Camera lighting advice?
eureka
Posts: 250
I finally broke down and got a new digital camera, a Nikon Coolpix 4300.
I'm very pleased with the image quality thus far, but am having a couple lighting issues.
Most of the coins I take pictures of are 9mm-13mm in diameter so I have the camera set up 4cm from the subject. While it looks to me that I'm lighting up the subject well enough, since it's coming in mostly at an angle the resulting image turns out too dark. Any suggestions on getting alot of light into the area?
The other issue is different colored hues to the image in general. I've been playing with the different white balance settings, but haven't quite figured it out. I'm using a white background which may compound the problem...I don't know. Any general advice to do with white balancing? I've been playing with different types of lights as well; including an ott-lite, a halogen lamp, sunlight, and overhead incandescent.
I'm happy with the level of detail, etc., but due to the lighting problems achieving the true surface colors is proving difficult...even after editing in photoshop.
Thanks.
I'm very pleased with the image quality thus far, but am having a couple lighting issues.
Most of the coins I take pictures of are 9mm-13mm in diameter so I have the camera set up 4cm from the subject. While it looks to me that I'm lighting up the subject well enough, since it's coming in mostly at an angle the resulting image turns out too dark. Any suggestions on getting alot of light into the area?
The other issue is different colored hues to the image in general. I've been playing with the different white balance settings, but haven't quite figured it out. I'm using a white background which may compound the problem...I don't know. Any general advice to do with white balancing? I've been playing with different types of lights as well; including an ott-lite, a halogen lamp, sunlight, and overhead incandescent.
I'm happy with the level of detail, etc., but due to the lighting problems achieving the true surface colors is proving difficult...even after editing in photoshop.
Thanks.
Collector of Fractional Gold; gold tokens from Canada, California, Alaska & other states; gold so-called dollars, and other oddball stuff.
0
Comments
I use desk lamps- one right on top of the slabs has paper hinged to diffuese the light on a slab, then the other two are angled to bring out more color/luster.
Show us what you have and we can help better.
Jeremy
PS- Welcome to the digi age
I finnally posted a descent pic about a couple of hours ago. See my earlier thread to see what my set up delivered.
Two desk lamps with the GE Reveal bulbs(40 watts). Camera is held about 6 inches above coin. Photo shop crops and saves at a lower compression to load to this site. I'm happy with it. But I see some kind of "Coin Photo Box type Thingy" in the works.
Tom
I had this in front of the window today, and was holding an Ott-light right near the camera. Still coming out too dark. Last night I was using a clip on halogen light bent to light from one side, and using the Ott coming from the other side. I really hope this can be solved without raising the camera higher, since I love the largest images I can get.
I've been using a scanner for 8 years, and since it floods the subject with light, I can get pretty accurate color. The downside of course is a flat looking coin with no luster, and those coins with proof or proof-like surfaces often glare.
tom
jom
too much light frequently takes away some cool colors
if you have 2,3 or 4 light sources, it minimizes shadows
With the camera THAT close to the coin, it's tough to avoid shadows. I usually keep the camera about 4 inches from the coin. I use 1 or 2 lamps, one coming in almost from straight above, and when I use a second, it comes in at a fairly oblique angle. Since you're in manual mode (why?), you can open the aperature a few stops, or increase shutter speed. If the 4300 is like the 4500, go into Program mode. This will set the exposure for you., If it's still too dark, use Exposure Compensation (EV), to adjust lighting. I find I need to set it at +0.7 if there's a white background around the coin (NGC, ANACS slabs). White balance depends on your lighting source, but doesn't affect brightness, only the true color representation. Once you get the exposure issues settled, you can adjust that, if needed.
I'll be watching to see how fast you improve. I might just want to buy a coolpix myself
This is the lighting setup I use:
I can move the lighting around to various positions until the coin looks correct in the viewfinder. I also vary the number and wattages of lights depending on the coin. For example, on a colorful Morgan I use three 100 watt bulbs, all the way down to a single 40 watt for old copper.
Russ, NCNE
Barry, the 4300 doesn't have a program mode. It just has auto, manual, scenes, movie. I was using manual to be able to access the various white balance options. Your response was particularly helpful, thanks.
I have the same camera & the same problems. Obviously you need to be in macro mode (the little yellow flower) with the flash off. Set the image quality to fine & the pixels to at least 1120 or so (?). As for other adjustments I can't tell you. I think the 4500 is a lot better though (2cm instead of 4). If you get the solution please post it.
Thanks,
Roger
My set up is similar to Russ', except that I use an OTT light in the center most of the time to help bring out the color on toned coins. I find that a combination of incandescent (REVEAL) and flourescent light works best. Basically I will look at the coin under these lights first and move it around to see where I can get the best color/luster ratio and the least amount of glare. After I shoot the pic, I use Paint Shop Pro 6 to get the image to lighten up so that it looks as close as the actual coin as possible. Here's an image of a pretty tough customer I took a few days ago.
Frank