Which ever camera you use …a tripod is a must for the close up pictures
This is a great website for photo tips [URL removed] jewelry and tips for jewelry business and on line selling

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How to make a Light Box for taking Jewelry pictures
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I made my light box from foam board and tissue paper.

The tissue paper is taped on both sides where I cut out the foam board.

Desk lights were placed on each side and one on top.

This inexpensive light box costs about $6.00 (plus lamps) and I made it in 2 hours.

Depending on the time of day and shadows, I might turn on just one light or all three.

Taking pictures against a white background requires a White Balance test on your camera.

For more color in some pictures, I often use a piece of 12 × 12 scrapbook paper as a background.

I found a flatbed scanner and a black cup or bowl to cover the item works great!

It’s really not the camera. To take great photos, you need a tent. That way you won’t have anything reflecting on your jewelry. Get to know your camera. Your camera should have a close up setting. It may look like a little flower. Use lights on both sides and don’t use your flash. You can turn it off on your camera.

Doesn’t really matter on the camera. As long as it has macro setting and you have good lighting. I have a Nikon and a little Kodak camera. The results are the same. I sell jewelry supplies and I need to get close up on them.

I use the macro setting on my Canon Powershot SD880 IS and disable the flash. I try to take the pix in daylight. Then crop them in Photoshop.

hi wildflowers…Long time no see. Anyways as you know one of our booths is jewellery. We currently shoot using an 8mb Nikon in Macro mode. All the digital cameras pretty well have macro mode these days if they have a mechanical zoom lens. I choose good old Nikon Glass made in Japan rather then my usual favorite (my slr’s) Cannon because its short focal length was under 11 inches.

I now use the Sony CD Mavica Digital Camera (MVC-CD500) because its convenient for me when I’m on the g0! I just pop-in a cd disk and accum. my images when I need to. Infact, all the current images located within my booth originate from using this digital camera. When I was shopping for this model in mid 2008, they were going for $499.00 at my local retailer but the price has come down considerably since then because there is always a newer model out, etc…I would buy another one as a “spare” noticing they’re now going for $150+ [used but not refurbished]…But if you use Bonanzle’s FiND search option, you’ll notice few sellers that have the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5 Digital Camera which would definitely be my next upgrade.

Just like you, I’m anxious to know what type of cameras other members use or suggest.

Wouldn’t want to go out on the risky limb of actually recommending a specific camera – too many variables in price, quality and capability….

What I would suggest [URL removed]

Make sure the camera can take close up pictures
Make sure you can provide adequate, direct and back lighting
Always, for close up work, utilize a tri-pod to avoid movement

Most of the digital cameras on the market today will work just fine
if you take the time and effort to ensure the above provisions.

The links provided above will give you lots of information and know-how…

I think the lighting is the main key here. My camera is an inexpensive one to say the least. Make sure that use a tripod. It will help to you take excellent photos.

Interesting information here
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It doesn’t really matter what camera is used –
it’s lightning and surroundings … JMHO

I learn with a seller bluepenlady your tube videos how to take pictures and add in you booth is very helpful

[URL removed] John1011’s comment about [URL removed] we’ve seen problems with pinks and purples looking dull and brownish mainly with older cameras, but not all new ones do a good job with these colors. In our experience, if a camera isn’t capturing purples and pinks, the images cannot be fixed in photoshop.

We went out last year to evaluate point-and-shoots for this specific problem and shot a small pink and purple jewelry item with a number of cameras. By far the best one was the Canon A590IS, about 130 bucks.

BTW in RL I’m the photo editor for a Las Vegas event/convention/conference photography firm. It’s nice to be able to call in an expert whenever I have a photo problem!

I recently switched to a canon g11. It’s pretty good for closeups.

I have a Nikon CoolPix that has a setting for close ups. It does a pretty good job for an inexpensive camera.

There’s great advice here already, but it seems folks are curious as to what cameras are being used. I use, for my sacredheartrosaries and paws4critters booth, as well as the photos I take for my texascapes prints, a Pentax K200D with a Tamron 200mm lens. It was a gift because of my amateur photography hobby. I love it.

My basic advice is know your camera and learn how to use it.
Take many pictures of the same items; so, you do not have to go back and set everything back up. Most photographers take many photographs because you never know which one is going to be the good one. What appears to be a good pic in the little window, may be completely different on the computer.
Take many angles if necessary.
Play with lighting until you know just what works.

Always put a disclaimer on jewelry listings as to the difficulty in photographing jewelry, the difference in monitor colors, etc. Purples are sometimes difficult to capture the shades. If they look different to you, they may look different to someone else. Always attempt to describe the color as well.

btw, the flower on the cameras are “macro”. They are extreme closeup shots that usually require a tripod.

Most cameras are the same as far as picture taking, but with jewelry, it’s the setup that matters. I read this about taking pictures of jewelry on one of the sites recommended before and I tried it.
WONDERFUL…. all you have to do [URL removed]

Buy a gallon of distilled water and empty it or use it up, then cut the bottom off it so it sits evenly on flat surface. Then place your jewelry item on a very light or white surface and put center the gallon jug over it. Place your camera over the opening at the top and take picture… and VOILA!!! the best picture you ever saw of jewelry! It works beautifully! The colors are true and there is no reflections showing on them. Try it… all it will cost is $2.00 for a gallon of water.

I’m using a Sony cypershot and find it easy to use with good results. arista thanks for your idea i’m going to try it out.

Good lighting helps. I shoot everything with the Fuji Finepix series of cameras. I think it’s the S700.

Good lighting is essential. I’m still working on the perfect light box – have not quite achieved it yet, as I have problems with some things from time to time…..but I plan to make a new, larger one soon. I used a cardboard box with a white sheet on the outside to diffuse the light somewhat. This time I’m going to put it on the inside….so I won’t have the reflections of the brown cardboard in the really shiny objects…..Mine cost me an old sheet that I was going to toss in the thrift store box and the tape to attach that to the box….plus the lamps – which are “natural” light compact florescent bulbs in inexpensive clamp-on fixtures.

Allow me to share with you what happened to me when I dropped my last camera and had to go out and buy another one in a hurry.

It took about 3 days going to every store in town and not finding a single camera with a good enough macro setting on it to get good close-ups. In a forehead slapping ah-ha moment I remembered that we had a professional camera store in town.

I rushed down there with a piece of jewelry, gave them my price range, told them what I needed (Idiot-proofedness) and they fixed me up.

Their price was identical to the prices at the so-called discount stores. They actually had people who knew what they were selling. They gave me a free, high-quality camera case to go along with it. And, unlike one of the stores, they actually let me touch the camera before buying it. One of the big box retailers refused to open a box and let me look at any of their cameras!

It was the right thing to do. They will help me any time I show up with a problem or stupid question, too. Sometimes I have additional forehead-slapping ah-ha moments when I go in and we all have a good laugh.

Wow! There are some great suggestions here!

Getting suggestions from experts always good and you learn many things from it too. I know some [URL removed] which recommend b experts and you have to check them.