Is there a scanner made that will create perfect images of encapsulated coins?

apollo14

Hi Gang:

I am interested in having the ability to create extremely accurate images of my encapsulated coins. I do not have a camera or lighting, and the coins are out of focus when I try to scan them (given their raised distance from the glass).

It would be great if there was a scanner made specifically to drop slabs into that the novice could then press one button and have a nice jpg!

Thoughts!

KeyLargoRareCoins

There is not a scanner that will do that
Nikon d90 with a sigma 150 is a good way to go and used pretty often with the coin photo guys

blu62vette

It is a nice thought, but the answer is no.

LindeDad

Actually there probably is and it will probably cost what about five or six of MS64 Saints cost.
Want to order one or two contact Heritage or Great Collections to see what their systems are?

KollectorKing

My Epson 4870 does a pretty good job on circulated coins:








but on MS coins, well that's another story:



not bad for a $40 investment (on the scanner, not the coins).

apollo14

.... your Epson images are very nice!

How is it that the coins are not out of focus from being held away from the scanner glass within their plastic holders?

KollectorKing

It's a high end scanner; like almost everything a consumer buys, the higher end the product the better the results, whether it's a scanner, camera, car, suit, etc.

Brand new the 4870 was priced at >$500.


just my 2 cents worth.

AUandAG

That Epson scanner loses the luster on the coins. My NX430 does the same.

To the OP: get a camera.

bob

pruebas

No scanner captures luster.

If you are going to buy a camera, don't cheap out on the lens. The lens is the most important item for good photos, not the body. Off brand lenses are cheap for a reason.

lcoopie

no

rec78

No -scanners were not made for photographic images. They were produced for and printed documents but have evolved into a somewhat acceptable practice for pictures of flat items. The do not carry detail well and distort easily and a lot of times are out of focus. Best to get a good camera.

Bob

mozin

I agree the camera gives much truer images of coins, but the scanner is ever so easier to use. To show a coin's details, a scanner is just fine. If you want to show the pretty coins, go for the camera, but you had better be prepared to learn how to use that camera for coin pictures.

stealer

With $600, you are 3/4 of the way to a half decent camera and lens combo. Of course, a scanner does a multitude of other things that a camera cannot.

KollectorKing

<< <i>I agree the camera gives much truer images of coins, but the scanner is ever so easier to use. To show a coin's details, a scanner is just fine. If you want to show the pretty coins, go for the camera, but you had better be prepared to learn how to use that camera for coin pictures. >>

koynekwest

I've used an old Microtek 5600 for several years with good results. They show up occasionally on ebay for $20-$30 plus shipping.

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>To the OP: get a camera. >>


+1
the scanners are like the digital microscopes for numismatics. they get you just close enough to give you a taste of what they can't do.
.

magikbilly

Good Flatbed scanners that are used as slide scanner often have the focus point above the glass.

Eric

HighDesert

I use a Canon 9000F Mark II Color Image Scanner. $160 at Amazon. 2400 dpi works great but will go to 9600dpi if needed. No brainer dump slabs on glass, hit button, crop and store images. Has plenty of enhancers/filters if you want to get into it a bit more.