So which lighting/background do you like best?

coinpictures

Playing around with lighting and backgrounds, still trying to find "the perfect setup". I pulled a coin from one of the bulk lots I recently bought (no idea where it's from, btw. I like the reverse) and photographed it with different setups. Interesting how the same coin can look so radically different.

Let me know which you think is the best, or if you have suggestions.

IMO:

1 and 2 are lifeless.
3 is nice but has some reflection issues. The most lustre of any of the shots.
4 is better than 3 as far as reflection, but a bit dark, and some of the lustre is lost.
5 is a bit washed out.
6 has the best color, but is a bit dark. I may try the same setup but with the lamp closer.
7 has the best detail of all of the shots. Not as lustrous as I'd like.

Overall I think 6 and 7 show the most potential with a bit of tweaking...

1. Black background. Single lamp out front of camera.
   
   
   
   
2. Black background. Single lamp to side of coin and camera.
   
   
   
   
3. Black background. Angled glass trick; glass at 45 degrees.
   
   
   
   
4. Black background. Angled glass trick; glass at 30 degrees.
   
   
   
   
5. Black background. Angled glass trick; glass at 45 degrees; lamp slightly above the horizontal plane.
   
   
   
   
6. White background. Angled glass trick; glass at 45 degrees.
   
   
   
   
7. Red background. Angled glass trick; glass at 45 degrees.
   
   
   

1960NYGiants

Red background, shows detail best, IMHO.

Greece 5 drachmai KM100, F 25c, VF 50c, XF $2

Gene

Compa

From my tries at photographing coins, which setup is best all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Are you trying to show off luster? Highlight the coin's wear? Show toning? Or prepare it for eBay and make the well worn coin look like a MS

A particular lighting setup can accent different aspects of a coin. What is great lighting for one is horrible for another. The lighting for a coin with mirror fields would have to be very different than that used for a toned copper coin. A cameo coin takes still a different setup. Also the color of the coin makes a difference ... gold, silver, copper - different backgrounds for each?

There isn't just a nice simple setup that works for each. I've given up on macro photography - birds with a 400mm lens are easier

obversity

I think I like #4 the best. What is the angled glass trick?

coinpictures

Linky

AuldFartte

I'd ask which pic looks most like the actual coin "in hand"? You'd probably do well to use the same method again for a similar coin. Lighting is tricky, and a lot of experimentation is necessary to capture lustre and color properly.