Fun with Diopters (boring coins, cool pics ;) ) NOTE BIG IMAGES

lsica

As promised , some coin pics with my macro add-on lenses

All pics are
Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ35 12 MP Digital with the LA-3 lens adapter
Lighting: Overhead room lights (didnt want to spend a lot of time setting up shots, just demonstrating magnification)
B&H copy stand (needed for some of the LOOOONG exposure times neccessary)
Aperture:F8 (as tight as it will go to get the best depth of field possible with these close up shots)
White Balance: Automatic
ISO: 80 (for best quality possible)
Focal Length (before add on lenses are calculated in): 86 mm/486mm 35m equiv/18x (Full zoom of camera)
All pics were taken at the closest distance the lens combination would allow with the camera at its longest focal length
All pics have been resized down to 33% of original
All pics were shot using the delay timer to avoid camera shake during the long exposures
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Picture 1:
Add on lens: Panasonic DMW-LC55 (+2 Diopters)
Shooting distance: 32 cm
Shutter speed: 1.3 seconds
Notes: Nice shot for a full coin pic, but note the long exposure time needed even for this pic with the overhead lighting (but the generous space between subject and camera would allow for lots of room for extra lights), and the tightness of the depth of field even at this distance (I calculate around 0.8mm, the background is out of focus)



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Picture 2:
Add on lens: Raynox DCR-150 (+5 Diopters)
Shooting distance: 17 cm
Shutter speed: 1.3 seconds
Notes: Nice super close up, same issues with exposure time to consider though. Somewhat less room for lighting, and an even tighter depth of field (around 1/2 a mm)



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Picture 3:
Add on lens: Both the Raynox DCR-150 and the Panasonic DMW-LC55 (+7 Diopters total)
Shooting distance: 12 cm
Shutter speed: 4 seconds
Notes: Fun to get SO close, and would be great for showing die markers and minor varieties, but the issues with exposure times (FOUR FULL seconds!), very limited room to get lighting in on the coin (less than 5"), and SUPER tight depth of field (around 1/4 mm) can make this a tough shot



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Thanks for looking. Hope some of you found this fun and/or informational.

(edit - fixed the name of the Panasonic lens in case anyone wants to look it up)

ambro51

very good photos and very good information as to what can be done with add on lenses...rather than hugely expensive large macro lenses.

also...shows that simple lighting (as I preach often) can give spectacular images.

lsica

People seem to really like the Raynox lenses quality, price, and how they can even attach to cameras that dont normally take add on lenses. They also have an 8 diopter lens (DCR-250) that Im thinking about.

ricko

Amazing... those are super pictures... Cheers, RickO

blu62vette

Nice pics.

My only comment would be to change the lights. All the yellow/blue/green pixels would drive me nuts when looking at it closeup.

lsica

<< <i>Nice pics.

My only comment would be to change the lights. All the yellow/blue/green pixels would drive me nuts when looking at it closeup. >>



Just used the over head room lights (old style incandescents). What sort of lights would eliminate the yellow/blue/green pixels on the image (especially if it zoomed at full zoom)?

blu62vette

Not really sure, I am surprised you are getting that with the lights you are using. That happens more with LED lights.

mgoodm3

The odd colored pixels probably reflect color noise. What ISO setting on the camera? You may need to use an even longer exposure (at a lower ISO) to get rid of it.

I just noticed that you say the ISO is set low already. May be tough to get rid of then.

lsica

Ok this has me nuts. I doubt it's noise at only ISO 80. And where's the noise in the background then? I also thought it might be an effect of re-Jpeging during the cropping/resizing, but the original has it too. Only thing I can think of is that there's a colorful couch right behind where I took the pic, and like I said the lighting was from the overhead hanging recessed lights in the room. Possible reflections? Or maybe possible prisms effects in the add on lenses?

lsica

Ok here's some new ones. Looks like lighting makes a big difference. I'm suspecting it actually did have something to do with reflections on the coin. Tho the much shorter shutter times may have somehow helped too...

Same camera, same copy stand, same F-stop, same automatic white balance, same ISO, same focal length, same distances, same crop.
Lighting is now 2 white cfl's
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Picture 1a:
Shutter speed 1/125 second


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Picture 2a:
Shutter speed 1/100 second


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Picture 3a:
Shutter speed 1/25 second

SpectrumLuster

Reminds me of looking at a photo of a cosmic field. The imperfections go as far as you're willing to focus.

lsica

Actually a coin with a lot of imperfections like a regular circulation nickel was perfect to demo something like this. Lots of "things" to look at in the pic.