----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul" Subject: Questions About Buying Copy Stand for Pentax K100D
> Hi, > > I will like to buy a copy stand to use with my > Pentax K100D. I intend to use to take pictures of > rocks, fossils, concretions, artifacts, toy > trains, and similar objects for illustrations in > popular and professional publications and personal > satisfaction. > > I have the following questions about > > 1. Can anyone tell me what specific features to be > concerned about most in a copy stand to be used for > taking such photographs? Sturdy construction and you will want fairly fine adjustability of the camera position. > > 2. What is the advantage, if any, of having a copy > stand with counter balancing? Less stress on the locking mechanism, and your camera won't get smacked if the lock lets go. > > 3. Does anyone has any recommendations for copy > stands, including lights, in the 150 to 450 dollar > range? > > 4. Does anyone has any recommendations for copy > stands, including lights, in the 450 to 650 dollar > range? > The best copy stands available right now are old enlargers. Look for an old Beseler 67 chassis. They have a crank for adjusting the head height, so positioning can be done very precisely, and they are quite rugged. I expect they can be had quite cheaply now that the film and darkroom era is winding down. The 67 head is attached to the evevator by a 3/8x20 screw, which is handy, since many tripod heads also attach via the same sized thread. Remove the head, put a tripod head in it's place, level that with a bubble level (the tripod head may have them already), and you are set to go. If you are lucky, you might be able to find a decent enlarger at a local community college, photo studio, or lab for very cheap to free. For lights, I am a fan of quartz halogen yard lights. They are pretty inexpensive, and provide a lot of light. William Robb -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
