Need help with photographing a book

[sergey2000]

Hello

I need to photograph a bunch of books that have Helmut's photography inside and my Art Director wants the photos that Im taking have the same texture of photos in the book (like if they grainy and etc). Just scanning pics doesnt really works

I use Rebel XT (yea, old, i know), tripod, Rokinon D870AF-C External Flash and a light box i made myself. I am a moderate beginner with product photography so i know a couple of tricks to make the pictures look good at its best, but my Art Director just doesnt like the photos quality. I used 5 lens so far to photograph the book:

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens
Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro Lens
Canon Rebel XT 18-55mm kit lens
Sigma 28-90 mm Macro Aspherical Lens

The best ones so far were the Sigma's but because it was our Studio Photographer's own lens, who no longer works here, we no longer have access to it. My question is, do you guys recommend any other lens that are very close to Sigma's mentioned or any other third party lens that will be the same?

We only using images for research and not reproduction in any way and do no intend to sell photographs to anybody. Its only for our in-studio use for inspirations.

Yea, i run a test on images with text too and Sigma was the best. But now since its not available to us anymore and i cant find those lens to be selling anywhere for Canon (found Nikon and Minolta mounts). I have tried amazon, ebay, adorama and B&H for past few weeks and no result. We are ready to buy those lens as long as they in near excellent condition, but no luck.

 

[DoubleExposureLab]

Hello

I need to photograph a bunch of books that have Helmut's photography inside and my Art Director wants the photos that Im taking have the same texture of photos in the book (like if they grainy and etc). Just scanning pics doesnt really works

I use Rebel XT (yea, old, i know), tripod, Rokinon D870AF-C External Flash and a light box i made myself. I am a moderate beginner with product photography so i know a couple of tricks to make the pictures look good at its best, but my Art Director just doesnt like the photos quality. I used 5 lens so far to photograph the book:

[C/QUOTE]

FIrst of all: You're worried way to much about EQUIPMENT, and not at all about LIGHTS.

A flash is bad for this. You want tungsten or strobe lights, and the camera properly balanced. An XT is more than enough (6MP?) and FINE for this project.

Normally, you need to get the book FLAT, and have lights at 45° angles from the book. But if you want texture move one light (Your KEY) closer to the camera at less of an angle, and increase its exposure to one stop over the other light (FILL). Match your camera with the KEY.

Experiment with exposures to get the texture you want. You may actually find that having the camera matched to the other light, the FILL might give better texture with KEY shooting out one stop under exposure of the camera and FILL (technically this makes the KEY the FILL and vice versa, but I don't want you to get confused).


Two flashes will work. You really need two lights. Don't know about lenses, don't work much with APS-C size, my last copy job I did with 4x5" sheet film, so forget the conversions, whatever fills up the space best and gives you sharpest exposures is best.


Don't forget a tripod. Handholding = NO no amateur for pro copy work. . .