You don't say what cameras you have nor exactly what kind of problems you are encountering. But, when it comes to close ups or macros, one of the easiest mistakes to make is to have some movement in the camera. If you are doing very close close ups you probably need either a tripod or monopod to steady the camera before clicking or you need a camera with some motion protection built in, or maybe both.

They also need pretty good light and unless you have really high end cameras, little to no motion by what you are shooting.

Hope that helps some.

If not, give us more details and the folks here can probably offer some helpful tips.

The question was ' I had been READING in the different photo mag's and the mag talked about noise'. I think it was on close up shots.

Noise. It shouldn't be a problem with macro shots unless they are underexposed or taken when the light is too low without fill flash.

Most cameras are pretty noise free at ISO 100, the best cameras for low noise photos are what I have, that whole series, that's one area where they even beat Nikon. I'm talking about the Canon Digital Rebel, the XT, 350, 20D (what I have), and on up.

Most point and shoot cameras, even the Canons have noise above ISO 200 and even at ISO 200 you can see it on your monitor if you are shooting low light indoors or at dusk outside.

With my camera, I can get nice smooth photos at ISO 800 unless I seriously underexpose. At 1600 and 3200, I get noise, sometimes not bad at all at 1600. It does not show up on 4X6 prints unless it's really really bad but anything else, it doesn't look so good.

I got a bunch of noisy ones with my camera this past Saturday because my flash went out, I didn't know it, and got seriously underexposed photos. Threw some spare batteries in my flash and got going again but set the ISO up to 1600 for something else and forgot to turn it down again. Some photos were really bad with noise, I can't sharpen them like I usually do because it just makes it worse. The photos without the flash were salvageable only because I shot in RAW mode.

You can buy programs that reduce noise, one of these days I might try to get Noise Ninja Pro; I'm impressed by what I've seen with it, but more money and another learning curve.

I don't care what the reviewers say and sample photos show. Unless you nail exposure exactly right, most people are going to get noise at higher ISO's even with the best cameras.

Noise can occure on any shot, not just closeups. You see tiny specks that shouldn't be there. Mostly you will see it in situations where there low light so you are exposing the picture longer or at higher ISO's. Here is a link that talks about it in pretty simple terms. This isn't usually a make or break consideration when buying a camera. If you think you will be taking a lot of photos indoors without a flash, look for a camera with a larger image sensor or invest in the noise reduction software.

Here is a link that might be useful: Noise in digital photos-what causes it, what cures it.

Thanks, Bean Counter that read was a wonderful explaination! I even copied it for further use on other subjects!....

That was a good article. I didn't understand some of the tech talk :-(.

There are tricks you have to learn to take good macro shots. Each camera is a little quirky. Maybe you gave up on your other camera(s) too soon.

Some guy taught me the settings for easy macros with my point and shoot where I didn't need a tripod. It took some practice, but now I have an album of really nice 8X10 macros along w/other stuff.

I haven't given up on my other camera at all. I am just trying to learn and understand some things better to make sure when I upgrade I will know what better to look for. My PowerShot does take very nice pictures. It is me who needs to learn. I guess I mut not communicate very well to get my points across.

Sydney, I live in a town of about 120,000 and one of our higher end photo shops in town offers a few classes dealing with cameras, and software. I'm signed up for the camera class to learn more about my camera. You might want to check your area. I know for me the $25 is well worth it to have someone teach me all the "stuff" that my camera can do.