My first try with OTT lights and a '54 Proof Set-Comments???

shmort6552

Hello all. I know that OTT lights vs others have been discussed here many times before but I just received my 2 new OTT lamps today. I've never tried them before. They seem to be very good, nice soft light and fairly compact. Here are some pics of a new '54 Proof set purchase.

Comments and critisisms are welcome. (please be gentle!!!)












Bruce

shylock

Bruce - I'll be gentle but helpfull

White balancing your camera, especially when shooting white incert slabs, is probably the single most
important step in macro imaging. Compare the tone of your "white" incert to this one:



If the incert doesn't look right in an image you know the coin is not right.

Are you shooting in manual mode,
and have you tried white balancing your camera against a pure white backdrop before shooting?
(I prefer black backdrops for PCGS and white for NGC, but either will set the camera's balance straight.)

Can't judge the new lights until you get the balance worked out.

ricko

Shylock has made excellent points... post your next ones.. Cheers, RickO

ModernCrapNut

Yes, the white balance is a little off. With Ott lights, also turn them on about 10 minutes before you start shooting. The color will change slightly when the warm up.

DieClash

<< <i>Shylock has made excellent points... post your next ones.. Cheers, RickO >>



This is why I love these boards! Lot's of numismatists with alot of diverse experience advising the community on a variety of "how to" subject matter! Keep up the good work.

shmort6552

I have tried and tried to get the W/B correct. Just look at the one pic of the Lincoln and how white the case looks. That was taken at the same time, with the same W/B setting.

I'll try again tomorrow and post the results.

Thanks so much for your help.

Bruce

ChrisRx

I revamped your frankie.

I bring you...

Frankie in the sky with diamonds



edited to add:

20 years later...

jonathanb

I think you'll be happer with a more-accurate white balance. Even for the Lincoln...

shylock

Bruce - I have tried and tried to get the W/B correct. Just look at the one pic of the Lincoln and how white the case looks. That was taken at the same time, with the same W/B setting.

I'll try again tomorrow and post the results.

Thanks so much for your help.

The camera learning curve can be frustrating at times, I can relate.
I'm no camera expert but PM me if you run out of ideas and I'll try to help.

It took me a year to get the hang of my camera, and it's a circa 2000 Nikon Coolpix ($950!!).
I'd post some of my early images here but I think I deleted them all.

It got to the point where I'd put it away for weeks at a time until the frustration wore off.
Early on I relied on the Auto settings, which were easy to understand, but never gave me the
results I was expecting.
Then I started playing around in Manual mode, and, combined with the right lights...

(another 6 months of frustration, I tried every light source & gimmic out there)

...I became comfortable enough to take images of some coins decently.

And that's about all you can ever hope for, taking decent coin images.
They never look as good as they do in person.