Camera for gun pics

[wetdog1911]

At nearly 71 and less than good health, I really need to start thinning 50+ years of collecting/accumulating and not stick my wife with the chore. Plus, she has zero idea what any are worth.

Anyway, I'd like to find a decent point n shoot camera for capturing details/close-ups of guns I will be selling. Would also like to keep it around $200 or less if I can.

No smartphones please. I can't even hold one without something happening due to my crooked thumbs. I carry a flip phone and even that gives me more than enough trouble.

I'll need a computer also, but that's later. My newest is a 12 YO Mac with no updates being available for years and I doubt if it will work with anything that's even kinda new, but IDK.

Thanks for any help.

Wet

 

[Daniel Howe]

I use a Nikon Coolpix A10 camera for all my pictures. Does a pretty good job and is under $100.

 

[oneounceload]

Canon and others make good digital cameras in your price range - you might look at ones in Sam's Club or Costco if you belong to either.

 

[6518John]

Wet—go get a basic iPad. Kill two birds with one stone—excellent camera and computer all in one. I am a computer imbecile and and LOVE my iPad. I hate my iPhone by the way, so you are I are in the same camp there. I would take my old Motorola bag phone back tomorrow.

iPad 9.7 (2018) review | TechRadar

 

[Onomea]

There are a lot of older digital cameras out there that are no longer used as their owners have switched to smart phone cameras. Maybe someone will step up and offer to mail you one. Or maybe peruse Craigs List or similar. Ebay? Thrift stores?

Frankly, I don't think what camera it is matters much — they are all pretty good — but it will help if you read one of the "how to take pictures of guns" threads I've seen on the forum. Good pix will help you sell.

Natural light but not direct sunlight, tripod if you can (set the timer) so as to avoid blur. Take a bunch then pick and choose. Crop 'em, rotate 'em on a computer in ways that look pleasing.

Good luck!

 

[gman51]

I have several cameras but none take good indoor pics of guns. Pictures taken outside always look better. As long as I don't get my shadow in the pic they look pretty good.
I have seen many pics taken with cell phones that look really good.

 

[Bullet Bob]

"As long as I don't get my shadow in the pic they look pretty good."

And please, no feet.

 

[Bladeswitcher]

Lighting is way more important than the camera. You need soft, diffuse light, and lots of it.

 

[URIT]

I bookmarked this last year when I considered doing the same thing...

How to photograph handguns (Updated for 2013 post #3!) - Calguns.net

I hired a college student studying photography to photograph my house when I put it up for sale. He did a great job and it sold the first day for more than asking price. A good photos presentation seems to get the best sale prices from online gun auctions too.

When I'm faced with your task in the near future I'm going to set up a light box and pay a student photographer with the necessary equipment to photograph the guns and put the copy on a memory stick.

 

[wetdog1911]

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Did some online browsing and so far the Canon and Nikon are looking good. Thanks oneounceload and Daniel.

6518 John, I used nothing but Macs for over 20 years and my home care nurse just got a new iPhone just for the camera (young kids), but when I asked her the price my jaw dropped. Especially since my flip phone was just $35 at wally world. LOL

Now, I just need to see how they feel in hand.

Wet

 

[Bill Raby]

Does not matter if you are using a 100 year old film camera or a $25,000 professional set-up. What you need is good lighting.

 

[Rastoff]

Proper lighting, or better yet understanding how to use the available lighting, is key to good pics. These days the camera doesn't matter.

Rather than buying a camera and trying to figure out how to use it for just this one purpose, talk to a friend. At church, the gun range, the local...whatever, there will always be someone with a camera. They can take the pics for you.

I help guys sell guns all the time. I take pics and post them on line. If I lived closer, I'd do this for you. Even so, I'm sure you can find someone to help you out.

 

[oneounceload]

Lighting is way more important than the camera. You need soft, diffuse light, and lots of it.

And you get that with a photo box so you get those pics where the iotem appears to be floating in a sea of white.

 

[kobsw]

iPhone 6s and a combination of ambient, incandescent and florescent lighting.






I hope this helps,

Kobsw

 

[wetdog1911]

Well, got the camera, a Canon SX720HS, mostly. Still waiting on the memory card & case. Who knew they weren't included?

Didn't include a USB cable either, but I need to make sure whatever computer has the proper port for connection and the best OS to match up with the Canon.

Man, with the old shoot & Share it was just plug into the camera and plug it into the iMac. That was also 10+ years ago.

I'll get there, just going to take some research to keep costs down.

Wet

 

[Faulkner]

I have a Nikon DSLR and high dollar lens that I use for some of the pictures I take, but I took the picture below with an iPhone 5. I agree with Rastoff, good lighting and a steady hand is 90% of the formula for a good picture.

 

[doublesharp]

Anybody but me remember forum member DHart? He was a professional photographer and, among other works, he did the photos on the Ahrends grip website. He was a wealth of info and tips and he shared freely. Use a tripod, remote shutter release and filtered light at your back. If you don't have a remote shutter release the self timer works about as well.

My pictures are normally just quick snaps but when I'm going for a good picture I'll use a tripod.

 

[bdGreen]

Canon 70D
35mm Macro w/integrated LED light ring
tripod
light box with light diffusion capability

Patience
Patience
Patience

Touch screen triggering

Manual mode

No flash

I worx at it.

enjoy,

bdGreen

 

[bdGreen]

Well, got the camera, a Canon SX720HS, mostly. Still waiting on the memory card & case. Who knew they weren't included?

Didn't include a USB cable either, but I need to make sure whatever computer has the proper port for connection and the best OS to match up with the Canon.

Man, with the old shoot & Share it was just plug into the camera and plug it into the iMac. That was also 10+ years ago.

I'll get there, just going to take some research to keep costs down.

Wet

Don't know where you bought yours, but, I purchased one recently from B&H Photo. Great people to deal with.

Just bought my wife the Canon SX740 HS

Came with all the goodies.

Had a little 'pop-up' to chat on line with a rep.
I haggled for a different pouch. Did my research on the one they packaged it with and didn't like it. They upgraded me. NO CHARGE.
I haggled on the memory card. They gave me double capacity, NO CHARGE.

I got what I wanted and dealing with B&H has always been a comfortable place to make my occasional purchases.

You made a great choice for your camera selection.

enjoy,

bdGreen

 

[poprivit]

The right light is everything.