How to take closeups of coins?????

carl

OK so I'm not new to photography but sure have trouble taking closups of coins. Lots of reflections of lighting and probably should use a tripod. Any great suggestions. I've been trying with FujiPix S7000, Sony MVC-FD88, MVC-7 digitals and Canon A1, AE-1, AE-1Program, A few Pentexes and Ricohs film type. So far nothing like what I've seen on this web site. Is it my age?

mgoodm3

Tripod or copystand: very useful. Good macro features on camera: a must. Experimentation with lighting and taking a lot of pics: priceless.

Heywood

If you don't have a stand/ tripod (Even if you do) you might want to use the timer funtion so you don't jar the camera while pressing the shutter button.

Take high resolution photo and crop.

MrSpud

My photos are strictly amateurish compared to most on this forum, but I have followed some advice I picked up here and there and can take acceptable photos. This pic was taken with an inexpensive Kodak Easy share digital camera set on the automatic closeup setting (a little symbol of a flower) with a 10X lense attached to the camera. I didn't use a copy stand, rather I used a small lampshade sitting on the floor with the camera resting on the top hole and the coin on a couple of stacked up CD cases on the floor underneath the lampshade. I had a side light of 1 reveal lightbulb about 2 feet away from the lampshade. The secret was to stack up enough CD cases to make the coin be in perfect focus in relationship to the camera sitting on top of the lampshade.

MajorDuty

As 'mgoodm3' stated in part, a macro lens and or a camera with macro features is what allows you to take close-up pictures of objects. A macro lens with a reproduction ration of 1/1 will put the image full size on the film negative. Most general use lenses don't really get down to a reproduction ration below 1/4. Lighting and stands and other techniques are secondary, imo, you need macro capability first.

MajorDuty

Oops. I meant RATIO** :-/

CarlWohlforth

It sounds like you have tons of cameras! I would imagine one of them must have a macro feature. My Nikon 4500 can do well.

A tri-pod or copy stand is an absolute must.

Lights need to be easily positioned so you can experiment. The coin needs to be lit but the reflection is a problem. Some people have success with diffusers, even a simple piece of tracing paper between the light and coin can do the trick.

No it isn't your age

mgoodm3

1:1 on most digital cameras is even more magnification because the CCD's on them are generally smaller than 35mm film.

tlhoy

If you don't have a tripod, you can place the camera on a desk/table and prop a coin up against something to photograph it.

19Lyds

While you're on the subject, what tool is best used for managing your images once the photo's are taken. I have an image editor but it only crops in rectangular selections. I would like something that would allow my to do circular selections.

mgoodm3

photshop elements works well.

RYK

mgoodm3 has given away all the secrets. I have almost zero real photography experience, but using these tips, and practicing and experimenting a great deal, have taken me to the point where my pics are almost decent. Here is my latest photo (of a coin that I have had for a while):

carl

I would like to thank everyone for the helpful hints on the photo taking. I have numerous tripods but usually to lazy to set one up. I do have macro on most cameras and several close up lenses. I think my problem is in the lighting or just patience. I'll keep on reading, taking tips and trying. Again, thanks.
As to croping the photos there used to be a company called Seattle Filmworks that sold a program for about $15 that is a snap to use and could cut in circles, squares or whatever. I've been using it for about 15 years.

RYK

As to croping the photos there used to be a company called Seattle Filmworks that sold a program for about $15 that is a snap to use and could cut in circles, squares or whatever. I've been using it for about 15 years.

I use Photoshop Elements and unless I am doing it wrong (which is quite possible, if not likely), I find the cropping feature to be inordinately cumbersome and time-consuming.

carl

I've got photoshop also and have no patience to learn a complicated thing like that. My son can do anything with it you c ould imagine. I use the simple photoworks and darkroom programs that cost about $15 and they are so simple even old people like me can use them.

Sequitur

rather I used a small lampshade sitting on the floor with the camera resting on the top hole and the coin on a couple of stacked up CD cases on the floor underneath the lampshade. I had a side light of 1 reveal lightbulb about 2 feet away from the lampshade.

Actually, this sounds like a pretty good idea. Bombard the lampshade with light from all around to get good diffused lighting. I may try this.

dwssws

your fuji s7000 has two levels of macro on left side of camera right behind the lens there is a picture of a flower push twice and you are in super macro mode and could put camera right up to coin and take photo. problem is pic will be about 475kb and will need to be cropped to upload to here.