new photo system at Great Collections

seatedlib3991

I discovered this morning that Great Collections has a new photo system. Rather than having a static picture that can be enlarged, but only to a set size, you can now enlarge or shrink the picture. I imagine this will make it much easier to identify varieties.
I am not sure yet what difference this system will make as far as showing particular types of toning and or whether coins will be lighter or darker; but I think it will turn out to be a great improvement. james

TomB

I noticed this last night, as well, and you can also rotate the image in 90-degree intervals as well as "grab" the image to move it anywhere you want on the screen. I think this is a great improvement.

RobertScotLover

It was long overdo

Goldbully

Great improvement. Kudos!

messydesk

The photos themselves are the same as they ever were, but the UI for viewing them is improved.

WaterSport

Outstanding for picking!

WS

mirabela

Very nice -- I especially like that one no longer has to X out one pop-up window and then open and expand another to see the other side.

keyman64

It’s still bad in my opinion. They are only taking a photo of the slab still. A dime or half dime etc takes up considerably less space than a Morgan dollar in the slab photos. I don’t understand why anyone would buy something so blind without a TrueView. Ooo, let’s go look at all this pretty plastic with a tiny dot for a coin. I agree a slab photo can be helpful but it would be better to see photos of just the coins themselves, filling the camera frame with the coin. That’s what I want to see. Try to go look at the date or mintmark of a dime in one of these photos. Other auction houses do it. Granted, commission is higher so there is that.
Go look at the date on this coin. If you try to just look at the date it becomes a blurry pixelated mess. https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1352669/1931-S-Mercury-Dime-DDO-FS-101-PCGS-MS-66-FB-CAC

keyman64

@WaterSport said:
Outstanding for picking!

WS

Disagree. Photos are the same. The user interface is different. Nothing has changed.

Tramp

@keyman64 said:
It’s still bad in my opinion. They are only taking a photo of the slab still. A dime or half dime etc takes up considerably less space than a Morgan dollar in the slab photos. I don’t understand why anyone would buy something so blind without a TrueView. Ooo, let’s go look at all this pretty plastic with a tiny dot for a coin. I agree a slab photo can be helpful but it would be better to see photos of just the coins themselves, filling the camera frame with the coin. That’s what I want to see. Try to go look at the date or mintmark of a dime in one of these photos. Other auction houses do it. Granted, commission is higher so there is that.
Go look at the date on this coin. If you try to just look at the date it becomes a blurry pixelated mess. https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1352669/1931-S-Mercury-Dime-DDO-FS-101-PCGS-MS-66-FB-CAC

Used my smartphone. Looks fine. I think?

Batman23

@Tramp said:

@keyman64 said:
It’s still bad in my opinion. They are only taking a photo of the slab still. A dime or half dime etc takes up considerably less space than a Morgan dollar in the slab photos. I don’t understand why anyone would buy something so blind without a TrueView. Ooo, let’s go look at all this pretty plastic with a tiny dot for a coin. I agree a slab photo can be helpful but it would be better to see photos of just the coins themselves, filling the camera frame with the coin. That’s what I want to see. Try to go look at the date or mintmark of a dime in one of these photos. Other auction houses do it. Granted, commission is higher so there is that.
Go look at the date on this coin. If you try to just look at the date it becomes a blurry pixelated mess. https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1352669/1931-S-Mercury-Dime-DDO-FS-101-PCGS-MS-66-FB-CAC

Used my smartphone. Looks fine. I think?

I think he wants something closer to this...

telephoto1

@keyman64 said:

@WaterSport said:
Outstanding for picking!

WS

Disagree. Photos are the same. The user interface is different. Nothing has changed.

I just checked out the coin you were complaining about and I could blow it up well enough to reasonably look at the date/mm... far from a "tiny dot"... you're expecting scanning electron quality perhaps?

JW77

Another tool to improve the user experience on the site. A positive update to the website. Thanks Ian!

Dave99B

Big improvement from a usability standpoint.

Dave

jesbroken

I feel it to be better by far than it was, especially being quicker. Time is money. Thank you Ian.
Jim

skier07

@Tramp said:

@keyman64 said:
It’s still bad in my opinion. They are only taking a photo of the slab still. A dime or half dime etc takes up considerably less space than a Morgan dollar in the slab photos. I don’t understand why anyone would buy something so blind without a TrueView. Ooo, let’s go look at all this pretty plastic with a tiny dot for a coin. I agree a slab photo can be helpful but it would be better to see photos of just the coins themselves, filling the camera frame with the coin. That’s what I want to see. Try to go look at the date or mintmark of a dime in one of these photos. Other auction houses do it. Granted, commission is higher so there is that.
Go look at the date on this coin. If you try to just look at the date it becomes a blurry pixelated mess. https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1352669/1931-S-Mercury-Dime-DDO-FS-101-PCGS-MS-66-FB-CAC

Used my smartphone. Looks fine. I think?

That’s awful looking.

ianrussell

Thanks for the feedback. The new viewer will be much easier when using your phone. Clicking the expand button on the old one was more difficult.

We will be adding more imaging features this year.

• Ian

Cocoinut

It makes viewing large quantities of coins a much faster process, with fewer mouse clicks. The photos can be enlarged by scrolling with a mouse or "pinching" with your fingers, and just tap on the arrow to view the reverse (or go back to the obverse). GC's photos are better than most auction sites.

Goldminers

Anything to help see the coins better will be an improvement.

If it can help me identify the visible flaws in NGC 70's, or occasionally a few PCGS 70's that are listed, then thankfully I won't bid on them. Lately I have felt the need to send a few NGC's back when I see them in hand and realize they will not crossover. Of course, this also happens to me with some other 70's I have purchased on eBay.

Thank you, Ian, keep up the great work and please do not increase the fees.

I will have hundreds of moderns headed your way sometime in the future.

BStrauss3

@keyman64 said:
I don’t understand why anyone would buy something so blind without a TrueView. Ooo, let’s go look at all this pretty plastic with a tiny dot for a coin.

Because the TrueView is a beauty shot and the GC photo is frequently closer to the in-hand experience.

ricko

That is a great improvement and will help when examining details. Of course, if the picture is poor to begin with, then you get poor enlargements.... Cheers, RickO

oih82w8

I noticed that yesterday. It's a welcomed change, although the previous was familiar to use.

seatedlib3991

Personally, I noticed the great collections owner said that their was going to be more improvements to come. If I could make one wish, it is that they adopt a second set of pictures that specifically shows off toning (Not true views). I do know that there is an occasional coin with pictures that depict enhanced colors, but don't know if that is something you pay more for or what. I have several dozen coins that have wonderful color under the correct lighting, but just look dark and lifeless with the wrong lighting.

ElmerFusterpuck

All this is nice for sure. But I'm waiting for a GC app! Is that in future plans too?

leothelyon

I simply can't buy a coin over the Internet without a few good photos. And I dread the idea of having to repackage up a coin and making unnecessary trips to the PO when a good photo is all that is needed of a coin would have avoided all that. I imagine millions echo my concerns and do the same. I don't buy coins with bad photos. I don't like making trips to the PO to return coins. Photography of coins is not all that difficult once the choice of lighting used is mastered, to bring out the greatest aspects of the coin....that must be seen; 3D pic of the strike, its condition/marks, the luster, if it's there, and if there's any toning.
How serious the seller is about selling their coins is measured by how great their photography skills are, which will definitely show in the picture they have provided of the coin. If I can't see the aforementioned qualities of a coin in a simple photograph. I can't see how I can spend any of my valuable time looking at that site's coins any further. i have little choice other than to simply move on and seek those coins with better photos.
And to give credit where it's deserved, thank you PCGS, TrueViews have been very hellpful in building my collection.

Leo

JimTyler

Better pictures or just a new delivery system ?

messydesk

@leothelyon said:
... Photography of coins is not all that difficult once the choice of lighting used is mastered, to bring out the greatest aspects of the coin....that must be seen; 3D pic of the strike, its condition/marks, the luster, if it's there, and if there's any toning...

Difficult one at a time, no, but auction companies processing thousands of slabbed coins each day do not have the luxury of setting up and evaluating the best shot for each coin. Cost, quality, and throughput: choose two.

Bikergeek

"The perfect is the enemy of the good," or, "progress, not perfection" are quotes that come to mind here. The images could be bigger and higher-resolution, yes. But the interface is vastly improved. I haven't found any capped bust half dimes on GC that I've wanted to bid on recently, but this new system makes it much easier to find the ones that I'll pass on.

oih82w8

Hopefully one of the improvements will be a countdown timer that can be viewed in real time. I missed out on an upgrade item last night trying to get a last few seconds bid in.

WAYNEAS

Used the new viewing app last night.
Sad to say, it did not help me win anything. LOL
Wayne

ms71

Kudos to Ian & company for a solid customer-centered improvement. The massive success of the enterprise is well earned.

alefzero

The site change that I noticed and very much appreciate is the left/right image scroll. Even if only two images, it beats the page scrolling to get to the next image. Much more pleasant and efficient experience.

Cougar1978

I like it whatever they have done.

Flatwoods

I'm always happy for any improvements. I realize that everything costs.
I would be more interested in larger images on the main search page.
I look at a lot of auctions and I have to click on many at Great Collections to see if I'm interested.
I realize that most people don't view tens of thousands of lots most weeks. Just a thought.

Again, thanks for all you do Ian.