Hi:

I just got an Olympus D-600L digital camera, and was wondering if one of the pros out there could help me. The camera takes very clear pictures of small objects using the macro setting, but reflective objects seem to show some nasty glare. Is there a really "cheap and dirty" way to creating a home-made solution? Someone had suggested cutting the top and bottom off a 1 gallon milk jug, then photographing the object (like a wristwatch) inside the jug, so that the plastic of the jug would filter most of the glare. Would this work? Are there other ideas? Many thanks for all your help. I am not usually able to check this forum, so if it isn't too much trouble, please e-mail your ideas to mba00@erols.com. Many thanks in advance for all your help. Regards. Michael

-- Michael Sandler (mba00@erols.com), March 19, 1999

Answers

I am not familiar with the design of your camera, but if the lens has threads, you may try using a polarizing filter. I have used this technique with my Nikon F3 (though it's an SLR) and it works. Also, you could try making a "light tent" with diffusion gel as in the illustration in the Nikon CP 950 review in conjunction with the filter. Hope it works for you.

Flo

-- Florette Anderson (ceo@csscompany.net), March 20, 1999.

Michael, You need to diffuse the light hitting the subject, and the best way to do that is with translucent material that you can buy in professional photography supply houses. We use lumalux, but there are others out there. You can take a sheet, make it into a cone and put it around the lens. There is a good visual of this right here at: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/C950/C950A.HTM They are using a Nikon coolpix but the basic system will also work with your Olympus. Please feel free to e-mail me for more details. Ray Sliva citywidephoto.com

-- Ray Sliva (rsliva@home.com), March 21, 1999.