers buy tend to be very expensive indeed. But the entry price does not have to be extremely high. There are several options for beginners that are not nearly as high.
Camera options for Macro Photography
There are many options for someone wanting to purchase a camera that is capable of taking macro photographs. There are many point-and-shoot cameras that include a macro mode, and have enough magnification to allow adequate macro pictures to be taken. The down side is that although they will take acceptable pictures, the magnification used will usually exclude cropping without degradation.
DSLR cameras are slowly being phased out by manufacturers, creating a glut of used and discontinued models. This may be the best way to get into photography for those on a limited budget. Though mirrorless cameras are definitely the thing of the future, a quality DSLR will take high quality images with a reasonable investment.
What Lenses do I need?
The primary consideration is the intended topic of your images. Static subjects allow a much broader range of lens focal lengths. There are a wide variety of focal lengths available in macro lenses for all of the popular brands of cameras. For insect photography you should ideally have a lens that is at least 100 mm and can focus as close as possible.
Do I need a flash for Macro Photography?
Summary
Macro photography, like other genres of photography, can definitely get very expensive at a fast rate. But there are ways to break into this field without breaking the bank. You can take quality macro photographs with some pretty inexpensive equipment, if you are willing to take the time to research the characteristics, and practice, practice, practice. If you get frustrated easily then macro photography is not for you.
