Make great Closeup photos of rings and jewelry easy! Updated

[SoreKneesDayton]

Hi all...
I always have trouble getting good closeups of rings--especially the inside showing writing. I thought I needed an expensive digital camera just for closeups. I got a great cheap tip from VintageJewelryRocks on EBay. It's so easy I can't believe we all didn't try it already.

Use camera with cheap magnifying lens over it!

Just get a cheap magnifying lens and put it in front of your camera. Even if it has some scratches on it, it doesn't matter. Focus with the lens held tight to camera and shot.

No special photo area needed. While I am still experimenting with improvements, I tried just laying a ring on my laptop--aimed and shot photo. I use Fill-flash as normal flash washes pictures out. The coin was shot with just 100 watt reading lamp, with shade, as light source.

• Side note: Then, I crop picture and post. I use Picasa to manage all images throughout my hard drive (A Google FREE image manager and photo improvement tool). I also use Microsoft's native Picture Manager to compress photos for web before posting.

Here are some shots with handheld magnifier over the camera lens. Remember focus with the magnifier added--camera can't automatically compensate for added lens. Experiment, digital film is cheap. lol Notice you can focus on writing or front of ring, if distinction is needed.

Shots are for reference: Normal close up with camera macro settings

New vs older Digital camera for closeups
These two are from new--Xmas 2008--Kodak M753 AF 3x camera with 7.0 Megapixels

These three are taken with older Kodak DX3500 camera with only 2.2 Megapixels

Also good with coins
Reading lamp light source
Large coin leaning on Post-it Note pad

Is it worth the cost of an expensive camera for closeups for rings and coins? Not to me!

Hope this helps.

 

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[desertfox]

Re: Make great Closeup photos of rings and jewelry easy!

SK: Thanks for the great Info......
Your right, its so simple why didn't we think of it before? HH

Desertfox

 

[Gilligan]

Re: Make great Closeup photos of rings and jewelry easy!

Hi all...
I always have trouble getting good closeups of rings--especially the inside showing writing. I got a great cheap tip from
VintageJewelryRocks on EBay. It's so easy I can't believe I didn't try it.

Just get a cheap magnifying lens and put it in front of your camera. Focus with the lens added and shot. I am still experimenting with it but just laid the ring on my laptop, aimed and shot photo. I cropped it in Picasa-google free image manager and photo improvement tool.

Here are some shots with straight camera and with handheld magnifier over the camera lens. Remember focus with the lens added--don't expect camera to do all the work.

I use my loupe with my camera and get awesome shots on coins and small objects. Magnifying glass is a good idea too, particularly for larger objects. Bryan