Trying to improve photos

GotTheBug

For years I have been using a Dino Lite digital microscope with a light box for coin imaging. Today I began experimenting using my Olympus OM-D Mark V III digital camera with a Pro 12-45mm zoom lens, again with the light box. The Olympus photos have promise.

Dino Lite:

Olympus:

Continued tinkering (Edit):

Mr_Spud

The camera photos are better focused than the microscope pictures. That particular coin with its sort of splotchy grey toning makes it hard to judge the photography though. It looks like you are on the right track.

GotTheBug

@Mr_Spud said:
The camera photos are better focused than the microscope pictures. That particular coin with its sort of splotchy grey toning makes it hard to judge the photography though. It looks like you are on the right track.

The coin definitely looks splotchy in the photos, but actually is much better in hand (as one would expect for a CAC'ed coin). I need to figure out how to capture the luster, which shows up in the photos as white. There are a few settings in the camera that I still need to try but I'm happy to have made some decent improvements so far.

I also switched from a white background to black, which has helped. The dark background seems to absorb the light that the light background was reflecting. Also, the lens that I'm using is much easier to focus than the Dino Lite.

Olympus micro 4/3 cameras are only 20 megapixels and have a smaller sensor, which is quite a bit less capable than a full- sensored DLSR. I originally bought the camera for birding, because it is lightweight (4 lbs. with a 100-400 zoom lens). Unfortunately, the tradeoff is an image of lesser quality. It is good enough for documenting bird sightings but you'll never see my photos in any publications or on a wildlife calendar.

If my pockets were deeper I'd buy a full-frame camera with 40+ megapixels and a nice Zeiss prime lens, but it's either coins or a better camera and I'd really rather have the ability to buy more coins

Wilson's Warbler @ Magee Marsh, Ohio.

messydesk

Lose the light box and use direct light from a couple desk lamps.

GotTheBug

@messydesk said:
Lose the light box and use direct light from a couple desk lamps.

I'll have to try that. What would you suggest for wattage and the type of bulb?

ProofCollection

There's quite a few photography threads on here already that will answer a ton of your questions.

GotTheBug

@ProofCollection said:
There's quite a few photography threads on here already that will answer a ton of your questions.

I probably should have done that first - thanks

messydesk

@GotTheBug said:

@messydesk said:
Lose the light box and use direct light from a couple desk lamps.

I'll have to try that. What would you suggest for wattage and the type of bulb?

I use a pair of daylight LEDs. I think they're 100 W equivalent.