3267	2009-06-30 10:28:56	timshoppa	Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
Message	Date	From	Subject
I'd like to visually document some of my projects. Most of them are dead-bug construction, sometimes with primitive pads and strips carved into PCB with knives. I have a really cheap digital camera (< $100) and it doesn't focus well under 3 feet. But after I get 3 feet away, even with its chintzy digital zoom turned on, there isn't really enough detail left to satisfy me. It's a rough start, though. I'm a long-time photo buff and even have some large-format view cameras. I know perfectly well how to set those up with tilt and pan to take excellent photos of what I'm building, but it seems like overkill, that this is 2009 and I should be flying to work in my jet-pants, not using view cameras and sheet film like it's a century ago. Obviously cheap digital cameras don't have tilt and pan like my old view cameras. Probably expensive digital cameras don't have tilt and pan like my old view cameras. What is a good way of documenting dead bug construction via good photos, using stuff that I may already own or can buy fairly cheap? Tim N3QE
3269	2009-06-30 11:09:59	Jim Kearman	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction

3270	2009-06-30 11:17:26	Mike Czuhajewski ...	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
If you already have a flat bed scanner, try using that. That's what I did for a number of "photos" in my column in the QRP Quarterly for a couple of years before I finally forced myself to buy a digital camera many years ago. It's not all that great and has limitations but definitely worth a try if you already have one.
3271	2009-06-30 11:24:09	timshoppa	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction

3272	2009-06-30 11:44:16	Andy	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
This probably doesn't apply anymore ... But if you have a camera where you can remove the lens and mount it backwards, it makes a good close-up macro combination. With my old film SLR I have a lense reversing adapter, which has the 49 or 52mm thread on one side and the camera's bayonet on the other. With a tripod and a strong light source, it allowed me to get in nice and close, and the adapter only cost about $10. Not always the greatest quality, but hey, it was fun using it that way. Today, I think an inexpensive digital camera with macro capability would be your best option. Andy
3273	2009-06-30 11:48:08	Dave Brainerd	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
timshoppa wrote: > I'd like to visually document some of my projects. Most of them are dead-bug construction, sometimes with primitive pads and strips carved into PCB with knives. > > I have a really cheap digital camera (< $100) and it doesn't focus well under 3 feet. But after I get 3 feet away, even with its chintzy digital zoom turned on, there isn't really enough detail left to satisfy me. It's a rough start, though. > > I'm a long-time photo buff and even have some large-format view cameras. I know perfectly well how to set those up with tilt and pan to take excellent photos of what I'm building, but it seems like overkill, that this is 2009 and I should be flying to work in my jet-pants, not using view cameras and sheet film like it's a century ago. > > Obviously cheap digital cameras don't have tilt and pan like my old view cameras. Probably expensive digital cameras don't have tilt and pan like my old view cameras. What is a good way of documenting dead bug construction via good photos, using stuff that I may already own or can buy fairly cheap? > > Tim N3QE > > > > I use a Canon A710. It does well close up(a little barrel distortion). It does not have tilt and pan. But, my tripod does and the camera bolts onto the tripod. When we got the camera it was a little over $200. I haven't tried it, but I have heard of some putting their pc's on a scanner. Dave - WB6DHW <http://wb6dhw.com>
3279	2009-06-30 23:36:55	chuck adams	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
The way to get great closeups for assembly of just about anything is to go with a cheap (I have an old 3.1MP) Olympus digital camera. They have a super-macro mode that allows closeups up to 2cm away from the front of the lens. All my work in http://www.k7qo.net/lab.pdf and the other assembly manuals on my web page are done with this camera. Secret to lighting is to use the 6500K CFL daylight "Dairy Queen" bulbs that you can get cheap at Wal*Mart and other fine stores. Hope this helps. chuck [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
3280	2009-07-01 00:08:32	John Kolb	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
Some of the older digital cameras are available pretty cheaply used now, as everyone thinks they need the newer 10 or 12 megapixel models. Canon Rebel 6 meg cameras are available as low a $200 on craigslist. Once you have a digital with removable lenses, there's a whole world open with older non-automatic lenses which are cheap, and lots of adapters to mount different manufacturers lenses on the camera. John At 11:38 AM 6/30/2009, you wrote: >This probably doesn't apply anymore ... > >But if you have a camera where you can remove the lens and mount it >backwards, it makes a good close-up macro combination. > >With my old film SLR I have a lense reversing adapter, which has the 49 or >52mm thread on one side and the camera's bayonet on the other. With a >tripod and a strong light source, it allowed me to get in nice and close, >and the adapter only cost about $10. Not always the greatest quality, but >hey, it was fun using it that way. > >Today, I think an inexpensive digital camera with macro capability would be >your best option. > >Andy > > > >------------------------------------ > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
3281	2009-07-01 00:57:34	Ashhar Farhan	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
most 'smart phones' have a built in camera which is bound to be better than 1.2 megapixels. you can also try the webcam built into most of the netbooks and laptops. I have frequently used my phone's camera to shoot the pictures. you have to play with the light a bit. it is best to take the circuit out into the sun and shoot it there. - farhan
3282	2009-07-01 01:38:49	sm5glc	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
I agree that small digicams with macro is the way to go! Using a DSLR will, due to opticts and sensor size, lead to less amount of your circuits beeing in focus (DOF depth of field). Most camera-phones are too noisy, and need a lot more light than "normal" digicams. You need to keep the aperture opening small (large f-number) to have a large DOF, but this means less light hitting your sensor. Do not be afraid to use higher than normal ISO, much better to have some noise but sharp picture, than blurry pics. A tri-pod is really handy. I use a lightbox, i.e. a milky white plastic box, (or you could cut out sides on a cardboard box and cover with thin white cloth) use strong lights and put your object in the center, have a small opening in the box for camera lens and fire away. This helps you to avoid shadows and give even light all over. (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html) By controlling light you will get the best photos! Try googeling product photography and you will have some very good tutorials. It might even come in handy when shooting for your things that you want to sell
3283	2009-07-01 06:54:08	Andy	Re: Photographing/documenting dead-bug construction
> most 'smart phones' have a built in camera which is bound to be better > than 1.2 megapixels. The problem is, they use a fixed focus plastic lens. Not likely to give you a clear macro photo. They probably also have a fixed iris, which means the depth of field doesn't improve under strong light. The same is probably true of most webcams. I think almost any cheap, real digital camera is likely to do a lot better. Andy