How do I get sharper images? NX1100

CMurdock wrote:

OrdinarilyInordinate wrote:

Do you live in the U.S.? If so, here is a suggestion:

http://www.adorama.com/DOST600B001.html

(I was looking a ball-head tripods at $30 or below up to 60" tall). Pan-heads seem to be cheaper, but I think ball heads are a lot easier/faster for product photography. I got my Dolica Proline 62" tripod on a good sale for $32 shipped, but that kind of a sale doesn't come around often. I like the taller version, but if you're just shooting at table surface or lower, you could do fine with a lower max height tripod. If you do need cheaper, you can get A reasonable tripod for half that price.

Let me just point out that using a tripod will drastically increase the time it takes to take my photos. As it is, I arrange the beads on a plate, put it on a table in front of a window, and then take 35-40 photographs in rapid succession at different EC levels. With a tripod, I'll have to attach the camera to the tripod, position it, and then use a remote shutter release. What is now quick and easy will take much more time. I'm not saying I won't do it, but it does mean more work.

So let me ask you, will increasing the ISO reduce the softness of the photos a little? The camera will have to open the shutter for a shorter time, or use a smaller aperture. That may be all that I need.

It's actually less work--you set it up once, then you only swap what's under the camera on your white surface and press the shutter button when you're ready to take the picture. I don't know why you want to use different EC levels--what you see on the screen of your camera is mostly what you get, so you can vary your lighting or EC until you like the result and then just keep using that setting until you move the camera. Anyway, having the camera on a tripod does not prevent you from doing any of your normal stuff--you just don't need to move it or hold it in your hands to take photos of more beads.

You can even keep the camera permanently mounted on a tripod in a certain initial position.  You can get an active USB extension cord for cheap from monoprice.com and use it to connect your camera with your computer when you're ready to transfer photos.  Just move it altogether with the tripod still attached.