Wondering what digital cameras you guys are using to take pics of your rod. I can't get mine to focus in on guides consistently at all. Mine is a few years old. It's a 4.0 megapixel Canon. What settings do you use, too?

Thanks!

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

If you want to take close up shots you need a set of close up lens filters. Or an SLR with a macro lens. The consumer type point and shoot models are not made for focusing closer than about three or four feet.

Use Macro mode and a tripod and self timer is pretty much a must

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

macro mode will focus to about as close as maybe 6 inches the setting/button whatever is depicted as a tulip flower lookign thing on your camera.

Even on the macro setting, the focusing beams may pass by the rod/guides and focus on the background instead of the object. If you're 12" away from the rod, try focusing on a larger object 12" away, push the shutter button 1/2 way down to set the focus distance, and then move the camera back to the rod/guides and press the the shutter button the rest of the way down.

It's like taking a picture of two people standing next to each other. If you try to center both in the picture, the focusing beams may shoot through between them and focus on the back ground making the subjects out of focus. In this case center one subject in the middle of the frame, press the shutter button half way down to lock the focus distance, move the camera back to center both subjects, depress the shutter button the rest of the way.

Aaron,

When ever we get the chance to meet, I can show you what I have done. I also use a "photo box" which are very simple to make. Ill drop you an email.
Vern

I'll disagree a bit with Mike Ballard's statement above. We are currently using a Sony CyberShot 7.2 mp "point and shoot" unit. It has a macro settting, selectable from the central control on the back of the camera, similar to almost all the Sony point-and-shoot cameras.

The instruction manual tells how to use this feature, and what the minimum usable distances are, and even how to use it with or without flash. The auto focus feature works in both the screen and the eye-level viewfinders and you can actually see the camera make the adjustments.

If I had a digital SLR (I'll get one when I grow up - it's one of my goals) I'd first try the built-in macro capability before I'd buy any filters for it. But we've have film cameras with autofocus and macro and very rarely did we need filters for them. In fact, a lot of the Cybershot units don't accept filters, unless you get a special adapter first.

Because we serial-number our rods and our warranty is tied to the serial number, it's important that we document the butt wraps and the guide wraps with a photo so we can reproduce the patterns exactly if needed. We use the little CyberShot to do that.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Was there an article in one of the recent RodMaker Mag issues about creating a photo box?

AC
FishinFreaks
Rogers, MN

Aaron, if you Google light tent you can get info on making your own.

Chuck

the latest digital point and shoot consumer cameras are great. many of the features slowly trickle into pro design. lately, i've seen cameras which list 1 cm distance for macro focusing, though most current ones tend to be listed from 2 cm up to 6 inches. this is usually in some form of macro mode, not the normal focusing mode.

there are so many models available right now from major manufacturers it pays to read the manual. thoroughly.

personally, i like a lot of the features the consumer P&Ss offer like water resisitance and movie clips and such, but the dumbing down of "modes" wth little pictures leaves me frustrated. this line of camera seems to be lacking simple things like manual settings or at least aperture or shutter priority options.

sorry, i needed to vent i guess.

eric
fresno, ca.