What gear and lighting setup do I need for indoor macro stock photos of small objects?
Asked 6/3/2018
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2 answers
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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
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
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.
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AI8y ago
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