I've participated inSharpByCoop's excellent/invaluable thread:
'No Frills' $75.00 home studio tent/lightbox
all the way back to Jan 14, 2014 in post #557 (link) please read that post, as a sort of preface to this thread.
All my knife photos since then have been using this set up.
Leaning is a $1 white foam art board from a $ store
Those are cheap desk lamps and I use household 6500K LED bulbs rated at 100watt equivalent.
My backgrounds are unimaginative, just a black flock/felt cloth or literally a piece of white paper.
Although almost any camera will do - I use a mirrorless - that seems to run counter to all the professional usage of dSLRs.
Let me try to explain: camera focuses on an internal AF sensor. AF sensor of a dSLR sits in the well of the mirror box and light is diverted through the mirror
(note: not my image, found on the web and re-hosted)
Long story short, the AF/focusing sensor is not on the actual photo taking sensor - so there is a margin of error. Most top dSLRs do a lot to make sure the AF is accurate, and for most photography at normal to far distances the possible errors are negligible.
However critical close-ups where the depth of field is shallow and/or different color lighting, can still cause a problem (there are plenty of threads on the web that talk about AF adjustments)
On a mirrorless the AF/focusing sensors are actually on the photo taking senor - so there is no error.
The camera I use:
It's a humble entry level FujiFilm X-M1 with its kit lens XC 16-50mm.
That is a LCD viewfinder attached to the rear LCD screen uses very strong magnet and a steel frame that self-adheres to the LCD outer frame (cheap from fleaBay at less than $10), 2.8x magnification - so my view is huge - in effect becomes a view-camera.
A critical test is to photograph at the closest focusing distance of something with lots of fine (but recognizable) detail - like a bank note -
Intro over.
One of my favorite knives the (small) Mcusta 113D "Tsuchi" (link to review)
knife photos have EXIF metadata attached.
more photos to come....
ADDENDUM -
I've updated several posts in this thread with additional information or photos -
Post #1 (link) - opening post - added comments about critical focusing, and example close up of $ bill.
Post #6 (link) - added many more photos and a WARNING about QC of TUO Ring H paring knife.
Post #8 (link) - found name of Kershaw 1315BW, and availability - added more photos of the 1315BW Thrust.
Post #9 (link) - added more photos and information about the Canton/Quandong knife.
Post #10 (link) - added better photos of the SETO I-8.
Post #12 (link) - added several photos of ceramic paring knife blade close ups.
Post #13 (link) - partial mitigation of photographing mirror finish - by wearing gloves. Added shots of replacement TUO Ring H TC0307H 9.5 in Chef knife. Added comments about sharpness and USB microscope pics of edge. Linked to video of a review of this exact knife, reviewer's experience and insight on handling are impressive.
Post #15 (link) - simple way to lower bright hot-spots or directional lighting.
Post #17 (link) - added photo of SpeedSafe disassembled.
Post #21 (link) - added size comparison of Kershaw Pub 4036CF with SAK
Post #24 (link) - added USB microscope pics of AllWin Houseware 8 in Chef edge.
Post #25 (link) - added USB microscope pic of carbon fiber detail of Kershaw Wire 1337.
Post #33 (link) - added pics of pull-through broadhead sharpener; added pic with a couple of Finnish Puukkos; added response to MoraKniv email query from grandson of KJ Eriksson, and past catalog page
Post #34 (link) - added pics for the third and finally good sample of this TUO Ring H TC0301H 8 in chef knife.
Post #35 (link) - eBay Return resolution for defective Keemake 8 in Chef
Post #36 (link) - added pics of standard beech wood handle Opinel #8
Post #41 (link) - bought second sample and updated with lots of comments and possibly controversial thought for knife knuts. Please read.
Post #43 (link) - differential sharpening putting 20deg at front and 25deg 1/3 toward the heel, photos and USB microscope.
Post #46 (link) - summary of some how to's
--
Vincent
https://Flickr.com/UnknownVincent/albums
https://Youtube.com/user/vtVincent
https://Goo.gl/q91ZNw
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
.
'No Frills' $75.00 home studio tent/lightbox
all the way back to Jan 14, 2014 in post #557 (link) please read that post, as a sort of preface to this thread.
All my knife photos since then have been using this set up.
Leaning is a $1 white foam art board from a $ store
Those are cheap desk lamps and I use household 6500K LED bulbs rated at 100watt equivalent.
My backgrounds are unimaginative, just a black flock/felt cloth or literally a piece of white paper.
Although almost any camera will do - I use a mirrorless - that seems to run counter to all the professional usage of dSLRs.
Let me try to explain: camera focuses on an internal AF sensor. AF sensor of a dSLR sits in the well of the mirror box and light is diverted through the mirror
(note: not my image, found on the web and re-hosted)
Long story short, the AF/focusing sensor is not on the actual photo taking sensor - so there is a margin of error. Most top dSLRs do a lot to make sure the AF is accurate, and for most photography at normal to far distances the possible errors are negligible.
However critical close-ups where the depth of field is shallow and/or different color lighting, can still cause a problem (there are plenty of threads on the web that talk about AF adjustments)
On a mirrorless the AF/focusing sensors are actually on the photo taking senor - so there is no error.
The camera I use:
It's a humble entry level FujiFilm X-M1 with its kit lens XC 16-50mm.
That is a LCD viewfinder attached to the rear LCD screen uses very strong magnet and a steel frame that self-adheres to the LCD outer frame (cheap from fleaBay at less than $10), 2.8x magnification - so my view is huge - in effect becomes a view-camera.
A critical test is to photograph at the closest focusing distance of something with lots of fine (but recognizable) detail - like a bank note -
Intro over.
One of my favorite knives the (small) Mcusta 113D "Tsuchi" (link to review)
knife photos have EXIF metadata attached.
more photos to come....
ADDENDUM -
I've updated several posts in this thread with additional information or photos -
Post #1 (link) - opening post - added comments about critical focusing, and example close up of $ bill.
Post #6 (link) - added many more photos and a WARNING about QC of TUO Ring H paring knife.
Post #8 (link) - found name of Kershaw 1315BW, and availability - added more photos of the 1315BW Thrust.
Post #9 (link) - added more photos and information about the Canton/Quandong knife.
Post #10 (link) - added better photos of the SETO I-8.
Post #12 (link) - added several photos of ceramic paring knife blade close ups.
Post #13 (link) - partial mitigation of photographing mirror finish - by wearing gloves. Added shots of replacement TUO Ring H TC0307H 9.5 in Chef knife. Added comments about sharpness and USB microscope pics of edge. Linked to video of a review of this exact knife, reviewer's experience and insight on handling are impressive.
Post #15 (link) - simple way to lower bright hot-spots or directional lighting.
Post #17 (link) - added photo of SpeedSafe disassembled.
Post #21 (link) - added size comparison of Kershaw Pub 4036CF with SAK
Post #24 (link) - added USB microscope pics of AllWin Houseware 8 in Chef edge.
Post #25 (link) - added USB microscope pic of carbon fiber detail of Kershaw Wire 1337.
Post #33 (link) - added pics of pull-through broadhead sharpener; added pic with a couple of Finnish Puukkos; added response to MoraKniv email query from grandson of KJ Eriksson, and past catalog page
Post #34 (link) - added pics for the third and finally good sample of this TUO Ring H TC0301H 8 in chef knife.
Post #35 (link) - eBay Return resolution for defective Keemake 8 in Chef
Post #36 (link) - added pics of standard beech wood handle Opinel #8
Post #41 (link) - bought second sample and updated with lots of comments and possibly controversial thought for knife knuts. Please read.
Post #43 (link) - differential sharpening putting 20deg at front and 25deg 1/3 toward the heel, photos and USB microscope.
Post #46 (link) - summary of some how to's
--
Vincent
https://Flickr.com/UnknownVincent/albums
https://Youtube.com/user/vtVincent
https://Goo.gl/q91ZNw
http://UnknownVincent.Shutterfly.com
http://UnknownVT.Shutterfly.com
.
Last edited:
