Rock and other photo posters

[greencobra]

What camera equipment are you using? Some of you guys post high detail, sharp, clear photos. I WANT TO DO THAT!!! Look at the CLB logo in Rocks SC photo post, that's what I'm talking about, clear pics of not only the knife but blade markings as well.

In short, I'm looking for a new camera. Looking at the Nikon SLR 8+ MP right now. Do I need that much camera?

[The Deacon]

Well greencobra, not sure if you consider me one of those guys or not. But, for what it's worth, I use a 2mp Fuji FinePix 2800 Zoom. Pretty low end by today's standard, but it takes a decently clear picture if I do my part. I think that for knife photography the most important single piece of equipment you can invest in, after the camera itself, is a sturdy, easily adjustable tripod. I also use the camera's timer, since my camera has no provision for a cable release, to further reduce the possibility of blur introduced by jarring the camera when pressing the shutter.

[zenheretic]

That is great advice Deacon as my camera has at least twice as many pixals as yours and my pics rarely look as good (as yours). I'm always fighting the blur caused by the button release.

I also read that maximum mega pixals isn't the end all for picture quality...I wish I could remember, I think it has something to do with light gathering (how big the lens is) as well.

[Ted]

What you need the most is good diffused lighting!
And further, any camera will do. 4Mp is plenty for a sharp 800x600 picture.
As long as you use a tripod, and get as close to the subject as possible (use the macro).
Also, don't compress your images too much. For example, don't squeeze them in the 100Kb limit here when attaching files. Just host them somewhere so you can link them.
A little unsharp mask in Photoshop ( or any other sharpening filter ) also makes pictures more crisp. And, the biggest tip that I got, make sure the picture looks clean ( no dust, stains etc ).

[greencobra]

Thanks guys. I have a Canon 2.1 Power Shot now but ****, I take bogus photos and can't get clear images of the blade markings. I'm looking at the Nikon or Canon lines and something in the 6 to 8 MP range. Any of you use either product? Of course building a light box is in the cards.

[Ted]

I've used a Olympus C8080 (8mp) and how have a Minolta 5D dSLR (6mp). A Nikon or Canon will do fine as well. You should even be able to get some good results from your 2mp, as long as you scale down to 50%, get up close (macro), good lighting and some post processing (sharpening)

[ghostrider]

Thanks guys. I have a Canon 2.1 Power Shot now but ****, I take bogus photos and can't get clear images of the blade markings. I'm looking at the Nikon or Canon lines and something in the 6 to 8 MP range. Any of you use either product? Of course building a light box is in the cards.

Maybe I'm wrong because I am not practiced or knowledgeable in using a digital camera, but I think this could be a matter of lighting and reflection.

One thing I’ve noticed about some of the better pic posters is that they manage to take good pics with a wide depth of field. I struggle with keeping the whole subject in focus because of this and can’t figure out how they do it.

[RWL]

greencobra

For the up close photo's not all camera's can take them no matter how many MP they have, since you want photo's that are up close you should look at the focus length of any camera you are looking at, just becuase a camera has a macro setting does not mean it will get you up close to the object. The camera I use at this time is a Olympus D-540 Zoom, it is only 3.2 MP it has a super macro setting on it that allows it to focus down to less then 1" away from the object you want to take the photo of, that was the main reason I purchased this camera. I did look at a newer Olympus, I forget the model, it could only focus within 2 " and that was with the macro setting. This is a macro of the necktie mini police

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha GC,

I am running Fuji Fine Pix 3. something... :o So, that's my excuse and i am sticking to it! :D

God bless and take care! :)

[mikewww]

Don't forget the depth of field ! The smaller the f-stop (aperture). the greater the depth of field. But low lighting means a larger aperture, and hence a lower depth of field. The pic of the Police on a blue background even shows pieces of fluff, but just in front the fluff is out of focus. The lighting was too low, resulting in a lower depth of field.

But higher intensity lighting can wash out the picture too. So getting that great pic is a matter of lighting and camera setting. The pixel count is secondary. 2 million pixels is a **** of a lot of pixels, anyway. I have an older Olympus with 2.5 Mp which can give great pictures if used correctly. I also have a very old (1996) Olympys with 650 000 pixels. Now THIS gives very iffy pics, unless the images are very small. I can't even sell the thing !

Don't use the Automatic setting. Set the camera to Aperture Priority, marked as A or AP or AV. Don't mistake this for automatic, which is usually marked AUTO. Set the aperture where you want it and let the camera do the rest automatically.

The great thing about digitals is that you can shoot yourself unconscious for no money, unlike with film. But the basic principles apply to film and digital cameras.

Mike

[greencobra]

More good advise, thanks.

[Axlis]

I'm not a very good photographer, but my camera seems to do a good job by itself. I got a Kodak P850 a month or so ago, and have been going pic crazy ever since! It's SUPER user friendly :) . I try to take my pics outside on an overcast day, I like that look the best. I always hate it when I post a pic and then discover a finger print or dust in the picture!

[RWL]

mikewww
thank you for the info, I doubt I could get the entire picture into focus, that was not what I was trying to do, greencobra had mentioned he was looking for a camera able to take pictures of blade marking, or I guess tang stamps I would call them. I was showing how this camera can focus in very close on very small print, that is a mini police, the tie tack version so that is a very small tang stamp, this camera on super maco mode can still auto focus as close as 3/4" away from the object you are taking the picture, other digital camera's I have looked at are not able to focus in that close, I am sure there are some out there. I do appreciate your input as I had no clue on how to get the entire picture in focus, all I do know about macro photography is that, true macro allows you to get closer to the object, it is not about maginifing the image

[mikewww]

I forgot to mention that one does not always want the whole pic in sharp focus. Then you actually try to limit the depth of field, with only the subject in focus and the rest in soft focus of worse. Some photographers used to put a smear of Vaseline on the lens to achieve this !

Just out of interest, in days gone by, enlarging was difficult. So, if you wanted a large pic, you had to have a large camera ! This one was made in 1900 in Chicago, to take advertising shots of the new luxury train owned by the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. Not surprisingly, it was called the Mammoth ! The plates were 4.5 x 8 foot, and needed 10 gallons of chemical to develop ! Thank God for the digital camera !!!

Mike

[pjrocco]

I forgot to mention that one does not always want the whole pic in sharp focus. Then you actually try to limit the depth of field, with only the subject in focus and the rest in soft focus of worse. Some photographers used to put a smear of Vaseline on the lens to achieve this !

Just out of interest, in days gone by, enlarging was difficult. So, if you wanted a large pic, you had to have a large camera ! This one was made in 1900 in Chicago, to take advertising shots of the new luxury train owned by the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. Not surprisingly, it was called the Mammoth ! The plates were 4.5 x 8 foot, and needed 10 gallons of chemical to develop ! Thank God for the digital camera !!!

Mike

LOL!!!

Good one. :D

[psimonl]

LOL!!!

Good one. :D

I don't want to Hijack, but what is it with this disturbing avatar???

Simon

[pjrocco]

I don't want to Hijack, but what is it with this disturbing avatar???

Simon

You never seen the movie Office Space!!!!!! When they are beating up the printer they stold from there office?

Classic movie...

[RWL]

mikewww
now that is what I call a camera :eek:
I do hope this has helped greencobra some. Taking photo's is not something I am very good at, I sure like to try. I hope to very soon be able to get the minolta digital slr D7 I think it is called, I have a 35mm with a very nice selection of lens including a true 1 to 1 macro and I think it is the D7 that I can interchange the lenses with from the film to digital camera's, the one thing about the D7 is they are a bit pricey

[psimonl]

You never seen the movie Office Space!!!!!! When they are beating up the printer they stold from there office?

Classic movie...

Fiouf!!! I thought it was you beating the crap out of your camera with a :spyder: :rolleyes:

Simon

[pjrocco]

John.... Check your PMs.