[Jewelry making - Article 00856] - Re: [Orchid] [again] Digital cameras advice

[Wayne Emery]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Susan,

    You cannot go wrong with the newest Canon Rebel plus either a Canon
    100 mm Macro lens or the Sigma 105 mm macro lens, if you are serious
    about good images. 

    But....a knowledge of proper lighting is paramount. the best camera
    in the world can't make a good image of a poorly lit subject. 

    Other less expensive solutions are available, but there ARE some
    general guidelines.....here's an excerpt pertaining to digital
    camera choices from my CD "Jewelry Photography Made Easy". I hope it
    is of some use to you.... 

        The choice of camera is not trivial, but I want to emphasize it
        is not the camera that makes a "good" or "poor" image, it is the
        lighting environment. Just like a setting bur, torch tip or
        polishing buff, a camera should be chosen for the task at hand.
        A camera well suited to the task is a joy to use. It makes the
        job easy and the results predictable. Often, the camera that is
        fine for everyday snapshots may be the one you wish to press into
        service here, but for the demanding tasks we are engaging, it may
        disappoint, frustrate and not produce the desired results. Get
        the right tool, it's worth it. 

        Camera Considerations 

        For photographing jewelry and other small objects, here are the
        options a camera should have: 

        1. The camera must have the ability to focus close enough so
        that the image in the viewfinder screen is at least one-half of
        the screen height. Additionally, it must do so without getting
        so close to the object that light from the camera direction is
        blocked. Generally, we will need to be at least 6-8 inches away
        from the subject to avoid serious lighting problems. 

        2. The camera must have the ability to function in a fully
        manual mode, i.e., you should be able to independently adjust the
        aperture and the shutter speed. Many digital cameras in the less
        expensive range lack this feature, although many also include
        it. 

        3. The camera must allow a choice of white balance options or
        have the ability to take images in RAW mode. White balancing is
        one of those necessary chores we often avoid, with unhappy
        result. A camera capable of recording images in RAW format makes
        worrying about white balance a thing of the past. White balancing
        is not necessary in RAW mode; we can use any light source and not
        have to concern ourselves with setting white balance. In
        addition, use of RAW mode opens up the possibility of much nicer
        images. RAW capture is becoming a common feature, look for it.
        It's not necessary, but nice. 

        4. The camera should have either a self-timer for delayed
        exposure or be able to accept a manual or remote shutter release
        device. Any of those features are a real help when it comes to
        vibrationfree images. No matter how gentle you may think you are,
        it is nearly impossible to use your finger to release the shutter
        without introducing some form of camera movement. This slight
        movement may not be noticeable in informal snapshots, but in
        close-up or macro photography it is painfully obvious. Using the
        self-timer to release the shutter is often the best and easiest
        choice. A camera capable of producing a 3-4 mega pixel image is
        more than adequate for full frame prints up to 8x10 inches or for
        images that will be used on the web. More pixels help if you are
        cropping the image substantially or need very high quality
        prints. The standard today seems to be about 6-10 mega pixels,
        easily sufficient for our needs. 

        There are many fine camera choices at any given time. Complete
        non-biased reviews of almost all cameras and related equipment
        can be found at www.steves-digicams.com or www.dpreview.com. Just
        about every digital camera ever available is fully described at
        those sites. In addition, you will find discussion groups and a
        great number of links to other photography-related sites, both
        equipment and technique related. I very strongly recommend that
        you consider purchasing a D-SLR, which is a digital camera with
        interchangeable lenses. The ability to use a true macro lens or
        extension tubes with a normal or zoom lens is a tremendous aid to
        getting better images. Not only are the lenses optically
        excellent, but these cameras allow a comfortable working
        distance between the lens and the subject, something that can
        make like much easier in close-up photography. Also, the digital
        sensors used in the SLR style of camera are considerably larger
        than the sensors in the smaller, fixed lens models. The larger
        sensor provides a finer image although the difference may not
        always be noticeable until we get to the printing stage. 

        The field is always changing, but cameras from Canon, Nikon,
        Sony, Pentax, Samsung, Fuji, and Olympus are all solid pieces of
        equipment. 

        D-SLR's operate very similarly to 35 mm cameras, and even the
        simplest ones today offer a very impressive range of features for
        the money. If you are considering creating finer images for
        magazine advertising, or glossy brochures or flyers, the range
        of features of the D-SLR's should really be considered. A camera
        like the excellent and top-selling Canon Rebel xTi with a very
        fine Sigma 105 mm macro lens, ideal for jewelry (and portrait)
        work is available for about $1200 as of this writing (Summer,
        2007). 

        I have no connection with any camera or lens manufacturer and
        receive no reward or remuneration from anyone for my
        recommendations here, but I have been using the Canon Rebel xT
        for over two years and I am very impressed with the
        features/price ratio. It has been replaced by the even better
        xTi. Canon has almost half the market share of digital cameras,
        and the Rebel has been the top seller in D-SLR's since its
        inception. I recommend it highly. 

Wayne Emery
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________