Thread: Photographing pens

Currently I'm just using a phone camera, what are others using?

Nicely finished up mate, good to hear that its already sold

for my photos i use an photo light box that i purchased, the lights were crap, so i built a frame around the outside of the box and run 4 strips of LED's, for a background i use some large tiles i found
one of my LED strips is dying so i will have to buy some more soon
Camera is a Nikon P90, not an SLR but its about 1 step away

MIK

Originally Posted by george mavridis

Currently I'm just using a phone camera, what are others using?

I use a Nikon D7100 DSLR with an old Nikon 55mm macro lens, and a homemade lightbox that is a constant WIP for the last 4 or 5 years.

I should add that I think the most important thing to get good photos of your pens, is the lighting. Get the lighting right and you are almost there. Which camera you have is down the list, you don't need an expensive camera to take good pen photos.

Originally Posted by Ironwood

I should add that I think the most important thing to get good photos of your pens, is the lighting. Get the lighting right and you are almost there. Which camera you have is down the list, you don't need an expensive camera to take good pen photos.

Without splurging out on a new camera could you take a decent photo with a phone camera if your lighting was up to scratch? I was looking at some cameras and the wife started muttering "now you need a camera" lol

Originally Posted by george mavridis

Without splurging out on a new camera could you take a decent photo with a phone camera if your lighting was up to scratch? I was looking at some cameras and the wife started muttering "now you need a camera" lol

I am sure in the right hands a phone could take very good pen photos. I have never taken a photo with my phone, so I am not the one to give advice on how.
I have seen some awesome landscape photos taken with an iPhone, but the bloke that took them is a very capable photographer.
Some of the newer phones have quite capable cameras in them (so I have been told anyway), but I like to have control, so I would be a bit lost trying to get the best out of them.

Originally Posted by george mavridis

Without splurging out on a new camera could you take a decent photo with a phone camera if your lighting was up to scratch? I was looking at some cameras and the wife started muttering "now you need a camera" lol

lighting is one of the biggest issues ... try taking pickies outside in the shade, on the dining table under the lights at different times of the day, just experiment with what you have, you will find the right situation to get the best out of what you have

Thanks guys, I do have an older Canon Finepix F20 digital camera but it's only 6.3 MP. I think my sons Samsung phone has about 12MP. I have been given some great advice s will be implementing them. It's a learning process doing pens and now adding photography.

Originally Posted by george mavridis

Thanks guys, I do have an older Canon Finepix F20 digital camera but it's only 6.3 MP. I think my sons Samsung phone has about 12MP. I have been given some great advice s will be implementing them. It's a learning process doing pens and now adding photography.

you don't need that high of a MP ... my pickies are only 1024 X 768

Your Canon 6.3 MP should take fine pics
and they will most likely be better than the Samsung phone

a higher mega pixel count doesn't necessarily mean a better quality photo

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Your Canon 6.3 MP should take fine pics
and they will most likely be better than the Samsung phone

a higher mega pixel count doesn't necessarily mean a better quality photo

Sorry guys it's a Fuji not Canon but still 6.3MP

Nick is correct, 6mp is more than enough for the small images we display here.
Before I bought a DSLR, I was was using a Canon point & shoot camera with 6mp, it was capable of taking photos more than good enough for web display. I got frustrated with it because of the lack of control, it didn't have a manual mode, the white balance settings weren't very helpful, and it could only produce JPEG's. Looking back, my biggest problem was I didn't understand how important proper lighting is for producing quality photos. 5 years later I am still trying to get the lighting just right .

George, it might be better if we start a new thread with a more suitable title to discuss this topic. Maybe one of the mods could take some of these posts into the new thread.

Brad I agree and I'm sorry to have highjacked the thread.

I just use stuff I had sitting around anyway - my dining table, a canon DSLR and flash, and this ryobi shoplight (damn useful thing!):

https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-on...-only_p6210577

There are times when another light source could come in handy. I'm hoping ryobi release this here in AU, and will pick one up if so!

Ryobi 18V or Corded Hybrid LED Cable Light (Hands-On)

Cheers,

Danny