Buying a used camera: Shutter count

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by RWebb

Don't tease - tell him how you did it

Not teasing, he'll get there eventually. What I want to see him learn is how to get that picture right out of the camera.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by RWebb

is the Canon easier to use? easier to xfer images to the computer?

Canon you press a button and it works most of the time. It's small and light and easier to use when taking pics for internal use only. That's a key element. USB cable for both Canon and Nikon opens Photos... easy.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you are getting some big specular reflections on the polished metal

to make it look nicer (and more slable?) try this:

https://www.prophotostudio.net/2018/05/28/photograph-shiny-metal-objects/

I will look into that, thanks. Bright anodizing is the most difficult to photograph with my current light limitations.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

A little file manipulation shows a lot more detail.

Originally Posted by RWebb

Don't tease - tell him how you did it

Oh, I'm a pro at adjusting levels. Have to in most pics, all of today's I brightened significantly.

Preview works pretty well for adjusting color.

[RWebb]

how are you at adjusting clarity?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

This is what I have to work with. My Photoshop 5.5 doesn't work very well with Mojave.

[Scott Douglas]

My new hot rod pc came with this:



Man, that is pretty blurry now that I look at it. Must have been the handheld 1/10th sec exposure time.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

that's a pretty sweet editing program! I will get my tripod out tomorrow. I think Saturday I'll be going through CinC and learning more how to use the camera.

[Scott Douglas]

Let me try that again.

[Scott Douglas]

WHAT?????

YOu haven't done that YET?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've been insanely busy for the last week, or year, , got a cortisone shot in my shoulder, shopping for gf VD presents, seeing said gf and the list goes on.

BUT, now that I used the camera today I am definitely finding time to learn.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

This is what I have to work with. My Photoshop 5.5 doesn't work very well with Mojave.

PSE (Elements) is relatively cheap, and does about 95% of what the full version does, and is not cloud/subscription based.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Cool, thanks Eric. The subscription thing just kills me.

[Scott Douglas]

If my new computer hadn't come with this updated version of the software I was using on my old computer I'd be going after that PSE.

[wdfifteen]

With enough work you can do a lot in camera, but you can’t do a LOT more with Photoshop. I still have a subscription to the full version. I cannot recommend it enough. More valuable than fancy lenses.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Sitting down and studying photography has been a problem. But given taking these pics, I am not sure I can do anything but use Auto. Standing on the top of a 5 foot ladder doesn't lend it self to careful focusing. Absolutely love the pics it takes.

[wdfifteen]

That last photo is art! You're doing well. You may be smart to do the best you can until you encounter an unsolvable problem and then call on the PPOT brain trust.

[wdfifteen]

The only thing I would have changed, which changes the technical accuracy of the photo but makes it more viewable, requires photoshop. If you wanted total accuracy you might put some vaseline or frosted adhesive tape on the part with the reflective glare.
There are limitless tricks to use that have nothing to do with the camera. When I photographed antique tractors I used to run into the problem of some guy putting a white NAPA oil filter or a modern battery with a bunch of graphics on their otherwise nicely restored tractors. They stood out like sore thumbs in the photos. I carried some black construction paper to cover the batteries and cut the foot out of one of MrsWD's black pantyhose to slip over the oil filters.

[Scott Douglas]

Until you've studied photography enough to get a good grasp of the relationship of the aperture-shutter speed-ISO tri-angle, you'll be hard pressed to 'out think' the programming of the camera itself.

I realize you're trying to get a one-photo inclusive of all parts photo for inventory purposes, but you're never going to get that with the lenses you have. They just aren't 'wide' enough.

If it were me, I'd rely on your old camera for an 'overall shot' and then take better smaller shots of sections of the table of parts.

[RWebb]

Just turn the dial to "A" - then crank the aperture to f/16 - use a dial or on the lense - it should show up in the viewfinder

let the camera pick the ISO

the camera will also pic a shutter speed - for a decent distance, it should be 1/100 or so

for a close up use a tripod

------

you can also build a big rack instead of falling off the ladder - set the camera up & use a remote to trigger it - or use Nikon's app for your phone, which will let you see like you are looking thru the viewfinder

or move the LCD around to a convenient spot