So recently I’ve reached a point where I really want to take photos of my collection to post on here. I think the combination of switch and auxiliary lights I have configured for my D4V2s looks amazing with the lights lined up. BUT the camera on my phone is too low-quality to take pictures of these lights that match what I am seeing. First world problems!
This isn’t the first time I’ve thought I’d like a dedicated DSLR or Mirrorless camera, and it won’t be the last either…because every time I start researching them I get sticker shock
I know you’re kidding but my serious answer is that flashlights with auxiliary lights and backlit buttons look best in low-light which is where camera phones tend to suffer most. (since aperture and lenses matter so much for that)
Looks like it handled the picture pretty well. Nice FT03! What emitters did you go with? I looked into that model but encountered some analysis paralysis when it came to emitter choice so I still don’t have one. I already have a Catapult V6 so whatever I get has to compete with that; needs to be better in performance or size.
I love pencil beam throwers like the Convoy L21a CULPM1.TG. However they are not very useful due to the small hotspot and dim spill. That’s why I chose to get the XHP50.2 in my FT03. It produces a nice wide and extremely bright beam while still being able to reach thing at a remarkable distance (735m).
My one actually fell out of a window 1 floor up and landed with a massive bang! I was sure that it was time to say good buy to it. I went to pick it up and got the shock of my life - it was in near mint condition! It did get some small dings (you can spot one in the picture) but man that torch is STRONG! And it only costed $47 with a battery!
I have the Moto G Stylus from last year and the camera is good as long as there is sunlight. It just doesn’t accurately pick up color in low-light situations. And the way it portrays light sources in those situations is just…ugly. I’ve messed around with manual mode to adjust the iso and white balance but nothing helps.
I aim for the point of diminishing returns on phones because they get outdated so quickly. I’d rather spend $200-$300 and have a less-than-perfect phone rather than spend $1000 on a phone. Besides, that savings will leave me more money to eventually buy that midrange standalone camera I’ve been thinking about!
Suppose I spend $300 on a phone. I can keep it for 3 years and I essentially spent $100/year. To get that kind of return on a so-called “flagship” device, I’d have to keep the phone for an entire decade! The performance of midrange phones these days is quite adequate anyway.
Try putting your phone on mount (even propped against a coffee cup), to eliminate hand movement. If you have any manual settings for the camera app that also can help (i.e. longer exposure). Play with focus too. Pilotboy’s photo you could try to emulate, as it’s excellent. Phones have killed the point and shoot camera, and can take pretty good pics.
Also, SLR/DSLR/Mirrorless is a habit that predates flashaholics, and gets more expensive. Even after the sticker shock the urge to get newer improved lenses and bodies is quite common.
My problem is with color rendition and/or missing information so I doubt a stand will help. As mentioned above, I did mess around with the manual settings but none of the settings could make my images resemble reality.
You mean photography is a hobby of yours since before you got into flashlights? I’ve been aware of that particular rabbit hole for a while and I just haven’t had a good enough reason to take the plunge. If you’d asked me what I’d wanted to take a picture of so badly I’d have said, “I dunno.” But now I actually have ideas.
100% correct, however you are not taking pictures of wildlife or something that critical. Most modern samsung phones have great cameras. At the end of the day, it’s up to you.
a couple things I did in that photo, that help fool the iPhone auto white balance not to downregulate to make the warmer lights look white.
1. take the photo during the day, near a bright window
2. include a cool white light in the lineup
the grey background has been working pretty well
another favorite photo background, is a folded piece of printer paper:
the coolest light, on the right, is just there as a reference for the camera… the actual subject of the photo are the two High CRI lights
I avoid, or dont
shoot in the dark
shoot at night under artificial light
shoot lineups of all similar CCT
shoot against colorful backgrounds with busy patterns
disclaim, Im not a trained photog… I dont own any camera other than my iPhone
I took this photo handheld with my phone. Modern phone cameras have become remarkably good. I have a D850 and a huge collection of lenses, but I often get lazy and just take a photo with my phone because the results are usually more than good enough and it’s so much faster than importing a RAW into Lightroom and going through the whole workflow. That said, when I do break out the camera, it absolutely blows my phone away.
Apps like Camera+ 2 will even allow you to lock white balance and tint which is what I do when I take my white wall shots.
If you have an iPhone or android wo a dedicated Nightmode you can use an app like NiteMode and Night Video. They are paid apps, but I’ve been impressed with the results, especially if you are able to set down the phone and use a countdown timer or a tripod or something.
First world problems!
