Anyone have and sources for decent photo stands or plans for one. A digital camera does well but cannot replace a good 35mm slr yet. I use my digital for ebay stuff and it works fine, a stand would make it much easier as you could leave it hooked to the computer for good close up work. Detached from the computer mine has an 18 inch minimum focus distance.
There are stands out there but I made one from 'stuff'. http://thestujoecollection.com/images/otherpic/setup.jpg Basically, I had a piece of particle board (an old entertainment ceter shelf) laying around. I used that as the base. I screwed a piece of angle iron into it. The camera attaches to the verticle part of the angle iron with a 1/4-20 thumbscrew (that is what fits into my camera tripod mount). The camera faces straight down. The deck of cards shown is used as a shim to put the coin as close as I want to the camera lens. I actually use a pack of post it notes now (various colors are good for various coins). The lights are 2- 20 watt halogen desk lamps I bought at walmart for $20. I can angle them to ge the best effect. Using a stand has made my pictures not only better but it also takes much less time to get a good picture and the pictures are more consistant. Here are some of the better pictures I have been able to acheive: http://thestujoecollection.com/images/otherpic/speculate.jpg http://www.thestujoecollection.com/grade/images/g11o.jpg http://thestujoecollection.com/images/otherpic/morgrev.jpg I got my stand idea from here: http://www.uscents.com/articles/DCP/DCP001.htm
Thanks for the link. I have bookmarked to read tomorrow. I am trying to improve my coin photography. Headache today from watching too much "Lily" news. No, I am not near storm - used to live near Galveston, and glad to be gone from that nightmare scenario - but family still there. Looks like they will be OK. I will pray for the folks in Louisiana - looks like they are in for some bad news. Just heard they have picked up 225 MPH winds! That is a monster storm. Lived through Hurricane Carla back in 60's --Ooops showing my age! 8)
Thank you StuJoe for the ideas, I have an old bevel in good condition wondering, amyway thanks. Let you know how it comes out.
Thanks for the link and inspiration on that camera stand. I am about to get a digital camera and realize I need a stand.
Photo Stand Here is an image of a photo stand that I just got a few weeks ago. http://home.pacifier.com/~craton/Pdrm0332.jpg I LOVE it! Some friends of mine are going to produce and market them so if you are interested, drop a not to Dave at tdnoble@msn.com Jason
Re: Photo Stand That is pretty neat Jason. I might just turn in my home made job for one of those at the right price. One suggestion for them...they might want to look into putting something on the bottom edges of it so it won't scratch anything up and it would would reduce the chance of it sliding around. BTW: If you reduce the wattage of the lights you use, you won't have to have that big of cooling device.
Re: Photo Stand From what I understand and from the prices that I have seen on some of the photo sites, their prices will be way right! If you are interested, drop dave a note. I'm sure he'd appreciate your suggestion as well. About the cooling device ... It's actually a boat anchor Seriously, I purchased it at a yard sale for 8 bux and it worked fine until my 3 year old put floppies in it the wrong way too many times. Jason
if you look under copy stands you can find them. here are just a few i found on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAISER-Copy-Stand-with-Light-Arm-Set-/350273600509?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518deefbfd&_uhb=1 http://www.ebay.com/itm/ProMaster-SystemPro-Copy-Stand-with-Copy-Light-Housing-New-Free-US-Shipping-/400358123220?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d373426d4&_uhb=1 http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAISER-Copy-Stand-/350273599746?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518deef902&_uhb=1 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Camera-Copy-Stand-Macro-Photography-for-coins-jewelry-etc-Made-in-the-USA-/230910442475?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c355bbeb&_uhb=1
If you're thinking of buying a copystand, don't get one just because the price is low. Most of the cheaper ones are junk, made with plastic parts that break and the gears to adjust the height wobble which can cause "camera shake" when you take a photo. I learned my lesson the hard way when I bought one for $70. After one of the plastic clamps broke, I threw it in the trash. Chris
Thanks for diggin' up this old thread. I made one, too, but I use the camera for eBay and grand-kids also...so setup is a nuisance. It's difficult to make certain the focal plane is parallel to the easel surface with a small digital, and the results when you get it right make a rigid, dedicated-camera stand pretty attractive. That's the real answer...a camera that IS your copy stand image producer, with precision hardware to support & adjust it, and (ideally) release the shutter remotely. Even with image stabilization, my shaky old hands are an issue. My mind keeps mulling this over, but my hands are always involved in other, more immediately interesting projects. So no progress in over a year. We all know what's really necessary, though...Carry On, you inventive types! Make it, sell it at a reasonable price...and forget the mousetraps.
Since I also used a medium format camera, I opted for a used Beseler CS-14 copystand. It's a joy to use. Before that I had a Testrite, which relied on friction to hold the camera in place, and a "garage shop" eBay rig, which could not stop a heavy camera from twisting. Also, FWIW, I find that my results with a Nikon D800 are not only better than anything I got out of an Nikon F100, but probably slightly better than with a Pentax 645n. (using the same lens in each case).
