@astrorat said:
While camera settings are not absolute, some work better than others for imaging coins. As an amateur imager ... I think these are a good starting point. Or stated another way ... these work for me.
Shoot in raw format, as it allows for a lot of image adjustments after the image is made.
ISO 100 (or ISO 200 if that is the lowest). Set it and forget it. Playing with ISO for imaging coins won't reap big rewards.
Shoot in aperture priority. Keep the aperture around f/8 as that seems to be the best balance for depth of field.
Shoot in a dark space and use lighting with a temperature close to "daylight."
Autofocus is fine as long as it works with the camera and lens. Not all combinations work the same. "Real" photographers use manual focusing for macro imaging ... the rest of us can limp along with autofocus.
Keep your sensor level with the object you are imaging.
Use Photoshop Elements to edit your images.
I definitely need to experiment. Right now I'm figuring out the white balance and how to set it. And my battery just died, trying to take another photo of the half dime! So, don't wait around for that one today. Thanks astrorat for the advice as well.
@coinJP said:
Ok this I shot before I fixed the white balance, etc. Will fix the settings as suggested and take another shot of the same coin. Give 20 min.
getting close!
generally speaking, with 2 lights, you kinda look for an X across the coin expressed by luster bands. whether these are narrow or wide is case-by-case dependent upon lights, camera, settings, height etc etc. you have one band going at the 11/4 o'clock angle.
the program i use to rotate images is paint.net. use it for several other features but the quick rotate feature is amazing. imo. copy an image, paste to paint.net, rotate, copy and paste back to the original program, usually just ms paint for me.
when i was learning all this my brain physically hurt. lol
keep at it a week or two or less and you're gold. at least until you run into dcam proof toners in holders. ROTFL
Comments
I definitely need to experiment. Right now I'm figuring out the white balance and how to set it. And my battery just died, trying to take another photo of the half dime! So, don't wait around for that one today.
Thanks astrorat for the advice as well. 
getting close!
generally speaking, with 2 lights, you kinda look for an X across the coin expressed by luster bands. whether these are narrow or wide is case-by-case dependent upon lights, camera, settings, height etc etc. you have one band going at the 11/4 o'clock angle.
the program i use to rotate images is paint.net. use it for several other features but the quick rotate feature is amazing. imo. copy an image, paste to paint.net, rotate, copy and paste back to the original program, usually just ms paint for me.
when i was learning all this my brain physically hurt. lol
keep at it a week or two or less and you're gold. at least until you run into dcam proof toners in holders. ROTFL