Question about cameras.

chaze215 · June 2, 2011 12:24PM

I am looking for a decent camera for taking pics of coins, but also one that I can take on vacation etc.... Do you guys have 2 different cams depending on what your shooting or do you use your coin cam for point and shoot on vacation etc...? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

llafoe · June 2, 2011 12:28PM

I use a 1923 Leica 0-series camera

keyman64 · June 2, 2011 12:31PM

Nikon DSLR or Canon DSLR...pick one, learn it, shoot in manual with a 150mm Macro Lens...learn lighting from someone... and you will be just fine.

I use a Nikon D300...not that it matters. Whatever you learn on will be fine. Some people around these parts even do quite well with Point & Shoots in Macro Mode.

Check my signature line for the Photography of Sports/Celebrities/Nature that I do...besides little metal discs. Good Luck!

chaze215 · June 2, 2011 12:32PM

Sweet! Im currently using this one...lol Although I wish I did have this camera...it sold for 800K at auction!

keyman64 · June 2, 2011 12:33PM

<< I use a 1923 Leica 0-series camera

>>

Didn't that one just sell for some CRAZY SUM OF MONEY?....pretty sure I'm right...

AUandAG · June 2, 2011 12:35PM

Dang Larry, I thought you upgraded to the Brownie box! Changed your mind, 'eh?

To the op: I use two different cameras. The reason is simple, my wife hates coins mixed
up with the family pics. She hates separating at the Pharmacy where we get them developed.

I told her we could have two memory sticks but alas she said okay and then I forgot to change
them and got one heck of a chewing out.

Bought her her own damn camera! Pretty pink one!

I use a simple point and shoot Canon Power Shot with macro. It's okay but not like the pros.
But, then I have about $150 invested is all!
bob

chaze215 · June 2, 2011 12:47PM

Nice shots on your website keyman!

Kove · June 2, 2011 12:54PM

I have a Canon DSLR that I use for numismatic photography. My wife has a nice pink Canon point-and-shoot that we use for everyday photos.

keyman64 · June 2, 2011 1:00PM

<< Nice shots on your website keyman! >>

Thanks Chaz!

fcloud · June 2, 2011 1:00PM

I use my Nikon D40 with close up lenses for my coin images, and a Sony point and shoot through my microscope for the detail shot. I use both for vacations.

messydesk · June 2, 2011 1:05PM

I use a Nikon D80 with a 105mm macro lens for coins and other lenses for vacations. I also have a Canon Powershot SD1200 (pocket sized) I use when I don't want to haul my DSLR around and to shoot through a microscope. It is also capable of good full-coin pictures.

What to get depends on your budget and what you want to carry in different situations.

DieClash · June 2, 2011 1:08PM

@ Bob & Kurt - ROFLMAO. I paid $455 for a Canon Rebel Xsi body and another $400+ for a Sigma 105 mm Macro lens. I felt so guilty that I bought my wife a pretty PINK Canon point & shoot!

To the OP: I use the expenseive Canon for coin macros and local photography. I will not take such an expensive beast on long-distance vacation. The point&shoots are so much more advanced today than they were 5-10 years ago. If this is your first foray into macro coin photography go with a decent poin&shoot and expect to pay $100+ for something "decent".

If you really want to splurge then buy a post-entry-level Canon or Nikon DSLR. The body will last, but the lens makes all the difference. These cameras are designed to take any professional-level-like image from macro, to telescopic, to wide angle, etc. If you want to use it for all tasks then purchase a decent tripod for outdoor use.

Cheers!

Kirk

P.S. Mark Goodman's Numismatic Photography is an excellent primer on photography, cameras, lighting and macro photography of coins. I think it retails for $20-something and is a very good guide. I recommend it.

lcoopie · June 2, 2011 1:11PM

I assume you are looking for a modern camera.

One body with an all around lens for daily use, like a 18-200
And one macro lens for coin photography.

The lens is more important than the body.

I have a Nikon D90

The newer bodies are the Nikon D3100 lower end. D5100 better, D7000 better. And upwards

Take a look at kenrockwell.com for camera reviews.

Any of these cameras will be a big step up from point and shoots.

BoggledMind · June 2, 2011 1:31PM

Nikon D200 with a 60mm macro lens. No special attempt at this photo, just held the coin in my hand (in half of its plastic case), tilted it until I got a solid black surface, and took the photos with flash.

2006 Franklin Dollar

bestmr · June 2, 2011 1:56PM

Canon and Nikon both make great cameras. However, they handle very differently. Best advice is to go to your local camera store and play around with different bodies and see what you like and don't like. You'll find one you like. Choosing lenses can also be a PITA. Picking a macro lens should be easy. Almost all macros are great so it just comes down to what you can afford. Most DSLR's come in some sort of kit, usually a 18-55. It's not a bad lens but also not great either. However, it can help you know what ranges you need. My set up is a 17-40, 24-70, 70-200 and a couple of primes. I find this covers most things. As far as size, one you get used to it, you won't notice carrying it around.

lcoopie · June 2, 2011 11:27PM

that Leica sold for $1.9 MILLION

link

llafoe · June 2, 2011 11:35PM

<< that Leica sold for $1.9 MILLION

link >>

It was either this camera or the 1793 MS65/SP65 Chain Cent... Bruce really looked pathetic so I LET him win the Chain Cent and I bought this camera!

keyman64 · June 3, 2011 12:34AM

<< 

<< that Leica sold for $1.9 MILLION

link >>

It was either this camera or the 1793 MS65/SP65 Chain Cent... Bruce really looked pathetic so I LET him win the Chain Cent and I bought this camera!

>>

chaze215 · June 3, 2011 9:33AM

Thanks for all the info guys. Unfortunately, I dont think a DSLR is in the budget at this time.

lcoop: Ken Rockwell's site has a lot of good info. Thanks!

Raybo · June 3, 2011 9:49AM

<< Dang Larry, I thought you upgraded to the Brownie box! Changed your mind, 'eh?

To the op: I use two different cameras. The reason is simple, my wife hates coins mixed
up with the family pics. She hates separating at the Pharmacy where we get them developed.

I told her we could have two memory sticks but alas she said okay and then I forgot to change
them and got one heck of a chewing out.

Bought her her own damn camera! Pretty pink one!

I use a simple point and shoot Canon Power Shot with macro. It's okay but not like the pros.
But, then I have about $150 invested is all!
bob

>>

I agree!

Spend a couple 'o hundy on a nice P&S.

boucharda · June 3, 2011 9:27PM

Some great suggestions in the posts above. I use both a DSLR on a tripod for most pics but a steady hand and Image Stabilization works well for some quick shots. Both go on vacation with me...different situations need different cameras.

I have found that another big factor with getting a decent pic is lighting...correct placement and type.

This is a hand held shot with a Canon SD790is (point and shoot) but I have recently upgraded to a Canon S95 which is a fantastic P & S

AuAgPt · June 3, 2011 11:24PM

<< Do you guys have 2 different cams depending on what your shooting or do you use your coin cam for point and shoot on vacation etc...? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! >>

Sure do. For good pix, I use a Nikon D700 (full frame and low noise CMOS sensor). For vacations, I use a good PS a Canon S95 (larger CCD sensor).

--app

chaze215 · June 3, 2011 11:47PM

<< Some great suggestions in the posts above. I use both a DSLR on a tripod for most pics but a steady hand and Image Stabilization works well for some quick shots. Both go on vacation with me...different situations need different cameras.

I have found that another big factor with getting a decent pic is lighting...correct placement and type.

This is a hand held shot with a Canon SD790is (point and shoot) but I have recently upgraded to a Canon S95 which is a fantastic P & S

>>

The reviews of the Canon S95 are pretty impressive. Most of the cons about it are the location of the flash and battery life. Any problems with either? Have you taken any pics of coins with the S95?

boucharda · June 4, 2011 2:15AM

<< The reviews of the Canon S95 are pretty impressive. Most of the cons about it are the location of the flash and battery life. Any problems with either? Have you taken any pics of coins with the S95? >>

I love the camera and I will admit I never use a flash...well maybe for fill on a back lit shot but that's rare. If you know the flash is going to pop up then it is not an issue (it kinda pops up where you would normally have a finger).

I read the battery life comments and bought a spare for cheap.....I have never used the extra one but it is not a big deal to bring it with you.

I have not used it for coins yet but I'm sure I will soon.....(only had it for a tad over a month)

boucharda · June 4, 2011 2:33AM

Ok...you got me curious

Here are some quick down and dirty pics with the S95 taken hand held on my sun room table (notice the distracting reflections..the black refection is the camera)....not the normal way I would take the pic but shows a bit of what it can do...

lcoopie · June 4, 2011 2:44AM

I also have a Canon S95 for when I want to carry a compact camera vs a SLR

the flash is fine, the battery is small so I also carry a spare if I am going to take LOTS of pics

the main advantage of the S95 is that you can shoot in RAW mode, manual, aperture or speed priority, and it's very adjustable.

my SLR is much better quality wise.

chaze215 · June 5, 2011 12:54AM

<< I also have a Canon S95 for when I want to carry a compact camera vs a SLR

the flash is fine, the battery is small so I also carry a spare if I am going to take LOTS of pics

the main advantage of the S95 is that you can shoot in RAW mode, manual, aperture or speed priority, and it's very adjustable.

my SLR is much better quality wise. >>

What is the RAW mode? I have heard a lot about it.

AuAgPt · June 5, 2011 1:56AM

<< What is the RAW mode? I have a lot about it. >>

RAW mode does not compress the images. So you do not loose any detail, whereas say shooting in jpeg you will loose detail as the camera compresses the image to a smaller file size. So RAW images tend to me much larger of course, but you can then take an image processing application and modify them to your likings after you shoot (where you would not want to do this if you shot jpeg for instance). Very few point and shoot cameras let you shoot RAW. The Canon S95 is one point and shoot that does, though. It's a very good camera for the reasons Icoopie noted.

-app

mgoodm3 · June 5, 2011 2:17AM

RAW is like it sounds, the unprocessed image information from the detector. It is not much really an image at all and must go through processing/reconstruction to create a usable image. The nice part about RAW is that you can adjust it much better than a typical JPG or TIFF. Normally the camera has a set of standard adjustments to make when creating a JPG - you can adjust those in the camera's menus (like contrast, sharpness, color). RAW allows you to manually adjust all of those prior to the image being reconstructed. With great power come great responsibility.

photog · June 5, 2011 3:21PM

I have a camera and macro lens dedicated to coin photography - an older Nikon DSLR body with a nice Sigma 150mm 2.8 macro. The set up is almost never moved, changed, or fiddled with except minor on the fly tweaks. It would irritate me to no end to have it any other way - but as I'm both a full time numismatic photographer AND have a budding photography studio I may be in the minority here.

Also, I find with coin photography that the lens is really more important than the body. Sure, you should have something reliable with custom white balance settings available, MLU, and remote capabilities, but you can get a nice used body that meets the criteria pretty affordably. Good glass, however, is key for just about any type of photography - whether it be a nice Zeiss lens on a point and shoot or a super sharp, fast, prime.

For home/personal/studio/vacation use I have an older Nikon D300, a brand new Nikon D700 (full frame, baby!), and some prime Nikkor lenses, f2.8 and 1.4. I do have a cheap fisheye camera for fun, and an older point and shoot for those times you don't want to hand a gigantic camera to a stranger to take a quick snapshot. But I can't imagine going ANYWHERE without my gear!

Edited to replace an adverb.

lkeigwin · June 5, 2011 3:35PM

The camera is the least important element in the equation. Any decent D-SLR is 99% of what you need. The rest...the macro lens, the copy stand, the post-processing software, matters a lot more.
Lance.

lcoopie · June 5, 2011 8:31PM

<< The camera is the least important element in the equation. Any decent D-SLR is 99% of what you need. The rest...the macro lens, the copy stand, the post-processing software, matters a lot more.
Lance. >>

and the Lighting

boucharda · June 5, 2011 8:54PM

<< 

<< The camera is the least important element in the equation. Any decent D-SLR is 99% of what you need. The rest...the macro lens, the copy stand, the post-processing software, matters a lot more.
Lance. >>

and the Lighting >>

You beat me to that important comment

messydesk · June 5, 2011 11:14PM

<< 

<< The camera is the least important element in the equation. Any decent D-SLR is 99% of what you need. The rest...the macro lens, the copy stand, the post-processing software, matters a lot more.
Lance. >>

and the Lighting >>

and the skill that comes with practice.

KeyLargoRareCoins · June 6, 2011 6:24AM

I use my nikon d90 for both coins as well as family images. I use the same camera just different lenses for different things.

Here are some coin images for viewing.

boucharda · June 6, 2011 9:25PM

NICE!

Question about cameras.

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