On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 11:29:54 -0700, Grant Erwin
calmly ranted:

I'm no shutterbug. I'm using a digital camera that cost about $200. It
isn't a fancy Nikon which allows you to swap lenses or anything remotely
like that. Still, it ought to be able to take a closeup of something
about the size of a golf ball. I simply can't make it shoot anything clear.
It has a zoom button. It has "macro mode". It has autofocus, and I know
about putting something like a playing card at the right distance and
holding the button halfway down to hold the autofocus and then shooting
the object. I get pictures that are semi-usable but nothing at all that
can really be said to be in focus. I believe I've tried all 4 permutations
of zoom and macro mode.

Is it me, or the camera? If me, what should I do differently? If it's the
camera, what other camera works better?

You didn't mention a tripod. Macro work needs absolute
stillness to focus properly. It's nearly impossible to
hand-hold a camera for clear macro work. Light the work
brightly/externally and turn off the flash. Shoot from
different distances at highest rez and crop to detail.
You could build a flash ring with LEDs if you're doing
this very often, Grant. Tissue paper over the flash will
work (as a diffuser) in a pinch if you have to have flash
for shadowing.


BTW, what I'm shooting are details of my die filer for the die filer Web
page I'm building. I know there is probably a more specifically correct NG
but I'm real used to this one and we have many knowledgeable regulars.

rec.photo.digital might be your next step if we don't
solve your problems. I don't follow it but have lurked
and asked questions there (whenever I've had a problem)
for years.


--
Impeach 'em ALL!
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