What is your lens choice for photographing watches?

Luxostore · Jun 28, 2019

rincondeltiempo
Interesting. I used took my pictures with my phone, but since I got the Olympus OM-D E-M10 MKII the photography just stepped into a whole other level.

I dont have too many skills to set and adjust manually the camera setting. Is it user friendly? it has bluthoot connecyion with the smartphone also?

pnwyankee · Jun 28, 2019

S Shay
Do you still need a lense?

Many of the better mirrorless cameras come with a fixed lens already attached. It cannot be removed. The really good ones ( ie: Leica Q ) are a perfect match for their camera.

MRC · Jun 28, 2019

Luxostore
I dont have too many skills to set and adjust manually the camera setting. Is it user friendly? it has bluthoot connecyion with the smartphone also?

It is pretty good, although my OM4 35mm film camera produced the best exposure for no effort at all by the user. Smartphone connection is by WiFi and works quite well -- I do use it, mainly to cut out vibration on difficult exposures.

Observer · Jun 29, 2019

Observer
Great thread. I just shot this with a Micro Nikkor 105mm D lens on a D600 and cropped.

This one with the 105 D lens and some Polywatch (this noob just got his first tube). What a difference. Maybe I need to break out the extension tubes now.
Not cropped:

Cropped:

americanaut · Jul 10, 2019

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum, but have been reading for a while. Photography is a topic that interests me as well. I took a few photos of my watches many years ago, which I thought I could share as my first post on here:

Canon EOS 5D MKII, Canon EF 100mm macro lens (from 2012):

The above is probably the best shot I've taken from a watch ever, hence it's number one to show ;-) My beloved Speedmaster Mark IV from 1973, before it underwent a service and re-fresh at the end of 2017. Photo also taken with my former Canon EOS 5D MKII and the Canon EF 100mm macro lens (from 2012):

Toying around with reflections - Canon EOS 5D MKII + Canon EF 24-105mm at 105mm:

Got a new Canon EOS R (mirrorless) a few weeks ago, together with the new RF 24-105mm right now. Hope to take new photos with it soon - and a new Speedmaster I have laid my eyes on ;-)

horologyhouse · Jul 12, 2019

I prefer smaller sensor cameras for the most part, less DOF is a good thing sometimes.
Typically use the Olympus 60mm macro or Panasonic 45mm.

americanaut · Jul 12, 2019

True. However, the new photo stacking features work quite well within the new cameras.

horologyhouse · Jul 12, 2019

americanaut
True. However, the new photo stacking features work quite well within the new cameras.

They are okay.
For me, there's not one internal camera stacking system I'd rely on to create a shot.
If people are going that route, they are obviously a little more serious about photography and would be much better off using dedicated software IMO.

americanaut · Jul 12, 2019

Sure, I'm no professional though and use the stuff for hobby/amateur purposes only.

rincondeltiempo · Jul 12, 2019

Luxostore
I dont have too many skills to set and adjust manually the camera setting. Is it user friendly? it has bluthoot connecyion with the smartphone also?

It's really easy to use. You don't need a whole lot of knowledge to take decent pictures, just the basics (aperture, ISO, shutter speed).
It connects to your phone via Wi-Fi, it's very convenient for us that like to share our watches on Instagram.

rincondeltiempo · Jul 12, 2019

horologyhouse
I prefer smaller sensor cameras for the most part, less DOF is a good thing sometimes.
Typically use the Olympus 60mm macro or Panasonic 45mm.

I was thinking about purchasing the 60mm macro or the 45mm 1.8 for my EM-10 MKII. Do you have any recommendations? Is the 60mm versatile enough to have it as your "one-and-only" watch lens?

Deafboy · Jul 12, 2019

DManzaluni
The point about the icroscope is that it is high quality and particularly easy to use.

I like the concept of the magnetic ring. Do you have pictures of watches using the icroscope?

vacheroyale · Jul 16, 2019

I use a Sony Alpha 7 full frame with a vintage Zeiss Makro Planar 60mm f 2,8 originally made for the Contax RTS system back in the 70's. for any digital cameras , vintage film lenses is always the best way, they're not too contrasty .

rincondeltiempo · Jul 16, 2019

I just bought the Olympus 30mm Macro and I'm over the moon with it. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get some.

MRC · Jul 16, 2019

rincondeltiempo
I just bought the Olympus 30mm Macro and I'm over the moon with it. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get some.

I went for the 60mm a few weeks ago and also like it. Coming up next -- a polarising filter for it. The filter I bought for the 14-42mm has really been useful.

rincondeltiempo · Jul 16, 2019

MRC
I went for the 60mm a few weeks ago and also like it. Coming up next -- a polarising filter for it. The filter I bought for the 14-42mm has really been useful.

Let us know how does it go!!

Do you have any photos to compare with vs. without filter?

I ended up going with the 30mm and not with the 60mm because it's more versatile in my opinion. You can always get some macro tubes 😉😉
(the lesser price tag also helped, though).

MRC · Jul 16, 2019

rincondeltiempo
Let us know how does it go!!

Do you have any photos to compare with vs. without filter?

Stand-by one. One thing I can say is that TV screens are polarised at a very odd angle.

QUOTE="rincondeltiempo, post: 1284268, member: 47097"]I ended up going with the 30mm and not with the 60mm because it's more versatile in my opinion. You can always get some macro tubes 😉😉
(the lesser price tag also helped, though).[/QUOTE]

I have macro tubes for my OM4, but there's so much light loss that I went for a proper macro lens for the OMD.

Deafboy · Jul 16, 2019

MRC
One thing I can say is that TV screens are polarised at a very odd angle.

😵‍💫 Not sure how this fits into the conversation....

MRC · Jul 16, 2019

Deafboy
😵‍💫 Not sure how this fits into the conversation....

Well, if your are planning a WRUW in front of, for example the TdF as I have been doing last week, the screen can be seen clearly or completely black. I have not seen such a contrast in angle of the polarising filter before. Normaly it's reflections or no reflections. Not picture or blank.

cristos71 · Jul 16, 2019

Another Canon fan here, I'm using a base model Canon 450D together with a Canon EF 100mm macro lens. It took a little getting used to but depending on the light I can get some pleasing results.

What is your lens choice for photographing watches?

Luxostore

pnwyankee

MRC

Observer

americanaut

horologyhouse

americanaut

horologyhouse

americanaut

rincondeltiempo

rincondeltiempo

Deafboy

vacheroyale

rincondeltiempo

MRC

rincondeltiempo

MRC

Deafboy

MRC

cristos71

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