Vintage Camera Product Shoot

Mamiya C33 TLR Medium Format Film Camera

Ah, yes...the product shot.  Generally when you here "product photography" you think of all those online catalogs or books you get in the mail.  Perfectly lit items, shown in all their glory.  Which is great, and they should be as we want our clients products to be shown in their splendor and glory.

Kodak Signet 35 Rangefinder - 35mm Film Camera

Creative Process:

For this shoot, we decided to try something a little different.  Using something we first heard from Joe McNally, "don't light everything" and the old adage that sometimes less is more.  Only one light is employed for these images.  We thought this would be an interesting way to shoot these vintage cameras to show their character.

The way the light is positioned allows us to show the textures of the materials the cameras are made of and the macro lens allowed us to get up close and personal with the details of the cameras.

We also thought it an interesting idea to shoot these cameras, some of which date back to 1931 with the newest digital SLR that Nikon makes right now, the Nikon Df.

Yashica Lynx 5000E Rangefinder 35mm Film Camera

Yahsica Lynx 5000E Meter Switch

Location:
Home Studio

Gear:
Nikon Df
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro
Nikon SB-26 Speed Light
1/8" Grid
White Reflectors x 2
Light Stand
C-Stand With Boom Arm
Justin Clamp
Umbrella Adapter
Radio Popper JrX

Voigtlander Brilliant TLR Medium Format Film Camera

Voigtlander Brillaint Lens CloseUp

EXIF Info:

1/200th, ISO 100, f/8-f/16
Speedlight at 1/16th power

Graflex Speed Graphic Medium Format Film Camera Lens CloseUp

Mamiya C33 Lens CloseUp with Shutter and Aperture Controls

Lighting Setup:

One light on the boom arm of the C-stand in front and above the subjects. 
The reflectors are used as the background and surface - using the white side of the reflectors.

Post Processing:

Very minimal.  We shot the images with the standard picture control.  So, we used Lightroom to add some contrast and clarity.