Trying to take pics of PCBs

[BrunoFlorindo]

Based on your experience, what is the best way to take pictures of motherboards, interface PCBs, etc?
My camera may be a little bit old (Olympus C-700) is a little bit old or I may not know how to choose the proper settings, not sure. But my pictures always come out blurry, even with auto-focus on.
If you have any tips, please share them. Thanks in advance.

[gus]

Hi Bruno,
Normally you must select the MACRO option, that lets you take pictures of small objects or objects that are very near the lens. In my camera it's indicated with a Flower icon, and I think it's standard icon because this is the mode that you need to choose to take pictures of flowers by example.
Of course no relation with the German zx-team home page picture
Gus

[sirmorris]

Good lighting is also necessary when taking PCB pix. The one here http://arduinonut.blogspot.com was taken by sticking the PCB to a cupboard door

Other times I use a worklamp pointed onto the board so the shadows from the camera doesn't interfere.

Another trick I use is a slower exposure whilst holding the cam steady by resting on something solid like a hardback book.

Always take loads of pictures - they're digital so why not - then pick the best!

HTH

Charlie

[siggi]

Why don't you use a scanner?

Siggi

[sirmorris]

Because that would mean trolling down to the shed, rifling under piles of mouldy magazines and felt hats. If I can avoid the rats then all the better, but avoiding the rusty garden equipment isn't so easy.



Seriously that's a great idea - for the bare boards. What's it like with the chips on it??

[siggi]

If the chips are not too high ...
Those pictures were made with my scanner:

http://forum.tlienhard.com/phpBB3/viewt ... ?f=2&t=223

Siggi

[sirmorris]

Pretty cool!

[BrunoFlorindo]

Of course it looks great for bare PCBs, but once the board is populated the scanner will only get the detail of what's touching the glass, as you can see in this topic (which, btw, had no replies yet ):

viewtopic.php?t=13