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Preview of future SSP: first coin photography attempts

shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
I'm getting a number of coins ready to my first eBay auction in a long time. Both the scanner and photo editing software I used to use no longer work now that I upgraded to Windows XP (yes, even downloading new drivers doesn't help).

Now I have to use my wife's Canon Powershot A520 and some really basic software that doesn't even let me stitch photos together.

Tell me what you think. My biggest problems so far are getting proper focus and lighthing. I haven't spent the effort to build a light box, so I just set the coins on my window sill and take the shots by hand.

Here are two of my favorite coins:

Victoria
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Bertie
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Obscurum per obscurius

Comments

  • 1jester1jester Posts: 8,637 ✭✭✭
    They're a bit out of focus, but they're KILLER coins!!!!

    imageimageimage
    .....GOD
    image

    "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9

    "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5

    "For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
  • rhound1977rhound1977 Posts: 2,504


    << <i>They're a bit out of focus, but they're KILLER coins!!!!

    imageimageimage >>



    image
  • spinaker2000spinaker2000 Posts: 4,329 ✭
    A tripod should fix most of your problems. Keep pluggin'!!image
    Terry

    eBay Store

    DPOTD Jan 2005, Meet the Darksiders
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭


    << <i>A tripod should fix most of your problems. Keep pluggin'!!image >>



    Maybe I can get a monopod long enough to reach up to the window ledge. Using natural light means I have a few hours each week on Saturdays and/or Sundays to photograph coins. image

    Unfortunately, I can't even tell if the photos are in focus until I upload them and see them on my PC monitor. It looks like I'm going to have to take lots of photos.
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • coinpicturescoinpictures Posts: 5,345 ✭✭✭
    I have very shaky hands, so I find a copy stand to be absolutely essential. I prefer the stand to a tripod for photographing coins.

    Mine looks a lot like this one. Mine's a lot older though, and from the looks of it, considerably more heavy duty. It weighs a ton. Check with local photographers and see if they have any second-hand ones available. You can see what this one costs new; I got mine from a local photographer for $50. Money well spent.
    Numismotography

    1/2 Cents

    U.S. Revenue Stamps

    image
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
    Here are the same coins shot under different lighting conditions and from about 3 inches farther away..

    image

    image

    While they capture the coin's colors better, the coins look spottier than they do in real life.
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • ajaanajaan Posts: 17,454 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Latest image is much, much better.

    DPOTD-3
    'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'

    CU #3245 B.N.A. #428


    Don
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
    image

    image

    They are sharper, but they look "colder".
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • ajaanajaan Posts: 17,454 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes.

    DPOTD-3
    'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'

    CU #3245 B.N.A. #428


    Don
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