Which Cameras and with What Settings do people use to photograph gun parts?

[Mikey51]

Gunner. please give us a close up pic of the of the markings on that left hand receiver rail. Many Thanks. Mike.

[gunner]

Hi Mike,

i´ll do that as soon as i am back from bowhunting at our 3D course!

See you later

Gunner

[jmoore]

I really ought to buy a "real" camera. I either borrow a fairly decent SLR digital Sony or use my "prize" for 20yrs faithful service: a Fujifilm A170 "toy camera". All my good cameras date to the film era. But the tripods still come in handy.

If I could figure out how to keep the little Fujifilm's flash from overpowering the photo I'd call it servicable, but it's right annoying, esp. because I don't have much time from work lately to do much of any fancy photo work. Gotta be fast! And have run-on sentences!

Quick handheld photo w/ the Fujifilm:




Annoying flash washout!:

It also wants to focus on the background as there's no manual focus, but I'm learning to work around it. (slowly)

[Ramboueille]

JM,

Turn your flash off and set a slower shutter speed. Many have the misconception that you need a flash, even indoors, which is not always true. Or set your flash to the lowest brightness it will shoot at.

[CrossedCannons]

Autofocus in macro mode can sometimes be tricky/annoying too. I use an Olympus 3040Z and sometimes I have to fool the camera into focusing on what I want rather than what it thinks I want. And don't need any special "camera software". Works just like a floppy drive and Irfanview has hall the photoprocessing functions I need for free.

[Ramboueille]

CC,

Take your photo from further back (12-16") at the largest size you can take, crop out what you don't want so it pulls it in closer. That method will focus the photo on a larger area. You can still use your macro close-up setting. It's difficult to explain because all the cameras are different. Just practice it.

[jmoore]

JM,

Turn your flash off and set a slower shutter speed. Many have the misconception that you need a flash, even indoors, which is not always true. Or set your flash to the lowest brightness it will shoot at.

You make me realize I haven't the foggiest idea HOW to make this camera do tricks! It's too simple appearing. I need manual controls for everything, then it's all visible and I can sort it out. "Menus" and a book manual that was pretty much worthless have wrecked the learning curve! (And to think I spent summers back in the stone age doing catalog photography, as an assistant, w/ a 4"x5" portrait camera....)

[Jim Nasium]

I now use a Sony a350. It's what I used in the recent Bavarian series. But it doesn't take any better photos than my old Koduck. It's got more bells and whistles than I know what to do with.
Johnny is correct. A good tripod is a big piece of the puzzle. And like Tired Retired. I also use an old spotting scope tripod with good success on the small pieces. Works real good on top of the island in the middle of our kitchen. Recently got a wide-dangle ;-) lens I'm farting with for bigger stuff.
If your camera has the feature, I find a remote shutter release is VERY handy. Keeps the worry out of being close. !!

Ronnie, aka Jim

P.S. Film is "cheap". Shoot lots of photos at different settings/angles

[Ramboueille]

JM,

You're no different than anyone else using a new digital camera. Most of us, except the professionals, use 25% of the features that an intermediate digital camera offers. I only use "auto" controls for outside family photos, for gun and parts photos, it's manual settings and a good tripod, and practice. My son and I bought a top notch tripod (~$90) a few years ago and that purchase was a "no brainer." They are universal and will fit most all digital cameras if you want detailed photos of guns and parts.

Photo taken from my workbench a year ago (Canon A620, three years old) on a tripod from 16" under florescent lights (alleged to be a big no-no but not true), manual settings. I am not a professional by any stretch but this photo would publish commercially easy. Use a neutral backgound that doesn't clash.

Attachment 14172

[Harlan (Deceased)]

If your camera has the feature, I find a remote shutter release is VERY handy. Keeps the worry out of being close. !!

Ronnie, aka Jim

I agree with Ron here....
At very close distances, the act of pushing the button can move the camera ever so slightly, even when using a tripod. Most cameras have a delay setting (sometimes used to take photos of yourself, etc) -
Many cameras have a delay as short as one or two seconds, and I use it so I don't disrupt the camera when the photo is actually taken. I think it's as important as the tripod.
I hope this is understandable, as it's a good tool in getting clear macro photos.

These were taken with an older inexpensive Sony with only a bipod and three second delay.