Why do my jewelry photos vary in brightness from shot to shot with the same settings?
Asked 3/5/2017
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2 answers
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I'm new to photography and use a Nikon D3200 to photograph jewelry in a light tent. My setup uses the 18-55mm kit lens, and I was also using a macro extension tube. The lighting comes from LED strips inside the tent, not flash.
Sometimes I get good exposures, then a frame taken a few seconds later is much darker even though I haven't changed the camera settings, lights, or subject. In one case, even using a slower shutter speed gave me an even darker result. What could cause this kind of inconsistent brightness, and how can I fix it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
6
I do not use the flash. All the light comes from the LED light stripes within the light tent.
LED lights flicker. Your shot-to-shot inconsistency has nothing to do with your camera. It is about the variability of the lights.
Assuming your camera is solidly mounted on a stable tripod, the best way to deal with it is to increase the exposure time (reduce the shutter "speed") until the flicker is no longer evident. I'd start at ISO 100 and 1/50 second and go from there.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
0
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The most likely cause is LED flicker, not the camera body. Many LED lights pulse rapidly, and at certain shutter speeds one frame can catch more of the light cycle than the next, causing uneven brightness even with identical settings.
A good fix is to use a stable tripod and lengthen the exposure so the camera averages out that flicker. Start around ISO 100 and about 1/50 s, then adjust as needed.
Since you found the issue disappeared after removing or changing the extension tube, that tube may also have been contributing—possibly through a fit, communication, or light-loss issue in your setup. But based on the answers, the primary explanation for shot-to-shot brightness changes is the LED lighting.
To troubleshoot:
- test without the extension tube
- use longer shutter speeds
- keep ISO low
- make sure the camera is firmly mounted
- if possible, try different continuous lights with less flicker
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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