How to take decent Pics of my Displays?

[rbV5]

Anyone with some tips on taking decent shots of my Video output on the screen? I've got a decent digicam and tripod, but can't seem to get it right. I'm sure I could get it with my trial and fail method eventually, but anybody thats done it could give some pointers?
Main idea is to shoot screenies with different combinations of video cards, monitors/displays and settings for a HTPC project I'm working on. Any help appreciated.

 

[darktubbly]

When shooting a monitor with your camcorder, try setting the monitor's refresh rate to 60Hz.

 

[rbV5]

Oh sorry, I'm using a digital camera not a camcoder, but thanks!

Refresh rates will be 30Hz and 60Hz on the analog and large digital displays, variety on the computer monitors btw.

 

[waylman]

why are you using a camera? Why not use a program like FRAPS to capture screen shots?

 

[rbV5]

why are you using a camera? Why not use a program like FRAPS to capture screen shots?

I don't want screenshots so to speak. I want pictures that represent the Image Quality of the actual video shown on a display, not a screenshot of the framebuffer or graphics produced by the video card before its displayed.

 

[darktubbly]

The last time I had to take a picture of a monitor, I didn't use the flash, turned down the brightness on the monitor just a bit, used a close-up focus mode.

 

[daszl]

 

[daszl]

Try hitting your 'Print Screen' button on your keyboard.. the 'Paste' on your favorite image editor.

 

[rbV5]

Try hitting your 'Print Screen' button on your keyboard.. the 'Paste' on your favorite image editor.

That would work if I wanted a screenshot of my desktop, thanks

I've been waiting till the room is dark, and then setting the camera close enough to get a clear view without zooming at about the center point of the display. I can then pause a frame on a DVD, or just shoot any static screen or photo with a viewing program.

The problem is that I can't get anything close to what I'm seeing, nothing even close to being comparable to what I've seen. darktubbly, that's pretty much what Ive been trying, thanks, but nothing right yet. I'll see if I can find a link to what I'm looking for.

This guy's screenshots are kinda what I'm looking for.

 

[Sabredan]

Originally posted by: rbV5

This guy's screenshots are kinda what I'm looking for.

Then why don't you ask him?

EDIT: Sorry, the mailto link won't work because it gets an "http" prepended. But you can see the email address...

 

[Jeff7181]

Tripod good, pause the action good, flash bad, lighting bad. =) Try taking the shot at a slight angle too... how often are your eyes aimed directly at the screen at a perfect 90 degree angle? Turn off the flash on your camera. And if you can, manually adjust the shutter speed and fstop until you get something that looks good. There really isn't a way to say "set your camera like this, put it here, do this" ... photography is a lot of trial and error... most professional photographers will use up 3 or 4 rolls of film or more on a single subject to get a few quality shots that they like.

Experimentation is the name of the game.

 

[rbV5]

most professional photographers will use up 3 or 4 rolls of film or more on a single subject to get a few quality shots that they like.

Thats whats great about digital, I've taken a couple hundred shots in the last 2 days. Starting to get some keepers now. I've moved the camera back to where I view the movies, I was too close before. Now it looks much closer to what I'm seeing.

Then why don't you ask him?

Thats a great bit of advice there, one I wish I'd thought of a couple days ago.

It looks like I'm getting somewhere now. Maybe I'll have something to look at in a few days..thanks!

 

[yhelothar]

i don't think a picture will do justice to show the image quality of a monitor..

but as people said.. set your refresh to 60Hz, and turn off your flash..