I have been using an old style Mavica, and I am aware of the new mega pixel cameras (cooll pic 950, olympus 2020 etc.) I am on an extremely tight budget and can not upgrade yet. I am having trouble with lighting close up objects like jewelry and small art. Website only use) Recently there was a post regarding a light tent. Can anyone recommend other options for surround lighting. Someone suggested to me to build a light box with plexi glass and flourecent bulbs with a high Kalvin rating above 4800 kalvin. I am really not sure where to start. I don't think the mavica can zoom clear enough with the light tent suggestion. Any help for this novice would be appreciated. Thank You

-- Harley Groff (harley@barbarastreasurechest.com), January 20, 2000

Answers

Which model Mavica do you have? My FD7 would go right in to where the object was touching the lens.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), January 20, 2000.

Fluorescent lights are a bad idea for any Photographic lighting. They don't give a continuous colour spectrum, and can never be properly colour balanced. If you're having trouble with the lens being too close to the subject, a ring-flash is probably the best solution, but these items can be quite pricey. See:

http://www.sunpak.com/dx8r.html

(How the heck do you make these links "hot")

for a picture of what these things look like.

Cheers,

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), January 21, 2000.

For Pete's Sake :)
To make a link hot in this forum surround it with the proper HTML. in the case of:

http://www.sunpak.com/dx8r.html

...do the following:

<A HREF="http://www.sunpak.com/dx8r.html">RingFlash Link</A>

It will look like this:RingFlash Link
And it should work for you.

Des

-- Dan Desjardins (dan.desjardins@avstarnews.com), January 21, 2000.

I have a book called "The Photographers Build-it Yourself book" by Tom Branch. Amohgst other things, it describes building a light tent Using: Florecent Lighting Panel, nylon rope, white posterboard, gaffer's tape, and Masking Tape. Basically you are bending the light panel into a U shape. you drill holes in the four corners(an inch from the side) run the rope the rope thru the holes on and and tie the ends together . to get the u shape, you pull the rope together on either side and tie it off. Tape the poster board at either end putting a hold in one side. Shine light thru the top with flashes or bright lights.

no clue if you can still get this book. ISBN 0-8174-5407-1

dave

-- David Erskine (davide@netquest.com), January 22, 2000.