First photos: Looking for Coolpix 4500 photography help

RYK

I am just getting started in coin photography. I have a Coolpix 4500 and a new tripod. I do not know my way well around the camera. I do not have lighting but used natural sunlight for these pics. They look terrible.

Would anyone be so kind to give a few pointers? I especially need help in where the camera settings should be.

Thanks,

Robert

Barry

I have a 4500. I set it as follows:
Aperture Priority mode, and I usually keep the aperture smaller than F7 to get better depth of field (and I use a copy stand and shutter timer if it's less than 1/60 sec shutter speed).
I use plain old incandescent bulbs in a desk lamp. I did a custom white balance (see the book for instructions).
I use macro mode (little flower on the screen).
Turn the flash OFF.
Save these settings in one of the User settings.

coinlieutenant

Dont zoom in at all Robert. Use macro (which you are as far as I can tell).

Set your white balance off of one of the NGC holders.

Use spot metering and place the spot OFF of the coin or half and half. you should see the image brighten/dim in the viewfiinder as you move the spot that is metering.

Will think of more later...
Try those.
John

RYK

Thanks, guys that the sort of tips I am seeking. What about auto-focus? Yes or no. Manual focus seems cumbersome.

mgoodm3

I've had bad experiences trying to use manual focus on my 5400. Auto-focus works OK but tends to focus on the front of the slab. Using a high F-stop is helpful to increase your depth of focus. I found that taking the pic at a slight angle and putting the focus box higher on the coin will help put the center of the focus plane near the center of the coin (providing it's setting focus on the slab in front)

mgoodm3

Oh post bigger pics and we can see what's going on better with the photos. Use the timer for the shutter release. Will cut down on motion.

Barry

I use auto-focus all the time. Even with Macro, I use the zoom. I typically keep the camera about 4 inches above the coin. Closer and it's tough to keep the shadow off the coin. Also forgot to mention, when taking pics of ANACS and NGC slabs, I set EV to +0.7. That compensates for the underexposure due to all the white in the field. Spot metering can be done as an alternative, but I've gotten used to doing it this way as it's one less excursion into those cumbersome menus.

Here's a link to a bunch of coins I plan on listing on Ebay this weekend. Took the pics yesterday, if you want to see some samples done with the settings I mentioned.