Post your BEST detailing shots along with photo/camera info

[stilez]

On this beautiful day as I am about to run out and wax my car before a Cruise Night tonight, I am reminded of the beauty that a freshly detailed vehicle brings. Furthermore, a picture of a freshly detailed vehicle so that one can remember it over and over.



So, as my digital camera is on its last legs (about 4-5 years old and the CD drive in it is going), I am on the hunt for a new camera. Use this thread to enjoy some beautiful photos as well as share your detailing work and your camera/photo information. I hope this can help me, as well as others, choose a new picture taker, and enjoy some eye candy while doing it. I'll begin...

Sony Mavica MVC-CD300

Picture taken at 2048x1536, resized to 800x600. Automatic mode with EV dialed to 0.3 All settings on superfine, sharp, etc. ISO at 100.

Sony Mavica MVC-CD300

Picture taken at 1600x1200, resized to 800x600. Automatic mode with EV dialed to 0.3 All settings on superfine, sharp, etc. ISO at 100.

Sony Mavica MVC-CD300

Picture taken at 1600x1200, resized to 800x600. Automatic mode with EV dialed to 0.3 All settings on superfine, sharp, etc. ISO at 100.

Sony Mavica MVC-CD300

Picture taken at 1600x1200, resized to 800x600. Automatic mode with EV dialed to 0.3 All settings on superfine, sharp, etc. ISO at 100.

 

[BillyBarou]

Those look terrific Sean. I like the 2nd pic a lot.

 

[steck]

some of my toys and favourite pics:: camera : OLYMPUS Stylus 400

AURORA and YUKON

 

[ZaneO]

I have some decent detailing shots, but unfortunately they all have poor backgrounds:



Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P200 original 3072x2304 resize 768x576 F/2.8 ISO 100

 

[JasonD]

Here's a couple of my favorites, Sean. Keep in mind, I am extremely new to the camera world and strictly just point and shoot, full auto. I try to pick decent angles, and sometimes get lucky with a good one. Whenever I have one these "photo sessions" I usually take at least 20+ pictures in hopes to have just a couple really nice ones. Again, here's a few that I think came out decent, but whether it shows what my camera is capable of, I seriously doubt it.



I'm using a Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR. I love the camera, but it's too bulky for quick unplanned picture taking. The best thing about SLR's is the fact that you can change to any lens Canon makes at any time, and also take action shots without having to wait. Just shoot and keep moving.



Also keep in mind that these pics started out as 3072x2048, 3.2MB pics that have been reduced down to 1024x682 and roughly 250kb in order to view on the site. They were resized using Dell Photo Editor and then further reduced in file size by Xat.com's Image Optimizer before being uploaded to photobucket.com



I can print any of my pics out on 8.5x11 photo paper and still look like 35mm. I could probably print even bigger than that, but have never tried. The new Digital Rebel XT is even better than mine boasting an additional 1.7 Megapixels, with a total of 8.0 Megapixles. :xyxthumbs





Anyway, here you go:

 

[zainoshine]

Wow! Those are some very nice shots!



Sean, what did you use for process on the TL? That flake just pops!



JDookie, the shot of the 3-Series front quarter panel is breathtaking.

 

[SpoiledMan]

That shot is SICK!!!!!

 

[gbackus]

I believe the camera was a 5 megapixel sony Megashot, not sure it wasn't my camera.

 

[blkyukon]

I have a Nikon D70 - AF-S 18-70mm Nikkor Lens...shoot in RAW format, convert and resize to ~ 700x500 in Photoshop for web view.



Here are a few

Nikon D70

Aperture priority

ISO 200

f/4.5

shutter 1/50

exposure +0.3

white balance - auto (adjusted if needed with RAW converter)

Nikon D70

Aperture priority

ISO 200

f/4.5

shutter 1/400

exposure +0

white balance - auto (adjusted if needed with RAW converter)

Nikon D70

Aperture priority

ISO 200

f/4.5

shutter 1/1250

exposure +0.7

white balance - auto (adjusted if needed with RAW converter)

Nikon D70

Aperture priority

ISO 200

f/10 - the higher f-stop number will yield a star effect around bright lights or sun

shutter 1/125

exposure +0.3

white balance - auto (adjusted if needed with RAW converter)

Depending on how much you want to spend, I'd highly recommend a Digital SLR. You can get a Canon Rebel or Nikon D50 with lens for about the same price as a higher end digital camera. The only down fall, like JDookie said is the size.



Good luck!

 

[imported_DARKSTI]

Canon EOS 20D Forgot The Settings.

 

[ScubaStevo]

After ALOT of Klasse.



After driving in the rain for a while.

 

[holland_patrick]

Sean I would go for the digital SLR. The Option of changing the lens will open up so much for you. the first thing i would get is a nice wide angle lens you'll get closer and more detail with more of the picture... anyways i'll be looking for one soon so we can go together and get a better deal..

 

[JasonD]

Guys, let's try to keep the pic sizes below 1200x? to help out members with smaller monitors. Thank you!





By the way, pigeonbus and spoiledman, thank you for the compliments. That was a full two day detail that really kicked my butt, but it was well worth it in the end. It was *that* detail alone that made me decide to buy and start using a Cyclo.

 

[TedS]

Taken at a San Diego car show.



Canon PowerShot G5

JPEG compression

Date/Time 2004:10:03 16:28:14

Exposure Time 1/250 sec

F-Number F5

Metering Mode Multi-segment

Flash Flash fired, compulsory flash mode, red-eye reduction mode

Focal Length 7.19 mm

Color Space sRGB

Exif Image Width 1600 pixels

Exif Image Height 1200 pixels

Exposure Mode- Auto

White Balance Mode- Auto

Digital Zoom Ratio 2592/2592

Scene Capture Type -Portrait

Original 1600x1200

 

[spree]

Canon A95

 

[imported_animes2k]

If you go the DSLR route, you'll definitely have more options and better options, at that. I'll speak to the Canon lens lineup, as that's what I know... The Digital Rebel 350XT is essentially the same as the 20D, internally - just some options disabled and a plastic instead of mag alloy body. Even a used Rebel 300D would be a good option (same relation to the 10D as the 350xt to the 20d)



For interiors, a nice wide angle zoom (the 17-40 is a good option), for everything else (and for interior details) a medium/regular prime lens (35mm or 50mm) and a nice telephoto (85mm or 135mm) would cover all the bases and provide the sharpest image quality. Canon's best bang-for-the-buck lens has got to be the 50/1.8 for about $70.



If you go with a zoom to cover the medium-telephoto ranges, your quality will be diminished slightly over a prime (fixed focal length), but just fine for most things. The 28-135IS has proven to be a great overall lens for me.



Also, get an external flash and a plastic diffuser for the flash. The built-in flash is just plain bad - too harsh and limited.



almost forgot - a tripod. use a tripod



That's my 2c



edit... suppose I can include an image or two

Canon 10D, 28-135... original 3072x2048, RAW format, Photoshop RAW Converter...

10D, 16-35 @ 16mm... original 3072x2048, RAW

And I always have to pimp this picture

10D, 16-35 @ 16mm... original 2048x3072, RAW, 6sec exposure...

 

[imported_truzoom]

I don't have anything to add, but you guys with Windows XP can get the full details of each picture you take (as long as its the same you downloaded off the camera) by right click the file and selecting Summary, then clicking the Advanced button.

 

[JaCkaL829]

Sean:

What kind of camera are you in the market for? Also will it soley be used for detailing pictures? Not sure if you know about these helpful review sites but here they are...

www.dpreview.com

www.dcresource.com

www.steves-digicams.com



Also just a heads up, not sure if your aware or not but Dell has most of their cameras on sale marked down to 25% off, and I think theres a couple coupon codes floating around till the end of the week. Here are the codes at the bottom of the page...

http://www.headlinedeals.com/default.aspx?requestedPage=5&pageCount=27



Sorry no great pictures of my details like the others, but heres some pictures with my Fuji FinePix S5100.

My car at Poorboy's Detailing Day zoomed in about half way on AUTO mode on the Fine setting. BTW it has SSR2.5/EX-P.

Heres Bruce Wayne's whip, saw it at a local car show. I though the black looked incredible, but I took the picture at dusk. Same settings as above.

Not to get TOO OT but heres a lake shot of Camp Mohican, where i've been going with most of my free time. Shot in scenic mode.



So far i've been pretty pleased with my FinePix S5100 since I got it this past April.



Hope this Helps

 

[EBPcivicsi]

Here a few that I dug up real quick. I am not the best photographer, I need to learn the proper angles and how to actually use my camera.



Canon A70 all on AUTO taken at 2048x1536 resized to 800x600 (some were firther compressed by photbucket)....



I liked this one because only an autopian would wash in the snow. :woot2:

IIRC, I did use MACRO for this pic...

 

[stilez]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I will be saving my pennies for a good DSLR camera. My buddy has a Canon 10D, so I will gets a talkin to him regarding that.





Great pics btw!