Taking photos of cameras

[msbarnes]

Not sure about everyone else but I absolutely hate taking pictures of cameras. What cameras do you prefer to use? And lenses?

I'm indifferent to gear porn but I am talking about taking pictures of my cameras/lenses to sell.

I typically set up my lenses and take pictures with my dslr (d70 + zoom lens) and get out of focus images and too little DOF, things that aren't immediately obvious by relying on an LCD screen. MF is a pain and AF is a bit tricky.

I feel like I should invest in a cheap M43 or NEX for this application. Or maybe a Canon S90.

 

[Ron (Netherlands)]

I use my old trusty Canon G2 (4 megapixels) for this type of work; has a very nice close focus setting

Here is a picture made with the G2 that should 'sell' the M2:

Below picture 'sold' the Z4 just yesterday evening:

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Yep! I'd buy that. 😀

Small sensor compacts are generally best for sales shots. Just put the camera on a tripod and use diffuse daylight. Sidelight with a nice reflector (any large piece of card) makes for really nice shots.

 

[mfogiel]

Put your Nikon on a tripod, close down to f16 or 22 and take it easy...

 

[msbarnes]

haha yeah. I think I just need to use a tripod and maybe a reflector. I always try to handheld it so I use wider apertures. I think that is my problem.

 

[daveleo]

Yep! I'd buy that. 😀

Small sensor compacts are generally best for sales shots. Just put the camera on a tripod and use diffuse daylight. Sidelight with a nice reflector (any large piece of card) makes for really nice shots.

Me too !
I set my sale items on a little table on the shaded porch and use a Panasonic P&S to take the pictures.

 

[Sparrow]

... dress the stage, and light it properly ... the camera and lens hardly matter but a good tripod is a must for me

... that's from the lady wife's Samsung nv3 🙂

 

[John E Earley]

I don't sell cameras but I do sometimes take photos of them. I too would use a tripod if I were selling one.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I set up a Lastolite cube with a small roll of white wallpaper with two light sources.
Gives a nice diffused look with little shadows.

You could do similar with a roll of wallpaper and a reflector on a dull day.

 

[Lauffray]

I just use my iPhone since I don't have a digital camera 😛

 

[dogberryjr]

Nikkor 55mm micro, tripod and light tent with white-to-black backdrop.

Dust off, reshoot, examine.
Dust off, reshoot, examine.
Dust off, reshoot, examine.
Dus . . . screw it. Post it.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Tripod and smallish aperture gets my vote and chose what you focus on carefully. More in focus behind that point than in front. A bit of paper as a reflector and experiment with EV adjustments as all black cameras can be a pita to get right.

Use the self timer to avoid camera shake as the button is pressed.

Regards, David

PS Putting the camera in a white bath is an old trick, try it. Empty the bath first. ;-)

 

[Godfrey]

Short tele lens, broad and diffuse light source, clean exposure ...
Simple table-top product photography. 🙂

My ancient Olympus E-1 and the 35mm Macro lens comes in very handy for this. Tripod, a couple of flash units if the sun's not up, etc.

G

 

[Jack Conrad]

Some cameras just seem to sell themselves.

With a little work.🙄 But I've been meaning to start a thread like this for some time. How do you light up a lens? How do you make the glass look really special?

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Small sensor camera give more DOF.

I've usually done this with diffuse lighting, but lately I've tried direct sunlight. This one shot with a Panasonic LX1 in direct sunlight with a sheet of paper as a reflector.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

What gets me is how difficult or impossible it is to get all the dust off them. And then they look as though they are covered in huge white specks.

Putting the shooting lens below and to the side of the lens being snapped seems to work and brings out the coating. I try to get the reflection of a window on the lens, rather than lights. It's not always possible.

Regards, David

 

[daveleo]

When photographing lenses for sale, I think it's important to show a clear shot or two of the rear end -
the lens mount markings can tell a lot about the wear and care given the lens and any rear element markings can have an impact on the images.

Lots of EBAY sales don't show this and I just skip over those ads.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I'd love to get a light box, or at least a proper light set-up for this kind of thing

Usually I close-focus with my Epson R-D1, sometimes on my leica Visoflex if I need to get really close.

 

[johannielscom]

I used a tripod, a sheet of white paper, overcast sky softbox and a Nikon D3100 with 1.4/58mm. Cropped the shot later. I did this using the guide found here: http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/prodphot/ and it's good enough for what I expect from it. The selective focus is a nice thing FAIC, this is not a shot to sell that camera but to praise it. It's had 40 years of cr*p thrown at it and the vulcanite came off where the photographers nose rubbed it, it's banged and brassed and still rocks on!

Here you can see it in a page on my new website: http://johanniels.com/index.php/fotografie

 

[tunalegs]

exa by berangberang, on Flickr

I just use a daylight balanced lamp and a reflector. Fiddle around in PS, and the result looks good to me.

Outdoor shots can work too:

exa by berangberang, on Flickr