Wish me luck on the new photo setup - first pics posted!

Cameonut

Thanks to all those on this forum that have shared their knowledge and experience with the rest of us. I've saved a number of the photo threads and also purchased Mark Goodman's book on coin photography.

Anyway, it has taken me a a number of years to put together this setup. The main hangup was that I didn't have the time to devote to this once I got going. Now I have the time and am finally getting this up and running. In the meantime, I took a couple of classes at the local community college to learn how to use my digital cameras and lenses. Most of the photo work was outdoors with little macro content. So I now have a medium amount of photo knowledge and now want to spend the winter learning how to take decent macro photos of my coins. I have no plans to photograph coins for others - perhaps a few for friends.

The component acquisition started out a bit backwards - and by accident. About 4 years ago, I happened to drive by an estate sale here in Pinehurst. I have stopped at those from time to time, but was never addicted to them. It was a nice spring Saturday and I had the time to stop and look around. Once inside, it was evident that the owner had a career in the military and spent a significant amount of time in Japan. I also saw lots of posters and photographs on the walls. Lots of neat stuff, but nothing I had to have. I went into the garage last, this usually where I find old tools to scoop up. Not this time. There was a big Testrite copy stand on the tool bench - and the price was only $20! So I glommed onto that puppy and headed toward the checkout table. I had a $20 bill ready and the lady asked me - what the heck is that thing? So I told her - it's a copy stand. The look on her face was priceless as she surely thought I was speaking "northern". So I explained that the post holds a camera and the light bulbs illuminate the subject so you could take a good photo. Well, she kind of understood and was happy that she had a buyer. Even better, since it was Saturday afternoon and the last day of the sale, everything is half off. So I got my copy stand for a mere ten bucks. I left the price tag on the base - you can see it on the lower left of the photo. The writing is starting to fade, but I smile every time I see it.

I ended up getting a used/factory refurbished Nikon D90 on Ebay and found a used Sigma 150mm macro lens on Ebay as well. I used the camera for everyday photos for a while so I pretty much know its capabilities. The Sigma is a new world for me. I've taken a few macro photos with it, mostly of flowers and other nature subjects, but I have a lot to learn. I do like the ring on the Sigma that mounts on the copy stand instead of the camera. More stable and it is super easy to remove the lens/camera from the ring to use on other subjects.

The lighting on the copy stand is with EiKO 75 watt, 2900 degree K bulbs. I may mess around with these, but I bet they sure throw off some heat. So my last purchase was four of the IKEA Jansjo LED lights on goosenecks to experiment with (only one is shown in the photo). I suspect I will be removing all the original lighting hardware to get it out of the way.

So now all I need is the patience to learn how to photograph coins properly. Should be interesting.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

panther

Also adjustable lighting is nice.


tethering

ldhair

Great lens. You will love it.

BryceM

Cool story. Nice score on the copy stand. The camera looks great, the lens looks great, the platform looks great. I agree about using a tethered connection. The instant feedback & ability to see what happens with subtle changes in light placement is unequalled. I'm not sure about your light. Without reflectors or something closer to a focused, directed point source you might not get good contrast definition. Play around. See what happens. Enjoy the process.

Oh, and share some photos!

Cubby

Good luck ...looks

georgiacop50

When you use the Jansjo's you'll want to rubber band a coffee filter around them for diffusion.

blu62vette

You may want a light moved over to the 12:00 position.

morgansforever

Looking good Conrad Great thing about digital photography, if the image doesn't fit, delete it and shoot it again.
I would go with one at 12 o'clock, as Todd eluded to. A 150 will give you plenty of working space, now lets see some images, no excuses

ricko

Great set-up..... you will have a lot of fun with that.... Cheers, RickO

Cameonut

Thanks all,
I've been playing around with the setup - mostly trying to figure out the best positions for lights, etc. So thanks for the suggestions - I started at 10, 2, and 6 o'clock.

I have already learned (as was suggested here) that tethering is a must. I can get close with manual focusing, but the little screen on the camera just doesn't cut it. So I get some shots in focus, but most are a touch out of focus.

I also connected a remote shutter to the camera to keep it still. Seems to help. Once I find the wireless shutter in my camera bag, I'll use that instead.

Appreciate the suggestions on coffee filters on the Jansjos - will try that next.

Also, I have only set the camera on auto - macro mode. In that mode it does not allow me to adjust white balance. Will go into manual mode and figure out good settings. I know white balance is off. Suggestions welcomed here before I start rereading my materials.

I'm also learning that taking photos of cameos is tough!

Here are a couple of the first photos off the setup. I am working on a set of Swiss Shooting Thalers in NGC plastic. I like the series because it encompasses, coins, silver, gold, guns, and women. What's not to like about that series?

Here goes on the first few.

TopographicOceans

We sent men to the Moon with less equipment, but you got some great results

lasvegasteddy

wow
what a sweet score

probably one of the best investments in coins is ability to image them properly
surely you'll be an ace in no time
those 1st couple examples look amazing

i'd think cameos would be tough...but some toners present the real challenge

enjoy...probably keep a note book handy too while dialing everything in for future reference when swapping over to different coin types

congrats

UtahCoin

Can you imagine the learning curve if we were all still using film rather than digital cameras....

coinnut

Great set-up. I love the lights. I'm still using gooseneck lamps which are kind of a pain. Your pics are amazing.

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Bullsitter

Nice shots.......added WB.

Type2

Very nice some day i'll buy a nice set up like that. I like it

morgansforever

Nice sharp images Conrad, the WB is off a bit but it's a process. Try A mode, which is aperture priority, you select the F-stop, the camera selects the best shutter speed. This mode will allow you to adjust WB and many other features will be available. I tend to like F8/F9 with a shutter speed above 1/125. With a white Morgan the SS tends to be 1/160. Best of luck

Kyle

Like others have said, your wide balance is off, but it can be fixed in post processing.

Is this a more accurate representation?



Here's how I adjusted the colour.

- Lowered the Red and Yellow hues by 70%
- Increased the colour level by 25%
- Increased contrast by 8%

LotsoLuck

To bad we don't produce coins like that. Someday you will look back with fond mammaries of your humble beginnings as a coin photographer.

morbidsteve

Great setup and photos! Like others have said, your white balance is off. You can adjust this as described in post processing, and also before you take the shot.

Cameonut

MorgansForever,
Thanks for the "ballpark" settings. Been playing with Aperture mode mostly - so those are helpful.

Also am trying to find a preset setting for white balance - a few look OK but I may have to do a custom setting.

I'm trying not to change too many things at one time - or I'll get in a hopeless do loop.

Bullsitter - your image is close to the look in hand - certainly acceptable in my eye

Kyle - your processed image is right on the mark. That is what I'm trying to get to - hopefully with the camera settings only. I really prefer to avoid post processing (other than simple cropping, etc.) if I can, but recognize the flexibility it brings.

I may post more images tomorrow. But without a tether, I am getting a little frustrated on not being able to focus properly.

mgoodm3

D90 should have a WB setting called "preset". That one allows you to take a picture of something white or gray and get an automatic adjustment. You'll like the Sigma 150. It's a very good macro lens.

bolivarshagnasty

<< <i>To bad we don't produce coins like that. Someday you will look back with fond mammaries of your humble beginnings as a coin photographer. >>



Funny, I happen to be fond of mammaries too!

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kaz

The base of the copy stand may be 18% gray. mine is and I use it to preset the WB.

lostincoins

The stand does look to be 18% grey so you should be able to set your white balance off of that. The 150mm is a very sensitive lens and happens to be tthe one I use along with a 100mm. Nikon's Camera Control Pro 2 supports LiveView with the D90 on both Windows and Mac and allows for post processing. You can also use lightroom to get it done. You will find that a small amount of post processing is necessary to get the actual in hand look and whenever possible shoot in RAW mode as all the information is there for you to use. this is the link to the thread where I had many of the guys who are very good at imaging coins shoot the same exact coin and list the setup and settings, this would be some help to you also as your image seems a bit dark as the NGC holder is a bit brighter but you nailed those dark mirror fields. (Imaging link) Some of the people are using the same lens so check it out and ask questions if you want.