Digital Camera suggestions

[poolhound]

my 2 cents is that when you use macro on many cameras, the lens is so close to the subject its hard to light properly. By that I mean the flash will be relatively far off axis so that the light may come more from the side than head on and the field of flash coverage may only illuminate the upper corner of the frame. Getting exterior lighting on the subject may be difficult as the camera shadows the subject. You need good low light capability and ability to use a tripod and perhaps, macro capability at tele, not Wide angle settings thus avoiding very tight camera to subject distances.

A reasonable approach with so many 8 MP cameras now under $200 is to take as close a picture as you can with all 8 MP, not filling the frame but in focus. Then edit by cropping the picture taking the central portion - this will still be 2 MP if you use the middle 1/4 of the frame (1/2 in both the Horz and Vert directions) and be more resolution than you need or want in a on-line post here at BT3, if that is your main objective.

Loring has some good points especially the cropping as a way to increase the Pseudo Macro.

As far as lighting goes the flash issue is a good one but unless you are trying to take pictures of bugs the cameras own shadow shouldnt be an issue.

If you dont have the advantage of specialized lighting then to get well lit product shots consider shooting outside. Setup some clean plain or colored card into a curved backdrop (called a sweep) set your item on it and snap away. A tripod or some other way to fix the camera would be best for the sharpest focus. Use the self timer to trigger the shutter as this introduces less vibration.

Contrary to what you may think, for small products, a cloudy day would produce better results as the clouds diffuse the light.

[paulstenlund]

Poolhound/tom

Diamge IV (I think) checked tech specs last night 335,000 "square" pixels

Can't just pull back in macro - focus 4-6" then a gap, wide mode min focus approx 2 feet - about right for field of view but fuzzy when you expand the thumbnail

Online posting - maybe some 4X5's for a "portfolio"

using a ReflectaSol (sp) light box with a Vivitar 283 on full power, nice soft light and plenty of it, seamless background (made a living as a photographer 30+yrs ago, got tired of babies and weddings)

Don't know if the camera stops down the aperature for more light or does it electronically

Had a thought while writing this, I'll lay a ruler or yardstick down running away from the camera and identify the depth of field

Thanks for the input
Paul

[poolhound]

Poolhound/tom

Diamge IV (I think) checked tech specs last night 335,000 "square" pixels

Thanks for the input
Paul

I did a quick search and could not find anything on a Dimage IV or 4

[paulstenlund]

Jon

Its a Dimage V --

https://www.streettech.com/archives_...e/dimageV.html

This site has bad news, fixed aperature 5.56, fixed focus

Time to check out some of the suggestions received here

thanks guys
Paul

[poolhound]

Paul,

First all I could find was the DiMage 5 which I thought must be the same as the V and thought thats not to bad. Then I found the same site as the link you just sent. If thats your camera, then something new is definatley in order. According to the specs its only 640x480 and as you say fixed aperture. I can see why you are having problems getting anything of any quality from this.

Get yourself something new and you should have no problems.

[JR]

Get yourself something new and you should have no problems.

Even my cheezy $100 Olympus 1mp camera makes decent closeups - assuming I remember to set it for closeup mode!

JR