Easiest camera to use for coins?

Ogden

I have read and read all the old postings on digital cameras but still can't decide what my best option is.
I am looking for a camera that is easy to take good photo's of coins that I can post on the forum. I am an old guy that is not necessarily a picture taker. I will have limited need for the camera and wanted to use a good one that I don't need to refer to directions constantly. The price, although a concern is not the major problem. I just don't see myself taking many other photo's other than my coins to post here or on other forums. Is there such a camera? Thanks in advance.

Ogden.

DrawTwo

While this is not exactly a camera recommendation, I stumbled on this site while researching information on Early American Copper.

I found the article by H. Craig Hamling extremely enlightening. While he does make a camera recommendation, I think, more importantly, he outlines what to look for in a camera and has some excellant suggestions about how to take pictures of coins. This is a very clearly written and illustrated article.

Digital Coin Photography

LanLord

My reply is that you use what ever Russ uses. He has got some of the best coin pics I have ever seen. I personally use a scanner (HP) an Olympus digital (owned for many years) and standard film cameras and I am still trying to get really good scans. Review the past threads and choose what Russ has. It seems to me it wasn't too expensive either.

DanC

That would be the Ricoh RDC-4300 you refer to... (The one Russ uses)

Can be had for around $100. Takes great pix!

edit:

Here's a PCGS slab taken with the Ricoh: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1381119342&rd=1

birddog

I have tried both cameras and scanners. I have consistantly gotten better pics with a good scanner. Along with the scanner a good pic computer program is needed to size, and enhance the pic for internet use.

See one here.

birddog

Home Page

IrishMike

The toughie is copper. It is extremely difficult to capture the true color of copper. Shylock has it down pretty good but he has a camera that is high quality and a steep learning curve. I have one, same brand, Nikon a couple steps down that requires a macro lense. If you are only taking pictures of silver coins then this is not an issue.

birddog

Here are 3 old coppers that were scanned. They are a little darker as would be expected. What I like about well scanned coins is that the light is more evenly distributed over the surface.

Copper coins

birddog

shylock

Scanners require no lighting setup, accessories or much of a learning period, so if ease of use is your main concern find the best scanner in your price range. Digital cameras have more potential but require all of that. From what I've seen on the digital end, Ricoh makes a great product that's also reasonably priced. If high resolution and close-ups are a priority, Nikons are excellent (see Anaconda's Ebay images). A Nikon example.

DanC

Dunno... IMHO, I'll put my Ricoh up against any scanner, any day - and against the Nikon for that matter.

Lighting consists of two (or 3) ordinary clip-on incandescent fixtures @ $7.50 each. No real learning curve.
Just takes a little practice with lighting angles.

Russ is of course the master at high quality photos with it. Just can't quite seem to match his.
We think he may have magical ambient lighting or something...

edit:
afterthought...

Alot of the photos like R&I's are enhanced for greater contrast, and color balanced.
The ones that we take with the Ricohs are just like they come off the camera. Not bad for $100 and no
editing.

swissmiss45

Hi, I'm a new person on the forum and have been interested in this discussion on camera's. I have an old Minolta XD-11 which at the time was for portraits etc. kind of a professionals camera-covered up many of the sins of a beginner. I was wondering on the color issue if it could be film type and processing effecting the colors? My guess is digital is so clear because you don't have to deal with those issues. I know in just the things I photographed- kids, pets, vacations etc. there was a big difference. What do you think?
swissmiss45

pmh1nic

I also use a Ricoh (RDC-5000 I picked up for $250). Here are a few shots:
Toned Barber Quarter Obv
Toned Barber Quarter Rev
Blast White Morgan Obv
Blast White Morgan Rev (Bad Lighting)

DanC

Nice job on the color, pmh1nic

That's hard to capture... with ANYTHING.

shylock

These camera threads have a way of turning into pissing contests, but I have to say great job with that Morgan PMH. Love it.

When members post for recommendations on where to spend their money we owe it to them to give straightforward advice. Lately every thread's become a photo contest, with very little advice. I think some coin collectors have come to love their cameras as much as their coins!

stujoe

That is not Taboo, this is taboo:

DanC

SHUDDDER.....

AAAAAH! It's a Susan B. Agony!

pmh1nic

The reason I post the pictures was to show the results someone with zero formal training and no special equipment can get. The RDC-5000 does the work. The main thing is lighting. The photograph of the Morgan was taken with two 20 Watt halogen desk lamps. The Barber was taken with natural lighting through my dining room window.

Ogden

I have seen Russ' posting on the Ricoh RDC-4300. I have searched the internet for the Ricoh 4300 with no luck. Would anyone know where I would find it? The price sure seems right. If I could find one around $250.00 it would be great. That way I could post some of the pictures some of the forum members have been asking me to post. I have a scanner but the quality isn't good enough to show an accurate copy. Thanks for all of those who replied.

Ogden

Russ

AARRGGGHHHH!!!!! Stujoe, that is CRUEL!

Hey, did somebody mention copper?



Russ, NCNE

DanC

Ogden,

I got mine on ebay. They pop up pretty often.
I believe I scored mine at $109.00

Certainly wouldn't go more than about $120 for one. They've been fairly common.


ooh look: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1379640085

Russ

Ogden,

I sniped mine on eBay for $132. A couple other people have gotten them even cheaper than that.

Russ, NCNE

Russ

PS: pmh1nic brings up an excellent point about lighting. When it comes down to it, any camera that does good macro is capable of producing nice pics using the right lighting setup. And, the lighting used varies depending on the coin being shot. I use one setup for DCAM proofs, another for business strikes, and a third variation for capturing color.

Russ, NCNE

jom

Check out a thread I started awhile back:

Thread

I'm going to update this thread soon once I take a few more pics with some new lighting I got.

jom

goyankeez

I have to admit, I don't know jack about cameras, but the one that Russ uses looks like it does a good job. And it's a good price.

Russ- I take it that you used that camera for the picture of the lincoln. What sort of lighting do you use for DCAMs? Instead of all the lighting attachments is it possible to use a regular lamp or overhead light?

Russ

goyankeez,

I use GE Reveal light bulbs in those armature desk lamps that clamp to the edge of the table. Either three lights or two depending on the coin I'm shooting. Wattages range between 40, 60 and 100, again depending on the coin. Above was shot with two lights, a 40 watt and a 60 watt.

The bulbs are $4.99 a four pack, the lamps $10 at Office Depot. Toss in a $41 copy stand, and you've got a nice cheap setup.

Russ, NCNE

stujoe

Russ and Dan: Heh, Heh. Just try and get to sleep tonight with that image in your head.

As far as the real part of the thread...

Most cameras with macros will do a decent job. Some are obviously better or easier than others. The closer they can focus the better but that leads to the next most important part...lighting.

Proper lighting is often the most important thing. Not only between a good shot and a bad shot but between getting a picture that is a realistic representation of the coin and something that does not show what the coin is really like. The best lighting for coins with great lustre is often different than for well circulated coins and can be different than for DCAM proofs. In a holder and out of a holder is another different ballgame.

Backgrounds can have a little bit of an effect, especially on copper. Don't forget to make the white balance correct for whatever light you are using. A tripod can make a bi difference too.

Once you get a setup that works for you, consistant coin pictures are not difficult. It is finding what works right and for some cameras like mine, that takes a little work.

This is the setup I ended up with:

Camera Holder

The camera mounts to the angle iron facing down with a 1/4-20 thumbscrew in it's tripod hole and. 2-20Watt halogen desk lights that can be angled for different situations.

My consistancy has improved drastically and, while I used to have to shoot 10 or 20 or more shots to get that one that is just right, I can usually do it now with one or two shots.

DrawTwo

Photography is basically a matter of technique (lighting). Any decent camera can do the job if used properly (which is not all that easy!)

leothelyon

Lighting is the bigest problem. Getting those light rays to bounce off the coin and back into the camera while maintaining a direct aim at the coin. You will have some fun, believe me! It's not as easy as 1-2-3 click and that's it. There's ton's of info on the internet. I wish you the best of luck.

Leo

Askari

Have you experts noticed whether there are particular lighting arrangements/angles that do well for one particular type of coin, but another is required for a different one? For example, copper vs. silver, proof vs. business strike, DCAM vs. cameo, normal vs. high relief vs. incuse, etc.??

shylock

Askari -- I'm a struggling photographer and not an expert, and have to alter lighting and change exposure settings for copper alone. With the vast arrays of copper tones it's almost on a coin by coin basis. The coin on the left required less exposure and less light to capture the true color, while the deeply toned one on the right needed more exposure and direct light. The one in the middle required a more normal setup:

lincolnSence

shylock - I think you need a new camera. I hate to be critical but all the lettering looks like you didn't focus or something. Maybe you better send me the coin for further examination.

shylock

LincolnSence -- actually it's a normal 1955, I took the picture while it was rolling

ANACONDA

I use the Nikon Coolpix 990. Seems pretty easy to use, to me.

It's no longer their newest camera so you could probably get one inexpensively on eBay.

adrian

oreville

shylock: What is the grade of that 55/55 DDO?

Looks like MS-63/64BR close to a RB?

DanC

Nice job on those coppers!

I haven't even begun to try that... or toning shots. It's tough enough to get a nice cameo shot on a JFK.
copper is way tough.

I tried a couple, but haven't found the trick with the lights yet.