Please, help me decide on a micro ring light!

microcrafter wrote in post #2459492
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Thanks, Leo! I have two tripods ... a mini one that came with an old Yashica film camera I have, and the tripod that came with the tent kit I got on EBay.

Now my husband is beginning to tell me I should have gotten an SLR -- which is a different tune from the one he was singing when I first said I wanted an SLR and he heard how much it would cost. Coming to this forum may turn out to work out to be even better than I thought!

I figured that you all have several (and very likely expensive) cameras, but which SLR would you recommend for someone with a limited experience ... and that doesn't cost a great deal ... but takes macro photos? Tall order, huh!

Now a question ... what are mirrors? Is that like the mirror images in my desktop publishing and/or photo editing programs?

Thanks for your help, guys!

Nertha

SLR's (and DSLR's) use a mirror that allows you to see exactly the image the sensor/film will see through the viewfinder. When a picture is taken, the mirror is flipped up to let the light hit the film/sensor. The movement of the flip-up can cause the camera to shake. Most SLR's offer an option to flip the mirror up before you take the photo, so the shake has steadied itself.

Curtis N wrote in post #2459638
Don't jump on that boat too quickly, until you're convinced that the camera you have prevents you from getting the shots you want.

Small format cameras are ideally suited for macro work. They inherently give you greater depth-of-field which will help you keep more of your subject in focus.

DSLR cameras have their advantages, but they are expensive, require more knowlege to use correctly, and won't necessarily solve your problems. My hunch is that you have barely begun to realize the potential of the camera you have.

(sigh) Can you hear my husband's sigh of relief, Curtis? It is so good to hear that I may not need to buy a new camera right away. Once I learn more from you guys I'm pretty sure I may want to graduate to an SLR, but in the meantime I will get to know my PowerShot A620 and take advantage of all it has to offer.

For one thing, it takes photos as close as 1/2" ... and when I followed the advice that several of the forum members posted, I discovered that my problem was that the camera's lense only came about half way to the front tip of the adapter. So I took the adapter off, held the ring light to the camera lense, and here are the results.

So I decided to keep the ring light and get some lights to use with my tent. And ... I plan to continue learning from you guys!

Nertha

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DavidEB wrote in post #2459823
well, the camera you're using seems to have color balance controls. In the menu, change from AWB (auto white balance) to custom. Now put a piece of white paper in your milk jug, and shoot a picture of it. The camera will use that as "white" regardless of the actual type of light used. I like the $10 desk lamps with goosenecks from office supply stores as they can be positioned just where you want them.

sturdy is only part of the issue. the rest is positioning. See >>>this post<<<

Wow, I didn't realize how little I knew about photography until I came here, David! Thanks for te info on the color balance controls. Will definitely look into it and save myself some money in the process by getting some inexpensive lights.

I went to see the info on the tripods and I see what you mean ... I need a contorsionist tripod ... the more angles it can bend to, the better.

Thank you guys, for all the help!

Nertha

lakiluno wrote in post #2460018
SLR's (and DSLR's) use a mirror that allows you to see exactly the image the sensor/film will see through the viewfinder. When a picture is taken, the mirror is flipped up to let the light hit the film/sensor. The movement of the flip-up can cause the camera to shake. Most SLR's offer an option to flip the mirror up before you take the photo, so the shake has steadied itself.

Thanks so much for the explanation, Leo, I was way off in my guess of what you meant about the mirrors! Today I learned some new things.

Nertha

by the way, the miniatures look very impressive. I'm guessing a lotta work went into that.

DavidEB wrote in post #2462378
by the way, the miniatures look very impressive. I'm guessing a lotta work went into that.

Thanks, David, I am so glad you like my micro minis! The last photo I posted, the piece I titled "A Garden Grows in Brooklyn" and it is 2"W x 1 1/2"D x 1"H
Yes, there is work involved, mostly mental, since there is not as many items commercially available in the 1:144th scale as there are for the railroad scales. Part of the fun is figuring out what to use to make furniture, kitchen cabinets, etc. I use some landscaping materials that the model railroad hobbyists use, but the most fun is making a gazebo out of a champagne cork cover, for instance. Very much like your creating the tent out of pvc tubing

When I am working I forget about time. I am sure that you (and everyone on the forum) feel the same way when you are working on your photos, and Eve and her potter friends when they are working on their beautiful pottery pieces. By the way, my husband complaints because he says I spend as much time on the computer playing with my graphics and photo editing programs as I do playing with my minis.

Nertha