Originally Posted by ziggy53 Important attributes for a "small product" camera: The ability to use manual exposure controls for the camera. (Manual aperture, shutter speed and ISO. The built-in flash should also be able to shut off.) The ability to trigger an external flash. While you may not feel you need it now, when you desire more color fidelity and have a larger budget, you'll want the capability. The ability to add accessory filters; i.e. a screw-on filter capability. Cameras that I used in the past for product photography: Sony DSC-F828, w/VCL-M3358, 58mm Close Up Lens Konica Minolta Dimage A2, w/CL49-200, 49mm Close Up Lens The reason to use the accessory close-up lens is to allow a longer working distance from the subject. Both of these cameras also have a "PC" flash connector to allow for external flash (which you will very much want some day.) Both of these cameras are far out of production and only available used, but both are capable of what you want in a product photography camera. You can often find the cameras either on EBay or Amazon as used cameras, and you can find them in your price range. The accessory close-up lenses are harder to find and they will push your budget, but they are worth pursuing IMO. (I have more than 30 years experience in product photography.)

This thread stimulated another direction of thought. I have a Canon 7D and a T1i, what accessories would I need for jewelry photos?

Originally Posted by r9jackson This thread stimulated another direction of thought. I have a Canon 7D and a T1i, what accessories would I need for jewelry photos?

I'm breaking this into its own thread, so we don't steal from the original thread and the original poster's needs.

Jewelry photography is just a type of product photography. What you need for equipment depends partly upon:

The image expectations and scene design.
The size of the jewelry. (Individual rings and stud earrings may require somewhat different approaches from neck chains and sets/groups of jewelry.)
The type of jewelry and the finish and color of the jewelry.
Etc., etc., ...

Personally, I'd look at a Nikon D800E and a 85mm 2.8D PC Macro lens. A couple of Sb-910 flashes with the camera tethered to my computer.

Originally Posted by ziggy53 Jewelry photography is just a type of product photography. What you need for equipment depends partly upon: The image expectations and scene design. The size of the jewelry. (Individual rings and stud earrings may require somewhat different approaches from neck chains and sets/groups of jewelry.) The type of jewelry and the finish and color of the jewelry. Etc., etc., ...

Have to agree with Ziggy here, even though what he's left you with in etc., etc., ... can be quite expansive.

Most jewelry photography uses more light and light modifiers, white flags, black flags and reflectors than you might think. Shooting tethered offers relatively instant feedback so you can correct any issues on the spot (if you recognize them and have an idea how to fix them).

We're fortunate that todays software offers multiple solutions for focus stacking, a technique that is needed for images to have depth of field not obtainable with just one image.

If you are truly interested in doing this type of photography on a regular basis you should search the macro forums and blogs for folks that are already doing this (and doing it very well) and see what knowledge you can glean from their posts.