eBay picture help, please??

leadoff4

What is the best way for me to show a good high quality scan using my digital camera? I have an inexpensive Nikon Coolpix 3200 digial cameral that is a couple of years old. It is a 3.2 megapixel with 3x optical zoom. It has 15 scene models but I don't use them. My problem is when I take a picture of a card with it laying flat I have a tremendous light/glare spot in the middle of the card. Any help/suggestions are appreciated. Also, I can't believe the amount of cards on eBay that are ungraded and listed as NM/MT that will go for as much or more than a PSA graded 8, especially minor star HOFers from the 70s.

storm888

Turn off the flash; use natural light, close to a window.

Often, a bad scan is better than a fair photo.

leadoff4

Thanks, I have an HP Officejet 5610 multifunction printer/scanner/copy & fax but I have to wait until Christmas to open it! Anyway have any experience using the scanner on one of these??

XanaduNow

What storm said.

Also, make sure the card fills up the frame of the camera. If you're not able to scan the card think of replicating what a scanner does when you look through the viewfinder. Also, if you've got shaky hands place the camera down on something or use a tripod. This will help eliminate fuzzy or blurry pictures. You can pick up a mini tripod for under $5.

After you mess around with a few pics you should be able to find what works. Good luck and welcome to the boards!

Arthur

stown

Take a ton of shots using different lights and angles. Since you have a digital camera, don't be picture shy.... You can cherry pick your best shots and just delete the rest.

I speak from experience

leadoff4

Thanks for all of the help guys and thanks for the welcome also. I've been reading the board for several years but just started posting. I think all of the boards are great. I collect baseball from all years but concentrate on 50s-70s. I'm also into basketball from the same time period. I like Bench and Rose cards as well.

kingraider75

get a scanner for about $100. It's worth it. I use to take pics, but the scanner looks a lot sharper.

MooseDog

Even the cheapest scanner will yield better pictures for eBay than a digital camera will. So long as your multifunction printer has a flatbed scanner you should be fine. If it's not a flatbed be careful sending those slabs through the paper feeder Seriously, don't do that!

bobwilley

Scanners take good pics, but it can be very time consuming.
I can take many many digitial pictures in the time just a couple of scans take.

One of the best things, is to NEVER have the camera in your hand, always use a tripod, the mini versions are very cheap and even a very nice one is only $19. I use a Copy Stand for my pics and that way I have two light reflectors with daylight adjusted bulbs and that helps a lot. I also use a Nikon, Nikon Coopix 4800, and the silvery does get some glare sometimes.
I have even taken a magic marker and just gone over the shiney areas, to keep down the glare.
The other thing that helps is when you put your hands up to try the shutter, move your hands around a bid, and many times you can find the spot that is causing the glare and get rid of it.

If you don't have natural light around, you can get a Light Box (diffussed light) which really helps pretty inexpensive.
Check out the eBay Seller: kevens2
(I am not affiliated, just a happy customer).

Here is my PhotoStudio with Copy Stand and Light box.