Point and Shoot for Jewellery

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Craig Gerard
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Point and Shoot for Jewellery

Post by Craig Gerard »

Point and Shoot for Jewellery.

My Mum needs a point-and-shoot camera for taking photographs of her jewellery creations. The images will be used as a record of the things she has made and will also allow her to upload pictures to the jewellery forum in which she participates.

Needs to be fairly straightforward with reasonable macro capabilities; but nothing too elaborate. point-and-shoot

Can anyone suggest some candidate makes and model? There are so many of them out there. :?

Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"
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rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

My much-loved Canon A710 IS is no longer being manufactured, but they still turn up on eBay periodically. I bought another one just a couple of months ago, against a half-dozen other bidders. I don't see any for sale right now, but if you could find one in good condition, I can definitely recommend the model. Just be sure to run it on the new lithium AA's, like Energizer Ultimate Lithium. As they age, A710's seem to develop intolerance for lower voltage batteries, but the lithiums work great (over 1000 images on the first pair I stuck in). I've had three units of the A710 IS do this.

Among newer Canon point-and-shoots, I would look at the SX200 IS, based solely on published specifications and reviews. Unfortunately Canon has been removing manual controls from its point-and-shoots, but this one still includes both manual exposure and manual focus. I don't use those modes often, but I would sure be frustrated to not have them. Of course the SX200 has a good assortment of auto modes as well.

--Rik
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Craig Gerard
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Post by Craig Gerard »

Thanks Rik,

Yes the 'IS' (image stabilizer) is important, especially with the smaller cameras.

Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"
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elf
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Post by elf »

I'd say a good light box/tent and tripod would make a larger difference than the camera. All of the cameras should be capable of producing good images at base ISO and lots of light.
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sonyalpha
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Post by sonyalpha »

I was recommended and have just purchased (via Ebay) a ..................................FUJI F70EXR:

See here:

http://fujifilm.co.uk/consumer/digital/ ... pix-f70exr

It does everything it says.............they are a little cheaper now because the later model has upgraded HD video capability:

They are beautifully constructed from metal too:

I keep mine in my pocket at all times whilst ut and about:

sonyalpha
Retired but not old in spirit:

Fairly new to photography........keen to learn:
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ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

Second vote for the light tent. On-camera flash alone is horrid of course.
We used to knock out jewelry-shop illustrations of earrings and larger. Used a small hotshoe flash masked off with card except for a small hole, to give a catchlight and trigger a very cheap and simple separate flash with a slave.
No wires that way, so you can easily move the slaved flash unit, which of course is the main light, to one side or above.
You'd have to divert the on-camera flash in a modern compact, I'm sure. Folded silver card perhaps.
Not really point-and-shoot :(
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Craig Gerard
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Post by Craig Gerard »

Thanks,

All good suggestions. :)

I didn't indicate initial budget.

There are a few Canon A710 IS on eBay.com for US sales only. 'struth there's a BIN up there for less than $50.00.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-PowerShot-A71 ... al_Cameras

Price wise (approx. AUD$250.00), and availability in OZ, the Fuji Film Finepix F70EXR looks impressive. Thanks SA :)

http://www.isitetv.com/1672dd29743d34dd ... c4f-p4.htm

Chris, I had intended to tone down the flash with some type of attached diffuser. I have plenty of light tents; but trying to keep it as straightforward as possible in this situation.


Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"
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ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

Sounds like you need a rigid white or frosted plastic cone, wide end on the table over the subject, small end fitting round the lens..
Pizza-board tech!
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DaveW
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Post by DaveW »

She may find this site helpful when she gets her camera Craig. They push their own equipment but the principles are what matters and everything can be done with ordinary lights or flashes, and even a home made light tent/cube.

http://www.tabletopstudio.co.uk/Pages/P ... 20Tips.htm

http://digital-photography-school.com/h ... light-tent

http://www.creativepro.com/article/digi ... light-tent

DaveW
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Craig Gerard
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Post by Craig Gerard »

Thanks Dave :)

There are many good ideas in those articles.

Appreciated.

Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"
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