Need some help taking photos.

[Dennis Lacy]

I need some help from those of you that know more than me about photographing 1:25 models, which is zero! I just finished my first build in ten ten years and I'm eager to share it with the board, but all my photo attempts have failed so far. I was attempting to take the pictures outside and it's overcast here which I figured would be good so I wouldn't get glare or shadows. I'm using a small, round table with the model setting on top of an upside down kit box, which is tan in color and a good contrast to the cars dark purple paint with a wood fence as background.

My camera has 3 quality settings and I have tried all three. I have messed with the white balance (set to shade and sunlight), EV compensation (neutral, dark and light) and flash or no flash. No matter what, the end result is the fence and box are in perfect focus and the model is slightly fuzzy with a heavy glare coming off the chrome parts and white interior.

Any suggestions? I found a handful of photo tip threads but none of them address the issues I'm having.

[Pete J.]

First of all, what kind of camera are you using? To start with, check to see if you have a macro setting on your camera. That allows you to focus up close. Next see if you have the ablity to freeze the focus. Most cameras will let you do this by partially pushing the shutter button. You can then take a flat piece of board the same distance from your model and focus on that. Freeze the focus and then center your model. Then trigger the shutter for an infocus photo. The flairs are an issue of lighting and you will get that outside. Inspite of the overcast, shooting outside is not generally a good idea. You really can't control the lighting well enough.

Pete

[Dennis Lacy]

My camera is an HP Photosmart 433 3.1mp. It does not have a macro setting or the ability to freeze the focus as you explained. It's pretty much a basic camera with a few adjustment available.

I've attempted indoor photos with the same issues, only worse. I see conflicting opinions about wether indoor or outdoor is better and I guess that comes down to personal preference. Regardless, there must be a way for me to take pictures good enough to share on the board.

[Harry P.]

Two possible solutions:

1. Read the instruction manual! It comes with the camera for a good reason...

2. If you don't want to mess with the manual, I'd suggest you set your camera to "auto" (every camera has an "automatic" setting.) Don't bother with any fancy manual overrides, just put it on "auto". Shoot with the light source behind you (don't shoot into the sun if outdoors). Shoot from about 3-4 feet away from the model. Press the shutter down partway and give the camera enough time to do its autofocus thing (generally a light comes on telling you that the camera has focused and is ready to shoot). Keep the central part of the viewfinder image on the model...you don't want the camera to be focusing either on the foreground or background, you want it to be focusing on the model. That should give you an image good enough to post here.

[Aaronw]

If you don't have a macro, but you have a zoom sometimes you can make that work, back off then zoom in. Another option is use the best quality setting, then when you edit, crop the photo close to what you want which is kind of an after the fact zoom.

[Pete J.]

Just took a look at the camera spec's and it is going to be difficult to get a good model photo with it. Fixed focus/no zoom, 85 cm fixed focal length, viewfinder camera. The best that you can do is measure the distance to from camera to model at 85 cm or 33" and shoot. The flairs are going to be a matter of luck with the a viewfinder camera. Without a through the lense viewing system(SLR or viewscreen) you never quite get the exact view that the lens transmits to the image sensor. You just have to shoot a lot of photos from slightly differant angles and then pick the best. Kind of tough when you are working with an older piece.

If you are considering a newer camera and you want to shoot better pictures, I would make sure that I had four things. Through the lense viewing(there are not a lot of them out there that don't have this now), macro setting good down to about 18 or less inches, and a good zoom, and last the ablity to set the white balance manually. With the advance of technology, there are a lot of pocket cameras that do this and they are not super espensive. Bottom of the line with these features run about $140 and really good ones are $250. Stay with name brands like Sony, Cannon, Nikon as they have the best lens. Megapixles are not as important as good optics.

Sorry, I got a little off track with the recomendation, but the limits of the camera you have are going to make it difficult to do what you want. The camera as it stands, is comparable to the the quality of a good disposable. Not really good for model shooting. Sorry!

Pete J.

[RyanSilva]

Dennis, I have had this very same camera, i could NEVER get good pictures from it, without the macro setting..its very very hard...close to impossible, due to the closeup and size of 1.25 scale. scenics are fine due to the size , but anything smaller i had trouble.

I suggest IF theres a budget that allows for a new camera, pick up a Canon A590 it can be found for about 130 dollars at wal-mart,best buy,circuit city or online..its a AMAZING camera for the price.

[Gregg]

It comes down to budget.

How much can you spend?

I have done quite a few articles on the new digital age of taking pics of models, and it all boils down to how serious do you want to get?

If your camera doesn't have these settings on the top or back: P, A, S, or M, you will be very lucky if you get any good pics of a model car.

You will need a tripod, but that's about it.

If you don't have access to the past issues of the Photo Tips, let me know, yell at me, scream, call at four in the morning, and I will do my best to put this together as the first major tips section on the web site.

It is the most asked question I get, besides Boxers or Briefs, of course

[Harry P.]

It is the most asked question I get, besides Boxers or Briefs, of course

Well???

[Aaronw]

Well???

Come on Harry he lives near the beach, its probably a good day if he even puts on pants.

[Dennis Lacy]

Thanks for all the detailed replies, you've all been very helpful! It's no surprise that the consensus is to upgrade and a camera in the neighborhood of $150 isn't out of the question.

I finally ended up posting some pictures in the Under Glass section on Sunday. These I took on the medium quality setting, zoomed in 2x and they were better than any before since I was a good two feet away. I was then able to sharpen them a bit with a photo editor. I'm gonna experiment as per Aaron's suggestion. Maybe try full 3x zoom on the highest quality at 3 feet back since this is about the fixed focal length as Pete pointed out.

Thanks again everyone!