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point and click? i don't think so! seeking photo advice.

3hree3hree Posts: 16
in PCGS Set Registry Forum
i finally got access to what i thought was a great camera (cannon elph 5.0) but that does not get close enough, nor can i get past the plastic slab! would someone direct me to some resouce (preferably a web link, or a not-too-technical discussion) about cameras, lighting, etc., for someone who is not particularly camera conversant? i'm looking for something modestly-priced, but, most importantly, i need some education! thanks! g

Comments

  • earlwbollingerearlwbollinger Posts: 1,304
    This might help you get started.
    Basically, you need a "macro" lense for your camera, or a camera with a macro feature already built in.
    You can get macro lenses for a number of different cameras.
    I can't really tell you what camera to get, as you probably wouldn't like the one I suggested, or it costs too much, etc.; plus the cameras
    change and become obsolete faster than computers do, and you probably couldn't get one like mine anymore anyway.

    link
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    image
  • magikbillymagikbilly Posts: 6,780 ✭
    Hi,
    check out the images below and the others in my little 10c type set linked below. After reading a few posts and online stuff about scanning coins, I did these in an evening after a few hours with a scanner, 3 Kodak slide mounts for tilting the slabs, a black t-shirt and a bit of patience. I was told I would never get decent results with a scanner so I decided to try. What do you think?

    Best,
    Billy image

    image
    1892 Barber 10c PCGS Pr63CAM
    image
    1941 Winged Liberty 10c PCGS Pr65

  • 3hree3hree Posts: 16
    those links are very informative - lots of great info, and i'll look into a macro lens, etc.. i've only glanced at the links and will look at them more in-depth over the weekend. magikbilly, those coins you scanned were slabbed? your scans are amazing! you mentioned using 3 Kodak slide mounts to tilt the slabs - though i didn't read through the links, yours is the first reference i have come across that mentions coin handling rather than equipment. i guess this is where patience comes into play! thanks much for sharing, and anyone else with suggestions!
  • cosmicdebriscosmicdebris Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭
    Nice job with the scanner.
    Bill

    image

    09/07/2006
  • magikbillymagikbilly Posts: 6,780 ✭
    Hi,
    yes they are in slabs - PCGS. And thanks for the nice comments!

    Best,
    Billy
  • earlwbollingerearlwbollinger Posts: 1,304
    Nice coins too.

    Well one trick on slabs is to use your own ambient lighting and not the flash. You may have to play around with the lights, moving it around to and fro to adjust the brightness just so. Using green, black or white or gray felt or craft paper can work well too, depending on the coin's color and whether it's in a slab or not.
    If you can't turn off the flash, you can block or diffuse it with a diffuser (a translucent piece of white plastic).
    The clear plastic acts like the glass on a window.
    You have the same problem at a museum when you try and take flash pictures of things inside the cases.
    The glass tends to reflect the light back or cause other effects which can screw up the picture.
    image
  • scherscher Posts: 924 ✭
    Billy, I am blown away..great shots..hard to beleive they are scanned...now I want to do mine..
    Bruce Scher
  • earlwbollingerearlwbollinger Posts: 1,304
    Most of the quick shots I take of coins are scanned using a Canon Scanner.
    It does very well, but you tend to lose the shiny lustre of a coin when you use the scanner.
    Other wise they work great.
    I think having the scanner not show the shinyness or lustre is nice in some cases as it helps to magnify the flaws for easier viewing.
    image
  • saintgurusaintguru Posts: 7,724 ✭✭✭
    I've been working on this a lot. I use a Minolta Dimage 5.0 with built in macro. I use a very short tripod and the most mportant factor...I use VERY indirect light. I have a 5' tall halogen floorlamp in the room and the diffused indirect light is all you need if you are going digital. What people don't seem to realize is that digital cameras are like computers...they add light where it is needed. I have been blown away at the photos I've gotten in a dim room and when one corectly you get no reflection from holders, no flashy metal glow...the only effect that needs work is that the pics have a slightly muted color, so I judiciously use the photo-shop to tweek the color...but with no effect of flaws, hits or anything else that would make the coin look better than it is.

    I have put a few pics up on the REGISTRY SET BOARD...titled "Saint Gaudens Registry set...new pics". Take a look and see what you think. These are "dumbed-down" to 50kb, from the original 400kb I took. Any questions or feedback is welcome...on board or PM.image
    image
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