Photgraphing items for eBay: I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube...

hochocke Loc: Powell, Ohio

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

Here's the light kit I own and recommend. Good luck

https://www.amazon.com/Chromakey-Flourescent-lightstand-Fancierstudio-9004S-3/dp/B003Y31CAC/ref=sr_1_80?ie=UTF8&qid=1413650202&sr=8-80&keywords=photography+lighting+kits

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

You need a photo tent - check this one out - https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-2090-30-Inch-Backgrounds-Photography/dp/B000UCEUQI/ref=pd_sbs_421_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000UCEUQI&pd_rd_r=Z0BGAAGMGZZWA263WDV3&pd_rd_w=l8oU9&pd_rd_wg=3DrTy&psc=1&refRID=Z0BGAAGMGZZWA263WDV3

And a couple of lights - you're good to go...

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

Go on YouTube see how to make your own light box.

Bill1967 Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado now Wilmington NC

I have been using my Samsung Note 5 with excellant results.

Harry_in_England

Do you have a suitable table close to a window? If so, you could try putting the camera on a tripod without the legs extended, and just use use natural light plus a reflector - even a sheet of aluminium foil taped to some cardboard would do. That way you'll avoid getting glare from the camera's own flash and save having to buy (or make) a light source.
Just a thought.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

Get a piece of poster board and prop it up on something so you get a slight bend. Put your product in the middle and shoot away, do not use flash but adjust your exposure compensation to the plus side until you get the lightness you want, I am some where between +1 and +2. Use JPEG basic and the smallest size on quality, you want to upload a small file. Make sure your light source is coming from directly above, and use white poster board. My results have been very good, NO FLASH.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

I use something similar to this. It folds up into a thin carry case.
https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-60x60cm-Table-Photography-Studio/dp/B00L4S6CSG/ref=sr_1_19?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1482063352&sr=1-19&keywords=folding+photo+tent

I use a tripod and a 28-300mm lens. Sometimes I use the pop-up flash, and sometimes not. I like to get in close to show the details.

Lupin Loc: West Sussex, U.K.

The best way I've found is to use a table pushed up against a well lit wall, with the white side of a length of Christmas or birthday wrapping paper attached at the top edge to the wall, and draped down in a gentle curve over the top of the table. Sit the items that you wish to photograph on the paper just where it curves over the table-top. This will give a nice white seamless background to the photograph. If the object is black (such as most camera bodies) make sure that you have wiped or blown every last speck of dust off the surface, then smooth and peel off the adhesive side of a strip of Sellotape all over the glass surface of the LCD display in order to leave it pristine and sparkling (this is a really good tip!). Take your photographs using a camera on a tripod without flash, in order to avoid harsh shadows. I think it helps to slightly under-expose your images to ensure that the blacks are a really deep glossy black, and to minimise evidence of specs of dust and fingerprints.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

iPad or iPhone type device unless you are selling really high value stuff. Diffusion box or piece of foam core board as a reflector. Don't make it too hard, it's eBay remember.

Best,
Todd Ferguson
Harrisburg, NC

Lazy J Loc: Pacific Northwest

Go to eBay.com and search "light tent kit" for numerous more options.

olddog Loc: louisville ky

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

Your camera and lens should do fine. For lighting, I use two umbrellas on stands with flash units. Works just fine and yields no shadows. Happy selling.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

I have a D5300. I photograph coins that I sell on eBay.
Never use flash.
Use a gooseneck lamp, free standing led lights, or floodlight reflector (Hardware store or photo store???.) For the actual light source (bulb) try to get a bright COOL WHITE light like the LED bulbs.
So you don't get glare, you can bounce the light off something that is white like matboard, poster board, or a large sheet of white paper from a sketch pad, or through a white sheet.
The above methods are probably the least expensive without having to buy expensive studio lighting.
I've been doing it for several years and have had no problems.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

jimmya wrote:

Here's the light kit I own and recommend. Good luck

https://www.amazon.com/Chromakey-Flourescent-lightstand-Fancierstudio-9004S-3/dp/B003Y31CAC/ref=sr_1_80?ie=UTF8&qid=1413650202&sr=8-80&keywords=photography+lighting+kits

Yup, that will do the job.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

Your camera and lenses are probably fine. See the advice for lights UHH'ers posted. You might consider a real Macro lens, ~ 105mm Micro-Nikkor or other brand.