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First budget DSLR - under $400 w/ lens - Product shots

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Go to solution Solved by Silvercall,

Instead of Ebay, I would probably  purchase gear from B&H Photo, Adorama or KEH.  Better piece of mind if something goes wrong:

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Brand_Nikon&ci=15488&N=4294182649+4291315846

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?op=itemlist&cat1=Used&cat2=Nikon%20Digital&cat3=Cameras&sel=ItemCondition_UsedItems&Startat=1

http://www.keh.com/Camera/format-Digital/system-Nikon-Digital/category-Camera-Outfits?s=1&bcode=DN&ccode=1&cc=80172&r=WG&f

 

Ive purchased from all three and they have great service.  KEH is pretty conservative when it comes to rating the condition of their products.  I would recommend the following:

 

- At least one flash which you would shoot OFF camera.  It will drastically improve the photo. Look for an SB600 or SB700.  (At this time, one flash, umbrella/softbox, and reflector may be all you need.)

- tripod.  If you want the sharpest photos, this will be your best bet.  Also, it helps when you need to compose the picture as the camera stays where it needs to be and you can just adjust the products.

- a reflector. Something like this:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800991878-USE/creative_light_100857_5_in_1_reflector_38_95cm.html you use it on the opposite side of the flash or light source to lighten the shadowed side of the subject/product, pretty handy. A large white poster board will do the same trick.

- a shoot through umbrella or softbox (highly recommended).  What you have linked above IS NOT a softbox.  It is more a mini studio with lights.  A softbox is literally a box that you shot your flash through.  An umbrella can do the same thing but for a lot cheaper.  A softbox will defuse the light nice though....  

This is a softbox: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800942712-USE/lastolite_ll_ls2496_ezybox_softbox_36_x.html  There are many different shapes, sizes and companies that make them.  You will have to decide what is best for you... I would probably go for a shoot through umbrella: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/423631-REG/Impact_UBBW60_60_Convertible_Umbrella.html I have one just like it and its pretty versatile. 

- light stand to hold your flash and light modifier. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Lightstands/ci/5799/N/4062040357

- In order to shoot the flash off camera, you will have to trigger the off camera flash somehow.  There are a few ways to do this, attach the flash via cable, use the slave function on the camera (if it has it) or use wireless transmitters.  I use this: CyberSyn Trigger Transmitter & Receiver ($59 & $69 respectively) http://www.paulcbuff.com/cybersync.php  There are several companies that make similar products but these were cheaper and I have never had a problem with them (for what I use them for).

 

That light box that you  linked may work for you but I think I would go with what I recommended above.  Its more versatile in my opinion.  I highly highly HIGHLY recommend checking out the Strobist site.  He has a great Lighting 101 write up. http://strobist.blogspot.ca/2006/03/lighting-101.html

 

I hope this helps :)

Posted

I've been thinking....  Just send me the products like the O2 and ODAC and I'll take the shots for you.  I can't promise that the items will make it back to you though...  Canada post is notorious for losing stuff.

 

:ph34r:

lol, had the same idea :P

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I've been thinking....  Just send me the products like the O2 and ODAC and I'll take the shots for you.  I can't promise that the items will make it back to you though...  Canada post is notorious for losing stuff.

 

:ph34r:

 

Lol, no that's okay. The whole point of me buying all this stuff is so I don't have to go out of my way to take pictures.

 

Edit- All you guys want is free stuff!

 

I'm still getting kind of shitty shots...

 

ISO 100

F/8

Shutter speed is very low

 

Here is the photo un-edited

 

 

O0QfW7S.jpg

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Okay getting there... You're mixing flash with those incandescents though, aren't you? If so lose the flash.

 

DOF isn't working for this product, it might if you got closer and changed the angle, but as is I would stop down to f/11

 

Edit: The shadows aren't very pleasing, mostly due to the shape of the object, for even light just have them at 45 deg angles shooting through the sides of the cube and try lowering them a bit to cast the shadow a bit further out.

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Posted

Okay getting there... You're mixing flash with those incandescents though, aren't you? If so lose the flash.

 

DOF isn't working for this product, it might if you got closer and changed the angle, but as is I would stop down to f/11

 

he should try the egg with the white background shot. After that every product shot is easy 

#KilledMyWife 

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Posted

Lol, no that's okay. The whole point of me buying all this stuff is so I don't have to go out of my way to take pictures.

 

Edit- All you guys want is free stuff!

 

I'm still getting kind of shitty shots...

 

ISO 100

F/8

Shutter speed is very low

 

Here is the photo un-edited

 

 

- put the item more in a straight line (i.e. both ends of the connectors in one plane prallel to the cam).

- put aperture to f/11

- manual focus (probaby easiest with live view)

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I think it looks a lot better.  What did you change?  Is your set up like this or similar?

 

i-QnLjqk2-XL.png

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I believe that was without a flash, f11 or f10, manual focus, I think 2 or 1.6 aperture.

 

edit yes, I'll take a picture of what it looks like right now,

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No flash, with all of the lights turned off except the incandescent. Aperture was 3 I believe, F10.

 

No editing.

 

hXyhIld.jpg

 

 

Picture of my setup (camera sits above tri-pod obviously)

 

mYDUr6w.jpg

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No flash, with all of the lights turned off except the incandescent. Aperture was 3 I believe, F10.

 

No editing.

 

 

 

 

Picture of my setup (camera sits above tri-pod obviously)

 

 

 

Your getting the hang of it I think. Try moving the lights a little bit farther away 

#KilledMyWife 

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Posted

Soo much better :)

 

Would be nicer just to get the WB near enough spot on in camera, just for good practice, you might have to set up a custom WB for it. There's a touch of noise too, but I think that's really a limitation of the lighting and the longer shutter speed.

 

But yeah that's awesome, really coming together now, try different products and play about with composition and DOF.

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Soo much better :)

 

Would be nicer just to get the WB near enough spot on in camera, just for good practice, you might have to set up a custom WB for it. There's a touch of noise too, but I think that's really a limitation of the lighting and the longer shutter speed.

 

But yeah that's awesome, really coming together now, try different products and play about with composition and DOF.

 

Will do, I'll post a bunch of the photo's here before putting them on the website.

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