Recommendations for macro photography

I need to take close up pictures w/a digital camera. I also need some
portrait type shots, but mostly it is close up work (e.g. parts the
size of a paper clip).

What do folks recommend in the digital world? None of the digital
cameras I've used have handled macro well - in that the flash simply
does not work right in macro mode - it is overpowering and comes from
the upper right.

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?

Thanks in advance
Nick

Nick C. asks:

What do folks recommend in the digital world? None of the digital
cameras I've used have handled macro well - in that the flash simply
does not work right in macro mode - it is overpowering and comes from
the upper right.

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?

Same techniques you use in film photography, including losing the lousy
on-camera flash. Best bet is to get one of the Nikon's that focuses down to 1",
to save money. Good cameras, all told, and used ones are fairly cheap these
days. I think the Coolpix 975 and 990 series work well, according to friends
who have them. Place your small objects where they are evenly lighted, use a
tripod, and use the timer to fire the camera. Piddle with lighting and settings
until you get what you want.

Or, if the object is small enough (paper clip size works), build a light box:
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box

Charlie Self
"America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the
well-wisher to freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and
vindicator only of her own." John Quincy Adams

"Charlie Self" wrote in message
...

Or, if the object is small enough (paper clip size works), build a light
box:
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box

Thanks for posting the link to the homemade lightbox.
-tom

"Charlie Self" wrote in message
...

Or, if the object is small enough (paper clip size works), build a light
box:
http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/light_box

Thanks for posting the link to the homemade lightbox.
-tom

On 28 Sep 2004 08:30:13 -0700, (Nick C.) wrote:

I need to take close up pictures w/a digital camera. I also need some
portrait type shots, but mostly it is close up work (e.g. parts the
size of a paper clip).

What do folks recommend in the digital world? None of the digital
cameras I've used have handled macro well - in that the flash simply
does not work right in macro mode - it is overpowering and comes from
the upper right.

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?

Thanks in advance
Nick


Some solutions to the lighting problems are here

http://www.photoprojects.net/index8.html


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

On 28 Sep 2004 08:30:13 -0700, (Nick C.) wrote:

I need to take close up pictures w/a digital camera. I also need some
portrait type shots, but mostly it is close up work (e.g. parts the
size of a paper clip).

What do folks recommend in the digital world? None of the digital
cameras I've used have handled macro well - in that the flash simply
does not work right in macro mode - it is overpowering and comes from
the upper right.

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?

Use a DSLR with a macro lens and ring flash

Nick C. wrote:
I need to take close up pictures w/a digital camera. I also need some
portrait type shots, but mostly it is close up work (e.g. parts the
size of a paper clip).

What do folks recommend in the digital world? None of the digital
cameras I've used have handled macro well - in that the flash simply
does not work right in macro mode - it is overpowering and comes from
the upper right.

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?

Thanks in advance
Nick

Time for a digital SLR and a good book on macro photography. When using
a digital SLR it is the same solutions used by film SLRs.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Nick C. wrote:
I need to take close up pictures w/a digital camera. I also need some
portrait type shots, but mostly it is close up work (e.g. parts the
size of a paper clip).

What do folks recommend in the digital world? None of the digital
cameras I've used have handled macro well - in that the flash simply
does not work right in macro mode - it is overpowering and comes from
the upper right.

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?

Thanks in advance
Nick

Time for a digital SLR and a good book on macro photography. When using
a digital SLR it is the same solutions used by film SLRs.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

(Nick C.) wrote in news:1194a51a.0409280730.3c2e8594
@posting.google.com:

Is there a camera with a ring-flash type setup? What other techniques
do digital photographers use for macro photography?



The Nikon Coolpix 5xxx cameras have a standard ISO flash shoe. Nikon makes
an extention cable. You could use the same off camera flash setups with
these camears that you use for any other cameras. Using a generic flash
extention cable would probably work just as well, since the camera does not
actually have TTL metering.

Bob

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