Detailed info on photographing coins?

ChrisMiller

Could anyone provide me with a step-by-step on photographing coins with a digital camera? My wife has a Sony DSC-F707 (5 Megapixel, 10x zoom) that I am trying to use, but I can't seem to get it right.

First off, when I take a picture of a coin, I can never zoom in close on it because it will be blurry. I have to snap a shot from far away, and this results in me taking 5-10 pictures to get one that looks even remotely good. Second, I don't think my lighting is good enough. The pictures I have taken come out with a bright edge, or a reflective area on the coin.

I am taking the pictures at the highest resolution (2560x1920) but other than that I am clueless. Lighting? White Balance? Background? Zoom? Focus? I am completely new to photography, and my wife only does outdoor stuff so she isn't familiar with close-ups or lighting techniques.

I have attached one picture I have taken. This is one of the better ones but still not perfect. I think I took this picture several times, and then had to edit it in photoshop to make it look like. I probably have 30 mins ties up in this one photo. Not my idea of a good time lol.

Any information would be much appreciated.

<edit> Forgot the picture!


Regards,

coppercoins

First thing, I can't really give you any tips on your camera, specifically, I have a different one. The digital cameras are very different from one another both in behavior and settings. I can tell you that your problem with the focus up-close is due to your not having a "macro" set to "on". That's what you need, whether your camera has it or not is a different subject entirely. With the macro set to "on" with my camera, I can get as close as an inch and a half and still achieve good focus.

Second thing, your lighting. What you are getting is bulb flare, which can be solved by diffusing the light that's hitting the coin. Basically you are taking your images with a bulb of one sort or another shining directly onto the coin. My solution, and the best one I've found yet, is to place something between the bulb and the coin to diffuse the light. A translucent white object such as a piece of a trash bag, a piece of white paper - whatever works, but you have to tone the light down to get a good shot.

As for the camera itself, nothing I can help with having not ever played with one of those before, but it sounds like you should be able to get good photos with it if you can resolve your other two issues.

stman

Sorry I can't help on digital camera images. Just wanted to say I've just started messing with a scanner. It's nice to get a few pointers here and there. But just trial and error is the best and usually the only way to learn it right.

I've spent a bunch of time trying to figure out my all in one machine.
But I've got it down now. Hey if you only spent a half hour on that photo you are doing good.

Stman

coppercoins

I just remembered, I do have one photo I recently took that I can show (to show what can be accomplished at home). This was at even exposure, 1.2MpX, with a GE Reveal bulb and white bond paper, lens to coin about 3 inches. Photo editior was Photoshop 5.0

ferd

I also have a Sony digital camera (but a much cheaper one than yours). My best advice is to find your manual that came with the camera and call the help number. I played with mine for several days and became very frustrated antil I called the help line. They will walk you through step by step. With that camera of yours you should be able to get some excellant pictures. Give Sony a call.

mnmcoin

The macro setting is very key for close ups. Not sure what the heck it is but I have to use it on mine if I want a nice unblurry pic.

mo <><

Geoman

I also have been trying to figure out this picture thing. I guess trail and error is the only way to learn. I have a Canon digital camera, that has a Macro feature. But still can not get good pictures. Many of the threads I have read recently on this board about picture taking refer the the light source. Several good suggestions were made regarding the lighting, but with all the different set-ups one can use, it's tough to figure it out.

Could some of you help out us newbie's and maybe take a few shots of your "Set-up", to show us different techniques? Instead of just posting us pictures of coins saying this is the result, let's see "how" you do it. Thanks!

jom

Here's a thread I started some time ago. It has to do with lighting and how it effects your pictures. I'll be updating it soon....

Thread

jom

cascade

Don't forget, that even though a camera has macro capabilities, some cameras have a large minimum distance for macro pictures. Some even up to 12". Make sure your camera can get in close like 3".

I remember awhile back that there was a thread here with a link to a very good website about imaging coins. I couldn't seem to find the one in particular, but I did a search of the forum & found a bunch of other good threads as well, by searching for camera, & image.

Mrpawn

Here is a link that was provided by another forum member in another thread: link

JR

Russ

<< <i>Could some of you help out us newbie's and maybe take a few shots of your "Set-up" >>





Ricoh RDC-4300 camera, $132. Copy stand, $41. Desk lamps, $10. GE Reveal bulbs, $4.99 a four pack. I've since added a third light to the mix as I needed more light when shooting business strikes. Wattages vary from 40w to 100w depending on the type of coin I'm shooting.

Some coins I've shot with this setup:









Russ, NCNE

mdwoods

I have an Olympus C-700 Ultra Zoom. I had the same problem, I could not focus at close distances. I found, on the Olympus web site, that I needed an adaptor tube, and a Macro lense. That took care of the focusing, now I have to work on the lighting. I am buying some Reveal bulbs tomorrow. With a high zoom camera like your Sony, you might have to have a special lense as well. It might be something to check anyway. Here is a picture I took with my camera w/adaptor and Macro lense.

$5 Indian

I did not adjust the colors or brightness, I changed the size to make it smaller and faster to load. Good luck, Mark

P.S. Great shots Russ.

ClarkOfKent

Keep working at it, Russ... I'm sure you'll figure it out someday.

Clark

Russ

Mark,

That is an excellent shot! And, thanks for not making it a SAC.

Russ, NCNE

Russ

Oh, and one for the wild toning fans:





Russ, NCNE

Russ

Oh, and how about a collage?

WARNING: That one is BIG.

Russ, NCNE

coppercoins

Hey Russ....I'd bet you'll get even better results if you put something over the bulbs to diffuse the light - something like thin white paper or plastic, something translucent. It would knock down the glare on the images and show more of the detail of the coins.

Russ

coppercoins,

Yeah, I'm still experimenting trying to get it just right. Just started on this a couple months ago, so I'm still learning.

Russ, NCNE

Spooly

I got a Fuji Finepix S602 Zoom today. Here is one of the pics.

Spooly

This is Chris picture.

src53

Chris,
I use the same camera, and you can get the macro setting by pressing on the right side of the control button (the large round button above the lcd screen). You should see a flower icon appear on the screen.
This will let you take pictures to within 13/16" if the telephoto is set to wide.
I hope this helps.

Scott

Geoman

Russ,

Thanks for the picture of your set-up.

I never thought about a stand. Will have to look into that.