EdCaffreyMS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
Let me preface by saying that I am in no way near a professional photo guy, but the thread "Camera Suggestions-2020" got me to asking myself questions, as to why I prefer the Sony camera that I use, versus a Canon, Nikon, or whatever, and why I always seem to be able to produce better KNIFE pics with the Sonys (I own a DSC H200, DSC H-200X, and a DSC H-400), then the other brands I've tried. After a bunch of searching around the net, something jumped out at me. I was touting about the Sony having a glass lens, and how I thought that made a difference..... but now I think that is only part of the situation.
OK.... when we take photos of knives, for best results its usually on a tripod, and ideally in a light tent setup. So... that means the majority of the time, in that situation, the photos are taken in "macro" (close up) mode (most cameras set to auto mode will go into macro automatically when needed). I found a lot of articles that talked about the different type sensors, in different cameras..... CCD and CMOS types. And most said the eye could not see the difference in in photos taken with either....... under"MOST" photos situations.
I did find a couple of very short blurbs of how some photographers who make their living shooting "macro", prefer cameras with CCD sensors. Then I started searching for which sensor type was best for macro, and didn't find much..... but I did start piecing together bits and pieces from various articles that lead me to a conclusion.
Me touting the glass lens, was only part of the equation! Based on the information that I pieced together, I believe that a camera with a CCD type sensor, using "auto mode", which is what most knifemakers are likely to do, may be the best choice for taking knife pics in a light tent setup.
Now..... it just so happens the camera(s) that I have been using (the Sony DSC H-XXX) series, have both a glass lens, and use a CCD type sensor. A big DUH for me. All that being said, now I believe I understand why I am getting better knife pics, under the same settings, with an older camera, versus newer ones..... The old cameras I own/use, have both a CCD type senor, AND glass lenses..... where as the new cameras I've tried and been disappointed with, all had CMOS sensors, and plastic lenses. Like I said, I'm not a pro at photos, but to me, it seems the reasoning is solid for using a camera with a CCD sensor, and glass lens for knife photography......at least for those who are knifemakers first, and photographers...only when we need to be.
One final note.... has to do with focus. All the cameras I tried, and did not like, had only a manual focus, which logically should be a good thing....but for me it was not. The Sony cameras I mentioned not only have a CCD sensor, and glass lens, but the also share the feature of being Auto Focus cameras. I'm sure there are holes somewhere in my logic, and that a pro photographer knows far more then me..... but I also trust the logic of what I discovered. Thanks Billy for sending me down this rabbit hole!
OK.... when we take photos of knives, for best results its usually on a tripod, and ideally in a light tent setup. So... that means the majority of the time, in that situation, the photos are taken in "macro" (close up) mode (most cameras set to auto mode will go into macro automatically when needed). I found a lot of articles that talked about the different type sensors, in different cameras..... CCD and CMOS types. And most said the eye could not see the difference in in photos taken with either....... under"MOST" photos situations.
I did find a couple of very short blurbs of how some photographers who make their living shooting "macro", prefer cameras with CCD sensors. Then I started searching for which sensor type was best for macro, and didn't find much..... but I did start piecing together bits and pieces from various articles that lead me to a conclusion.
Me touting the glass lens, was only part of the equation! Based on the information that I pieced together, I believe that a camera with a CCD type sensor, using "auto mode", which is what most knifemakers are likely to do, may be the best choice for taking knife pics in a light tent setup.
Now..... it just so happens the camera(s) that I have been using (the Sony DSC H-XXX) series, have both a glass lens, and use a CCD type sensor. A big DUH for me. All that being said, now I believe I understand why I am getting better knife pics, under the same settings, with an older camera, versus newer ones..... The old cameras I own/use, have both a CCD type senor, AND glass lenses..... where as the new cameras I've tried and been disappointed with, all had CMOS sensors, and plastic lenses. Like I said, I'm not a pro at photos, but to me, it seems the reasoning is solid for using a camera with a CCD sensor, and glass lens for knife photography......at least for those who are knifemakers first, and photographers...only when we need to be.
One final note.... has to do with focus. All the cameras I tried, and did not like, had only a manual focus, which logically should be a good thing....but for me it was not. The Sony cameras I mentioned not only have a CCD sensor, and glass lens, but the also share the feature of being Auto Focus cameras. I'm sure there are holes somewhere in my logic, and that a pro photographer knows far more then me..... but I also trust the logic of what I discovered. Thanks Billy for sending me down this rabbit hole!
