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Camera for eBaying - what to get?

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  • ollyk
    ollyk Posts: 597 Forumite
    This is what I would recomend - In my opinion people take the quality of a picture far too much for granted when selling stuff on ebay. You are selling a product so a nice clean crisp image showing as much detail as possible in my opinion is very important.
    The 2800 above is indeed a nice camera I used that model for 4 years. It does not produce very good closup shots though... *edit* **sorry that isn't entirely true - well actually it is since I upgraded to a coolpix but macro shots are quite respectible from this camera after checking back !!! ** so I would aim for something a little bit newer than that model...
    What is important more than anything is your technique - i.e. use a mini tripod you can get these for a tenner or much less. Disable the flash!!! this is very important for closups. try to make a small light box for your objects to give a nice even illumination. and learn how to use your camera!
    Go for something S/H with 2 or 3Mp and a fast lens i.e. f2.8 or less ideal.
  • Close-up digital flash photography can sometimes be accomplished successfully by covering the flash with a single layer of masking tape to tone it down and diffuse it a bit, though you'll generally get even better results using window light, a tripod and a reflector. Placing objects inside a white bath can be a good way to acheive nice even lighting, since the bath reflects light from all sides.
    Btw skintchick, it's nice to know that I'm not the only person still using film!
  • ollyk
    ollyk Posts: 597 Forumite
    Close-up digital flash photography can sometimes be accomplished successfully by covering the flash with a single layer of masking tape to tone it down and diffuse it a bit, though you'll generally get even better results using window light, a tripod and a reflector. Placing objects inside a white bath can be a good way to acheive nice even lighting, since the bath reflects light from all sides.
    Btw skintchick, it's nice to know that I'm not the only person still using film!

    Funnily enough whenever I used my 2800 I use to carefully cover part of the flash with my finger - being careful not to cover the feedback sensor - It worked quite well and reduced the number of shots that were 'washed out'. It also underexposed some shots but I would just take another one with less 'finger'! My coolpix allows for manual adjustment of flash which has made the finger redunent now!
  • andybk
    andybk Posts: 172 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    would get a older model , good make camera , the nikon coolpix is a very good , easy to use camera , i have an old 3100 (going for less than £40.00 on ebay now ) and still as good as my more modern panasonic , Find a camera with macro and an optical zoom (the above has it ) but stick to a known make , dont be tempted by the real cheapies as the lenses are carp and you WILL end up using it for general purpose use and will be dissapointed with the results ,
  • ollyk wrote:
    The 2800 above is indeed a nice camera I used that model for 4 years. It does not produce very good closup shots though...


    I honestly think the Finepix 2800 is more than adequate with the most important feature being the macro facility.

    I think a good set of photos does far more for selling an item than a thousand words. Heres an example which Ive reduced in size by 2/3rds on here so the original quality was far superior.

    Temp.jpg

    I never use flash due to bounce back.
  • ollyk
    ollyk Posts: 597 Forumite
    Amazombie wrote:
    I honestly think the Finepix 2800 is more than adequate with the most important feature being the macro facility.

    I think a good set of photos does far more for selling an item than a thousand words. Heres an example which Ive reduced in size by 2/3rds on here so the original quality was far superior.

    Temp.jpg

    I never use flash due to bounce back.

    To be fair I did edit that entry after I looked at some of my old shots - I *forgot* that it was respectible, but not nearly as capable as my present coolpix :D
  • ollyk wrote:
    To be fair I did edit that entry after I looked at some of my old shots - I *forgot* that it was respectible, but not nearly as capable as my present coolpix :D

    Yes the edit was noted. Got any examples? Im always looking for even better results but would have thought with the limitations imposed by Ebay that would be difficult.

    Im sure a lot of Ebay sellers spend vast amounts of time typing out a 1000 word description which never gets read :rotfl:
  • Im sure a lot of Ebay sellers spend vast amounts of time typing out a 1000 word description which never gets read
    Agree :D. All that matters is the price. The picture doesn't have to be so pro. One of my friends uses the cell camera.
    I very new :).
  • ollyk
    ollyk Posts: 597 Forumite
    dugu wrote:
    Agree :D. All that matters is the price. The picture doesn't have to be so pro. One of my friends uses the cell camera.

    I agree about the description, keep it minimal and to the point - but the picture in my opinion is very important, especially if the description doesn't do the item justice.
    Can you work round ebays restricions by external linking?

    @Amazombie is this good enough?

    Blowfly.JPG
  • Here's one taken with my old Canon A70... the fly will take some beating though :)

    Daisy.jpg

    Oddly enough I took this photo on the same day as my avatar pic.
    My TV is broken! :cry:
    Edit: refunded £515 for TV 1.5 years out of warranty - thank you Sale of Goods Act! :j
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