Can 50mm be used for Photographing jewelry?

2 years 3 months ago #729425 by Timothy Voogt
I'm sure it can, but would you consider it a good choice for photographing jewelry?  Like diamond and gem rings?  I have a jeweler who asked me to take some shots of some custom rings they are making.  

While asking, can this be done with natural light or will I need flash?


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2 years 3 months ago #729429 by Nikon Shooter
A 50mm is quite usable along with extension tubes
in whatever type of light you would want to use.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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2 years 3 months ago #729430 by Nikon Shooter
ADDENDUM

The longer the focal length the better.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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2 years 3 months ago #729444 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Tim

Lighting - use a single, large light-source light and a good reflector for the shadows
Keep it simple :)

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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2 years 3 months ago #729445 by Nikon Shooter

Ozzie_Traveller wrote: Keep it simple.


A most precious tip from Phil and, if I may add, keep those
highlights under control. :P

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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2 years 3 months ago #729450 by TCav
A macro lens provides better edge-to-edge sharpness, which will serve you better, especially when you want to shoot larger objects like bracelets, necklaces, etc.


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2 years 3 months ago #729457 by Tim Kelley
Yeah, it's a classic for a reason.  It's a swiss army knife.   


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2 years 3 months ago #729510 by TCav

Tim Kelley wrote: Yeah, it's a classic for a reason.  It's a swiss army knife.   


It's a classic because it's easier and cheaper to make with larger apertures than lenses of other focal lengths, and usually best projects an image onto a 'Full Frame' sensor that will have a perspective we are most accustomed to seeing with the naked eye.

As in, NOT because it's a swiss army knife. It's not.


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2 years 3 months ago #729511 by Nikon Shooter

TCav wrote: As in, NOT because it's a swiss army knife. It's not.


:agree:

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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2 years 3 months ago #729576 by Jeanne Merlo

TCav wrote: A macro lens provides better edge-to-edge sharpness, which will serve you better, especially when you want to shoot larger objects like bracelets, necklaces, etc.



:agree:    yep with better bokeh too.  Well that depends on the quality of the lens.  


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2 years 3 months ago #729635 by Overread
Yes, that will work, but 100mm will work much better.  


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2 years 2 months ago #729871 by Ian Stone
Yeah why not?  50mm is a great lens for just about anything you can imagine.   At least IMHO.  


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2 years 2 months ago #730031 by Zach Mosher
I've been saving up for a new 50mm, I have a friend who uses his exclusively for so much.  


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2 years 2 months ago #730067 by CharleyL
Of course you can use a 50 mm lens, but a lens extension tube set may also be needed for really close close-ups of smaller jewelry. Although I have both a 50 mm and one of these extension tube sets, I rarely use them both together, preferring instead to use my 18-55 mm and an extension tube set for taking macros of these smaller items.

A good sturdy tripod capable of holding the camera pointed straight down, and a ring flash is also a good idea. I have a stand that looks much like an old film enlarger that I mount my camera to that I have used for straight down close-up shots. It's more intended for digitizing larger photos, but I have found it to work for this too. Then again, I'm one who thinks outside the box and has attached my camera tripod to the ceiling to point the camera at the floor for digitizing large old movie coming attraction posters too.

Charley


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2 years 2 months ago #730191 by Patrick G
:agree:   Yep, agree with Charley on this one


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