Best lenses for forensic photography?

[mais51]

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Ha - yes exactly. "Close Focusing" is what it is. The Sigma will allow me to get closer to my subject (3') and still focus than the Nikon version (4.6'). The micro nikon 105 is 12".

...

Remember that the 12" is from the subject to the sensor plane. The working distance (from the subject to the front element of the lens) is only half that (in the case of the Nikon 105 mm).

For a true macro lens minimum distance to the subject is related to the 1:1 ratio - normally the longer this distance the better because you would have more working distance and the lens would not cast a shadow on the subject. Flash will give better light distribution. In this regard for macro work the 105 Nikon is preferred over the 60 Nikon - with a working distance of 10.2" - minimum focus 19.69" or 500mm - the favorite is the Nikon AF-Micro 200 F/4D ED-IF

 

[olyflyer]

That's what is used in all the TV series... and the popup flash.

Otherwise you could go for the Nikon 60. It is the best macro lens, light and produce excellent images.

Big trouble if you use TV drama as a technical reference. I mean they don't have to be real or legally factual - just a make believe show for entertainment.

It was a joke. Apparently you didn't get it.

Not joking about the 60.

 

[Osvaldo Cristo]

I don't believe in any "right" kit for any kind of photography as your vision, style and skills are different. I have no experience on that kind of photography but I think there are two gaps in your lenses.

I see forensic photography with some similar demands as PJ so a good and fast WA zoom would be a must. If money isn't a problem, the obvious candidate is Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8 but there are less expensive alternatives although you will have to cope with some compromises.

One Macro lens looks me equally important. I would consider Micro Nikkor 105 f/2.8 VR as a good trade off for that application.

All the best,

 

[glo]

Nikon AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED

Flat field of focus, designed for technical reproduction work. Good field of view when your working distance is too limited for a longer lens.

The Nikon R1C1 flash system would be a good setup for even lighting. You see it used on many of the CSI TV shows. I've used it for close work. However, since you already have two flash units you may want to consider one of the many macro flash brackets available.

 

[G1Houston]

good color capture, depth/relief capture, large DOF (it's not art photography).

m4/3, or those compact with 1 in sensor? I think a FF camera is the wrong one to get.

 

[chuxter]

good color capture, depth/relief capture, large DOF (it's not art photography).

m4/3, or those compact with 1 in sensor? I think a FF camera is the wrong one to get.

I agree. Most folks missed the "large DOF" requirement.

I think there are some other requirements for forensic photography, related to verifying when the pix were taken and nothing was edited; but I'm not an expert.

 

[mais51]

good color capture, depth/relief capture, large DOF (it's not art photography).

m4/3, or those compact with 1 in sensor? I think a FF camera is the wrong one to get.

I agree. Most folks missed the "large DOF" requirement.

I think there are some other requirements for forensic photography, related to verifying when the pix were taken and nothing was edited; but I'm not an expert.

You are right, I remember reading somewhere that Nikon have a special verification/authentication software to verify that the photo is authentic and has not been doctored or changed in anyway. Only the photos that passed this authentication are allowed to be submitted or used as evidence in courts.

 

[Event_shooter]

http://www.forensicmag.com/articles/2008/01/csi-cameras-today

Good thing you found an up to date article on the subject.

Ya I can see how NONE OF THIS APPLIES any more. I see where advice like .." The first step in purchasing the right camera for your needs is to consider what you will be capturing." Is REALLY useless info.

Then when I read ..." but there is no one camera that can do it all. Instead you should look for the camera that best meets your needs now. As a forensic photography equipment trainer and integrator, I want to find the equipment that will give you the best overall performance." GEE, you wouild think he would update that piece of info HUH? OH WAIT - it still applied today and 100 years ago and 100 years from NOW.

MAN , does the author need a clue spewing this tid bit - HUH ..."A camera used for forensic imaging should have the ability to be versatile in all possible applications." Wait HANG ON, this was teh same info I read today all over this site. GO FIGURE?

The gaul of the author to prorpose such outdate info like this..." Do you need to make images using UV fluorescence? How far away from the subject matter will you be located? What resolution is necessary? How much money do you have to spend? Answering these questions will lead you to the perfect camera."

I think the thinkg you need to realize is ALL INFORMATION is valuable and you are not the only one viewing this site. Are you so arrogant to think that someone who just started taking images for the first time would visit this site and gleen a tid bit of insight?

Does it make you feel more like a man to be sarcastic to peopel offering ANY HELP, rather than be like you ready to pounce and offer absolutely no help what so ever? Does that inflate your ego?

Are you so emasculated that insulting posters enhances your masculinity?

I left you some spelling errors, grammer errors and other Easter eggs that you can pounce on to further inflate your ego.

 

[thejohnnerparty]

Thus far the comments have all been very insightful and helpful. I don't think I could add anything to the recommendation thus far that would be any better in terms of lens selection. However, as I have read the comments, there is one more thing that hasn't specifically recommended that you might consider adding to your tool chest - the DOF charts for the lens and camera that you will be using. It is amazing how much the DOF changes with the different focal length. There are calculators online that will build the charts for you. Considering the work you'll be doing, you may find them very helpful for various situations. .... Good luck with your work.

 

[thejohnnerparty]

Very interesting. Nikon, of course, has their own photo editing package (Capture NX and View NX), which allows you to edit and undo what may have been done to an original file. Is the authentication package a separate program that Nikon sells? ..... I'm just curious.

 

[AndyW17]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. There's a lot to this, especially if one ends up doing the official crime scene work. There are certifications and such.

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www.theiai.org

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www.evidencephotographers.com

One interesting point a friend of mine made was to ask if I might ever be called up on the stand to testify as to how my images were taken, etc. Ugh. THAT would take ALL of the fun out of this. So I'm going to check on that.

Interesting suggestion on the m43 option. I have an E-M1, and a 60mm macro (120mm equiv) is lots less expensive than the Nikon, nearly enough so to also include a ring light. Food for thought. In the meantime I will practice with what I have and see what I can learn. My wife is at best mildly excited about the prospect of offering body parts for imaging...

If this actually happens, I'll post an update. Interesting stuff!

 

[Robin Casady]

Thus far the comments have all been very insightful and helpful. I don't think I could add anything to the recommendation thus far that would be any better in terms of lens selection. However, as I have read the comments, there is one more thing that hasn't specifically recommended that you might consider adding to your tool chest - the DOF charts for the lens and camera that you will be using. It is amazing how much the DOF changes with the different focal length. There are calculators online that will build the charts for you. Considering the work you'll be doing, you may find them very helpful for various situations. .... Good luck with your work.

Charts? We have smart phones now. Lots of DOF apps available. Just make sure the one you choose works with the distances you will be using. Also find the best circle of confusion for your camera. Most DOF calculators default to values suitable for film. For the D800 one should use 10 microns (0.01mm) while most calculators default to 30 microns for the D800.

 

[TOF guy]

Nikon have a special verification/authentication software to verify that the photo is authentic

Some Nikon dSLRs used to have that authentication capability (D300 for instance) and Nikon used to sell the software to verify authentication ... until the algorithm was broken.

Only the photos that passed this authentication are allowed to be submitted or used as evidence in courts.

The authentication would not bear any weight in a court.

Nikon has given up on more recent dSLRs.

 

[39matt]

Really don't get too hung up over equipment for Forensic photography purposes.
In my time I used a Mamiya RB67 with standard lens for normal forensic photography along with a Metz 45. A ring flash was used for close up injury work with scales.
I later moved to a Nikon D300 with standard 18-70mm and a Nikon SB800. By the time we moved to digital we had a policy of only doing injury photos in a studio to ensure even lighting.
The critical aspect of forensic photography only comes where you are looking to do direct comparisons with something such as bite marks etc where the camera needs to be scaled and plano parallel.
The other occasion you might need extra equipment is with older bruising where uv photography is needed. That said I can only recall doing this a couple of times over 16 years.
My advice would be to start of with reasonable equipment which you probably already have and invest further only if the job requirements dictate it.

 

[Rexgig0]

I have mostly used Canon 7D cameras, with an EF 100mm 2.8L Macro lens, and zoom in the wide-to-normal focal length range. There have been times, however, when 100mm is just too long, and if I had my D700 and 60G with me, used them, instead. Acquiring a Canon 24-105L lens, with its quite good close-focus ability, last September, enabled me to go from wide to long, and close-up through the zoom range, without switching lenses, unless I needed true 1:1 macro, so I have used my D700 and 60G mostly just for personal images since then, but the Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G is most certainly an excellent lens for forensic photography.

The process of documenting an injury, for courtroom purposes, ideally involves beginning with a shot of the whole person, then moving progressively closer, until the injury itself fills the viewfinder. In cramped spaces, such as small apartments, I have settled for starting with an upper-body image, but it is best to show the whole person, and move (or zoom) closer, to keep the opposing attorney from being able to create reasonable doubt than an injury was on the person in question.

Be ready to answer allegations, during cross-examination, that the images were "manipulated" after the shoot. My employer, a large police department, requires me to upload OOC JPEGs into a program known as Data Works, so I have never had to explain, in court, how I processed images.

 

[mais51]

Nikon have a special verification/authentication software to verify that the photo is authentic

Some Nikon dSLRs used to have that authentication capability (D300 for instance) and Nikon used to sell the software to verify authentication ... until the algorithm was broken.

Only the photos that passed this authentication are allowed to be submitted or used as evidence in courts.

The authentication would not bear any weight in a court.

Nikon has given up on more recent dSLRs.

--
Thierry - posted as regular forum member

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