My 1938-D/S Buffalo Nickel

NumisOxide

I'm working on my coin photography. Can you guys give me some opinions on the pictures. I know I have to work on the glare from the slab. In the last picture I tried to capture the toning on the reverse. Also, see if you can guess the grade.

K6AZ

John, what type of camera are you using? What are you using for a light source? Are you shooting these freehand or do you have the camera mounted on a tripod?

nugget369

That is a difficult picture but I would guess the grade at MS65

NumisOxide

K6AZ, I'm using a Canon powershot S1 Is. the light source is a floor lamp that has three (3) GE 60 Watt soft white bulbs. I'm shooting these free handed. I know pretty soon I gonna have t purchase a copystand to get very still images.

K6AZ

John, you can get away with a tripod if you are on a budget with a couple of clamp-on desk lamps. The big trick when using a tripod is to use the timed shutter release so you can completely remove your hands from the camera when the shot is taken. This is absolutely critical in macro photography, the camera has to be absolutely still.

As far as your lighting, it is quite apparent that you are using regular house bulbs, which give off that yellow tint. If you have a Lowe's nearby, get a couple of the Sylvania Daylight Plus 75w halogen floods. These produce a nearly perfect white light.

NumisOxide

Thanks K6AZ for the info on coin photography.

jom

<< <i>Sylvania Daylight Plus 75w halogen floods >>



Do these have better "natural" light than OTT bulbs? Just wondering....



<< <i>The big trick when using a tripod is to use the timed shutter release >>



This would be wonderful unless you had a camera that does not have a timed release in MACRO mode....like my Nikon Coopix 950. I have to use one of those manual jigs.

If you are purchasing a camera be SURE to check this out before hand. I do know Nikon fixed this "oopsy" in later versions of the Coolpix.

jom