Anyone ever do ultra macro coin photography with something like this?

lsica

Anyone ever do ultra macro coin photography with something like this?
Yeah I know not everyone likes LED lights, but I'm looking for an inexpensive way to get light from multiple directions very close in on a very small surface...

Thanks

TurtleCat

You might look into a macro ring light if you’re using a traditional camera. For example: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Macro-Ringlights/ci/649/N/4168864821

TurtleCat

Also, you could add diffusion material to the lights or ring light to even out the lighting. I would think it best suitable for some types of coin photos but it tends to hide shadows and therefore luster.

lsica

@TurtleCat said:
You might look into a macro ring light if you’re using a traditional camera. For example: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Macro-Ringlights/ci/649/N/4168864821

I have a ring light that is lens-sized already. I'm looking for something much smaller for ultra tight shots

Cameonut

I also had a Nikon ring light. Never got it to work right.

ctf_error_coins

You do not want a ring light for coins.

Lights need to be movable.

Insider2

Double pipe halogen rig.

Edit: Sorry, you said "Macro."

DIMEMAN

I have found natural sunlight works the best for me...…..especially on untoned unc coins.

TurtleCat

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
You do not want a ring light for coins.

Lights need to be movable.

Generally true but it depends upon your expected result. I think it should be in the arsenal but not used for all shots.

messydesk

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
You do not want a ring light for coins.

Lights need to be movable.

If the LEDs can be turned on and off individually, it might actually do the trick, especially where there's very little working space. I use a ring light with my microscope and cover 1/3 of it with a card. I also have enough working space to cast shadows as needed with my hand while I'm inspecting or photographing a coin.

TurtleCat

@lsica said:

@TurtleCat said:
You might look into a macro ring light if you’re using a traditional camera. For example: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Macro-Ringlights/ci/649/N/4168864821

I have a ring light that is lens-sized already. I'm looking for something much smaller for ultra tight shots

In that case, I would think you would be better off with two or three diffused point lights on something like a plamp to be moveable quite easily. Or something like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1165604-REG/venus_optics_kx_800_flexible_macro_twin.html

ms70

I took this pic recently with a cheap eBay microscope that has a similar looking set of dimmable led lights built into the end of it.

If I remember correctly the entire set-up was something like $15.

That's a half dime BTW, just to give you some size perspective.

lkeigwin

Use an inexpensive photographic objective. Half a ping pong ball to spread the light. PM @rmpsrpms for details. He's a wizard.
Lance.

rmpsrpms

That 26mm OD ringlight is pretty nice, but most recently folks have been using COB ringlights instead. The COB phosphor spreads the light out a lot more evenly. I would bet the ringlight shown above is from a flashlight. That seems to be the most common application. Manufacturers put a single bright LED in a removable reflector assembly in the middle of the ring, so you get 3 modes: center pinpoint light, outer ringlight, and both together. Here's an example of an LED headlamp which contains such an arrangment:

I started a thread over on Photomacrography forum talking about these COB ringlights. Take a look here:

https://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40312

There is only one ringlight I know of, made by UltraFire, that is smaller than the 26mm OD one shown above, and it seems hard to find. The smallest I've found recently is the one shown in the thread linked above, and it is 30mm. So if you're looking for smaller, you may be out of luck, but if you do find one please let me know as I'm looking for smaller ones as well!

The alternative is to use an objective with large working distance. This will give you a higher lighting angle. Here is how I use similar ringlights on 20x objectives:

20x is really too high magnification for coins, but it does prove that even at higher magnification you can implement such ringlights if the objective has long enough working distance. Here's an image taken of a 1954-S Lincoln Cent RPM#4 using the objective above with the smaller center hole: