Help Evaluating Coin Photo Lighting etc.
Intueor
Posts: 310 ✭✭✭✭
I have read Mark Goodman’s “Numismatic Photography (ed2)” many times and have also learned techniques from various posts on this forum. I am working on getting the best images possible within the intrinsic limits of my hardware. As many have pointed out, lighting is the essential key even with mediocre hardware. During experimentation, there comes a point when personal bias affects your judgment and perception. Below are two images of the same coin that, so far, reflect my best efforts. I would greatly appreciate any comments on either a comparison of the images or just criticisms, comments and suggestions on the photographic technique. No offense will be taken; this is not a personal issue but a learning gesture. These are very hi-res images and the “Shot Log EXIF” technical details are on the far right side. Please click on the images to get full detail.
Thanks for your interest. 
Comments
I cannot offer technical critique. Both are very good images.
As either a seller or buyer, I feel it is important to know that the image shows how a coin looks in hand. Which of these two would you say does that? For me, the answer to that question is the better picture.
What changes did you make to the lighting?
For me the first set is definitely more pleasing.
The B shots seem to show wear on Ben's hair. The A shot would be better because of this. Appreciate your effort perfecting your coin photo skills.
That is a good question. The truth is neither technically reproduces “coin-in-hand”. The actual coin has the reflectance and detail of Image A. It has the tone and patina of Image B. I just cannot seem to reconcile all the “coin-in-hand” attributes in a single image.
I am using 5000k LED Spots at various angles and combinations. All lighting is diffused through a Light Tent (box). The EXIF exposure settings are noted on the right side in the Shot Log.
This is the setup for each image:
I agree Image A is more appealing. If I could just get the patina to come up more, I think it would be better.
Great observation! I am using both copy stand and delay (3 sec). Alas, you have found the “chink” in the armor. The Pentax WG-2 (camera) has inherent limitations. A crisp focus at high resolution is impaired by the quality of the optics. The max resolution is 16 megapixels but the lens focal aberrations at that level become pronounced and, as you have observed, manifest as “fuzzy” detail. I am in the market for a Nikon 5500 body (have all the right lens). I firmly believe that it is a poor craftsman who blames his tools. The focus issue is a limitation, but the lighting is something I need to learn first. Even a Leica will not improve my lighting skills. Thank you for the lighting suggestion. I think you are right. I will increase the lighting intensity and diversity to try and improve these images.
Thank for the observation and encouragement.
First of all thanks for posting all this information.
My observation is that both images are lacking even lighting.
So starting there; a second light source could be used to more evenly light the coin and the extra lighting would allow you to use a) a smaller aperture to help with crispness and b) a quicker shutter speed to also sharpen the image up as well help dealing with vibration.
Both images are pretty doggone good.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Have you tried also a white backgrounds? I noticed on some of my coins that seems to make a big differences. Are you tethering your shot? I am still a very amature photo taker. But also learning and thank you for sharing.
Great ideas! Working on improving images as we "speak" with additional lighting. Unfortunately, my camera does not have the capability to manually set shutter speed or f-stop. The smallest auto F-stop is 5.0 so the depth of field is limited. I can, however, manually focus and, of course, setup lighting. The sharp focus (fuzzy!) you see is the limit of my optics. Frustrating yes, but this is what I have to work with. Anyway, as you and others have pointed out, it is the lighting that makes the shot. Thank you for the compliment, it gives some consensual validation that is appreciated.
As one “amateur” to another, thanks! My camera does not have a tethering capability but I am using a 3-second digital delay to eliminate any shake artifacts. Wow! Thanks for the suggestion of the white background. It is so obvious but when you’re up to ass in alligators, it difficult to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swap! (Pun to swampboy intended).
Yes I was quite shocked when I was having difficulty getting a decent photo on a black background. Just by chance I switched and that picture turned out better than I thought. That’s when I realized how that 1 little change did so much.
As for the tethering that’s all I do now. I position my lap top so I can see the coin, press the button on the lap top screen and wala done. One of the great members here showed me how.
I shoot with a Cannon T6i a Low $Dollar camera but shoots decent shots. The lighting is the tricky part. Don’t have that down yet but in Alaska it’s dark 18 hours a day.
Now I am struggling with the right lens. I am gonna pull the trigger on the one camera 📷 stand that our neighbor member sells here on the BST. I have a camera stand but his is taller and mine is a cheap Ebay one. But still works, I think I need to go up higher on my stand. Ohh good things take time. Good luck on your venture.
Ok, this is the final shot for today otherwise I’ll be eating with the dog! I have aggregated everyone’s great suggestion with a little personal interpretation commensurate with my equipment. I chose this particular coin because it has many attributes that are common to all coins. Luster, toning, tarnish, strikethrough, bag marks, die scratches, and attribute detail. In other words, it is ordinary “Joe” or “Jane” coin. This is the result. In my opinion, is very close to “coin-in-hand” and I personally think it is an improvement over the original Image A and B. It is not perfect but it is an attempt to create a better image by the consensus of my peers. I have learned a lot in the past five hours and I am exceedingly grateful to everyone who responded. Please feel free to offer any comments on this image. I will not be reshooting tonight but I will check back later on this evening. Thanks again
PS @Gluggo -Besides the white background of the image, I did use a white background when I shot the image. You were right, it improved the shot.
Photos appears to be over sharpened and also too much contrast. It is also a bit out focus. Lens, lightings and copy stand are most important.
Intueor it looks good and thanks for posting you forced me to try shooting raw just now for the first time. Its getting darker now in Alaska just after 2 pm and wont be long the light will be gone for the day! 20 new coins I snapped shots of spent about 2 hours. All for hobby alot of work to do this! 5 hours you did good. Your last shot does look better to my untrained eye. There are some who will check in who are experts. Have a great night.
Thanks for the interesting input. “Over-Sharpened” is a curious observation and not a comment I anticipated. Not sure what that means. The only post-shot editing is cropping and converting RAW to JPG. The focusing issue was explained above as an aberration in my cameras optics. On the surface “over sharpened” and a “bit out of focus” would seem to be an oxymoron. That is my confusion. I am guessing you are describing an effect caused by “too much contrast” as you mentioned. If you have a moment, could you please examine Image A and Image B above in reference to your observation of Image C.? Please disregard the focus; it is a limitation of my rig. Image A lighting is more direct thus more contrast with strong details while Image B lighting is diffused with less contrast but muted details. Image C was an effort to merge the two extremes to obtain an image that shared the desired attributes of both Image A & B. Image C results were a product of more light with slightly less diffusion. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks.
Based on your good observation, I reexamined the image and think I understand what you are describing as the effect caused by “over-sharpened” and “too much contrast”. I realized you were right so I set about re-imaging the coin so that the grain contrast was “softer” without sacrificing detail. First I tied editing with Noise Reduction but this only washed out the detail. The best result came when I dimmed down the brightness of my angle light source and used a different diffusion technique on the direct light to improve the “in-hand” appearance of the coin. Below is a detail of before and after. Thanks for your suggestions – still learning.
Do my best work in the dark
How's the shooting going? Any results you care to share?