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What is the best way to post a coin photo?

friendfriend Posts: 213
in U.S. Coin Forum
What is the best way to post a coin photo so it will look most accurate of the coin? Do I need to use a camera or is there a computer prgram that will do the job? I have been scanning into PSP7, but it just does not portray the coin to its exact look. Thank you

Comments

  • MrSpudMrSpud Posts: 4,499 ✭✭✭
    A camera with a white balance and good Macro lens.
  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭
    a scanner won`t show a coin as nice as a decent camera. i was in the market for a new cam and someone here suggested a nikon coolpix L3. i got the camera from beachcamera.com

    beachcamera.com

    its a low price cam that does a good job. there are many more better cameras out there for more money.


    the nikon coolpix L3 gives you pictures like this:

    image


    hope this helps
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    Nice pic! Do you have a shot of your set up??

    Coin's for sale/trade.


    Tom Pilitowski
    US Rare Coin Investments
    800-624-1870

  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭
    i`ll take a pic of it and post later. when you see it you won`t believe how simple my setup is. image
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • Bryan1315Bryan1315 Posts: 579
    I bought a JVC GC-QX3HD for about 40 bucks on ebay and I dont use any macro lense or special lighting, I just use the macro button on the camera and a computer lamp and this is the kind of pictures it takes. I admit its not like a expensive camera with a 10x macro lense but its alot better than a scanner because the scanner doesn't show any luster at all on a coin. It looks alot better when its not shrunk to fit on this website also image
    image
  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭


    << <i>i`ll take a pic of it and post later. when you see it you won`t believe how simple my setup is. image >>



    Thanks! Looking forward to it. We're struggling with pics of gold coins.

    Coin's for sale/trade.


    Tom Pilitowski
    US Rare Coin Investments
    800-624-1870

  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭
    first thing i want to say... i am an amatuer at photography. i learn alot on this board everyday... about coins and how to take pictures of them.

    i`d like to thank everybody that has helped me when i asked questions. now my setup:


    i made my own copystand. it consists of a bottom plate made of brass about 4 by 6 inches. the upright piece is a copper bar drilled to bolt to the bottom plate and another hole drilled to place another bolt that holds the camera. i work in an electroplating shop so i have these items at my disposal. i nickel plated everything so that the brass and copper would not oxidize. next is a velour drawstring bag the same size as the bottom plate. the bolt that holds the camera is called a 1/4-20 and i`m sure they are availible at home depot or lowes. when the camera is placed on the copystand it is held about 4-5 inches away from the coin. i use the macro setting on the camera and the white balance set to incandescent. i use the zoom so the coin just fills the screen on the back of the camera. i simply use a table lamp with a 60 watt incandescent bulb. i can hold the copystand with 1 hand and snap the photo with the other. i move and tip the copystand slightly to get the perfect shot instead of moving lights around to get the photo i like. i have the copystand about 1 foot below the lightbulb when i take photos. now the pics.




    image

    image

    image

    image

    let me know what you think of my setup???
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • friendfriend Posts: 213
    This is all new to me, see I am not a camera person. So what I would need is somewhat of a short step x step tutorial.
    What is the simplest camera that will still give me a VG photo, and do I need to develop film? I told you I was new at all this, please do not get fruastrated with me. I am looking to turn my coin collecting into a business and I need to get started somewhere, but I don't want to overwhelm myself right from the start. Thanks for the help.
  • xphobexphobe Posts: 605
    Mark Goodman has posted some outstanding articles on photographing coins here.

    Bryan1315: I can see your finger on the Franklin proof. Remember that guy on eBay who took pictures of his shiny teapot while nekkid? imageimage Let's just say the convex teapot made small things appear even smaller ...

    friend: any digital camera 3M pixel or greater, with a macro setting (flower icon) and a White Balance adjustment should do fine. I wouldn't ever mess with chemical cameras again - too much trouble.
  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What brand is the bolt? image

    Seriously, that is amazing if that is the setup you used for the gold buffalo.

    Does that camera have a video card or USB port or both?

    Ya got ME innerested in one.

    image

    I meant whatever card for pictures. Not necessarily VIDEO. But does it also take video movies?
  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭
    no film, most cameras these days are digital. snap a photo and plug the camera into your pc. very simple to do. if you can use a pc you can use a digital camera. instead of film the cam uses a memory card. i use a "cardreader" that plugs in the USB port on the pc. you could buy this same camera and a copystand for less than $200. if you need more help just ask.
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How is the viewscreen in the sun? I am using an ancient Mavica and it is nearly impossible to take a picture outside in the sun and still see it on the viewfinder.

    Thx
  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭


    << <i>What brand is the bolt? image

    Seriously, that is amazing if that is the setup you used for the gold buffalo.

    Does that camera have a video card or USB port or both?

    Ya got ME innerested in one.

    image

    I meant whatever card for pictures. Not necessarily VIDEO. But does it also take video movies? >>



    yes, the cam does video also. i bought a 512MB card and a cardreader for convenience.

    yes this is the setup i used to photograph the gold buff. works on silver and platinum too image

    image

    sorry about the size of the pics... like i said above i`m still an amatuer at this
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭


    << <i>How is the viewscreen in the sun? I am using an ancient Mavica and it is nearly impossible to take a picture outside in the sun and still see it on the viewfinder.

    Thx >>




    viewscreen works fine in the sun.
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • JcarneyJcarney Posts: 3,154 ✭


    << <i>and someone here suggested a nikon coolpix L3. >>



    That may have been me. I posted when I got my L3 and I really like the quality of the pics, but the camera is now broken. The lens became stuck in the open position, the screen flashed "lens error" and that was that. It's now on its way back to Nikon to be repaired or replaced. image
    “When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” — Benjamin Franklin


    My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭
    hope they fix/replace it for you. it takes excellent pics for the price
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.
  • Bryan1315Bryan1315 Posts: 579


    << <i>Bryan1315: I can see your finger on the Franklin proof. Remember that guy on eBay who took pictures of his shiny teapot while nekkid? imageimage Let's just say the convex teapot made small things appear even smaller ...

    Yeah really need me a stand, I still do it the old fashioned way where I actually hold the camera image
    image
  • AlixTCatAlixTCat Posts: 1,276


    << <i>I bought a JVC GC-QX3HD for about 40 bucks on ebay and I dont use any macro lense or special lighting, I just use the macro button on the camera and a computer lamp and this is the kind of pictures it takes. I admit its not like a expensive camera with a 10x macro lense but its alot better than a scanner because the scanner doesn't show any luster at all on a coin. It looks alot better when its not shrunk to fit on this website also image >>



    I masked off and spray painted my camera flat black. Makes for much better images of proofs.

    Jonathan
    I have been a collector for over mumbly-five years. I learn something new every day.
  • coinman420coinman420 Posts: 4,666 ✭
    hmmm...good idea image
    my ebay items BST transactions/swaps/giveaways with: Tiny, raycyca,mrpaseo, Dollar2007,Whatafind, Boom, packers88, DBSTrader2, 19Lyds, Mar327, pontiacinf, ElmerFusterpuck.

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