Hi Bev,
I was going to post a question about what cameras were good for
photographing jewellery so read your post with interest. I’ll look up
your Canon on the web. I may well ask anyway as there are probably
lots of suggestions for the right camera. I’m looking for a good
amateur camera (that is I don’t want to pay professional camera
prices) with a good macro function. Your thread about posing rings
was interesting to read too.
Helen
Helen
On the general subject of photographing jewellery of which there has
been good advice here before, I find the lighting of more importance
than the camera. I use a standard cheap nikon digital camera ($300)
and just point and shoot (no tripod) in macro mode and have the
exposure slightly higher than normal. I have made a simple light box,
enclosed on five sides, using two daylight (white) fluorescent tubes
(used in aquariums).
Having one side open in the lightbox means that with my spare hand I
can position (if needed) a sheet of black or white card to control
reflections - some pieces need more contrast, some less. The results
are’nt world beating but adequate for my (mostly web) purposes. I
always have the lightbox on and ready to go which means if a customer
calls about a piece I can email more shots to them in minutes which
these days can make the difference between a sale or no sale
I hope this helps but would be fascinated to hear other orchadian’s
tricks and tips
good luck - Andrew
Helen, I am very pleased with my Olympus Camedia digital camera. It
has very good macro capability, it’s not so full of preset things
that you can’t do the settings just how you want, and it’s not super
expensive.
Lisa
Designs by Lisa Gallagher
I hope this helps but would be fascinated to hear other orchadian's tricks and tips
I have created a Squidoo lens on the subject at:
http://www.Squidoo.com/jewelryphotography
and also have on the subject at my blog
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com/news
There is some overlap. The Squidoo lens has all the photography
stuff in one place, and more links to tutorials and such on other sites.
Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
Dear Andrew,
Thank you very much for your advice. Having read a few articles on
photographing jewellery it is apparent that the lighting is more
important as you say. However, a camera with at least some sort of
macro function is needed. My husband has what we thought to be a
decent digital camera but now that I am wanting to take photos of
jewellery, find that it has no macro function at all. I tried my
daughter’s cheap and cheerful digital and surprisingly it took a
better photo than my husband’s more expensive one but still not good
enough. I have one more I can try before shelling out for a more
expensive camera. My youngest son has a digi camera we bought him for
Christmas but I couldn’t lay my hands on it when I looked in his room
the other day so I will ask to borrow it and see if that will do.
Once I have access to a camera I will try out your advice regarding
rigging up a light box.
Thanks again,
Helen
Thanks Lisa,
I’ll check out the models that have been recommended. Word of mouth
is so much better when choosing the right camera than just asking
the sales assistants in camera shops.
Helen
I was going to post a question about what cameras were good for photographing jewellery so read your post with interest. I'll look up your Canon on the web.
I like the nikon S10 its around $350.00 6 megapixel it also has
vibration reduction and the lense rotates easy to see what you are
photographing fairly easy to use but still has lots of functions
Dwaine