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Forums - News / General |
For General modelling or hobby-related topics that are not covered by any other specific forum. Please keep to topics concerning the hobby. |
| Topics | 2899 |
| Messages | 21057 |
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| Subject: | Digital camera's. Do's and dont's. |  |
| Date: | Dec 8, 2002 |
| From: | Marcel Jussen | |
Niko,
In general I recommend to look for a high resolution camera with a good
macro option. Maybe you would like to print your pictures yourself or in a
professional lab? In that case less than 2 megapixels is not favorable and
more is better but also more expensive. Make sure the camera is capable of
taking pictures of at least 1024 by 768 pixels. I photograph my models with
1600 x 1200 pixels and scale them down in Adobe Photoshop. This way I get
maximum resolution and scaling down to 640 x 480 for the Track-Link gallery
doesn't loose to much details.
So you want to take pictures of your models. I that case I recommend to
specifically look for digital cameras with a good macro option. Most digital
cameras have a great macro option. but make sure to test the camera in the
shop for it's macro abilities! Do not confuse macro with a strong digital
zoom function. Most digital photocamera's and videocameras have a digital
zoom which is totally useless. Digital zooming is achieved by interpolating
the pixels of the image creating a zoom effect. This also causes a dramatic
decrease in quality of the image. Don't worry, all camera's combine analog
(lense adjustments) and digital zooming and for plastic model photography
you won't need them anyway. If you now your way around SLR camera's then
options like adjusting apperture, ISO, and some digital gadgets like
indoor-outdoor lighting and more of that are handy too.
Just a few tips:
- When you photograph models, and I mean the plastic kind, you'll be
spending most of your time in macro mode. Do not use the zoom function!
Macro mode means putting your lens in it widest angle and then go nearer and
nearer to your model. This way you can take upclose shot's of your model and
discover things you normally don't see.
Make sure your apperture is set for endless distance (dunno how to describe
that in a different way...) or else some parts of the model are out of
focus. Badly enough while in macro mode some parts will always be blurred.
If you take a photo from let's say the end of a gun tube chances are that
most parts of the turret and hull tend to be blurred. Check your apperture
settings then!
- Never ever use the build-in flash light of your digital camera! Your
camera is at max about 20-30 cm away of your model and flashing will create
an unrealistic over exposed photograph with disturbing shades around your
model. Some digital camera's have the option to decrease the power of the
flashlight but that won't work either. Use some extra lights around your
photo setup and your set to go without flashing aids. I use one 150 watt
lamp and two additional lamps. No special photographic lamps since Adobe can
take away any blue shines. At best take your model outside in dry but
preferably clouded weather conditions (early mornings). This way you get a
nice soft naturally dispersed light that doesn't cause strong shades.
Kind regards,
Marcel Jussen
PS: I use a Sony DSC-P50 (2.1 megapixels) which I bought about one and a
half year ago. A decent camera but there are far better
ones....unfortunately. |
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 | Digicamera suggestions? - Niko Asposalo - Dec 8, 2002 |
| . . . Digital camera's. Do's and dont's. - Marcel Jussen - Dec 8, 2002 |
| . . . . . . Re: Digital camera's. Do's and dont's. - Paul Roberts - Dec 8, 2002 |
| . . . Re: Digicamera suggestions? - Andy Herbert - Dec 8, 2002 |
| . . . Re: Digicamera suggestions? - Christophe Jacquemont - Dec 9, 2002 |
| . . . Thanks everyone:) Re: Digicamera suggestions? - Niko Asposalo - Dec 9, 2002 |
| . . . Re: Digicamera suggestions? - Adam Vukich - Dec 9, 2002 |
| . . . Re: Digicamera suggestions? - john - Dec 9, 2002 |
| . . . How much do you want to spend???? - Pekka Nieminen - Dec 9, 2002 |
| . . . Re: Digicamera suggestions? - Chris Monck - Dec 10, 2002 |
| . . . Don't forget harware to back up photos! - Ken Hartlen - Dec 10, 2002 |
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