Another DIY light box, with build and test pics

toadhunter911 wrote in post #13362509
Finally got off my dead ass and built my DIY lightbox. Here's the set-up...

New Lightbox First Attempt 114 (1) by toadhunter911, on Flickr

And the resulting picture. Forgot all about trying the glass under the subject. Gotta remember tomorrow.

New Lightbox First Attempt 108 (1) by toadhunter911, on Flickr

And another...

New Lightbox First Attempt 101 (1) by toadhunter911, on Flickr

Looking good!

I'd probably burn the two horizontal bullets a tad.

IIGQ4U wrote in post #13363420
Looking good!

I'd probably burn the two horizontal bullets a tad.

Thanks. I'll give it a try!

Here are my attempts.

IMAGE LINK: https://picasaweb.goog​le.com …wxHyikfhE?feat=​directlink

IMAGE LINK: https://picasaweb.goog​le.com …wxHyikfhE?feat=​directlink

I just built a makeshift lightbox out of PVC and white muslin fabric! I'm using a EF-S 55-250mm lens. I can't seem to get my focus locked onto the eyes and it seems to only want to focus onto the hair in front of the eyes. Any C&C is welcome. It's been about a month since I got my first fancy camera (non P&S) and I found the easiest way to learn is to have people tear you apart. Go!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/touji192/639262​3297/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/touji192/639259​9975/

touji wrote in post #13443512
I can't seem to get my focus locked onto the eyes and it seems to only want to focus onto the hair in front of the eyes.

So manually focus the lens, do not rely on AF.

I was using manual focus with live view. Whenever I got the eyes to come out as sharp as I could, it would still be focused on the hair D:

touji wrote in post #13443546
I was using manual focus with live view. Whenever I got the eyes to come out as sharp as I could, it would still be focused on the hair D:

That's no surprise; you're not using a macro, so I don't think it's even possible to focus like you want to. What aperture are you using? I'd start from F/11 and go to F/22 to compensate for the lack of focus precision.

I was at F14. I'll try upping up to the 20's next time. Thanks for the tip!

First, this may be a stupid question, but, take a good luck at the eyes... are they painted sharply? Maybe the eyes are just soft?..

Secondly, if you are using manual focus and focusing on the eyes, and yet it is focusing on the hair in front of it, you have a front focus problem. Super simple solution is to focus slightly behind the eyes.

Thirdly, it is very possible that IQ will degrade as you change your aperture from f14 to f22... be aware...

SuperHuman21 wrote in post #13443591
you're not using a macro, so I don't think it's even possible to focus like you want to.

uhhh.. what? lol

ewheeler20 wrote in post #13443710
First, this may be a stupid question, but, take a good luck at the eyes... are they painted sharply? Maybe the eyes are just soft?..

Secondly, if you are using manual focus and focusing on the eyes, and yet it is focusing on the hair in front of it, you have a front focus problem. Super simple solution is to focus slightly behind the eyes.

Thirdly, it is very possible that IQ will degrade as you change your aperture from f14 to f22... be aware...

IQ will degrade but sometimes it's necessary and won't cause much of a problem if the pic isn't blown up too much. I shoot f/22 almost daily and find it acceptable.


uhhh.. what? lol

What was so confusing? EDIT: In my experience, zooms don't have the same zoom precision.

So I gave it another shot today with a different item. I shot at f/22, 100 ISO, and 2 second shutter. Used a Quantaray QDC 900WA to fill. These things are fun!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/touji192/640292​9803/

This looks very nice!

SuperHuman21 wrote in post #13443936
What was so confusing? EDIT: In my experience, zooms don't have the same zoom precision.

Then you should have said "prime lens" instead of "macro lens". You said that unless you have a macro lens, you can't get a sharp photo.

mmmm,,, thats the end to a great Thanksgiving. mmm

tanhaa wrote in post #13035477
Made myself a lightbox as well reading all the advice in this thread and it looks very similar to some of the above. I just used a Diaper box, cut the sides, put some thin white paper on the sides, opened the top and popped a small tube light there and used the camera flash with a DIY diffuser attached to it.

Here's one of the pics of my favourite stuff to drink This probably would have looked better with a black background.

Any advice, would be highly appreciated.

I don't know much about whiskey (not old enough yet :P) but is Johnnie Walker considered expensive for whiskey of its caliber?