How to photograph a CPU?

[Steve]

I want to take a big, clear picture of a CPU. All I've got on hand is a Canon PowerShot A310 (not mine, I don't own a digital camera). Not much luck so far, too much flash glare or something else goes wrong. Any tips? Anyone know how to work this thing?

 

[UglyCasanova]

Scanner

 

[Goosemaster]

press the little flower button and press the "actuation initializer"

that should do until the camera warms up....come back when it is ncie and toasty

 

[Platypus]

Macro mode?

 

[Goosemaster]

seriously though

a)scanner is NOT a bad idea

b) there is usally a flower button that allows for up close macro shots

 

[Steve]

I could do the scanner at work tomorrow, but in the meantime... any tips on lighting? This room has an overhead light and a strong desk lamp.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Bright light, no flash, and don't take a direct 90 degree angle shot.

 

[Cawchy87]

put it under bright light, turn the flash off, and use macro mode

 

[talyn00]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Bright light, no flash, and don't take a direct 90 degree angle shot.

you forgot to mention macro mode.

oh and post pics of that CPU when you do get it done, we wanna see.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: talyn00

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Bright light, no flash, and don't take a direct 90 degree angle shot.

you forgot to mention macro mode.

oh and post pics of that CPU when you do get it done, we wanna see.

True that, provided the camera has it.

 

[natto fire]

Try to get a tripod, or a solid surface to set the camera on. Turn off the flash, and use the solid surface to compensate for the high exposure time. Use the timer if you must, your finger pushing the shutter button might actually move the camera while you are taking the pic. I had to get a remote for my film camera when I was stopping the lens down to take some fairly long shots (1/60th- 1s) with my tripod. A timer will work as good, but you have to be careful if your overhead light is a fluorescent. Antoher thing I am not sure about is if you can adjust aperture on simple point-and-shoot cameras, but if you can, it makes for some interesting pictures...

 

[Steve]

Okay thanks all for the tips, I've taken a few now and I'll see how they come out.

 

[Bootprint]

If you still get too much glare, create a simple tent withsome white fabric. Shine the lights through the fabric down onto the CPU.

Sort of a quick and dirty light box. Here's a little more complex light box.

 

[cmv]

Scanner is the *best* idea. It works very well for things like this -- awesome clarity, resoution, etc.

 

[JinLien]

35~100mm macro standard lens, f11 or f8 aperture, bright diffuse light, 3/4 or 2/3 angle, tripod, remote shutter or trip cord.

 

[Steve]

Well, I'm still a rank amateur with much to learn, but for my purposes I think I have what I need. Incidentally, most are from before I posted this thread

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sm8000/amd.JPG

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: sm8000
Well, I'm still a rank amateur with much to learn, but for my purposes I think I have what I need. Incidentally, most are from before I posted this thread

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sm8000/amd.JPG

Your light source is too close/harsh.

Is this from the lamp? Try putting a white thin sheet of material over it.

But the lightbox thing at pbase would work pretty well.

 

[JinLien]

Originally posted by: sm8000
Well, I'm still a rank amateur with much to learn, but for my purposes I think I have what I need. Incidentally, most are from before I posted this thread

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sm8000/amd.JPG

Too much direct flash, Try putting a thin sheath of paper/cloth over the flash. Or, prop the camera with a bean/rice/sand bag and take it with natural light with time delay exposure.

 

[Bootprint]

Depending your usage, maybe use photos from here.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Macro. Tripod. No flash. Good light.

ZV

 

[yhelothar]

SLR + bellows + ringlight flash = teh winnar!

 

[JinLien]

SLR + bellows + ringlight flash = teh winnar!

Might as well use a 4x5 camera, with a main + high light + back ground + underneath lumination + ring flash + light table if you are going that far.

 

[illusion88]

bounce the flash off of the ceiling, instead of pointing it straight at the CPU

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

My old canon A40 works well for these kind of shots since I got a macro lense for it.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/YOyoYOhowsDAjello/AMD1.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/YOyoYOhowsDAjello/AMD2.JPG

 

[bootymac]

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