My new camera & macro lens!

Meltdown

I recently purchased a Cannon Rebel XTi from a friend here on the boards. It came with a copy stand, remote trigger
and a few other gadgets, but no macro lens. Another friend of mine recently gave me a great deal on a macro
lens and I just got it set up. I have hardly experience with lighting, settings or camera's in general aside from
what I've picked up here on the boards and what I've figured out with my old point & shoot.

It's pretty clear that I have a lot of learning to do yet with settings, lighting and whutnot.
But... the resolution is way better than I'm used to and I'm pretty happy with my results so far...




I still need to work on getting closer to the subject and situating my lights so they don't get in my way...



Shooting slabs are definitly more challenging with the glare from the plastic. I can get closer to this coin but when I was moving lighting around on this Walker and was so happy to get the natural look of this one that I forgot to adjust my height...



Here's a little piece of copper...

commoncents05

Very nice. I also use a Canon Digital Rebel XTi.

-Paul

AnkurJ

Nice starting pics! You should pick up Mark Goodmans book. It was a great help to me.
Also download canon eos utility to allow you to shoot remotely through your computer.

Casman

Hey, great job! I have the same camera and canon 100mm USM macro, but apparently I'm the problem...

rgCoinGuy

Judging by the different shades of background color, you may want to get your lights situated and then set the white balance. I am not sure how to do it on your camera, but it will make a difference. The pics looks good for just starting to figure out your new camera.

Meltdown

Thanks. I will be buying Goodman's book this week, I just wanted to mess around with it for now.
I've been meaning to get a decent camera and stand setup for a couple years now and it's finally all come together.

I'm struggling currently with how to get closer to the coin... like fill up the entire viewfinder with a dime.
My macro lens is 80mm and I'm certain it will get closer, I just haven't figured it out yet.
It seems the minimum distance I can get to the subject is about 6" before it will not focus. And that still will not
fill up the screen with a tiny coin.

Meltdown

<< <i>Judging by the different shades of background color, you may want to get your lights situated and then set the white balance. I am not sure how to do it on your camera, but it will make a difference. The pics looks good for just starting to figure out your new camera. >>




Good reminder. I did set it up initially, but then powered off the camera in between uploading different shots.

blu62vette

Is the lens a 1:1 lens?

Meltdown

<< <i>Is the lens a 1:1 lens? >>



Here it is. I think it's a 1:35 - but I don't know WTH that means.

blu62vette

It is a 1:2, I have an old Nikon that is 1:2 and it does not give full reproduction. It will still work fine but may be hard to fill full frame. You should achieve macro with the lens zoomed out to 80.

Meltdown

I'll keep tinkering with it, thanks for the imput.

photog

No no - not a 1:35 - you're misreading that information. The lens has a 3.5-5.6 maximum aperture - so depending on what zoom range you are at the fastest aperture available on that lens is 3.5. You can be at 28mm and 3.5, or you can be at 80mm and 5.6 but no faster. The smaller the number, the larger your aperture. The bigger your number, the smaller your aperture - it's a little counter intuitive on paper.

Bochiman

Brian,

Good start. Lighting will be your nemesis and your friend.
Looks like you are using 1 light right now? To the upper right (2-3 o'clock) position?
Easier to do with raw, obviously, and easier with business strike vs proof a lot of times.

It is NICE to see you not doing the sunlight tilt anymore

Meltdown

<< <i>Brian,

Good start. Lighting will be your nemesis and your friend.
Looks like you are using 1 light right now? To the upper right (2-3 o'clock) position?
Easier to do with raw, obviously, and easier with business strike vs proof a lot of times.

It is NICE to see you not doing the sunlight tilt anymore >>



Haha, thanks Ron! I thought some of those sunlight pictures turned out ok...

I do have two ott lights, but different styles. One is more focused and directional, the other is more of a flood.
I'm excited to keep playing with it... even with the point & shoot it was clearly a part of the hobby that I was going
to get a lot of education and enjoyment from.

Swampboy

Great first efforts!

Now you can begin to do your collection justice Brian.

SeattleSlammer

Nice lookin' Walker....you captured the color and the luster.

Meltdown

Thanks guys... here's the last image I shot before I had to get myself to work.

SoCalBigMark

Wow, you have come a long way in a short time in all things numismatic.

JapanJohn

When shooting the slabs you can play with your flash compensation, the angle of the flash (or lighting) and soften the flash by placing a piece of paper just in front of the flash. Low tech, but it works.

Great shots.

John

GoJimGo

Nice work. I'm horrible at taking pics although a really nice camera like yours might help.

MikeInFL

Looking good!