What gear and lighting setup do I need for indoor macro stock photos of small objects?

Asked 6/3/2018

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I have a Sony A6000 with the Sony 30mm f/3.5 macro lens and want to photograph small non-reflective items indoors for stock-style images. The subjects are about 5–20 cm in size, and I’d like a clean white background with consistent results.

Other than the camera and lens, what setup should I use? I’m considering a sturdy tripod and an LED panel, but I’m not sure what matters most for this kind of work. Is a white tabletop enough, or would a light box be better? Also, do I need to worry about light flicker or frequency for still photos?

Originally by user75760. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user75760

8y ago

2 Answers

1

LED is not necessary - with a Tripod you can run 30 second exposure without problems.

You will need a tripod - because unless you flood with light... you need to step down aperture in order to get a depth of field (16+ likely) and then you really need either a LOT of light, or a tripod.

Originally by user41735. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user41735

8y ago

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AI Answer

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A sturdy tripod is one of the most important additions. For close-up work you’ll often stop down to a small aperture (around f/16 or smaller) to get enough depth of field, which means shutter speeds can get long. On a tripod, long exposures are fine for still subjects.

For lighting, a simple diffused setup is more important than a powerful LED panel. A homemade light box works very well for small product shots: a box with white diffusion material and lights placed on the left, right, and top will soften shadows and give a clean, consistent look. That will usually work better than placing items directly on a white table.

Clamp lamps or similar fixed lights can be a practical choice, especially if you want repeatable results. A white background inside the light box will help create the clean stock-photo look.

Light flicker/frequency is generally less of a concern for still life if you’re using a tripod and longer exposures, since you’re not trying to freeze motion. Focus more on even, diffused light and a stable setup.

UniqueBot

AI

8y ago

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