Cellphone Copy Stand

rmpsrpms

Here's my first prototype of a Copy Stand designed for Cellphone use. It is similar to my System-400, but I have offset the column so that the rear camera of cellphones is centered over the stage, and replaced the DSLR mount with a cellphone mount.

The stand shown has a 12" column and Arca rail, which is needed for DSLR use, but for cellphone use it can be lower. I'm thinking of replacing the 12" column with a 6", and replacing the 12" rail with a 6" or 8". This should give plenty of working distance for cellphones, which tend to have fairly wide-angle lenses. Even with a telephoto it should be enough.

There is room to shine external lights (Ott fluorescent, Jansjo LED, Halogen goosenecks, etc) but I am also contemplating adding a second column to incorporate a ringlight. Or I can include gooseneck LEDs mounted to the column.

Would like to hear feedback on this concept, and ideas folks might have for customization. I have not tried it with other phones, so would also like to hear about how your phone works for coins...how far you are away from the coin; where the camera sits on the phone; any other detail of interest to the system.

Pricing is similar to my standard System-400 copy stand. As shown (without camera or coins) this would be $135. Will fit in a USPS Medium FRB.

If you're interested in purchasing this stand, or one with the shorter column and rail, PM me.

Here are some pics of the stand shooting a Slab, a Peace Dollar, and a Lincoln Cent using my older Samsung phone.

COCollector

PM sent.

skier07

Wow, that’s cool.

CommemDude

If you can solve the problem with light reflection, so that once the light is set it's possible to photograph multiple coins without making constant adjustments, I think you'll have a big winner with this new stand.

rmpsrpms

@CommemDude said:
If you can solve the problem with light reflection, so that once the light is set it's possible to photograph multiple coins without making constant adjustments, I think you'll have a big winner with this new stand.

I solved that problem many years ago with my masked diffusers. I'm working with my first customer on some specialized diffuser shapes for his S22 Ultra. We'll see how well they work when he receives the stand and tests them out. I may need to make some modifications to optimize the diffusers, we'll see.

First customer also wanted to go with the shorter column.

I also realized that most cellphones have very poor white balancing capability, so I gave him a 2-tone True Grey stage that will allow him to keep a white balance reference in the photo so that any color adjustments can be made after the shot. His phone may also have decent white balance capability and can do a pre-shot balancing, and the True Gray stage can be used for this purpose as well.

He sent me the dimensions of his phone, and camera positions (the S22 Ultra has 4 cameras), and I drew up a graphic to show how the system would look. We agreed on the design, and "the rest was history". Here is the drawing I made, and the final product. His column is 6" tall, with an 8" Arca Plate, so goes higher than he needs for the camera:

...............

COCollector

Received my order today. Works great, very pleased!

rmpsrpms

I have significantly updated my cellphone copy stand. It is now called "Example System P1Q" on my website (see http://www.macrocoins.com/example-system-p1q.html) and includes some new Quans gooseneck LED lights, and can also now recommend a clip-on macro lens. The new Quans lights are very flat and have the gooseneck coming in from the side, so can easily fit between the camera and coin, see image below. I mounted them to the underside of the base so that they don't take up any room on the surface.

The lens seems to work perfectly across the full range of US coin sizes, though I have not evaluated it on all cameras. It is the Apexel HD Smartphone lens. It's fairly expensive compared with other types, but so far it's the only one with image quality I would recommend. Here is the link to the lens on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TPLKT7D

You can view the new system now, both basic and updated with LEDs, on my website at:

http://www.macrocoins.com/example-system-p1q.html

Here is the fully-configured system, with 3 Quans lights:

skier07

What’s the source of power for the LED’s?

rmpsrpms

USB. They plug into your computer or a hub. They also each come with a little USB Plug-in power supply if you just want to plug them into the wall.

greencopper

The copy stand comes with lights? What type of LED lights do they take?

rmpsrpms

Yes, I can now offer lights with the copy stand. They are LED gooseneck made by Quans. The LEDs are integrated into the light head so are not replaceable.

JWP

Pm sent

rmpsrpms

You can see more info on my web page: http://www.macrocoins.com/example-system-p1q.html

Here are the pricing details:

Basic stand, wood base, 7.5" column, phone clamp, two-tone grey stage: $135
LED lights: $35 each (usually need 2, but can install 3 or 4 if desired)

There are other options:

"Disappearing background" transfer disk: $30
Phone-mounted diffuser: $40
Clip-on Macro Lens: $45

Shipping is $20

AUandAG

@rmpsrpms said:
Here's my first prototype of a Copy Stand designed for Cellphone use. It is similar to my System-400, but I have offset the column so that the rear camera of cellphones is centered over the stage, and replaced the DSLR mount with a cellphone mount.

The stand shown has a 12" column and Arca rail, which is needed for DSLR use, but for cellphone use it can be lower. I'm thinking of replacing the 12" column with a 6", and replacing the 12" rail with a 6" or 8". This should give plenty of working distance for cellphones, which tend to have fairly wide-angle lenses. Even with a telephoto it should be enough.

There is room to shine external lights (Ott fluorescent, Jansjo LED, Halogen goosenecks, etc) but I am also contemplating adding a second column to incorporate a ringlight. Or I can include gooseneck LEDs mounted to the column.

Would like to hear feedback on this concept, and ideas folks might have for customization. I have not tried it with other phones, so would also like to hear about how your phone works for coins...how far you are away from the coin; where the camera sits on the phone; any other detail of interest to the system.

Pricing is similar to my standard System-400 copy stand. As shown (without camera or coins) this would be $135. Will fit in a USPS Medium FRB.

If you're interested in purchasing this stand, or one with the shorter column and rail, PM me.

Here are some pics of the stand shooting a Slab, a Peace Dollar, and a Lincoln Cent using my older Samsung phone.

Nice unit. If I had a phone, and I've been thinking of one just for this purpose, I'd hop on it.
bob

skier07

Do you have a picture of the phone mounted diffuser?

Namvet69

Nice setup, no vibration is key. I like the butcher block base, as I can slice a tomato for my sandwich. Peace Roy

JWP

@Namvet69 What if Abe is allergic to tomatoes?

rmpsrpms

@Namvet69 said:
Nice setup, no vibration is key. I like the butcher block base, as I can slice a tomato for my sandwich. Peace Roy

The system is very rigid, and sits on thin sorbothane feet to absorb outside vibrations. You still need to avoid vibrations from the phone, so need to do timed or remote shutter release to avoid these.

rmpsrpms

@skier07 said:
Do you have a picture of the phone mounted diffuser?

I don't have a picture, as I shipped the only one I've made so far, but I do have the drawings I made for the client to explain how they work.

rmpsrpms

One thing to note is that I can configure the system so you can go back and forth between the cellphone and a DSLR.

Here are the modifications to give DSLR capability:

Replace 7.5" Column with 12" Column: $15

Replace 8" Arca Plate with 12" Arca Plate: $15 (note this is needed only if you want to go back and forth without making any modifications. The 8" plate can work for both but must be moved to the top of column for DSLR, bottom of column for cellphone)

Add 120mm Arca Clamp to mount the DSLR: $25

So if you want to have full flexibility to go back and forth from Cellphone to DSLR, it would add $55 to the system.

JWP

@rmpsrpms hat is the min/max clamp size for cell phones? y cell pone as a thick case and the width is 3 3/8 inches, will it work with your clamp? Thanks in advance.

rmpsrpms

No problem, can take up to ~4" wide. Not sure the min but it works with an old iphone.