Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
06-15-2018, 09:38 PM - 7 Likes   #1
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MossyRocks's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Minnesota
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,978
Mechanical Macro
Lens: 28mm SMC Takumar Camera: K-3 Photo Location: Kitchen Table ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 2s Aperture: F8 

Here is another interesting object. Some of the inner workings of an old Elgin 19 jewel wrist watch. The watch face is slightly larger than a quarter and this image covers about 1/6 of the area.
The setup on the camera was a the #1 pentax M42 extension tube with a M42 to 49mm filter reversing adapter with the 28mm SMC Takumar lens on the end. A flash from above was used to provide the necessary illumination.

Looking for a general critique on technique and/or composition.



For those who are too young and don't know what is meant by jewels in watches it is in reference to some of the bearings used. These bearings were made typically out of sapphire or ruby as the provided a very hard, low friction, and dimensionally stable surface which all go a long way to improving the reliability and accuracy of mechanical watches. A fully jeweled watch would have 17 jeweled bearings but as time progressed watch makers found that it made a good advertising point so the counts kept increasing with no actual benefit in overall performance or reliability. In this picture I believe there are 5 jewels one being a cap with another under it.

06-16-2018, 03:37 AM   #2
Veteran Member
Liney's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,237
Well I like it, but then I really love macro images of anything mechanical. Short critique, I would have stepped up the brightness a notch or two as it's quite subdued. The focus of the mid section is very sharp, well done, and the colours are excellent (the brass cogs look perfect).


If it was me I would be tempted to try and expand the depth of focus a little or move the centre of the focus back a touch to get some of the large brass cog at the top of the image into focus. Have you tried moving the flash to another location, perhaps beyond the watch so the light is coming towards the lens.

Good work, keep it up

Last edited by Liney; 06-16-2018 at 03:38 AM. Reason: spelling
06-16-2018, 04:08 AM   #3
Senior Member
PancakeFlipper's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Maine
Photos: Albums
Posts: 209
Very interesting to look at. Now I want to break open some old watches
06-16-2018, 07:30 AM   #4
Veteran Member
bertwert's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Golden, BC
Posts: 15,173
Very nice!
It's cool to see inner watch workings

I agree with Liney, maybe you should try with the focus slightly further back, however I disagree about putting up the brightness, I like it like it is.

06-16-2018, 02:03 PM - 1 Like   #5
Veteran Member
LensBeginner's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2014
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,696
Very nice!
Since you're looking for suggestions, I'll suggest a focus stack.
Depending on the magnification you achieved (which I guess is more than 1:1) it could be quite difficult (I know, I have a cheap rail and it's a pain).
06-18-2018, 08:52 AM - 1 Like   #6
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MossyRocks's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Minnesota
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,978
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by PancakeFlipper Quote
Now I want to break open some old watches
Find some broken ones that are in rough condition. This one has a broken main spring, the case doesn't stay together, and the crystal is very scratched up plastic. It wasn't a special watch by any means as it was a late 60s or early 70s mechanical watch from a commodity watch maker made from inexpensive materials. It would be a shame to damage something that would be worth anything.

---------- Post added 06-18-18 at 09:21 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by LensBeginner Quote
Depending on the magnification you achieved (which I guess is more than 1:1) it could be quite difficult
I don't know the exact magnification but from my understanding it is likely in the 2:1 to 3:1 range. From what I have read a reverse mounted 28mm lens gets you to 2:1 or a bit more. Then I stuck an extension tube between the flange and the reverse mount adapter (it was the #1 M42 one which I think is 9mm, corrections welcomed) so the magnification is somewhere in the 2:1 to 3:1 range. I would need to take a ruler picture to know for sure.

I tried focus stacking with a different setup yesterday for the first time and different lens. I think I need to practice that more and figure out my technique as the results weren't all that impressive but that just means I need to learn and practice more.
06-18-2018, 10:46 AM   #7
Veteran Member
LensBeginner's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2014
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,696
Thanks.
Fascinating subject, macro photography...

06-18-2018, 06:05 PM   #8
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
CharLac's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Ottawa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 8,417
Nice shot....I wear a mechanical watch but I would not open it...too scared
06-18-2018, 06:31 PM - 1 Like   #9
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MossyRocks's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Minnesota
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,978
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by CharLac Quote
I wear a mechanical watch but I would not open it...too scared
I do as well and I wouldn't open it either. I also don't recommend anyone start cracking open old mechanical watches even if they are broken. Most if not all are repairable if you know where to go and a good watch repairman can fix even a really bad one for $150 (I got one really old one in bad shape repaired for that and that was the most expensive one I had brought in). Never take a watch to a jeweler to have it repaired as they will just send it out to a watch repairman and charge you 2-3x what the repairman charges them.

The one in the photo is probably only good for parts and the case doesn't stay together as it is so worn out and looks to have a few other issues in addition to a broken spring. It isn't like I really did anything to open it up, I actually picked it up by the case and the bottom fell out with the movement as I had originally thought of attempting to photography some of the face as macro but the insides I thought were more interesting.
06-18-2018, 08:44 PM   #10
Veteran Member
bertwert's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Golden, BC
Posts: 15,173
QuoteOriginally posted by MossyRocks Quote
Most if not all are repairable if you know where to go and a good watch repairman can fix even a really bad one for $150 (I got one really old one in bad shape repaired for that and that was the most expensive one I had brought in). Never take a watch to a jeweler to have it repaired as they will just send it out to a watch repairman and charge you 2-3x what the repairman charges them
Thanks for the advice, it's not mechanical but I've got a (fairly expensive) watch that bit the dust.
06-19-2018, 06:18 AM - 1 Like   #11
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Medellín
Posts: 1,322
I'm a mechanical engineer, so this is porn to me. XD
I would maybe use a flash from the front to illuminate the dark areas a bit, but keeping the ratio higher from above so it still looks natural. Perhaps bouncing some with a sheet of paper or aluminum foil with a hole for the lens.
Having a tilt adapter also helps getting more in focus without closing the aperture too much. But then again, it's always a matter of personal preference.

Gesendet von meinem Mi A1 mit Tapatalk
06-19-2018, 04:56 PM   #12
Senior Member
PancakeFlipper's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Maine
Photos: Albums
Posts: 209
QuoteOriginally posted by MossyRocks Quote
Find some broken ones that are in rough condition. This one has a broken main spring, the case doesn't stay together, and the crystal is very scratched up plastic. It wasn't a special watch by any means as it was a late 60s or early 70s mechanical watch from a commodity watch maker made from inexpensive materials. It would be a shame to damage something that would be worth anything.[COLOR="Silver"]
No worries, I won’t break any good ones I’ll have to look in the junk drawer or goodwill to find some old broken ones
06-20-2018, 02:25 AM   #13
Pentaxian




Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Appingedam
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,084
To my eye the light is good as well on this lovely photo. I only find the bokeh on the dark thing that points in the direction of the lens a bit distracting, allmost as if it was moving and the shutter speed resulted in a blurred movement. On the whole, a nice photo with a nice set up.
06-20-2018, 04:46 PM - 1 Like   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 336
I love taking macro shots of my watch movements. Modern watches with sapphire casebacks certainly make that job a little less scary or dangerous to the movement too.
06-22-2018, 08:19 PM   #15
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
BigDave's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,626
QuoteOriginally posted by MossyRocks Quote
Here is another interesting object. Some of the inner workings of an old Elgin 19 jewel wrist watch. The watch face is slightly larger than a quarter and this image covers about 1/6 of the area.
The setup on the camera was a the #1 pentax M42 extension tube with a M42 to 49mm filter reversing adapter with the 28mm SMC Takumar lens on the end. A flash from above was used to provide the necessary illumination.

Looking for a general critique on technique and/or composition.



For those who are too young and don't know what is meant by jewels in watches it is in reference to some of the bearings used. These bearings were made typically out of sapphire or ruby as the provided a very hard, low friction, and dimensionally stable surface which all go a long way to improving the reliability and accuracy of mechanical watches. A fully jeweled watch would have 17 jeweled bearings but as time progressed watch makers found that it made a good advertising point so the counts kept increasing with no actual benefit in overall performance or reliability. In this picture I believe there are 5 jewels one being a cap with another under it.
Very nice macro! Just enough sharpness in the image to show detail and a nice use of DoF to show depth.
Well done! PS great lighting choice too!
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
bearings, critique, gears, jewels, lens, m42, macro, magnification, photography, practice, range, reliability, reverse, watch, watches
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Using flash with mechanical bodies sandy_ada Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 12 05-23-2018 03:39 PM
Is this mechanical cable release ok for my p30t? kmladeno Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 4 07-21-2017 07:46 AM
What happened to the firmware update with mechanical SR in video mode? Unregistered User Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 8 07-04-2017 01:09 PM
On K1 - Mechanical VS Electronic shutter question! Fenwoodian Pentax K-1 & K-1 II 4 10-21-2016 03:27 PM
electro mechanical engineering challenge for macro Nass Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 10 10-14-2016 09:20 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:03 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top