DSLR + extras recommendations for jewelery photography?

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#520756 14-Sep-2011 07:52

The D200 is really old, it's from 2006, back before Nikon could do high ISO.

Sorry to tell you but there probably won't be any new Canon DSLRs this year, check out canonrumours.com.

5DII is a really nice camera, but isn't the right camera for the OP. THe 5DI would do much the same thing in a studio setting and would be cheaper. Smaller sensored cameras are a better idea though, for this application.

Most people recommend what they have...

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

stevenz

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#520869 14-Sep-2011 11:24

My father uses a fairly standard digital camera (one of Casio's "high end" models IIRC) with a mini-tripod and a home-made lightbox for photographing jewellery and watches and after showing him how some of the settings work, the results are very good. They're not magazine-grade but they're good for using with valuations. A fairly basic DSLR/MFT with a better quality macro would be all he needs given the rest of the setup to produce catalogue-worthy fare.

If you're in the "proper" jewellery industry (as opposed to the usual market fare) then there is someone who does one of the trade magazines who produces some fantastic shots who I could possibly put you onto.

@KnightNZ

richms

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#520883 14-Sep-2011 11:44

Im getting blue fringes on the edges and other issues with the compacts I have tried when they are in macro, which makes clearcutting things hell. It looks like a camera and lens will be bought next week so no point keeping on playing with the useless cameras.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#520885 14-Sep-2011 11:45

If you take the photo correctly it will have a pure, plain white background that won't require any processing.

stevenz

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#520933 14-Sep-2011 13:07

Disrespective: Have a look at the Strobist DIY article on making a macro photo studio: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html

The rest of Strobust is a goldmine of information in setting up lighting situations.

Very handy site, thanks!

@KnightNZ

listudio

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#521012 14-Sep-2011 15:47

timmmay: The D200 is really old, it's from 2006, back before Nikon could do high ISO.

Sorry to tell you but there probably won't be any new Canon DSLRs this year, check out canonrumours.com.

Yeap D200 is 'old', thats why I convience myself to go for a better one

. But D200's ISO is up to 1600 which is fair enough to use it with a good lens, and it still creates high quality photos. Studio setting would have a lighting system. So D200 would be ok to do this job I reckon. But D200 was out of the market for quite a while, and acually it s rare to see it in Auckland.
Thats a bad news for me to hear about MARK III releasing date changed...just hope it is a rumour too..

listudio

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#521015 14-Sep-2011 15:54

timmmay: If you take the photo correctly it will have a pure, plain white background that won't require any processing.

can you be more specific?

timmmay

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#521017 14-Sep-2011 15:58

The D200 at ISO1600 might be similar to the D700 at ISO400. It's a combination of the smaller sensor and old technology. If you use it at ISO400 with good lighting it'll still make very nice images.

5D3 rumours: http://www.canonrumors.com/category/photography/canon-5d-mark-iii/

Re the white background, a light tent has two purposes:
- To ensure even illumination of the subject, and
- To "blow out" so that the background appears white.

Generally you'll put a light above and either side of the light tent, experimenting until you get the look you want. You might also want another underneath/behind the light tent to add a bit more light and make the background appear pure white.

Don't pour too much light into it though, if you use more than you need the contrast of the image suffers.

There's a good book called "Light: Science and Magic" which is worth reading.

listudio

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#521022 14-Sep-2011 16:08

timmmay: The D200 at ISO1600 might be similar to the D700 at ISO400. It's a combination of the smaller sensor and old technology. If you use it at ISO400 with good lighting it'll still make very nice images.

5D3 rumours: http://www.canonrumors.com/category/photography/canon-5d-mark-iii/

Re the white background, a light tent has two purposes:
- To ensure even illumination of the subject, and
- To "blow out" so that the background appears white.

Generally you'll put a light above and either side of the light tent, experimenting until you get the look you want. You might also want another underneath/behind the light tent to add a bit more light and make the background appear pure white.

Don't pour too much light into it though, if you use more than you need the contrast of the image suffers.

There's a good book called "Light: Science and Magic" which is worth reading.

Nice!

timmmay

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#521025 14-Sep-2011 16:14

listudio: Nice!

I know quite a bit about photography... :)

Jaxson

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#524601 22-Sep-2011 13:19

timmmay:
I know quite a bit about photography... :)

I've said it before, a 'like' button would be a laugh.
Your posts are always a good informative read mate. Cheers.

richms

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#537240 25-Oct-2011 11:32

Ok, its time to get the camera -

How would this kit go? http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/photo/digital-cameras/canon/12-2mp-twin-lens-kit-sku-21578/

It has an EF18-55mm lens, but would that be enough? Justifying more than a grand at this stage is hard, but if it can do an ok job for web and basic laserprinted product lists it will be fine, and can get the whizzy macro lens later for doing the massivly closeup stuff.

Richard rich.ms

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#537273 25-Oct-2011 12:57

richms: Ok, its time to get the camera -

How would this kit go? http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/photo/digital-cameras/canon/12-2mp-twin-lens-kit-sku-21578/

It has an EF18-55mm lens, but would that be enough? Justifying more than a grand at this stage is hard, but if it can do an ok job for web and basic laserprinted product lists it will be fine, and can get the whizzy macro lens later for doing the massivly closeup stuff.

You get what you pay for. Those lenses are fine in good light, but once it gets a bit dark they'll not be much good. Quality will only be ok, probably better than a point and shoot but not great compared with better lenses.

There's quite a huge gap in cost between the kit lenses and good lenses though. You pay 10x more (or worse) to get 2-3 times better performance.

richms

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#537282 25-Oct-2011 13:32

Will probably go for the 550D dual lens kit from PI as that does 1080 video which could come in handy. not sure if I will be able to get to take it home to have a play with or not but I am hopeful ;)

Richard rich.ms

richms

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#537312 25-Oct-2011 15:07

Got it from Auckland Camera as they were only $1 more and have more chance of being helpful after the fact, and it didnt involve a trip into the city or even worse, newmarket ;) Now expect a barrage of questions over the next few weeks ;)

Richard rich.ms

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