How can I get a better result?

Trying to get some updated pics of my Hot Wheels collection I have hanging up in one of our bedrooms (2,423 HW's up on the walls).

1st three pics are almost 2 years old and with my old P&S Sony DSC-F828, 4th pic is from today with the XT & 12-24mm.

Any suggestions on what to try? I'm lacking a Flash still, would like to add a 430EX to my bag soon.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

If you don't have an externala flash, then make do without the flash at all. Put the camera on a tripod and take the pictures using ambient lighting. If possible, set your WB using CWB (custom white balance).

BTW, if you did have an external flash, what you want to do is point it straight up towards the ceiling so that you don't get the flash reflected off the plastic packagings of the HWs, creating a hot spot like you have in all the images you posted.

TXClark,
I agree with PacAce, try to get your shot with a tripod and long exposure. The brighter the room the better (sun light is best) but if artificial light white balance settings will need to be changed

It will be VERY difficult to get rid of the hotspot entirely, if your flash is at the camera position even if you aim it upward toward the ceiling! The flash lens itself will always have a bit of its face visible to the wall being photographed, so 'angle of incidence is angle of reflection' comes into play and you SEE the flash lens with the camera! You MUST move the flash away from the camera so that its reflection would not be seen (if you had a mirror on that wall instead of a bunch of CD packages). In photo 4, the hot spot is reduced in size, but you still CAN see the flash in the photo.

the hot spot is from the light in the room (ceiling fan mounted). No flash used.

tripod and longer shutter was used for the 4th image today.

Wilt wrote in post #2063241
It will be VERY difficult to get rid of the hotspot entirely, if your flash is at the camera position even if you aim it upward toward the ceiling! The flash lens itself will always have a bit of its face visible to the wall being photographed, so 'angle of incidence is angle of reflection' comes into play and you SEE the flash lens with the camera! You MUST move the flash away from the camera so that its reflection would not be seen (if you had a mirror on that wall instead of a bunch of CD packages). In photo 4, the hot spot is reduced in size, but you still CAN see the flash in the photo.

You can always use a white card on the "wrong" side of the flash.

TXClark wrote in post #2063304
the hot spot is from the light in the room (ceiling fan mounted). No flash used.

tripod and longer shutter was used for the 4th image today.

Ah, that explains why the hot spots were so high. I was wondering what and why you were standing on top of to get so high up towards the ceiling.

TXClark,
Ahh.. then my suggestion is: try to partially block the light at its source. ex. place a piece of white paper (or anything that reduces the light) close to the light to diffuse it (not to close, light might be hot ).

Good Luck

Wilt wrote in post #2063241
The flash lens itself will always have a bit of its face visible to the wall being photographed.

If this is a problem, you can swivel it around backwards and point it mostly up and slightly to the rear.

I have been known to bounce flash off the wall behind me, but this guy doesn't have any walls left!

This is a situation where it will be difficult not to get some glare from the light source, no matter where you put it.