Look at what just came in the mail!!!!
 

This lovely Mauser byf P-38....

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John,
What a beauty. Even though it isn't a Luger, I could find room in my collection for that one. Congratulations on a great find.
Bill McGrevin

Hi John,

I am in awe of your ability to find such nice pistols in the boonies of WA State... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Contratulations !...and keep those great pistol photos coming...!!!

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Great photos (as usual) John... of a very nice P-38!

John Holbrook -

I would like to know what kind of camera you are using. Your photographs are really excellent.

Luke

Luke, I use two cameras. A Nikon CoolPix 4300 for the long shots and an old SONY MAVICA FD 200 for the close ups. What is more important is the lighting. I use GE Chroma 50 Sunlight flourescent bulbs and I have attached a photo of the light setup.

I also use Adobe PhotoShop 5.5 to adjust the size, sharpness and to get the correct color balance. A tripod is a must to steady the camera....

It ain't "point & shoot", to say the least. It helps to be a retired computer tech to boot!!!

No comments concerning the neat workbench!!!!!

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Hi John,

Great ! ! Thanks for the pointers. I use a Canon S-40, 4megapixel, but the macro function is very poor on this particular camera.

For very detailed photographs of small parts and Luger details I use a flatbed scanner and scan at 1200dpi. This results in very large files, but with cheap hard drives this is not a problem. Problem is: Odd shaped items which will not lie flat on the scanner cannot be photographed in this manner. Unit markings, for example, are impossible to scan.

I will definitely get the lights. You are surely correct in your statement that lighting is the most important issue.

From the pictures it appears that you have strapped some kind of diffuser over the lights. Can you tell me what that is? Thanks.

Regards,
Luke

You do fine work sir!

That is exactly what I'm looking for in a P.38. If you ever find one just like that, that you don't need, drop me a line as to where one is. I'd love to have that in my German firearms collection.

PS: I see Buddy's board in the computer screen.

"From the pictures it appears that you have strapped some kind of diffuser over the lights. Can you tell me what that is? Thanks."

Luke, I have removed the diffusers as they did't help much and the lamps tended to overheat..... High polished blued guns are the hardest to photograph. The are just like mirrors.

Thanks, John.

I am looking for the lamps now.

Regards,
Luke

Home Depot has the "light/lamp/bulbs" for many of them, they are about twice as much or a bit more, but called "Natural light" and make better pictures.

My desire is to make a light box to take good clear pictures, with natual light bulbs, but haven't gotten "around to it" yet. I have used the natural lights over by my display, it is better light, the other flourescent (sp) lamp uses "normal" bulbs and I can really see the difference. Will put different bulbs in when I remember.

Ed

Sony really has the macro stuff down good. I have a Sony Mavica CD-300, plus a few others that I have owned and used over the years all do a great job of close ups. Your pictures of the P-38 really show off its abilities. Great pictures...

A nice clean orderly desk....is the devils work place. Ya gotta see mine, lloks like a rats nest!