Best cameras for close up pics and settings

[FifDeez]

Ok let's discuss camera settings in here instead of fresh out the kiln

[Cosmo]

Honestly, you don't need anything fancy. You just need a tripod, some halfway decent lights, and a camera that will allow you to shoot in full manual mode. I use a Canon T5i but you don't need something that expensive (and it's not really that expensive compared to a lot of stuff Canon makes).

You just need to learn how to get the best from your lights and what settings work best for your camera.

I can (and have) talk for hours about this. But it's not nearly as complicated as some would make you think it is.

[fUmEsNiFfEr]

My favorite trick is to use the timer.

Get your shot all set up and stand back while your camera does the work. I can never hold still enough for clean pictures. If I'm not touching the camera the shots are always 100% cleaner.

[Billyben]

Yup, tripod with remote shutter or delayed timer. Using a polarising filter is very effective.

if it's the look you are going for, a black background with a light tent.

I shoot a Nikon D3300. Manual settings, ISO 100, shutter 4-5 seconds, aperture 18-24.

Take a bunch of test shots. I underexpose slightly then bring the contrast back up in photoshop.

https://www.pixelz.com/blog/photographing-highly-reflective-products/

https://img0.etsystatic.com/110/0/12507416/il_570xN.925280738_6lkw.jpg

[MpVpRb]

Honestly, you don't need anything fancy

Mostly agreed, but...

Get a camera that shoots raw (I have a Sony RX10)

Cameras that don't shoot raw do a lot of processing to make the resulting picture, and make a lot of irreversible decisions

Shoot raw, then use a good editing tool (I use DXO OpticsPro)

[Cosmo]

Mostly agreed, but...

Get a camera that shoots raw (I have a Sony RX10)

Cameras that don't shoot raw do a lot of processing to make the resulting picture, and make a lot of irreversible decisions

Shoot raw, then use a good editing tool (I use DXO OpticsPro)

I have a different opinion on that.

Having been in the industry for over 2 decades I'm aware of the advantage of the RAW format. But for the average person it's extreme overkill and adds even more complication to the process.

If we were discussing this on a professional photography forum I would probably agree with you completely. But for the average person I don't think RAW is necessary.

[dustyg]

I have a different opinion on that.

Having been in the industry for over 2 decades I'm aware of the advantage of the RAW format. But for the average person it's extreme overkill and adds even more complication to the process.

If we were discussing this on a professional photography forum I would probably agree with you completely. But for the average person I don't think RAW is necessary.

If you're selling glass through your photographs of it, then you're a professional glass photographer. Shooting RAW makes it easier to get high quality, true-to-life photographs.

[Sparkey]

I'll add to the chorus of timers and tripods, but add that a low end Canon or Nikon used that way can take spectacular pictures for no other reason than they're making the best glass. High quality reflective black acrylic plastic to photograph pieces on top of is also a good investment.

I built a light diffuser similar to this one using a $2 plastic shower curtain:

84066

And would shine a light similar to this through it:

84067

And after those contortions I would finally get a decent photo (without glare) on a good sized vase. It was set on a table that was roughly a foot from the wall, the wall was painted white, and a light was pointed at the wall from underneath the table to get it backlit and diffused off the wall.

[FifDeez]

Ya diffused lighting is a must for preventing glare. But my old camera is a dino in today's market, and you can see it in all my pics how fuzzy that results.