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Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:19 pm
by flurin
I'm looking for a new digital camera (my old one is a Canon IXUS 900 TI) that has good macro features. I'd like to take pictures of the layers (0.1 mm). What are you using for your 3D-Printer pictures?

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:26 pm
by JeremyBP
I really like the Nikon Coolpix AW100. It shoots good-lookin' photos, and can do macro focus down to 1cm-ish. It's not that expensive, and you get a lot of camera.

I used to use a casio ex-fh25. It was an excellent, inexpensive camera. I shot all my high-speed video with it. Although looking now, it seems they've discontinued it, and they sell for around $1000. Yikes.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:52 pm
by flurin
JeremyBP wrote:I really like the Nikon Coolpix AW100. It shoots good-lookin' photos, and can do macro focus down to 1cm-ish. It's not that expensive, and you get a lot of camera.


Thanks!
Just to get an idea, could you upload a sample of a macro photo?

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:05 pm
by JeremyBP
Sure thing. I don't have any macros of 3D prints, but here's a penny.
penny.png


If you's like, I could take a macro of a print, or anything really. I just had that one on hand.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:13 pm
by flurin
Thanks a lot! It looks great. I think it should be possible to take photos like on this side:

http://richrap.blogspot.ch/2012/01/slic ... n-you.html

But some of the photos was made using a microscope.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:18 pm
by JeremyBP
I think it's possible to take some of those photos with it. The really close-up ones were taken under magnification.

What it comes down to is technique. Get a tripod to hold the camera steady, and get good, even lighting. Try to eliminate shadows, but don't wash out the image. Take your time with the focus. Make sure the camera gets the focus right where you want it. Use the self-timer if you can so pushing the button doesn't shake the camera. And take lots of pictures, then choose the best ones. With good technique, you can get good photos out of any camera, but having a good camera helps.

Best of luck with our photography endeavors!

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:28 pm
by flurin
JeremyBP wrote:What it comes down to is technique. Get a tripod to hold the camera steady, and get good, even lighting. Try to eliminate shadows, but don't wash out the image. Take your time with the focus. Make sure the camera gets the focus right where you want it. Use the self-timer if you can so pushing the button doesn't shake the camera. And take lots of pictures, then choose the best ones. With good technique, you can get good photos out of any camera, but having a good camera helps.


I almost use all of the above technique with my old Canon but with the last photos I had a lot of difficulties.

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:42260 -> cylinder-photos.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:52 pm
by JeremyBP
I see what you mean. That's a tricky thing to photograph well, because it's so low-contrast. Considering that, it looks pretty good, and is a really nice print to boot!

You might try a darker background and messing with the contrast and exposure a bit in post-processing.

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:35 pm
by kbob
3.5mm layer height. I printed it on the MakerBot at the local maker space probably in January and found it in a box of parts last night. That's why it's so dusty.

The camera is a Canon Rebel T2i. I think it was sold in Europe as an EOS 550D. The lens is a Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM. f/32, 1/6 second.

IMG_9659.JPG
ABS, 3.5mm layer height


Here's the context.

IMG_20130302_133450.jpg
You call that a photo studio‽

Re: Digital Camera for macro pictures

PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 12:26 am
by orcinus
If you don't want to buy a DSLR, or have one but don't want to splurge for a macro lense, you can always just get a suitable threaded coupler ring and mount a 50mm lens in reverse on whatever other lens you have. That will result in a much shorter minimum focusing distance.

For maximum savings, you can even do it without a coupler. Just hold the reversed lens with your hand. Takes a bit of practice, but works.