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New Photo setup and I am in need of photo advice

davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭

Here is my new setup for photos of coins.

Below are a few examples of my obverse of a Morgan. How do I get mine where they are to the coin photo that is not mine. It is a Canon Rebel EOS on a tripod and two LED desk lamps. I am not trying to spend much, but looking for tweaks. things like different lights, settings on camera, etc.


Here is the stock one I want to figure out how to replicate

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Comments

  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    to get sharp focus you might use about f8 or 11 to get depth of focus
    use delayed shutter release
    youre underexposed so use positive exposure compensation
    consider a copy stand

    LCoopie = Les
  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 20, 2019 6:34PM

    To explain how far behind I am in photography knowledge. I searched google for what every line item you mentioned was. This new photo is simply using the +2 positive exposure compensation

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  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    shoot in RAW
    reduce highlights

    LCoopie = Les
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    using Lightroom for processing

    LCoopie = Les
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    manual white balance

    LCoopie = Les
  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭

    @lcoopie said:
    shoot in RAW
    reduce highlights

    I found how to change to shoot in raw. The new photo with that option did not make any difference. The images before and after are equivalent. Is that just the storage form of the photo?

    There is nothing i can adjust as far as i can tell about "turning Highlight tone priority On" which is my interpretation of your "reduce highlights." I did find the auto-light optimizer and can turn that off. But I think only the high-end rebel, not my many year old model has it as an option.

    Regarding the white balance. This is not a user friendly option. I do not understand how to do it. I see the menu items but i am not do not know what Letter to move it towards to improve my photos.

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  • Desert MoonDesert Moon Posts: 5,972 ✭✭✭✭✭

    photo advise - copystand, macro lens, works every time..............

    My online coin store - https://desertmoonnm.com/
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Shooting in RAW allows you more ability to correct the image

    You reduce the highlights after taking the photo, on the computer or phone

    Here I reduced the highlights and the brightness of your last photo

    LCoopie = Les
  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 20, 2019 6:36PM

    Here is the exposure compensation in the first image and the F stop changed to 11 in the second. I pretty much got rid of the exposure compensation with the high F stop. I am unsure which photo is the better or what other changes I can make


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  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Second one much better, focus is better

    LCoopie = Les
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Use manual focus

    LCoopie = Les
  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭

    @lcoopie said:
    Use manual focus

    Will do. I also added a 2 sec delay after pressing button. Still no where near what the original photos got going on. Here is my attempt at the reverse


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  • YQQYQQ Posts: 3,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 20, 2019 8:09PM

    I believe your Canon came with some software disk which contains the SW to use your PC and mouse to click the shutter and your monitor to adjust sharpness.
    every canon compatible lens with a macro capability can then be used , manual adjustment only.
    watch it on your monitor.
    AND. always Auto-white balance and raw or close to raw shooting.
    You will need to spend a few (not a lot) bucks for photo SW. I successfully use ACDsee for under $ 40 for many years.

    Today is the first day of the rest of my life
  • lcoopielcoopie Posts: 8,873 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @davids5104 said:

    @lcoopie said:
    Use manual focus

    Will do. I also added a 2 sec delay after pressing button. Still no where near what the original photos got going on. Here is my attempt at the reverse


    theres a book on coin photography by one of the members which I have forgotten, also a website for education

    LCoopie = Les
  • ChrisH821ChrisH821 Posts: 6,665 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Your photo setup looks almost exactly like mine :) Although I extend the back leg of the tripod further to get more overhang, I use a ziplock bag of cents to counterbalance the camera.

    Use the Canon EOS Utility to do remote shooting from a computer, can change settings, focus, and shoot pictures without even touching the camera.
    https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/

    Collector, occasional seller

  • WaterSportWaterSport Posts: 6,895 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That what I use, the remote shooting...

    WS

    Proud recipient of the coveted PCGS Forum "You Suck" Award Thursday July 19, 2007 11:33 PM and December 30th, 2011 at 8:50 PM.
  • GluggoGluggo Posts: 3,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 21, 2019 7:49AM

    I like the set up. I invested in a training video on my Cannon 6Ti camera. Lots of good information on how to use these complex cameras. I get to learn on my time line when I feel the need. I do not believe it was all that expensive.
    I then bought the small dansco lights and covered them for diffusers.

    I get lost in all that technical camera setting talk, but that’s just me.
    Your pictures look good and maybe try black background vs white.
    Good luck.
    Chris thank you for that link.

  • yspsalesyspsales Posts: 2,525 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 21, 2019 7:59AM

    Seems too much direct light.

    You need to soften and diffuse the light. Move it away, wrap it in a white sheet, try a different wattage and lighting type.

    Shoot raw as mentioned above.

    The first attempts are nice.

    Personally like the fourth image when buying on ebay. The first two images are not bad.

    Fret not, I once shot hundreds of weddings and sporting events.

    Small silver and gold objects are still the toughest items to photograph.

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  • georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭

    rubber band coffee filters over your lights for diffusion

    The author of the book mentioned above is Mark Goodman

  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 21, 2019 11:04AM

    Thanks for all the help. I now have the EOS utility and the digital photo professional 4 that was available. it has too many options that I do not understand. Obviously like anything, it takes time to learn. I am still unsure how they get the coins to look like that. The photos I am starting with are not able to be edited to look like the good ones above

    I think the sharpness feature, the remote photo taking, F stop setting, positive exposure compensation will allow my photos to be better than the average. I feel like I am in the weird position where I am not a dealer, but sell coins and some of my coins are pricier and so improved pictures are needed to get people interested.

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  • GluggoGluggo Posts: 3,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 21, 2019 11:35AM

    @davids5104 said:
    David what is the " digital photo professional 4 that was available. " and where did you find that. Just looking for more free stuff. Going into the Cannon link above right now. I noticed they even have video how to use their software. Going to go them too! TYIA

    Ohhh never mind I just found it downloading now! Thanks

    https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/eos-dslr-and-mirrorless-cameras/dslr/eos-rebel-t6i/eos-rebel-t6i?tab=drivers_downloads

  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭

    @Gluggo said:

    @davids5104 said:
    David what is the " digital photo professional 4 that was available. " and where did you find that. Just looking for more free stuff. Going into the Cannon link above right now. I noticed they even have video how to use their software. Going to go them too! TYIA

    The link above takes you to the section for Canon support where you can download the utilities and firmware for your specific canon product. The EOS utility has camera specific adjustment options but the photo professional 4 has all the options post photo creation. I have only knowledge enough to recognize this is a lot

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  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,042 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sometimes less it better. I’m talking about light. Manual focus and check your shutter speed is the best advice I can give you. Your images look pretty good . Keep at it, practice makes perfect 👍🏻

    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,042 ✭✭✭✭✭



    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
  • davids5104davids5104 Posts: 805 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 21, 2019 2:29PM

    @crazyhounddog said:
    Sometimes less it better. I’m talking about light. Manual focus and check your shutter speed is the best advice I can give you. Your images look pretty good . Keep at it, practice makes perfect 👍🏻

    I have a 7yr old. Did you all know that schools no longer say that "practice makes perfect"? They say practice improves or practice makes better.

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  • erwindocerwindoc Posts: 5,262 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My HS baseball coach used to say, "Perfect practice makes perfect!"

  • DiggerJimDiggerJim Posts: 406 ✭✭✭✭

    If you strive for perfection in a lot of cases you will achieve perfection. If you strive for something less than perfection, at best you will achieve something less than perfection.

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