DSLR + extras recommendations for jewelery photography?

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#537316 25-Oct-2011 15:12

Happy to answer questions. You'll need a macro lens, macro filter, or extension tubes to take macro photos with that kit.

richms

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#537319 25-Oct-2011 15:39

yup, but for now its just big products that need taking so that will keep me busy enough for a few weeks ;) can probably crop out some placeholders for the web too so its less urgant than before when something was going to have to be done for xmas but doesnt matter now.

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#540670 3-Nov-2011 12:10

Why don't you use a Professional Photographer?

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#540676 3-Nov-2011 12:21

Coz it is more fun to try/do it yourself

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#540682 3-Nov-2011 12:31

ruff: Why don't you use a Professional Photographer?

Because that would be a logistical pain when the things are coming thru in small quantities and they are worth money so sending them out isnt possible.

Richard rich.ms

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#540687 3-Nov-2011 12:42

A Professional Photographer will come to your location, with all of the correct equipment, but more importantly the skill and knowledge to take the perfect shot each time, most likely having a few decades worth of experience. They will then post process your images and output them in any format required.

It's not quite my field (I work in motion as a Director of Photography) but I have shot diamonds, rings etc on location.

I believe that you would be amazed at what a professional can bring to your shoot.

As with all things in life, you get what you pay for.

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#540696 3-Nov-2011 13:01

A professional will probably charge you $600/half day or $1000/day. Any less than that and it's not worth their while. Overheads are a b1tch.

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#540700 3-Nov-2011 13:10

Yep, pretty good deal really... $5 to $10K camera body, that again in lenses, 20 to 40k in lighting gear, 20 years + experience... $60 an hour seems like a bargain! (Can't even get a plumber for that...)

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#540714 3-Nov-2011 13:39

$40K in lighting equipment is a bit much. $20K in cameras and lenses, $10K in lighting equipment, 1-20 years experience. $60/hr would be pretty cheap, but $1000/day (8 hours) is $125/hr.

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#540719 3-Nov-2011 13:50

Totally depends, personally I own a lot more gear than that...

Anyway, in the spirit of this thread I am off to service my truck, re-wire my studio, draw up the plans for a new house, design a logo for my business, file my accounts, and represent myself in court!

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#541989 7-Nov-2011 12:42

We picked up a set of the cheap extension rings after someone else suggested them, and they get things close enough just fine, but without aperture the depth of field is totally useless, as in not even a whole prong of a 40pt setting in focus. So its perfect for the flat things, and can sort of get an ok profile shot to show the general shape of things

If we were to get the AF rings so that there was aperture, how much DOF would be achievable? Cant really stretch to getting the dedicated macro lens just now as its only for the web at the moment and everything will have to be redone at some stage before the glossy gets done next year.

Also does anywhere in NZ sell them at a sane price? they are cheap as on ebay/dx etc but over $200 on the local sites I have found. Seems very excessive for something without glass in it.

Right now we have to worry about getting the whole thing in focus so that it can go in a pricelist, and they are matt ugly findings so looking pretty isnt important, but once this is done we will be tackling the lighting side of things.

Richard rich.ms

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#541998 7-Nov-2011 12:59

DOF is pretty shallow, but use this tool to work it out

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Stop down to F22 and use a lens that's wide rather than long (ie more like 30mm than 80mm) and you should be able to get enough DOF.

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#542058 7-Nov-2011 14:58

Ok, that does give a significant change in DOF over the top few fully open options.

How does the extension ring affect the distances tho (if at all since I am assuming it is a ratio)?

Richard rich.ms

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#542059 7-Nov-2011 15:00

Not really sure. I think "try it and see" would be the best advice. I know, in practice, I use the medium 20mm or so tube for shooting wedding rings if I want them to fill around half the frame, and DOF is good - not tiny, not huge. I'm probably at 50-70mm on full frame.

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#542077 7-Nov-2011 15:45

Sounds good then. Once I have some crap paid off I will be picking my own camera up and some stuff to have a play with so will get better at it.

Richard rich.ms

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