How can I photograph small metal objects with a seamless background and sharp detail on a modest budget?
Asked 4/30/2023
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I want to photograph small metal objects and recreate a clean product-photo look: seamless light gray/white background with no visible back edge, camera angle slightly above, close framing without obvious wide-angle distortion, and very sharp surface detail. I currently only have an iPhone, but getting very close causes perspective distortion and blocks the light, and digital zoom becomes too soft.
Can this be done for under about $500 if I buy or borrow gear rather than rent? What kind of setup should I look for in terms of lighting and backdrop? Is a light box the right approach, and what should I use to create a smooth background with no 90-degree corner visible? Also, would the same setup work for slightly larger objects, or would that require a different lens?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
3y ago
2 Answers
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75% of the problems raised in the question can be solved by buying or making your own shooting light box. I made mine with a cardboard storage box bordered on each side and the top with a strip of led lights covered with semi-transparent white paper to avoid glare. This is less than ten percent of the amount referred to in the question.
With that light it is enough to eliminate the separation between the floor and the wall, but if you still do not trust the result, instead of putting a Cartesian background, use one without a fold like a white PVC:
Regarding the brightness of the original photo, in addition to the ambient light provided by the light box LED, there are (at least) three spotlights, one on each side, the one on the left more powerful (or closer, nr. 2) and a top one, deduced by the projected shadows.
About the type of photo, it can easily be done with an iPhone, but I would recommend a tripod to adjust the frame as much as possible. With a tripod, zoom, and good angle you can avoid or at least hide the perspective distortion.
Originally by user85449. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user85449
3y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—most of this look comes from lighting and perspective, not an expensive camera body.
A small shooting light box is the simplest solution. You can buy one or make one from a box with diffused LED lighting (for example, LEDs softened with white translucent paper) to reduce glare on metal. A curved white background sheet inside the box—often called a sweep—removes the visible corner between the base and back. White PVC or similar smooth material works well.
The phone problem is mainly perspective: getting physically too close causes wide-angle distortion. Use a camera farther back with a macro-capable setup so you can fill the frame without being right on top of the subject. A true macro lens is ideal; on an APS-C DSLR, an inexpensive body plus a 50–60mm macro lens is a practical option. Extension tubes can be a cheaper alternative to help a basic lens focus closer, though a real macro lens is better.
The body matters less than the lens and lighting—an older entry-level DSLR can work fine. The same lighting setup can also handle slightly larger objects; you may just need to change camera distance or lens focal length depending on size.
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