twinsoft
|
posted on September 5, 2002 07:57:53 PM new
I purchased a new Olympus D-510 Zoom camera. Here are a couple of sample pics. I have no experience photographing jewelry; the first pic is just to demonstrate the macro mode. The second photo was edited in Adobe Photoshop.
I think the images are a litte better than my old Kodak DC-210 Plus, which cost $500 some years ago. I paid $150 for the Olympus (on clearance).
One thing I like is that the Olympus gives good results, even under crappy lighting. The Kodak is very picky about exposure/lighting. That was the main reason I wanted to upgrade.
|
Libra63
|
posted on September 5, 2002 09:05:27 PM new
Good going. Now your sales will triple.
|
mcjane
|
posted on September 5, 2002 09:39:00 PM new
Very nice, very, very nice pictures & a great price for the camera.
A question:
Was the locket picture taken on a pink or white background?
Reason I'm asking is that my Sony Mavica makes a white background pink or salmon. White will not come out white.
Jane
|
paloma91
|
posted on September 5, 2002 09:44:42 PM new
Hey this looks great! I have been looking for a digital cam for awhile now that I can afford. My question to you is: Can it take a decent pic of the MFG mark of jewelery or pottery? If so, I am going to go searching for one.
|
twinsoft
|
posted on September 5, 2002 09:54:01 PM new
It's a pink background. The flash had the result of increasing the contrast, so that the right side of the locket appears too dark. I'm sure there are some lighting/flash tricks to photographing jewelry.
Pro: "Spot" exposure that sets exposure according to the center of the photo. (The normal option is to average the exposure, which can result in the subject coming out too dark.)
Con: Highest quality setting (1600x1200 TIFF) is appx. 6MB, which means only one photo will fit on the 8MB SmartMedia card. (New 128MB card on eBay, about $60.)
|
stanleymu
|
posted on September 5, 2002 10:07:46 PM new
where did you get the camera?
(what store)
great pics.
|
twinsoft
|
posted on September 5, 2002 10:26:28 PM new
Paloma, this Olympus d-510 has 3X optical and 3X digital. If you want super-macro, check out an old Mavica FD-73 or FD-75 with 10X optical. Or one of the Olympus super-zoom cameras (around $500).
Stanley, I bought the camera at OfficeMax. I had a decent coupon, plus clearance price, plus 10% off all clearance items, etc.
|
rarriffle
|
posted on September 6, 2002 01:41:27 AM new
nice pics and good deal twinsoft.
I have trouble taking zoom shots because my hand isn't steady. it move the camera when i take the shot and it ends up blurred. i take 12-20 shots to get a good close up.
|
jellis
|
posted on September 6, 2002 02:33:07 AM new
re: raffiffle--To prevent shaky hands when photographing zooms or close up's, try using a tripod on your camera. It will make your camera "shaky free." I'm a senior citizen and with extreme shaky hands-- Before using a tripod, clear close ups were impossible. Most camera's have a groved cavity at base for affixing tripods. One can purchase a short-length tripod at most discount stores....i.e. Wal-mart, Target etc. that are in the 20.00 price range. A SMALL PRICE for improved quality close up's. After using a tripod, I was amazed at the improved quality--I thought the camera had self improved. Never did I realized, it was me and my shaky hands!
|
earthmum
|
posted on September 6, 2002 04:07:03 AM new
Neat camera! And a terrific buy. Just my humble two cents concerning photographing jewelry. My daughter and I have found that sunlight is the very best light to capture detail and reflect true coloring. Silver often takes on a yellow look from artificial lighting. This does limit us to taking our pics on a nice sunny day. Sometimes you have to shade the item with something to reduce glare.
We use an old video camera with zoom and WebTV to post our pics. I have been thinking about a digital camera, but I'm weighing the cost against how much improvement we might achieve.
|
twinsoft
|
posted on September 6, 2002 08:45:35 AM new
I live in a small place with low lighting. I added a couple of indoor floodlights just for photographing items, but I don't have the space or patience to build a real studio. I need something that performs well under poor lighting and is easy to use.
The Olympus is nice because it uses JPG or TIFF format, and the computer treats it like a separate drive. I can browse to the camera and open files directly from Photoshop (USB connection). The pics open FAST! The Kodak used a proprietary format (FPX) not supported by most editors, and it took about 20 seconds just to open a pic (serial port).
A tripod is a GREAT idea. I have a big one I use for higher-priced items. If you're thinking about buying a digital camera, go for it. Think of it as a business expense. It WILL pay for itself. Get a good one that you can keep for several years. Otherwise you'll be kicking yourself in the butt a few months down the road.
I know our local OfficeMax has lots of deals on clearance items, like 10% off right now. The camera I bought was a floor "demo" model which is one reason it was so cheap. They have Kodak DX-3500 (?) on sale for $169 - 10% new in the box. I wouldn't recommend it though (digital zoom only). Shop around for the best deals. Before you buy, search the web for coupons. Office Depot has a $20 off $50 purchase right now.
|
twinsoft
|
posted on September 6, 2002 08:53:17 AM new
Mcjane, you might want to check out MediaChance's free digital camera correction tools, esp. ColorCastFX.
|
mcjane
|
posted on September 6, 2002 11:20:02 PM new
twinsoft
thanks so much for that link, I can sure use the help.
earthmum
I used to be on webtv plus & had to use a video camera, a digital camera will not work with webtv plus. Check this out before you buy one.
Might have changed & maybe you can now, I'm not sure.
|
SPOOFLANKY
|
posted on September 7, 2002 02:20:36 AM new
concur i have a 510 also it is great
i found if the flash is to much i put 3 layers of scotch tape over the flash and it mutes it on brite close in macro shots
Dave Kahn
|
sanmar
|
posted on September 7, 2002 09:20:06 AM new
I have beenn using a Olympus D450 Zoom for almost 3 yrs. & I love it. This is an older version of the one twinsoft has & like that one, mine takes great pics under bad lighting conditions.
|
sanmar
|
posted on September 7, 2002 09:20:08 AM new
If anyone is interested, I have a like new "Focal" Tripod that picked up at an estate sale last weekend. I am about to list it on EbayFolded length 22 7/8 in. extends to a max of 61 3/4 inches. Contact me at [email protected]. I willsel it for $10.00 plus shipping.
[ edited by sanmar on Sep 7, 2002 09:30 AM ]
|
aposter
|
posted on September 7, 2002 08:45:19 PM new
I love the older Olympus I purchased 2 years ago. It takes great pics, but I especially like the ones taken outside.
I shoot on a slightly overcast day. If the sun is bright with no cloud cover, I move a metal 2-person swing with loosely woven shade awning between the product and the sun.
I tilt the shade where I need light filtering and it works. Now, if I could keep the hornets away and the neighors out of the windows.
Good advice for anyone: READ the instruction book thoroughly. I had fuzzy close-in pictures until I read here about the macro setting. Never did like to read directions.
|
sideslam
|
posted on September 8, 2002 08:06:24 PM new
I was just thinking about buying a new digital. And came to here to ask some questions. I know that usually the Sony Mavica has been mentioned often. But I believe it is really expensive. I am really immpressed with your pictures. Is the camera easy to use for using macro mode? And does white color come out good? I ask this cause I have some things that are white. And I want to make sure before I buy a camera, that it will do that for me. Thanks.
|
dadofstickboy
|
posted on September 8, 2002 08:26:31 PM new
Mavica: does a good job with white.
|
yourdesigns
|
posted on September 8, 2002 08:42:11 PM new
twinsoft:
That is an excellent shot of the software box. Nice camera! 
|
LAIOCHKA
|
posted on September 8, 2002 08:54:37 PM new
great pics with that camera!
love the rabbit too
|
twinsoft
|
posted on September 8, 2002 09:26:49 PM new
The Mavica is not a camera you can take on vacation, unless you drag 500 floppy disks along. However, if you sell jewelry, stamps, coins or other small items, there's no beating the microscope-like 10X optical zoom (FD-75 or FD-73). I don't sell the kind of item that requires extreme close-up. In fact, I just sold an old FD-73 on eBay for around $250. Olympus has a 10X zoom, I believe the model is C-7000 ($500 retail). It is small and uses a smartmedia card. If you need extreme close-up and want a dedicated eBay digital camera, Mavica is good.
|
slabholder
|
posted on September 8, 2002 10:42:33 PM new
|
naucratis
|
posted on September 9, 2002 08:42:53 AM new
Nice pics twinsoft. I'm glad to hear you received a bargain on a nice camera.
|
