Taking Miniature pics with a digital camera...
- Thread starter WarHAMMER
- Start date
Dont confuse the digital zoom with the ability toget a close focus. As long as you\'ve got a macro facility nad good resolution then you are half way there. Follow the articles by HOnza on single light source photography and any others and then Bingo.
H.I.H.
H.I.H.
Zoom schmoom...
IMO you don\'t need a zoom unless you want to take pictures of your mini from the other side of the room.
Zooms are useful when you are unable or unwilling to get close to your subject. Neither of these should apply when taking pics of minis.
What you do need, as Dragonsreach said, is a macro facility so that you can get good quality close ups.
IMO you don\'t need a zoom unless you want to take pictures of your mini from the other side of the room.
Zooms are useful when you are unable or unwilling to get close to your subject. Neither of these should apply when taking pics of minis.
What you do need, as Dragonsreach said, is a macro facility so that you can get good quality close ups.
macro...
I just replaced my old broken down digital with a newer (new to me) model.
I bought the Nikon Coolpix 885. It is an older model, so I found it relatively cheap. It still has 3.2 Megapixels.
The macro mode on that is great! It is extremely easy to use, and although I still have plenty to learn, it was so simple to set up. I was so excited when I got it (just last Thursday) I haven\'t had a chance to really study the manual, as I have been snapping pics of everything in my house (and outside as well).
I feel I will be able to take a good representation of my mini\'s once I have it set up properly.
A month or so ago, I borrowed my sisters fancy 700 dollar Olympus. While I am sure it is a great camera in itself, I struggled with the set ups and the menu.
I bought the Nikon on recommendations from the extremely smart folks here on CMON. So far they haven\'t led me astray!
Good luck!
I just replaced my old broken down digital with a newer (new to me) model.
I bought the Nikon Coolpix 885. It is an older model, so I found it relatively cheap. It still has 3.2 Megapixels.
The macro mode on that is great! It is extremely easy to use, and although I still have plenty to learn, it was so simple to set up. I was so excited when I got it (just last Thursday) I haven\'t had a chance to really study the manual, as I have been snapping pics of everything in my house (and outside as well).
I feel I will be able to take a good representation of my mini\'s once I have it set up properly.
A month or so ago, I borrowed my sisters fancy 700 dollar Olympus. While I am sure it is a great camera in itself, I struggled with the set ups and the menu.
I bought the Nikon on recommendations from the extremely smart folks here on CMON. So far they haven\'t led me astray!
Good luck!
Supervike & Tooshy yep you can\'t beat a Nikon. One thing though the manual\'s a swine to get through. My wife bought me a Coolpix 5000 for Xmas and I still haven\'t figured it all out yet.
Warhammer: Glad to have been of some help hope to see some of your work up here soon.
Finn17: See, being an old Shutter Bug has finally paid off. lol
Warhammer: Glad to have been of some help hope to see some of your work up here soon.
Finn17: See, being an old Shutter Bug has finally paid off. lol
Finn17
Yeah! RTFM = Read The Flaming Manual. (IT jargon applies to so many things!)
Just a few questions
I was just wondering, how far away from the mini should I take my pictures ? I ask this because every time I take a picture from up close, with the mini filling all the screen I get a bad picture, but every time I take it from a bit further I get a pretty good picture but it seems kinda small compared to the pictures on this site. Then again it might just be because I\'m using a very, very old camera.
I was just wondering, how far away from the mini should I take my pictures ? I ask this because every time I take a picture from up close, with the mini filling all the screen I get a bad picture, but every time I take it from a bit further I get a pretty good picture but it seems kinda small compared to the pictures on this site. Then again it might just be because I\'m using a very, very old camera.
FrenchKid: Use Honza\'s article and in Macro mode aim to be about 30cm +/-away from the miniature. (See you can teach an old dog new tricks). You can always zoom in but the distance allows for better illumination into the shadows & difficult shapes.
As for the backgrounds use a medium or light background (Light Blue or Light Grey) this helps with the exposure and the white balance.
Hope this helps.
As for the backgrounds use a medium or light background (Light Blue or Light Grey) this helps with the exposure and the white balance.
Hope this helps.
Another reason might be...
There is a phenomena called \'camera shake\' which is extremely common and often ignored.
When you are close enough to the mini so that it is filling the screen, there is probably very little light actually entering the lens. Therefore the shutter has to stay open a fraction longer in order to allow sufficient light in, to form an image.
During this time, if you move even slightly, if your heart beats, the camera will move fractionally and the picture will look blurred.
The answer is to use a tripod and the self-timer facility. Problem cured
There is a phenomena called \'camera shake\' which is extremely common and often ignored.
When you are close enough to the mini so that it is filling the screen, there is probably very little light actually entering the lens. Therefore the shutter has to stay open a fraction longer in order to allow sufficient light in, to form an image.
During this time, if you move even slightly, if your heart beats, the camera will move fractionally and the picture will look blurred.
The answer is to use a tripod and the self-timer facility. Problem cured
Frenchkid:
We may be wicked but we\'re not that wicked. Well maybe not.:innocent:
What us. What ever gives you that idea!
We may be wicked but we\'re not that wicked.
Well maybe not.:innocent: