photographing 1/48 scale

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I am having difficulties photographing my 1/48 scale aircraft. It seems I cannot get close-in cockpit shots with my digital camera without the shot being out of focus. I have the AUTO setting button on, but I still get the blurry images.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

2

See if you have a Macro setting, likely labeled with a flower icon. This allows you to get much closer to your object. Also use a tripod.

The first thing any instructor teaching photography will tell you is to turn OFF your Auto setting. It should be more properly labeled “average” setting.

3

I have a “close-up” setting on my digital camera (represented by a flower!) and that seems to work well. just dont jiggle the camera too much! you may also have to turn off the flash too, depending on your lighting situation

4

Thanks guys! That really helped. [:D]

5

I set my camera on close-up. but I take the shots from a fair distance away, maybe 6-8 inches for detail shots, like a panel… This one, I took a pic of the entire plane from about 12-inches, then cropped it to show just the pilot:

!(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/HansvonHammer/Screenshots/Models/P-39 GB/P-39001-Copy.jpg?t=1274807721)

I boot it up in “Pictures”, click “Fix”, then crop the photo… It automatically will enlarge it… I use the “Fix” function also to lighten, darken and to edit the color saturation…

!(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/HansvonHammer/Screenshots/Models/P-39 GB/OldCrowDiorama013.jpg?t=1274807987)

!(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/HansvonHammer/Screenshots/Models/P-39 GB/OldCrowDiorama014.jpg?t=1274807921)

6

Mike, try a shot with the highest f-stop (smallest lens opening), and slowest shutter speed you can manage. A tripod, a delayed shutter release, and some extra light are also a big help. All of the above will get you the maximum depth of field, with both the foreground and background in good focus. Using auto, or other than the settings above, will give you only a thin slice of the photo really in focus, and in a close up you want everything in focus. The picture below was taken at F32 and 3 seconds, and shows every single defect from tail to prop.

7

On my Cannon Power Shot SD 1200 IS digital camera I get best results NOT using zoom feature and getting close-up by adjusting the distance between the subject and camera. Also I always use the 2 second timer on a tripod or not. It seems to help with the focus.

8

I should have mentioned that my camera does NOT have adjustable F-stops or shutter speeds, it’s “Point & shoot”… I’m a mdeler, not a photographer…

9

It’s all the same thing rolled up in a ball, Hans…just do the part you like the best.

10

Hey guess what? You can be a modeler and a photographer. If your using a point and shoot, as has been said just get far away and zoom.If yu can’t zoom then find out what the minimun focusing distance is.You can probably find it here at Steves Digicams http://www.steves-digicams.com/ my go to site for info on cameras. Just go to the reviews section and look up your camera. Put the listings in alphabetical order first, and it will be easier to find your camera.

The other thing is make a lightbox, it just makes things so much easier and the lighting is soo much better.

11

Wow! cool aircraft. [H] …What is it?

12

One thing you really MUST have is a tripod. It does not need to be big and expensive. WalMart sells Gorillapods which should work for point and shoot cameras for about $18.00. Using the tripod use your cameras timer function. This will remove ALL camera shake from your picutures. I shoot with a digital SLR and always shoot in aperture priority mode (meaning I select the aperture and the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed). Go for the highest aperture your camera will allow to get maximum depth of field. Since your using a tripod your shutter speed becomes less important (up to a point…you still need some decent light sources). In a macro setting your depth of field is pretty much non existent, but for wider shots more of your model will be in good focus.

Brian

13

Bill,

Excellent tips.

Still trying to master this piece of modeling and since I am coming to an end on my F-86 for the NMF GB I want quality picks.

Thanks for sharing

14

It’s Roscoe Turner’s racer, the Turner Special. Starting point was the Lindberg 1/32 kit.