Going to take the plunge . . .

ajaan

and buy a digital camera to photograph coins. Any suggestions? Do you need special accessories?

wybrit

First, read one of the recent threads on the subject.

Lloyd

Get a mini tripod to steady the camera in macro mode and on certain flash modes ... the cheaper ones only cost a few bucks.

Don't ask me about lighting. But if I was in the States I would certainly invest in one of those daylight set ups which I CANNOT recall the name of.... (another thread)

L

newbiecollector

Lloyd
I think you might mean the OTT lights. I can't get that here either.

wybrit

I ttt-ed the thread for OTT and Reveal bulbs. Here is a link.

Lloyd

That's the one..... OTT. I would sell the shirt off my back to obtain one of those. It would be my first purchase if it was available here.

By the way the tripod is not only useful for steadying but also for staying a constant distance from each coin. Move the background/platform not the camera. This might be obvious to most people but it wasn't to me when I purchased the camera. Let's face it, most people haven't a clue where photography's concerned and they are suddenly put into a position where it occupies most of their lives.

L

wybrit

Good heavens Lloyd, don't give the shirt off your back. You just send me oh, let's say, 6, of those rare date bun head halfpennies of yours in BU condition and I'll be happy to post to you an OTT-Lite and a 120-240V transformer!!!

More realistically, do you have any 110-220 shaver outlets at home? I used to use those for plugging in low wattage US lamps when I lived in the UK.

The OTT lite doesn't pull much current. Mine only draws 0.3 A, so a shaver outlet might just work.

Lloyd

No shaver outlet - but can you get transformers?

L

Compa

OTT lights are not needed with most mid priced or high priced digital cameras. They have programs for various light sources - Daylight - flash - tungsten - florecent. And most have an auto and/or manual white balance adjustment. The colors come out correct even with lighting that is heavy on the red or blue if you camera is properly adjusted!

I"ve been using mine for years for all sorts of photography and love it. No more filters and such like we used on the 35mm cameras. (well, a few filters ... UV and special effects.)

Lloyd

wybrit

Lloyd, you can get transformers for low wattage items pretty easily in the UK at any major airport (Gatwick, etc).

Check this out. It's just an example of the many options there are.

MSD61

Got a cam for Christmas. I'm still playing with it