Post a picture of your coin photography setup

InternetJunky

Seems a lot of threads have been popping up regarding coin photography - and quite honestly I never would have guessed how complex the set ups really are until I saw Walkernuts thread with a picture of his setup. I thought it'd be interesting to see what all the other photo gurus have regarding a setup - so post 'em if you got 'em.

Here is mine (Canon MP160 Printer/Scanner)



Compliments of Google (for obvious reasons)

rjsvt

iPhone with custom zoom lens...

Broadstruck

I just in the last few weeks decided that instead of buying another coin I'd move up into a DSLR set-up.

Here's some of the newp's that just finally all wandered in this week that I'll be playing with.

Nikon D200
Kaiser RS-2 Copy stand w/ RA-1 Camera Arm
Nikon 55mm f/2.8 AI-S Micro
Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AI-S Micro
Nikon 105mm f/4.0 AI-S Micro
PN-11 52.5mm Ext. Tube
PK-13 27.5mm Ext. Tube
MC-30 Cable Release

I purchased both Nikon 105mm macro lenses as although I've own the f/2.8 twice before while shooting film, I've heard that the f/4 is quite sharp and wanted to test them both.

lkeigwin

Only a little better organized than shown.
Lance.

mgoodm3

I have a new table that it all sits on now. There are lots more lenses and things hidden in the closet on the left of the picture. It never looks that clean in real life.

Raybo

I like your copy stand BS!

lcoopie

I noticed Mark and Lance both have
white backgrounds
that they place the coin on,
is that right?

paper?

mgoodm3

piece of paper.

lcoopie

thanks Mark

Coiny

Here's an oldie but goodie... no longer being made. Thought you may like seeing a piece of history!
If you are good at manual camera settings... ( which I am not) this may be a great treasure!

As an aside...
I am not really using it so if anyone is interested... I may consider selling it. If interested, PM me and lets discuss.
(that is if I can figure out how to ship it) It is made extremely well where all the screws are engineered
to fit each part exactly and the metal frame is heavy duty. Not like the stuff made today!
It is probably more than 50 years old and will probably
last another 100-200 years! Hey... maybe I should see if the Smithsonian is interested???

drwstr123

Nikon D200, Sigma 90mm Macro, Kaiser stand, Ott lights.

Raybo

Coiny,

That looks like a light box on steroids.

coinkid855

Mine's homemade. It takes awesome pictures, but it's not as user friendly. I have to screw the camera/lens on, for instance. I added an extra two rubber bands on the left and right side of the metal bar/pole (the ones going higher in the picture) this morning and it is now much more stable in the lateral direction. I just posted another thread with a few photos I took this morning.







-Paul

RWB

Coin photography, especially through plastic slabs, and be difficult. Here’s my home coin photography set up.

The coin goes in one of the holes at lower center. The people in hard hats are there to adjust the lighting.








[Copyright CERN 2010. Photo by Michael Hoch]

coinkid855

<< <i>Coin photography, especially through plastic slabs, and be difficult. Here’s my home coin photography set up.

The coin goes in one of the holes at lower center. The people in hard hats are there to adjust the lighting.








[Copyright CERN 2010. Photo by Michael Hoch] >>



And here's the result when you use two different types of lighting with your setup:






-Paul

RWB

Pulsars make really great pin-point light sources!

Broadstruck

<< <i>I like your copy stand BS! >>



Thanks... It's a Beast, but if I was going to buy one I didn't want a Toy.

IGWT

I've posted this before, but not too recently. I bought an old drill press for $2.50 at a yard sale, salvaged the motor, and built a camera mount for the cast iron stand. The mount is adjustable on the tube, and the upper table is also adjustable. The camera mounts into the stand with a sliding dovetail. You'll see the "tail" attached to the bottom of the camera (using a machine screw just as you would attach the camera to a tripod). The mass of the cast iron stand and thick guage steel tube keeps the camera very still. Here's a picture of the setup.



Here's a photo with the camera mounted in the stand. I generally use a couple of cheap halogen lamps for lighting (not shown where placed for shooting). Here's a photo of the camera in the stand:



It's cheap, but it works.

messydesk

Kaiser looks to be the copy stand of choice. That's the same one I have, and at the moment my setup looks almost exactly like Broadstruck's.

mgoodm3

Not all stands are Kaiser.

I have a Kaiser RS2 (smaller and more portable) and a Bencher Copymate II stand (very big and heavy)

19Lyds

..

pakasmom

I'm super impressed with IGWT's homemade set-up...

Broadstruck

This Screams Longacre... 24KT Gold and Alligator Leather

blu62vette

<< <i>Not all stands are Kaiser.

I have a Kaiser RS2 (smaller and more portable) and a Bencher Copymate II stand (very big and heavy) >>



I agree, i have had a couple and now have 2 of the benchers.....

lkeigwin

IGWT, that is a very cool set-up! I'm impressed.
Lance.

mrearlygold

Justacommeman

Here is my coin photography set up. MJ

Step one- The tools


Step two-


Step three- the drive to the Post Office


Step four- I take the coins here and send them to Mark Goodman. This step is like me clicking the shutter. ( not really my post office)

InternetJunky

Wow! Some interesting setups here. It's amazing what you guys can come up with.

Broadstruck - That 24kt camera would also work for RYK - just rub a little dirt on it

etexmike

Oh wow! I have the same photography setup as Justacommeman.

Steps 3 and 4 look a little different but steps 1 and 2 are dead on.

It has been working great for years now and I don't see any need to make any changes.


Mike