D3 with AF-S Micro Nikkor 105 2.8 ED VR & 1.7 Teleconverter

[GetCarter]

I decided it was time to take some 'proper' shots of my watches. (Well as proper as I can get them).

These are all hand held, mostly with natural light, so I was getting a hit rate of about 1 in 50! (DOF narrower than a gnats fart).

All shots 2500 ISO or above (thank you Nikon).

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/watch.htm

Quite fun to do, but it don't half make your arms ache holding a house brick perfectly still in mid air.

You like, or too arty?

[stu1984]

GetCarter said:

I decided it was time to take some 'proper' shots of my watches. (Well as proper as I can get them).

These are all hand held, mostly with natural light, so I was getting a hit rate of about 1 in 50! (DOF narrower than a gnats fart).

All shots 2500 ISO or above (thank you Nikon).

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/watch.htm

Quite fun to do, but it don't half make your arms ache holding a house brick perfectly still in mid air.

You like, or too arty?

I think the shots look great - congratulations on your perseverance too! What a fantastic collection, thanks for sharing

[james_tigerwoods]

Worst "look at my mahoosive watch collection" photo set ever!

Great photos though - I envy your talent!

[Simpo Two]

I think there are some nice ones but also some misses. The shallow DOF works in some but is too much in others (but watches can be sods due to size and curved shiny bits). Lighting aside, why not use a tripod to make things a bit easier/reproducible?

I might have ditched the TC and cropped instead. Have you considered the Nikkor 85mm PC-E lens? It has a magnification of 1:2 apparently and I'm sure you can find a, er, 'work' use for it

[K12beano]

Simpo Two said:

Lighting aside, why not use a tripod to make things a bit easier/reproducible?

Also - have you tried a bit of "stacking". Looking for any tips on this.

It was something I was thinking of doing once I am tooled up with the "Great-Eight" '800, given diffraction limitations.

And I'd stick with the 105mm, unlike listening to Simpo getting you to spend! Alternative is a whole set of tubes on an 85mm f/1.4D which you can't do with the 105.


But definitely stick it on a 'pod!

[GetCarter]

Thanks for the comments chaps. I might try some again from further back to get greater DOF.

BTW - Tripod may look like a no brainer, but with only natural light I was finding it easier to move the camera rather than the watch - as you'll know, using a 105 full on gives the DOF of a green Rizla paper, and if I'd have been using a tripod, I'd still be there doing it!

[Elderly]

Too much time on your hands Steve?

[GetCarter]

/\ Reminds me of that great Walter Matthau comment when he saw George Burns on the Paramount lot in LA wearing a chicken costume.

"Hi George. Working?"

[Simpo Two]

GetCarter said:

BTW - Tripod may look like a no brainer, but with only natural light I was finding it easier to move the camera rather than the watch - as you'll know, using a 105 full on gives the DOF of a green Rizla paper, and if I'd have been using a tripod, I'd still be there doing it!

Something like this might help:



http://www.dinodirect.com/wholesale-massa-macro-fo...

Or keep the camera fixed and move the watch back and forth as required. Then you can use smaller apertures. Or the PC-E lens as mentioned and simply adjust the plane of focus!

[GetCarter]

That looks like an instrument of torture! Does one have to pay for that?

I've retaken about half of them, with more DOF for most.

You have to understand though, I'm not trying to take 'Pack Shots' (God forbid, I'd be crap at a proper job) ... just 'sexy' shots. Trying to find the aesthetic.

http://www.stevecarter.com/random/watch.htm

If you still have issues, I'll have to go out and buy more watches - watch out.