I'm impressed with my new photobox

CoinZip · March 28, 2013 1:22AM

It allows me to turn off the LED lights on the microscope.....what are your thoughts?

BustHalfBrian · March 28, 2013 1:32AM

Let's see a couple more photos, possibly of a lustrous coin...

Don't feel comfortable providing my opinion based off that single photo

crazyhounddog · March 28, 2013 1:56AM

<< Let's see a couple more photos, possibly of a lustrous coin...

Don't feel comfortable providing my opinion based off that single photo >>

I agree. Lets see some more shots. It does look as though you might be on the right road. Did you set your white balance for your new box?

LanceNewmanOCC · March 28, 2013 2:11AM

.
circ copper is one of the easiest to image

the real test comes with toners, proofs, slabs and close-ups

not bad all in all though considering some of the images i've seen, this is pretty good

don't recall the exact cost of these but i think it seemed steep when i read the post talking about this given the cost of dslr with a macro lens but it is a matter of preference for sure

there are some that are substituting cameras with digiscopes, i personally don't recommend this
.

CoinZip · March 28, 2013 3:31AM

<< .don't recall the exact cost of these but i think it seemed steep when i read the post talking about this given the cost of dslr with a macro lens but it is a matter of preference for sure

>>

Just for the record the total retail cost of this set up is $627

Video of 1945 Walking Liberty Half Dollar

Here is one with no editing at all......just snap and upload

here is the same coin just switch from black to white background and did a quick 750 crop

and here is one taken of a coin in a slab

halfhunter · March 28, 2013 5:10AM

Are these taken with a 1.3mp Dinolite? Where does one purchase the light box?

HH

CoinZip · March 28, 2013 5:31AM

<< Are these taken with a 1.3mp Dinolite? Where does one purchase the light box?

HH >>

Yes they are taken with a 1.3mp AM411T Light Box

halfhunter · March 28, 2013 6:05AM

I was playing with the 411T . . . Think I didn't have the focus just right. May dig my Ott lights out & play with them later.

Would love to see how the light box works on toners . . .

I just suck at photography and I'm looking an acceptable alternative that will pass muster with at least most of the folks here on the boards ! ! !

Edited to add: the pic not edited at all.

HH

Constantine · March 28, 2013 6:59AM

Are you sharpening your images with a photo editor? They look soft from your set-up but could be enhanced a bit with post processing.

CoinZip · March 28, 2013 8:21AM

<< Are you sharpening your images with a photo editor? They look soft from your set-up but could be enhanced a bit with post processing.

>>

The only photo editing I do is crop, resize and rename. Once in a while I will have to adjust the contrast or white balance...

GRANDAM · March 29, 2013 1:22PM

CoinZip,

How does that LightBox work with slabbed coins? Is reflection a problem?

Can you post a link where I can get one?

Thanks, GrandAm

lkeigwin · March 29, 2013 11:33PM

Is it possible to shoot images in focus?
Lance.

CoinZip · March 30, 2013 12:14AM

<< Is it possible to shoot images in focus?
Lance. >>

With a PhotoBox? No, its not a camera.

lordmarcovan · May 21, 2013 9:44PM

TTT

I'd like to hear more about this, and see some more sample shots using a microscope and this lightbox thingie.

blu62vette · May 21, 2013 9:48PM

Stick with the DSLR advice from yesterday, this is a step back, even if you are selling them on the BST.

lordmarcovan · May 21, 2013 9:54PM

What about using this lightbox with a DSLR?

morgansforever · May 21, 2013 10:19PM

<<Just for the record the total retail cost of this set up is $627>>

This is just my opinion, but for $627 dollars I would buy a D3100 with a macro lens for the same amount of money or less.
B&H has the kit with a 18-55 (which is useless) for $446, add a macro lens and the cost is about the same. I suspect the 3100 with good macro glass, will produce excellent images.

tlbrown · May 21, 2013 10:49PM

<< Stick with the DSLR advice from yesterday, this is a step back, even if you are selling them on the BST. >>

You will never achieve the precise sharpness and optical quality as you will from a DSLR with a good (glass) macro lens. All the best.

messydesk · May 21, 2013 10:53PM

<< This is just my opinion, but for $627 dollars I would buy a D3100 with a macro lens for the same amount of money or less.
B&H has the kit with a 18-55 (which is useless) for $446, add a macro lens and the cost is about the same. I suspect the 3100 with good macro glass, will produce excellent images. >>

Yup, but I wouldn't buy the D3100, as it can't be tethered. D5100 body (last year's model) and a manual focus 105mm macro lens shouldn't cost more than $700.

The kit lens is nice for taking pictures of other stuff, which can come in handy for justifying the expense to someone who doesn't understand the need to take pictures of coins.

lordmarcovan · May 21, 2013 11:19PM

Tethering is a must for me when I do finally get a DSLR.

I just need a relatively compact setup that I can have next to the computer.

I got a nice copystand for free from a kind forum member but it's pretty huge.

This is the main reason a compact lightbox kind of thing caught my eye. I wasn't really shopping right now- just curious.

My wife took some spare jewelry to a jeweler a year or two ago and he had one that he used to take photos of rings. I thought it was neat, that's all. Very compact. And his pictures looked pretty good. And since I will be taking pictures of dug relics and not just coins, I wondered about that. Some of the items I will be photographing are more three-dimensional than coins, which are arguably 2-D if you don't count their edges.

lcoopie · May 21, 2013 11:32PM

since you asked,
I think I can do almost as well with my iPhone and a desk lamp

I'm impressed with my new photobox

Comments