Camera Lens On Strike!

Broadstruck

My marco camera lens that I use to shoot full slabs refuses to photograph coins.

All washed out by lighting at any position and too light at any setting.

Yet it will photograph my Car Keys, a Revlon nail file, and Chapstick with no problems... WTH?

Major fluke and way too early for this!

Kkathyl

I use Apple products and my iPhone can work well for my needs. I use my phone and scope to annoy forum friends

Kkathyl

Broadstruck

iPhone is fine if I want to photograph a Accordion or Lederhosen to sell but not coins.

BStrauss3

@Kkathyl nice for you, but irrelevant to the OP.

@Broadstruck What are you doing differently between the coin shots and pocket litter pics? You are shooting on exactly the same settings for the two types, correct?

The only thing that comes to mind is the diaphragm has broken and the lens isn't stopping down. Not an issue for normal items but with a coin/slab, there's too much light coming back (reflections). Try turning off one or both lights. If that's the problem, you'll see SOME detail.

Kkathyl

@Broadstruck said:
iPhone is fine if I want to photograph a Accordion or Lederhosen to sell but not coins. Hope it gets corrected soon. Your photos are always top notch and I could only hope to capture such beauty. That’s why we outsource to you all for the important shots. No I don’t play accordion or any such instruments but I do dabble in coins. Just hope it works out for you. Very frustrating when equipment not cooperating and you need it like yesterday. My equipment is not a camera but when my Excel freezes and BOD await info I can certainly sympathize with the frustration. Didn’t me harm only wanted to lighten it up and make you laugh

Meltdown

Maybe try shooting nicer looking coins? Lets see that chapstick!

ACop

Yeah OP, dump your high end gear and just use an iphone with cheap chinese zooming lenses :rollseyes:

Coinstartled

Well some people collect old brass security devices. The keys are difficult to find though.

Broadstruck

Out having a nice breakfast... Will re-investigate later if it was just user error?

ElmerFusterpuck

I have a good superzoom that I use for pics, so good luck with your macro lens.

Phones are great for posting coins to Instagram or to get a quick pic, but a decent camera still blows them out of the water. No serious seller should rely on phone pics, they are barely above scans IMHO. It gets worse when you use the zoom feature on the phone, it's like looking at the coin underwater due to the mushy details.

SiriusBlack

Makes sure the aperture is working, it probably is because most cameras close down when they fail and it gets super dark to look through the viewfinder. Check that you don’t accidentally have exposure compensation set by mistake, automatically over exposing everything. Check that you don’t have auto iso enabled which would undo any manual exposure you’re trying to accomplish. If the lens has stabilization, try some shots with it on and off to verify it hasn’t failed, causing problems.

ctf_error_coins

I have never had a (Canon) lens fail.

Are you sure it is the lens and NOT the camera?

Gluggo

Eating popcorn just waiting for the final outcome! Just another day at the office. I guess I got to go do something.

RogerB

Posting a photo or two might help get additional suggestions.

ricko

My photography skills are so bad that I would not know if I had an equipment problem.... Yeah.. that's the ticket...it was my phone, camera, lens, lighting.... ... Nah, it was me...Cheers, RickO

RogerB

RE: "My marco camera lens...."

You obviously need a "Polo" filter for the "marco" lens....

Cameonut

Maybe you need to increase lens pay to $15 an hour for some cooperation.