Photo lessons

moretoys

Can anyone explain how to get close-up photos with a digital camera? Look back at Bert's sticky about 94 research, with shots of ser# and barrel address. How do you get focus that close? I'm looking for " almost idiot proof" instructions.

mrbruce

Most all the new digital cameras have a macro button that is very useful for doing that.
You can also back off from the subject and take the photo and use software to enlarge it
so it will seem closer..
Steady rests make a lot of difference too... and a ring light will be a plus if you have one..

Old-Colts

Even the older, but probably higher end digital cameras have a macro setting, which is the best way to take close-up pictures with great detail.

As mrbruce indicates, almost all new digital cameras have a macro feature.

nmyers

There's no easy answer. You need to check the specs before you buy a camera (most manufacturers hide their closest focus spec), & try it out for yourself in the store. Generally, a camera small enough to fit in your pocket won't take good close-ups. And, pixels don't matter.

My old low-end camera, a Sony Mavica FD75, takes great close-ups. It focuses down to 1 1/2", & it has a good lens.

My newer Canon A520 has a macro setting, which is worthless. I even bought a close-up lens, but that, too, is junk. I spent hours on the phone with factory tech support; they finally admitted that the camera wasn't designed for macro.

If a camera doesn't have a big, high quality lens, it will never be good for close-ups.

Neal

MMOMEQ-55

Do you have a interchangeable lens camera? If so you can purchase a macro lens like a 105mm Macro. These will focus real close. I have Nikon equipment and my D-80s have a macro setting and with the right lens makes it a no brainer. There are several web sites out there that can help you out. When I shoot macro I shoot with a manual focus lens and shoot on a tripod with remote trigger. I also shoot on manual exposure mode and take caritical readings with a spot meter. For flash macro you will need a ringlight which is a flash that is round and screws onto the front of your camera lens.

Macro is a whole new world and really fun. You would be amazed at how the most simple of things can become very interesting close up.

Bert H.

My camera is a Nikon with a marcro zoom lens that allows it to focus on an object (or markings) at a distance of just .4"

JohnnyBGood

If your lens is threaded on the end you can get a close up lens like this for $20-$30. A 7x or 10x should work good.



This corps badge measures about 1 1/4". The picture was taken with a fairly inexpensive $199 camera and a $30 close up lens, and was good enough quality to be pictured in a magazine. I could have zoomed in even more but this was close enough.



If you don't mind CHEATING and want to go really CHEAP, you can hold a magnifying glass over your camera lens and get good results. I have done this and the pictures were good enough to be published. The hardest part is holding everything steady as you almost need three hands, but it can be done.

John

iwannausername

One more vote for macro mode. Most digitals have 'em.

Another though I had but haven't tried yet is filling in lettering, stampings, etc. wtih baby powder or corn starch and then taking a pic. As long as it is dry, it should blow right out...

mrbruce

Any one that says a pocket digital won't take nice macros has never used a Fuji finepix F50SE that costs less than $250.00... or a Canon A-550 for less than $150.00
photo below should say it all.
It gives my big Canon and it's 100 mm macro a run for it's money...


]

leeblackman

If you have a local camera store (not circuit city or best buy, but a real one) take your camera in and ask them for some pointers. Buy a circular polarizing filter for you camera also, it will help get rid of glare when your shooting metal objects.

MosinNagantDisciple

This is far from idiot-proof, but if your camera lets you fiddle with lens/shutter settings:

Use a high f-stop - 8.0 or higher. This will make both foreground and background in focus.

Set the film speed to the lowest setting (ISO 100). This will keep your pictures from looking grainy.

Set the shutter speed fairly slow. A high f-stop means less light is getting through the shutter to the sensor, meaning you will have to open the shutter longer in order to get a properly-lit picture. You will probably have to fiddle with this value to get a picture that is not either pure white or too dark.

Use a tripod if at all possible. Or place the camera on a solid surface.