Frank Henry wrote:I've got to shoot a bunch of textiles close-ups at work next. We don't have the option to hire a different camera (love the UM4.6k - just tricky with this detailed stuff like this).
Would I be better off shooting the with the Ursa Mini in a different mode that 4.6k to get less moire / aliasing from the fibres? We're delivering to web so I thought shooting 2k or HD may be better. But I'm not sure if it's just downsampling the 4.6k sensor and baking in the weird moire prints.
I know it's not the ideal camera for fabrics - but unfortunately it's our only option (we're in a small town shooting). I'm using Contax lenses (28 f2, 21 2.8, 85 1.4) so it's not the most vintage looking glass, but should help things out a bit. We've also got a half HBM and a Tiffen Digital Diffusion filter.
Textiles is tough. Really tough. It's almost impossible really.
I'd start with trying to shoot shallow depth. Shoot across the face/ plane if the shot design allows it, rather than square'd up to it.
Longer lenses should also help. Wide lenses, squared up and at deep stops is the worst scenario.
Shoot ProRes HD from the full 4.6K sensor, that can also tend to help mush some of the aliasing.
Peaking can help show up the aliasing for hunting it down. When you see it try changing the subject to camera distance slightly. Sometimes you can also get away with just every so slightly focusing in front of or behind what you're focussing. You can't really tell it's not in focus, but it can be enough to roll out the aliasing.
Hope that helps.
JB