Help with camera setup for pixel detailed photos without blur when zooming in - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: monoap
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 28, 2022, 08:47:30 am
content: Dear All,I am supposed to build for a work project a box (not too tall) that has a mini computer inside controlling a camera that takes photos of objects of small size (lets take for example a watch). The object should be visible entirely on the photo. I have to process this photo and find some details on it, but if I zoom on it using any image processing software from the computer, I am not able to see clearly the material of the dial for example and the pixels without seeing an annoying blur effect. I am thinking that a setup with optics might solve the issue, but that is clearly not my domain.I tried several usb cameras, even up to 21MP, but I am still seeing blur when I zoom in regardless of the power lights used, different exposure times, etc.Can anyone please help with some advice of cameras/optics or kits that can do this job for objects up to 8-10cm?Just to mention that I am not looking for something really expensive and trying to keep it on a low budget of up to around 500$ for the camera and optics.Thank you in advance,

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2022, 10:10:05 am
content: Bonjour, you will have more precise answers if you can detail the setup, eg sketch of object min/max size, spacing to camera, lenses, etc.You need a lens with macro capability, with object to lens in the focus area.You need very bright and uniform lighting."zooming" can be optical or digital. The digital zoom just crops a tiny area and scales it so resolution is lost. You need optical zoom.In 1980s..2000s use SLR cameras with special macro lenses. Nowadays an iPhone 10..13 has excellent resolution and macro capabilities.Perhaps Android and other non-iPhone have similar.Suggest to join a digital photography forum, like DPReview.https://www.dpreview.com/forumsBon ChanceJon

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2022, 10:15:59 am
content: Not sure what the purpose of embedding a computer in the box with the camera is but as far as getting an image of small objects such as a watch face you should consider a camera with a "macro" lens. I do mean a fixed focal length, ie, not a zoom, lens designed to focus quite close and optimised for "flatness of field". Which zoom lenses are generally not. Flatness of field is when the plane of sharpest focus is actually flat or very nearly so. Macro lenses are ideal for photographing things like coins and stamps and insects.USB cameras would rarely have lenses suitable for what your task sounds like. The annoying blur effect is hard to pin down but it is probably just an ordinary lens that cannot resolve detail sufficient for 21Mp. It could also be sensor noise.I would start looking at a DSLR with a dedicated macro lens attached. But it isn't likely to be small.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2022, 11:14:49 am
content: Post some example of what you are talking aboutQuote from: jonpaul on January 28, 2022, 10:10:05 amNot a bad idea eitherAnd what sort of resolution you want, in px/mm or whatever.

author: Conrad Hoffman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2022, 02:15:42 pm
content: Also, keep the object square on to the camera. You won't have much depth of field with macro/close-up work and anything at an angle will be a problem. Smaller sensors will give lower quality, but may be a better choice because it's easier to get good depth of field. That's one reason why phones do so surprisingly well.