Basic Camera settings for modelling , advice needed !

[Guest]

Photography has always been a weak point for me with modelling , I`ve just recieved this Fujifilm S602 Pro Zoom won from Ebay for £28 it has 3.1mp but can get 6mp through interpolation (whatever that is) , 6x optical zoom , 4x digital zoom , macro , among other things , software has been downloaded every thing on the camera seems to work and is a vast improvement on the camera I have now I hope .

My question is - could anyone please tell me what a good starting setup is for modelling photo`s - most photo`s will be taken of the models on the bench but for finnished models I will be using 2 halogen lamps and a photo tent.

When it comes to cameras I`m a bit of a dougnut but keen to learn so any advice would be very much appriciated guys , just hope I`ve bought a camera that can do the job ?

Cheers

Richy

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[Guest]

Richy in the end it is up to your imagination with your developing technical expertise.

If you can go manual this is best. But you may find it easier to practice in auto to get some practice in handling the camera. Costs nothing practice other than time. Put your shots on the computer & study it to see how it comes out. OK to view on a camera but the pictures are so small they do not give a realistic impression.

If you can go manual then go for manual on lense opening leaving the camera to work out the time of the exposure. To get the best pictures it is essential to have a tripod which you can pick up very cheaply. For the best highly detailed picture you need to set the lense to around F16. This will give the best in detail & gives an extensive depth of field. IE gives in focus detail extensively both beyond & infront of the point you focus on when taking the shot.

If you set the lense around F2 then the amount in focus behind & infront of the point you focused on when taking the shot will deminish compared to F16.

If you practice with these two F2 & F16 settings for the same shot it will illustrate. Both settings can provide great shots. The F2 will give a great deal of the foreground & background out of focus but can make a shot look stunning.

Make sure you set the model against a good background. You do not want other items which detract from your shot within the shot.

As I mentioned just go mad & take shot after shot. Change direction change height, on top, looking up into the subject it is all down to imagination in the end once you have got your settings as you want them. Change your lighting positions on the same shot.

The above is very basic but the best way is to see what happens when you change things.

Laurie

[Guest]

The camera looks very professional Richy! I can't help much as I use a basic 3.1 MP camera phone. However, the basics remain the same, such as proper lighting which helps enormously. I've also heard that using a digital zoom is to be avoided as it can add unwanted ' noise ' to a picture.

The rest I'll leave to better informed people like Laurie!

Good luck & let's see some shots!

Patrick

[Guest]

Thankyou Laurie , taken loads of photo`s already on your advice but only on auto so far , I`m messing about with the flash - zoom macro etc , want to compare it to my old camera 1st and get the feel of it before I go into the menu and start changing things , I`ve noted the f2 to f16 settings and will try them out later cheers mate

Cheers Patrick , it might look proffesional but not in my hands I feel like one of them Japanese golfers you see - all the gear no idea ,

Seems nice to use on auto so far also very easy to download and upload photos which is one hurdle I`ve got over I`ve also have taken a few photos as a test to see what they look like on the forum

here we go

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[Guest]

Right then , not a great start but a good starting point , lighting as Patrick said is an area to work on also focus being another one , guess what I`m doing the weekend guys - Yes playing with my new toy.

Richy

[stona]

Richy I can't help you with the photography as I'm a complete numpty but that second picture you posted already looks pretty good to me.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I like your JPEG 6 the tank Richy.

I would have had a go at placing the lense resting on the basebaord towards the front looking back at the soldiers. Tilted up just enough to get the top of the turret without losing the feet of the soldiers. Think that would give it human scale & make the tank look like the monster it is. Try it perhaps with differing zooms.

I always take a good few of the same shot with differing zooms then choose the one that looks the best. Stupid statement that is you are hardly going to choose the worst, I hope !

My wife has an early model of this range of camera & she takes some very nice shots (for a women that is). Whoops.

Laurie