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G12 macro jewelry photography

Started Jul 23, 2017 | Questions
Hila-H
Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
G12 macro jewelry photography
1

Hi, can you please help me to know what do so I can have better photos with the Canon G12 I have, I used to struggle to take photos with it and gave up and used my galaxy s5 but then I was reading a lot here and these is what I understood I can add close up lens and can take good photos with the G12 so I wanted to ask you to help me understand it better

So are these enough? Raynox DCR-250 Macro Lens
58mm Two Piece Lens Adapter
Tripod. (And better lights which is in the way to me)

Do I need also these ones ? Or others?
Canon 250D 58mm Close-up Lens
Opteka 2.2x High Definition II Telephoto Lens for Canon PowerShot

Also I have been given a Canon eos kiss x2, would it be better to invest in macro lenses or the G12 is good enough?
Also Iv been given advice to purchase olympus pen (2,3 but if I would I rather the 7, + 30mm macro lens )
But all of these are too expensive for me for now but if I need it then I will invest in it in the future.

I also used my galaxy s5 to take photos and wanted to ask your advice and opinions on the photos iv taken with the phone vs the camera. ..
Thanks a lot

This one is after reading a lot and its better close up, still need to be much better and better lights

This is the same one just edit it in photoshop  (These are fused glass jewerly I am making  )

This is from my galaxy s5 before editing

after edit and crop

From my phone before edit

After edit

ANSWER:
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Canon EOS 450D (EOS Rebel XSi / EOS Kiss X2) Canon PowerShot G12
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Mark9473 Veteran Member • Posts: 6,425
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

You attached only one image taken with your G12, and I see nothing wrong with that. What is it that you're not pleased with?

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Mark

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Chaplain Mark
Chaplain Mark Veteran Member • Posts: 6,539
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography
1

The red hearts have a bit too much reflection which masks their beautiful color and pattern, but overall, these photos are very nicely done.

I'm really not seeing a need to persue a change in camera or lighting gear, just a more careful positioning of your lighting would be fine, given the examples you posted here.

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Thank You,
Chaplain Mark
-----
'Tis better to have a camera and not need one than to need a camera and not have one.

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Hila-H
OP Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

Mark9473 wrote:

You attached only one image taken with your G12, and I see nothing wrong with that. What is it that you're not pleased with?

Thank you for saying that but the only picture here of the G12 is of the heart. Im not an expert to know if they are good enough if there is noise...or any other problems, im happy with them.

But I wanted to buy macro lens to help me in taking good pictures but not sure as I wrote what to buy, can you advice?

Hila-H
OP Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

Chaplain Mark wrote:

The red hearts have a bit too much reflection which masks their beautiful color and pattern, but overall, these photos are very nicely done.

I'm really not seeing a need to persue a change in camera or lighting gear, just a more careful positioning of your lighting would be fine, given the examples you posted here.

Thanks again. ... Yes I knew about the reflection it was just the first time I successed to take close picture like so after reading here and there that it is possible with changing the settings so I just did a test.

Still I like to buy the close up lens, its not easy to take the pictures from close from different angles, I was hoping it will help me.

Mark9473 Veteran Member • Posts: 6,425
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography
1

Hila-H wrote:

Mark9473 wrote:

You attached only one image taken with your G12, and I see nothing wrong with that. What is it that you're not pleased with?

Thank you for saying that but the only picture here of the G12 is of the heart. Im not an expert to know if they are good enough if there is noise...or any other problems, im happy with them.

But I wanted to buy macro lens to help me in taking good pictures but not sure as I wrote what to buy, can you advice?

The only thing a macro add-on lens for your G12 would bring, is the ability to shoot smaller objects. With the picture of the heart it doesn't appear that you have a problem filling your frame. If you don't have much more tiny objects to photograph, then this would be no benefit.

If you do want to photograph much smaller objects, then in my opinion you would be better in getting an interchangeable lens camera and a dedicated macro lens.

Be aware that shooting something much smaller brings its own difficulties; the most relevant point for you would probably be that the depth-of-field becomes really small so that only a small part of the object is in sharp focus (unless it's something flat). A way around this is focus stacking. This can be done in post-processing, but that can be tedious. However some cameras can do this as well, notably current Olympus m43 cameras are really good at this, with something like the dedicated 60 mm macro lens.

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Mark

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rpm40
rpm40 Senior Member • Posts: 2,411
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography
1

I think both look comparable, and the results are pretty good. As others have said, a macro lens won't give you better results, it would just allow you to get closer. Same with buying an m4/3 camera- it alone won't give you much better results. If your camera is already close enough and is focusing fine, stick with what you have.

I would skip buying new gear, save the money, and practice lighting. Get a basic tripod if you aren't using one already. You may eventually decide you want to spend a little on lighting, background, a reflector etc. to allow you to control the light in your images, which I think would make more of a difference in the photos. Maybe you could buy a polarizing filter to try to see how it affects the reflections on the glass as well- something like a magfilter or lensmate filter adapter and a polarizing filter (Hoya are good). You should be able to get a filter and an adapter for your camera for about $50.

Hila-H
OP Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

Ok 😊 Thank you all for your help...

I will try to do what you all said and hopefully I will manage with better lights and tripod.

Blessings 🌹

RA40 Contributing Member • Posts: 706
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography
1

That G12 image was-is fine.  If you want it brighter, dial up the EV compensation a bit or  in post if shooting RAW.  I really like the G series for macro in these instances.  Nice shots!

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Mike:)

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damian5000 Senior Member • Posts: 1,948
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

I would use the Dodge tool on that heart shadow to fade and graduate it. The other edited shots look good. You can soften shadows prior to the shot by diffusing the light (plastic shopping bags sometimes work in a pinch if no umbrella)

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Canon PowerShot G7 X
Hila-H
OP Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

damian5000 wrote:

I would use the Dodge tool on that heart shadow to fade and graduate it. The other edited shots look good. You can soften shadows prior to the shot by diffusing the light (plastic shopping bags sometimes work in a pinch if no umbrella)

✔👍 thank you..im thinking to buy umbrella soon but great idea to use plastic shopping bags 😊 at the moment I use pergament paper and a white cloth from the light box...but its not good enough

RA40 Contributing Member • Posts: 706
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

To throw in for table top sets, this is one rig I usually carry in a messenger-laptop sized bag.

The little soft box is $30: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/872174-REG/impact_ebo_0699_quikbox_micro_on_camera_softbox.html

Choice of flashes on the used market can run from $50+. The Canon 430EX series is a nice pairing. KEH or the various forum classifieds. Have debated 2.4GHz wireless ETTL compatible triggers but at $15 for the cord this is a low cost worry free solution. (Non firing trigger instances.)

The L-brackets work very nicely but I don't know what may be available for the G12 if this appeals. This rig is quite portable and offers "on the table top" sets with minimal space used.

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Mike:)

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Hila-H
OP Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

RA40 wrote:

To throw in for table top sets, this is one rig I usually carry in a messenger-laptop sized bag.

The little soft box is $30: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/872174-REG/impact_ebo_0699_quikbox_micro_on_camera_softbox.html

Choice of flashes on the used market can run from $50+. The Canon 430EX series is a nice pairing. KEH or the various forum classifieds. Have debated 2.4GHz wireless ETTL compatible triggers but at $15 for the cord this is a low cost worry free solution. (Non firing trigger instances.)

The L-brackets work very nicely but I don't know what may be available for the G12 if this appeals. This rig is quite portable and offers "on the table top" sets with minimal space used.

Thanks 😊

Ill look it up

Dreamscape Photo
Dreamscape Photo Contributing Member • Posts: 536
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

Depends on budget but you should think about extention tubes on the dslr.

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Just go out and shoot photos!!!!

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Hila-H
OP Hila-H New Member • Posts: 7
Re: G12 macro jewelry photography

LEGACYMOMENTSPHOTOGRAPHY wrote:

Depends on budget but you should think about extention tubes on the dslr.

I don't have a dslr

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