watchmaking projects

[mygs29]

Hey there guys, wondering if the people with some macro experience can help me to take some better photos of my watchmaking projects. I am in a watchmaking school and have lots of small things to take pictures of. We do have a professionally made light box that I used for this and many other photos. Any tips on how to get a better depth of focus and have sharper images?

ISO 800
f/25
25mm
1/15 sec
No tripod (sometimes use one, not this photo)

I use a Canon Rebel Xs with the lens it came with it, 18-55mm and I do have a little macro lens thing that screws onto this that I sometimes try to use. It is made by Camray and I just got it on e-bay for cheap. I didn't use it for this photo.

Don't have my pics on flickr yet but trying to upload them, I'll post a link once that is up with more pics like this one.

[mygs29]

Well you could've not posted it in my thread about a different photo, that's a start....

[Medic63]

Sorry about that.

[mygs29]

No prob dude, you would probably get more critique if you had your own thread was all I was trying to say. But apparently no one is helping in this section so good luck!

[zona5101]

The picture you posted looks a little dark so you can pump up the light or open the aperture. Those screw on lenses aren't going to do the job, you will want to invenst in a true macro sometime in the future, perferably a set up that will let you get 1:1 or better.
It would be good to have a camera with a depth of field preview but you can shoot and adjust. Understanding your depth of field will allow you to determine where to (manually) focus on the object to get full front to back sharpness.

[PhotoPhix]

Originally Posted by mygs29

Hey there guys, wondering if the people with some macro experience can help me to take some better photos of my watchmaking projects. I am in a watchmaking school and have lots of small things to take pictures of. We do have a professionally made light box that I used for this and many other photos. Any tips on how to get a better depth of focus and have sharper images?

ISO 800
f/25
25mm
1/15 sec
No tripod (sometimes use one, not this photo)

I use a Canon Rebel Xs with the lens it came with it, 18-55mm and I do have a little macro lens thing that screws onto this that I sometimes try to use. It is made by Camray and I just got it on e-bay for cheap. I didn't use it for this photo.

Don't have my pics on flickr yet but trying to upload them, I'll post a link once that is up with more pics like this one.

Maybe you just need the right photo editor

Armando

Original


Phixed

[mygs29]

Thanks guys for the tips. Armando what did you alter in the photo to achieve that result? I have Lightroom 2 and have been playing around with it a bit but don't know everything.

Also, I don't know if I have this correct. When I press the DOF preview button, the darker the viewfinder, more of the photo will be in focus? I find this thing confusing....

[Edsport]

By pressing the DOF button you are NOT doing anything to change the outcome of the photo. This button is just a preview button, nothing else. That lens you call a macro lens is a wide angle lens that you screw onto the end of your other lens (only a guess but i think that's what it is). If so it's not a macro lens, it's for giving a wider field...

To bring more of the image in focus you should use a smaller aperature (higher number)...