coin photographers to the rescue!

1907Quarter

just starting out...topic, white balance...
if I'm using regular light bulbs on my coins should I use the automatic setting or incandescent?

Placid

Try both and see what gives better results.

mgoodm3

jasbucks

incandescent I don't remember but regular light bulbs will give your subject a yellowish finished product. What kind of camera & lense are you using?

1907Quarter

nikon 3200 coolpix(whatever lense comes with it)-can focus to 1.6"

airplanenut

See if the camera will let you meter the light you use on white paper--that's the best. If not, use incandescent--auto will likely be based partly on the color of the coin (I tried auto at a coin show recently with a yellow coin... bad idea!)

Jeremy

partagas

If you want true white light, then buy GE reveal bulbs. It gives you a cleaner white light. The bulbs are more expensive but worth it to me. Then you won't have to worry about yellowing.

jasbucks

Not familiar with that camera but I would try the distance? @ 1'6" or a bit more & max out your zoom if any, set up on a tripod or some other stationary setup. If you have a flash diffuse it with your hand in front of the flash itself but try to "bounce" or reflect the light onto your subject with a hood made of white sheets or pillow cases. Hobby shops have these gi-hugeic white boxes used to make the kids mission projects in school work really well unless you have a professional type flash (really strong) If so ya just have to diffuse it too.
No flash just use the same stationary setup outside with natural light & try the different f-stop settings if you can.
Another thing is you won't go broke if your camera is digital but if you're using film write down the details of each attempt and you will drastically reduce the cost of your experiments and use B/W film until ya get the quality ya want

laurentyvan

Set your white balance for incandescent and try the GE reveal; without the white balance set your images will indeed have a yellow cast.

Once I learned to use white balance my images improved dramatically.

1907Quarter

learning a lot here, and quickly...reveal bulbs-do they come in standard 60watt?

1907Quarter

so how does this sound for a brilliant red, lustrous copper:white balance=incandescent, white paper background, PCGS slab, side lighting 2 60watt reveal bulbs, macro 2" focus?

Barry

<< <i>If you want true white light, then buy GE reveal bulbs. It gives you a cleaner white light. The bulbs are more expensive but worth it to me. Then you won't have to worry about yellowing. >>


Then you get bluing instead.

Most Nikons have a custom white balance. Use that for truest colors. Then it doesn't matter what kind of bulb you use.

1907Quarter

so if I set balance to incandescent and use a regular bulb I should get a pretty true shot no matter what coin I'm photographing? Background suggestions?

mgoodm3

You should get a reasonably balanced color with a normal bulb and incandescant WB setting. Use custom or "preset" if you've got the option. Just put a ehite paper where the coin would be and the camera will measure the WB.

Background wise, a dark background looks good with a raw coin and you may get a better exposure. White background tends to underexpose the coin a bit, but can be compensated for.

shylock

Have you ever tried setting the white balance in Manual mode, using the camera's Preset option rather than the Auto, Flourescent etc...default settings? It's worth experimenting with:

1. Lay nothing but a pure black or white cloth out under the camera (no coin), and set up whatever lights you're using.
2. Choose White Balance Preset and then choose Measure -- the camera will measure its ideal white balance against the black or white background under your current lighting conditions.
3. Then take all your pics in Manual mode.

You might try a black cloth for PCGS slabs and a white cloth for NGC, but be sure to re-measure the white balance after changing backgrounds. If some coins come out too dark or light, tweek the exposure a notch or two. This method lets the camera adjust to your exact conditions, sometimes those default white balance settings are just not precise enough.

shylock

so how does this sound for a brilliant red, lustrous copper:white balance=incandescent, white paper background, PCGS slab, side lighting 2 60watt reveal bulbs, macro 2" focus?

I missed your second question. For lustrous copper in PCGS slabs I'd try Ott lights with the white balance measured against a black background (using Manual mode as explained above). Ott's don't seem to be popular here but I swear by them for copper. If you've ever watched the Antiques Roadshow you'll see Otts lined up on all the appraiser's tables, especially the jewelry guys, because they allow them to see true, untinted color. Here are two $100,000+ coppers under Ott lites (courtesy of Stewart Blay).

SDCollector

Here's the key tip that a few mentioned already but it's so important I'll say it also. If your camera allows manual white balance adjustment, then use it. On my camera, I point it at a white piece of paper with the lighting I'm going to use (2 60 watt Reveal bulbs), and push a button. Then the white balance is set. This is very important. For indoor digital macro photography, having the proper white balance is second only to the macro capability, IMO

I have had very limited success using any of the pre-programmed white balance settings. If your camera doesn't have manual white balance adjustment, then I would buy a new camera. Most of the mid-range ($300 to $400) compact digitals have manual white balance capability.