Which camera for ARROWS?!

[honey22]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum - admin, please move it to the right one if necessary.

Ok, back to the point. I am getting a camera for my bday in a few weeks and to me, the most important thing about it, is that it must take killer arrow shots. So my question, expert diamond photographers, which camera to buy?

I don''t have a massive budget, I was hoping to stay under $300 AU, so I am looking at cameras with 8 megapixel, 4x optical zoom etc. Any thoughts?

Does anyone mind sharing what cameras they have to take their pics? I am dying for clear, close-up arrow shots!!!

Thanks PSers - knew I could rely on you guys!!!

 

[justjulia]

From a non-pro like myself, I got great shots with a macro lens. If you go up to the search place at the top of this page, right, and type in "camera" or something like this, you will get a kazillion threads on this very subject. It makes for great reading. (Might want to type "best camera" or, well, you know...)

 

[Ellen]

All my pics have been taken with a Cannon PowerShot A75, 3.2 mega pixels. Nothing special, but it seems to do the job well enough. It''s several years old, I paid right under 300 for it. Just make sure you get one with macro.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I don''t know if the camera matters so much because I got all my great arrow shots using a point and shoot Sony cyber-shot digital camera! The best advise I got was from Ellen when she said to have the light source come from BEHIND the diamond... works best if it is a diffused light source. This gets you clear arrow shots every time in my experience, like this, taken in front of a window! You almost can''t avoid getting arrows in such lighting conditions, using the macro setting.

 

[honey22]

Thanks for your replies justjulia and ellen! There is hope still. I have been trying with my mobile phone camera that is 5 megapixels and on macro but no zoom and probably in the wrong lighting!!!

Dreamer - that shot is to die for! I''m not sure what it is about them, but everytime I see arrows like that I am mesmerized!!!! Your rock must be bigger though, I am sure I am not going to see crisp arrows like that in my 0.8ct stone. Well, hold on, WF took photos and the arrows are visible, so it must be possible, maybe it''s just easier with bigger stones and professional equipment?!?!

The sony cybershot was one that I was looking at today, must go and have another look!

Mr Honey thinks I have totally lost the plot! We were shopping together the other day and he asked me what am I looking for in a camera? I just looked at him and said - I HAVE to be able to get good arrow shots!! He looks at me with this look on his face and says - that''s not a priority honey! Well, duh! Yes it is - why do you think I want a new camera baby?!

 

[Ellen]

lol! You're not supposed to tell them.....

And you will definitely be able to get arrow shots in your stone. (and as dd said, with light behind it really is almost impossible not to) Here's a shot of my first set of studs, at only .45 each. As you can see, I caught a few, and I wasn't even trying.

Love that shot dd!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 6/30/2008 2:09:49 AM
Author: honey22

Thanks for your replies justjulia and ellen! There is hope still. I have been trying with my mobile phone camera that is 5 megapixels and on macro but no zoom and probably in the wrong lighting!!!

Dreamer - that shot is to die for! I''m not sure what it is about them, but everytime I see arrows like that I am mesmerized!!!! Your rock must be bigger though, I am sure I am not going to see crisp arrows like that in my 0.8ct stone. Well, hold on, WF took photos and the arrows are visible, so it must be possible, maybe it''s just easier with bigger stones and professional equipment?!?!

The sony cybershot was one that I was looking at today, must go and have another look!

Mr Honey thinks I have totally lost the plot! We were shopping together the other day and he asked me what am I looking for in a camera? I just looked at him and said - I HAVE to be able to get good arrow shots!! He looks at me with this look on his face and says - that''s not a priority honey! Well, duh! Yes it is - why do you think I want a new camera baby?!

Mine''s a .80ct baby! I love my Sony cyber-shot, highly highly recommend it, it is very small and easy to use. Takes aresome pictures, too.

 

[zerj]

One tip for macro shots from the days I was into photography. For an application like this it''s usually easiest to adjust the focus by phsically moving the camera closer/further away than it is to use any autofocus on the camera.

On my old manual camera I would adjust the focus to the closest possible setting and then move the camera until the focus appears right in the viewfinder. You should be able to accomplish this with a point and shoot but it is trickier, I''d probably repeatedly try focusing on a wall starting very close and moving back until it can lock on. Then while locking the focus (button pressed halfway down) move over to the diamond.