Finally did it!!! I bought a camera. 1st slab pic

08HALA20

Just received my Nikon P80 in the mail.

After playing for a while: loading the software, adding memory card, charging batteries, etc.

I took a picture.

Disclaimer: I am a raw newbie when it comes to taking pictures. This was taking by grabbing the closest slab and placing it on a cardboard box.
Held camera with my hands and moved away (about 18 in.) until the focus indicator was "green" and zoomed in and voila.
Transferred to PC, resized and cropped. 1000 x's better than any scan I have done and just as easy.

Thanks to everyone here that post on the photo threads, thus encouraging me to buy one.

I probably won't sleep for a month now.

Joe

seemyauction

Not a bad picture to start off with, you will learn little things that help, it just takes time and practice.


Congrats.......

morgandollar1878

Not to bad at all. Now you just have to start working on the lighting

BAYOUBENGAL

LOOKS GOOD, YOU ARE WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY AHEAD OF ME, BUT THAT DOES NOT SAY MUCH..AND IT LOOKS BETTER THAN ANYTHING IN A BOWERS CATALOGUE

messydesk

Congratulations on entering yet another fulfilling, fascinating, and frequently frustrating facet of this hobby.

08HALA20

<< <i>Congratulations on entering yet another fulfilling, fascinating, and frequently frustrating facet of this hobby. >>




Try saying that fast.

Thanks, I have a long way to go but it will be fun.

Joe

illini420

Congrats on the new camera and not a bad first try... much better than my first few attempts for sure.

I have the same camera. I recommend that you try putting the camera in macro mode (the mode with the little flower image). Then, move the camera at least around a foot or so away from the coin but then zooming just a little bit get the coin in the shot (the zoom bar will be green if you're still w/in the range of the camera in macro mode, when it turns white, you've zoomed too far).

Doing that should help you with the lighting as you can get more light to the coin w/o having the camera as physically close to the coin. Let the macro mode and zoom get you "closer" to the coin.

Beyond that, getting a small tripod or a copy stand to steady the camera and then using the self timer will help improve sharpness of the images if you're going for very close up shots.

Good luck and keep posting

DieClash

Joe!

08HALA20

Here is one trying the macro mode.
Again freehand (very unsteady) with no special lighting.

I am amazed at how much the camera compensates for my unsteady hands. I thought the pic would be really bad.

I need to read up on a tripod or copystand.

And then work on lights.

Thanks,