Quality Digital Photos

[Mikoli]

I have been able to take some decent photos using a digital camera but have not been able to get good solid detail on closeups they are always fuzzy.  I want to be able to feature certain items or techniques.  Any help appreciated and very welcome -

[marym]

Unfortunately, most digital camera's are limited on close-up shots, because the lenses are usually designed for 'snap shot' photography.

If your camera was designed to take a sharp close-up picture, there will be a setting in the menu area.  The setting is usually symbolized with a flower (refer to your owners manual for the correct close-up symbol). If you are already using that setting, then it sounds like you are just too close to the subject and your camera won't focus. Try backing up. You should be able to crop in with imaging software.

There are other ways to produce a good quality image- if you're set on using a camera, try purchasing a digital SLR. With a digital SLR you can buy a close-up lens. I use a Nikon D70 with what's called a macro lens.

If you’d like an inexpensive way of getting JUST a basic image, try using a color scanner.  If your item is small (I'm guessing jewelry, since this is a jewelry forum), lay it on your scanner bed. Use the settings in your scanner software to adjust exposure etc. You're limited with small scanning space, so there is not much creative room in how you lay out your item, and you cannot really use props, but you'll get a sharp image every time, and a nice piece of colored paper, or cloth can provide a decent background.

-Hope that helps!

-Mary

[Amethyst-Moon]

You can also try a  magnifying glass placed in front of the camera lens. You'd be amazed how well this works!

Luna~ '>

[Mikoli]

Thanks, I will try both options.  I have considered taking a digital photography but hoping to avoid if unless needed.  thanks again

[DawnV]

I'm new to taking pics of small object but I took this pic "quickly" with a digital and relied heavily on my Auto Focus plus no flash, but I have to have the window's bright Florida sunlight behind me or I would have to pull out the photo lamps.

Find a black t-shirt to lay your piece on, black shiny materials will reflect light back into your camera. Also set your camera's setting on high quality pics. Adobe Photoshop helps a lot too. I will take large pictures and crop them close up in Adobe.

I have a Sony Cyber-Shot 3.3 mega pixels and I love it. I have only taken 3 really quick pendant shots so far but I have found these few tricks to help. DV

[Kingfisher]

Hi,

A couple of things might help with the fuzzies - one is a tripod (even sit it on a soup can if you have to) and the other is either a remote shutter release or use the timer so you don't touch the camera and push the shutter release.

When you are that close, any tiny movement may cause the fuzzies.

Hope it helps a little,
Louise

[Metalman]

Another way round some of this is if you have software that can work with the photos.
I take high resolution, megabit files and crop then down to the details I need and then reset the file or pixell size to the usage I have need for.
For fine quality print you want 300 dpi resolution;
for average print, probably 150 dpi
for website, you can usually get by with 72dpi.