Merc fans - New, improved Registry pictures

Cocoinut

I haven't been able to do much lately in the way of adding or upgrading coins, so I'm "upgrading" the pictures in my Registry sets. I started with the Mercs and 1936-1942 Proof Lincolns. The Merc photos from 1916-1931 are larger, and were taken with a new camera, while the 1934-1945 are the old pictures. I'm really pleased with the new pics, because they show much better detail, and more accurate color and luster. It just took a lot of experimentation to discover the settings to produce satisfactory results. I tried using artificial light, but found the colors to be more true to life by using natural light. I hope to have all of my coins re-photographed in the coming weeks, with Standing Liberty quarters and type coins being next on my "to do" list. It's a lot of work, but it allows me to enjoy my coins and share them even though I seldom get to see them "in person".

I wish more Registry sets had pictures. I'll bet if people could see examples of various types of coins, it would stimulate more interest in them.

Jim

Guardian

What is your new camera? I am still trying to decide what type of camera I need to take decent pictures of my coins. What price range is your camera?
Nice pictures.

VERY NICE Collection.

Thanks,
Richard T.

Fairlaneman

Jim

Very Nice ! Those photos really show up nicely on my monitor. Its really cool to see pictures that are good enough to show die polish and all other items on the coins.

By the way I suppose you have already put the 20D and 20S in the mail for me. Those two would be Excellent replacements for the two white ones in my set. I'll watch the mail box for them. OK....I know ....Dream On.

Ken

marcmoish

Jim,

Gosh you've done a super job - really I truly believe you've added much to the registry - makes me want to do the same - due to time constraints and lack of photographic skills I need to put it on hold for now - but I hope you don't mind if I ask down the road for some of your tips


Marc

Mark

Those are really nice, really sharp, really excellent sized pictures. On my monitor, there's a slight reddish tint to many of the pictures--especially the reverse pictures. Is that my monitor acting up? (I'm at work, and so I need a good excuse to get a new monitor! )

I echo the question about what camera you are using? I wish I could take such good pictures so that I could enjoy my coins whenever I want rather than whenever I have time to visit the bank....

Mark

python1

Great job, and like Mark, I see a little bit of reddish tint to the coins..but it could be my monitor as well..but by all means, those are some crisp photos.

Cocoinut

I'm glad everyone likes them. I'm no photography whiz, and I'm colorblind to boot, so it's possible some of them may have a reddish tint. They're basically as they came from the camera, except for cropping, resizing, and combining - no alterations or adjustments to color.

The camera is an Olympus Camedia C-740 Ultra Zoom. I think the MSRP is $499, but by the time you tack on a 128 Mb memory card, AC adaptor, a card reader, and tax, it comes to a bit over $700. It's 3.2 megapixels, and I shoot the pictures in the largest possible JPEG size, and then reduce the size and compress the files. The Merc pics are about as large as I can make them, and still keep the files small enough for uploading to the PCGS site.

I took the day off work, and it was a scorcher (upper 90's). I went for a hike in the foothills of the Rockies near Boulder, and the camera works great on scenery, too!

Jim