RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

I agree with you there. I have a Kodak P850, 5.1 MP, which is overkill for web pictures.

frozenhermitphoto

Hi Jim. I can't find the link to my ebook about photographing jewelry right at the moment so I will give you a few pointers.

Most any camera will suffice for your needs, as long as you can get sharp photos from it. If you are shooting diamonds, I recommend a manual focus lens and a camera with a high resolution LCD viewscreen. My Sony a37 has a feature called "focus peaking" that highlights whatever is in focus when in manual mode. This is handy when trying to catch focus on rings with multiple settings. Also try focusing just below the surface of the stone to bring out the highlights from the facets below. It won't hurt to review each picture under magnification to ensure you got the focus right. It slows down the work flow, but with a hundred pieces to shoot it takes less time than finding and re-shooting a single piece.

If you go with a small "point and shoot" with a macro mode, use a table top tripod to get close enough. A good solid table, light tent and display stands for the pieces are a must. If you use a DSLR or bridge camera I recommend a floor model tripod. A remote release is a must, or if unavailable use the two second delay found on most cameras. This will reduce the risk of blur from pressing the shutter button.

With jewelry the piece (if flat) should be tilted to the camera's plane of focus to show all detail. Very small pieces can be photographed next to a dime for perspective. With curved pieces (like some watch bands) don't try to stop down to f22 for greater depth of field; try a small mirror to catch the details.

Make sure to have plenty of your favorite wiping rags (like lens cloth) because dust shows up in macros quite well.

If shooting a large amount of pieces, shoot in batches and organize a workflow system so the ones that have been shot don't get mixed up with the ones yet to do.

If you have to label pieces, take a few sheets at a time of sticky notes and cut strips with scissors to make small tags.

If you will shoot more than one batch on separate days, make a note of your camera settings so that you can easily duplicate the look from one batch to the next.

Have fun!
Mike

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tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

Do you really think that a 12.1MP camera would not be sufficient for images that are to be displayed on a web site, at probably less than 500-1000 pixels on any dimension? My old Minolta 3.2MP camera was more than adequate for all our web development in the day. It is only when you intend to print that the higher resolution sensor become necessary. If all I intended to do is put pics online, I would look to save some money on the camera, and make my most important spec how close it could focus.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Forgot to ask.

What is your niche in Jewelry? Are you doing fine or costume? Is your market the delicate things teenagers wear or the larger pieces the retired-to-Florida-and-really-think-my-blue-hair-looks-great set might favor or somewhere in between? Do you make broaches, rings, bracelets, hair clips or nose rings? What kind of stones, if any? Do you tend toward gold, silver, gun metal or something else?

All of these things react differently to light and my look best under different photographic choices.

jeronay Loc: Rockport, TX

The feedback from this group is very impressive. I deeply thank each of you. My wife has been a jeweler/gemologist for 34 yrs. She/we have three shops one each in CO, MN, TX. We deal in exotic, designer hand cut gemstones in a great
variety: Australian opal, topaz, rubes, tanzanite, lapis, garnets, amethyst, moonstone, tiger eye, turquoise, goldstone, jasper, black onyx, authentic luster rich pearls, mother of pearls, malachite, citrine, tourmaline and Fantasy necklaces, ear cuffs and ear threads in sterling. We are beginning the process of transitioning from brick/mortar to Web only. Initial pics will likely be ear cuffs and threads. Does that help. I deal with the admin/promotional side of the business. Look & feel will remain an important aspect of the Web side of the business.

jeronay Loc: Rockport, TX

We have perhaps 50 different product subsets related to "jewelry" and other assorted items not related to jewelry. But we plan to test the waters (Web) with just one or two lines and build up from there if it appears to be working.

BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

For web photos you don't have to spend a lot of money on a camera.

A Fuji S6800 would do what you need. About $160.00

Lens 15 elements in 11 groups
EFL: 4.3-129 mm (35 mm equivalent: 24-720 mm)
Aperture: f/3.1 (W) - 5.9 (T) to f/20

Wide Macro: 1.97" (5 cm) - 9.84' (3 m)
Tele Macro: 5.91' (1.8 m) - 9.84' (3 m)
Super-Macro: 0.79" (2 cm) - 3.28' (1 m)

You will have more $ in tripod and lighting than the camera

BigWahoo Loc: Kentucky

Here is a picture of my light box. I have since added free standing Fluorescent lighting. It is made with approx. $!5.00 of pvc pipe and an old sheet.

The front flap panel folds down with a hole cut for the camera lens.

The tripod came from a school district surplus sale for $18.00.