D610 vs D810 for Macro photography

DRyan22 · Aug 8, 2014

Hi, I was wondering if there is a clear winner for which camera will take sharper/clearer macro images of jewelry (specifically rings). I currently have a 105mm 2.8D Micro lense that I'll be using, which seems to be a highly recommended lense. Are there any other macro lenses that would provide a noticeable improvement in photo quality?

Thanks for your input!

Robin Casady · Aug 9, 2014

DRyan22 said:
Hi, I was wondering if there is a clear winner for which camera will take sharper/clearer macro images of jewelry (specifically rings). I currently have a 105mm 2.8D Micro lense that I'll be using, which seems to be a highly recommended lense. Are there any other macro lenses that would provide a noticeable improvement in photo quality?

Thanks for your input!

In theory, the D810 will take sharper/clearer macro images of jewelry because of its higher resolution sensor. In practice, depth of field is going to be a more significant issue. Jewelry is an excellent subject for focus stacking. Look into ZereneStacker.

Tilt/shift lenses can also be useful for shooting jewelry. The Nikon 85mm PC-E is listed as having a 1:2 reproduction ratio (the image on the sensor can be as large as half the size of the actual object) which should make it adequate for most jewelry, but not for shooting individual stones.

This was shot with a D800E and a 150mm enlarger lens on an old Nikon Bellow PB-4 that has a swing. Mounted on its side it becomes a tilt.

--
Robin Casady
http://www.robincasady.com/Photo/index.html
When you look through the viewfinder do you see an object or do you see a picture?

Osvaldo Cristo · Aug 9, 2014

DRyan22 said:
Hi, I was wondering if there is a clear winner for which camera will take sharper/clearer macro images of jewelry (specifically rings). I currently have a 105mm 2.8D Micro lense that I'll be using, which seems to be a highly recommended lense. Are there any other macro lenses that would provide a noticeable improvement in photo quality?

I am sure D810 has better resolution and certainly will bring more details but if you are looking for a camera only for jewel shooting I think you would be best served by D610 for the main reason you can use smaller aperture without diffraction and by end bigger DoF as D610´s pixel density is lower than D810´s. Even you use focus stacking it would be demand less shots...

For increased productivity I think D610 would make difference a the time.

Additionally if it is a business, you would get better ROI from D610 for its lower price (besides the time saving from better DoF).

On the other hand, if you will use the camera for other applications also, you will have to reconsider that in light of the new requirements for that hypothetical other applications.

All the best,

SushiEater · Aug 9, 2014

Osvaldo Cristo said:
DRyan22 said:

Hi, I was wondering if there is a clear winner for which camera will take sharper/clearer macro images of jewelry (specifically rings). I currently have a 105mm 2.8D Micro lense that I'll be using, which seems to be a highly recommended lense. Are there any other macro lenses that would provide a noticeable improvement in photo quality?

Click to expand...

I am sure D810 has better resolution and certainly will bring more details but if you are looking for a camera only for jewel shooting I think you would be best served by D610 for the main reason you can use smaller aperture without diffraction and by end bigger DoF as D610´s pixel density is lower than D810´s. Even you use focus stacking it would be demand less shots...

For increased productivity I think D610 would make difference a the time.

Additionally if it is a business, you would get better ROI from D610 for its lower price (besides the time saving from better DoF).

On the other hand, if you will use the camera for other applications also, you will have to reconsider that in light of the new requirements for that hypothetical other applications.

All the best,

--
O.Cristo - An Amateur Photographer
Opinions of men are almost as various as their faces - so many men so many minds. B. Franklin

In macro photography diffraction plays much lesser role because the size of the object details overrides the diffraction blurriness. F22 is not a problem at all. D810 would be a better choice depending on the print size. For the web or for the small print sizes it doesn't matter.

Robin Casady · Aug 9, 2014

Osvaldo Cristo said:
DRyan22 said:

Hi, I was wondering if there is a clear winner for which camera will take sharper/clearer macro images of jewelry (specifically rings). I currently have a 105mm 2.8D Micro lense that I'll be using, which seems to be a highly recommended lense. Are there any other macro lenses that would provide a noticeable improvement in photo quality?

Click to expand...

I am sure D810 has better resolution and certainly will bring more details but if you are looking for a camera only for jewel shooting I think you would be best served by D610 for the main reason you can use smaller aperture without diffraction and by end bigger DoF as D610´s pixel density is lower than D810´s. Even you use focus stacking it would be demand less shots...

This is somewhat misleading. At f/16 the D610 will not produce a sharper image than the D810. The same goes for any aperture. As for focus stacking, if you shoot with the D810 at f/5.6 and the D610 at f/8 (and fewer shots) the D810 image will have more detail.

What Osvaldo Cristo is saying is that with the lower resolution of the D610 one cannot see the effects of diffraction blurring at as wide an aperture as one can on a D810. However, the amount of diffraction blurring at a given f/stop will be identical on both cameras.

Osvaldo Cristo said:
For increased productivity I think D610 would make difference a the time.

Unless the feature limitations of the D610 reduce productivity. I haven't used a D610, but I recall reading about some useful Live View features not available on the D610. The D810 has an improved LCD screen and better Live View image quality than the D800E. So, I think it would be much better than the D610 for critical macro focusing.

Osvaldo Cristo said:
Additionally if it is a business, you would get better ROI from D610 for its lower price (besides the time saving from better DoF).

Not true if the features of the D810 make it more productive.

DRyan22 · Aug 9, 2014

Thanks for all the input so far, it's very helpful. The camera/lens will be used exclusively for rings and loose sapphires/diamonds

Robin Casady · Aug 10, 2014

DRyan22 said:
Thanks for all the input so far, it's very helpful. The camera/lens will be used exclusively for rings and loose sapphires/diamonds

What is your output size and medium? Is this for 2 inch web catalog shots, or large posters on the walls of a jewelry store?

DRyan22 · Aug 10, 2014

Robin Casady said:
DRyan22 said:

Thanks for all the input so far, it's very helpful. The camera/lens will be used exclusively for rings and loose sapphires/diamonds

Click to expand...

What is your output size and medium? Is this for 2 inch web catalog shots, or large posters on the walls of a jewelry store?

Robin Casady · Aug 11, 2014

DRyan22 said:
Robin Casady said:

DRyan22 said:

Thanks for all the input so far, it's very helpful. The camera/lens will be used exclusively for rings and loose sapphires/diamonds

Click to expand...

What is your output size and medium? Is this for 2 inch web catalog shots, or large posters on the walls of a jewelry store?

Click to expand...

KSmacros · Aug 11, 2014

As someone who does a bit of macro work, including many loose faceted stones--I'll offer my perspective.

I own both the Nikkor 105mm and 60mm macro lenses. Both are excellent, macro lenses. I like the bokeh better on the 105, and the 60 gives a slightly more "wide shot" that brings out depth in small subjects.
More resolution is better when you need to capture very fine facets or detailed metalwork for large displays--obviously I guess.
Lower base ISO is better if want to capture those fine details with minimal noise and max color depth. I've found that shooting RAW at ISO 64 on my D810 really brings out those clean details, which are especially apparent on small facets.
Of course, more detail/DoF also brings out most imperfections in the stones, cut, and metalwork. Focus-stacking is a great way to bring out detail, although the best jewelery shots I've seen use a focus point, such as on a gem or other details.
Lighting on gems/jewelry is just as important as the detail--and imo one of the toughest to get right.

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D610 vs D810 for Macro photography

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