What copy stand and lights do you like?

Zoins

I have a dSLR and I'm looking to get more into coin photography. I have a pretty good idea on what macro lens to get but wanted to know what people liked in the way of a copy stand and lights.

morgansforever

Still using a tripod and a platform, works for me.

Desert Moon

I have a Kaiser (RS1) I got used off ebay for about 1/4 price. It did not come with the light fixtures, so I paid up for two of them. Very solid, precision adjustment for the camera and for the lights, works very well. I have 4 light sockets on the 2 light fixtures, so lots of flexibility for lighting.

Best, SH

CoinZip

We use a Dino-Lite photo box and just set our phone/camera on top.

messydesk

Kaiser RS1 and a couple gooseneck lamps. Bencher is another brand you'll see people citing. Most important is that you have the full range of working distances you need. At shows I use a carbon fiber tripod with the mast reversed. Leveling is touchier, but it's much lighter and I can manage a few days at a show with nothing but carry-ons.

DollarAfterDollar

I made a copy stand out of clear plexiglass. Two layers about 12" apart, 4 dowels screwed in top/bottom. All holes pre-drilled. I drop the camera lense through a hole in the top then use a 10 second delay.

I use 3 Jansjo lamps from Ikea. They were $10 each.

Whole set up was $40. Camera was $350.

DollarAfterDollar

A little better than potato quality.

Broadstruck

Another happy Kaiser RS-1 user

It's pretty massive as the column is around 40" tall which is great for shooting large diameter medals.

If you'll need a stand to meet WAF (wife approval factor) a smaller RS-2 is also a great.

crazyhounddog

@CoinZip said:
We use a Dino-Lite photo box and just set our phone/camera on top.

you have an amazing photo booth like this and use your phone camera. I musta missed something here.

yosclimber

The camera in the Dino-Lite photo box is the Dino-Lite USB microscope.
It connects to a phone or computer which stores the image it takes.

Nashnuts

What set up do the fake cameo dealers use? I need to avoid those people

lkeigwin

Something like this (old pic).
Lance.

Numiven

Pretty cool. But how easy / hard is it to adjust camera settings in your setup?

I consantly experiment with manual focus and other camera parameters, for which I have kept the camera very easily accessible to me.

@lkeigwin said:
Something like this (old pic).
Lance.

lkeigwin

@Numiven said:
Pretty cool. But how easy / hard is it to adjust camera settings in your setup?

Very easy. I sit at a desk chair and pull up to a table. Controls on the camera are within reach. I am so familiar with them I don't need to stand to see or read anything.

A large monitor is tethered to the camera so no viewfinder is involved. Camera controls allow zooming in for focus adjustment with extreme accuracy...a single date digit on a half dollar fills the entire screen.
Lance.

crazyhounddog

Numiven

Cool. Great setup...

Yes, I do the same, a single letter/digit fills up the whole screen to fine tune the sharpness etc...

@lkeigwin said:

@Numiven said:
Pretty cool. But how easy / hard is it to adjust camera settings in your setup?

Very easy. I sit at a desk chair and pull up to a table. Controls on the camera are within reach. I am so familiar with them I don't need to stand to see or read anything.

A large monitor is tethered to the camera so no viewfinder is involved. Camera controls allow zooming in for focus adjustment with extreme accuracy...a single date digit on a half dollar fills the entire screen.
Lance.

blu62vette

I am in the Bencher camp but they are now out of business. Luckily I have a few spares.

lkeigwin

Here's a newer pic.
Lance.

astrorat

Bencher Copymate II

Analyst

@Yosclimber: The camera in the Dino-Lite photo box is the Dino-Lite USB microscope. It connects to a phone or computer which stores the image it takes.

Do participants in this thread have experience with the "Dino-Lite USB microscope"? I am curious as to the quality of images taken of coins?

kaz

I use a Testrite brand copy stand I bought used on ebay, with 2 goosenecks that attach to the camera post. The baseboard is 18% gray for setting white balance. I use cfl's like CHD but my photos are nowhere near as good as his! Nikon D40 body and old manual Nikon 105mm macro lens, I only shoot manual.

yosclimber

Here's a 2009 thread with many photos:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/727581/dino-lite-am311-any-good
2016 thread:
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/971541/dino-lite-am4115-zt-usb-microscope-question

There are several good inexpensive portable USB microscopes now with live viewing on your PC monitor.
I recently bought an Andonstar 2MP USB microscope with built-in LEDs on ebay for $40.

ironmanl63

@lkeigwin What do you use for diffuse material?

lkeigwin

@ironmanl63 said:
@lkeigwin What do you use for diffuse material?

Supposedly, it is professional photographic diffusion material. Stuff you can buy from a big camera store.

In truth it is white, ripstop nylon available much cheaper at marine supply stores.
Lance.

ironmanl63

@lkeigwin Thanks for the info.