I finally got a copy stand. Whaddya think?
BryceM
Posts: 11,856 ✭✭✭✭✭
After a few months of wanting one, I finally splurged and got a copy stand. The improvement is incredible. I got Mark's book, set up a tethered connection, got some decent Halogen bulbs, got an 18% greycard to finally set the white balance correctly...... and whammo. I've got a long ways yet to go, but here are some of the early results with the simple kit lens the camera came with.
This is from a Canon EOS Rebel XSi and an EF-S 18-55mm lens. I have my eye on a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. Small coins are going to have to wait a bit.
Recommendations, critique, etc. are welcome. There are a few of my favorites from my Peace Collection:
This is from a Canon EOS Rebel XSi and an EF-S 18-55mm lens. I have my eye on a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM. Small coins are going to have to wait a bit.
Recommendations, critique, etc. are welcome. There are a few of my favorites from my Peace Collection:
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Comments
<< <i>looks good to me. >>
The master has spoken....
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Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
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+1
Scott
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
bob
I can can buy a photography book, get some equipment, throw it all together, shoot and crop some photos, slap them up on an Internet forum and have an unsolicited response back from the author of the book within 5 minutes. How freaking cool is that?
Oh, and if you call me chicken I'll do stuff. This slab needed a little TLC before trying to shoot it, but I can't find my bottle of PlastX anywhere. Grrrrr.
<< <i>Photos look real nice! >>
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<< <i>Very nice. What does the lighting setup look like? >>
For the moment it looks like this.
I'd be interested in how you:
<< <i>set up a tethered connection >>
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<< <i>Man the world has changed!
I can can buy a photography book, get some equipment, throw it all together, shoot and crop some photos, slap them up on an Internet forum and have an unsolicited response back from the author of the book within 5 minutes. How freaking cool is that? >>
that was gr8!
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i would like to thank you personally
i have the same copy stand and it NEVER occurred to me to have both lights on just one of the arms like that, wow, simple and so effective. right up my alley.
and i call myself creative, pfft
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I'm having tons of fun, but I think Lance is probaby right. Rather than shoot everything again (and again), I'll probably be better off waiting until I have the right lens before I get too carried away. It's just so nice to have good photos to enjoy while the coins languish in the SDB.
Oh, and I found the PlastX! Big Difference!
A little before & after:
When you add the 100mm Macro lens, we'll have nearly identical setups (I use a T1i). You can take amazing photos with this equipment, and there's lots of flexibility to get things just right. Lots of room to play with contrast, sharpness, saturation, metering, on and on.
There are a few of us on here with this same setup, so feel free to ask any specific questions about the equipment/EOS utility.
<< <i>What software are you using to crop photo? and what are you using to for the background behind coin "black"? >>
i know you didn't ask me but i use photoscape and it allows round cropping with background color selecting option
but you could just copy/paste a cropped image into paint with a black backround with the transparency option
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Where did you guys get it and how much is it?
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
<< <i>Will that particular copy stand work for a heavier camera, like a T2i and allow for levelling?
Where did you guys get it and how much is it? >>
in my opinion my d90 is a big body camera and with the sigma lens is quite heavy for a camera. it attaches so strongly on the camera mount along with the reverse side tightening mount the camera will never come off unless intended to do so.
the copy stand allows for the low setting like the camera in the image provided or you may turn that big black knob you can see behind the camera and it uses a notched track to go to the top. it turns rather quickly once you release the reverse side mount.
i think the only thing i don't like about it is that the stand is tilted at an angle when raising/lowering, although that probably comes in handy with bigger items since when you scroll up it goes away from the base.
you can buy it with or without the lighting accessories arm&housing and for the money is probably in the top 2-3 i've seen.
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<< <i>I have Photoshop Elements 5 and have never gotten comfortable with it. Is photoscape easier to use? I am getting ready to start selling on the internet. I sold on ebay 4 hrs back. I used a Nikon 990. I want to be able to take a good photo with good detail. The photo sales the coin in my opinion. Just trying to get good info before spending good money. Don't have the bank account for the high end products. >>
i can honestly say with photoscape, cropping images simply cannot be any easier and takes just a few seconds, depending on your screen size and coordination to crop quickly. it is freeware and has no watermarks for unregistered versions to my knowledge. but i do not use all the features, only cropping.
then i use paint.net strictly for rotation, angling (probably not the right word) and overlays which does a pretty good job imo. i'll show a couple shrunk-down versions of my overlays.
once i figure out this screen video capture software, i plan on uploading some tutorials for numismatic imaging accessories/software, quick tips etc. videos will be very short and to the point. i may even do a few on searching archives and other browser features/add-ons. but 1 thing at a time. also i will make a thread here eventually like my counterfeit thread and like others have made but with a list of links to the videos.
it is so amazingly inefficient to keep repeating all this 1x10^100 times. not that i don't enjoy it but the goal for me is to assist as many as possible with the least amount of effort and with short and effective tutorials it will be the intelligent way to go.
that is how khanacademy started btw.
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Thanks to Everyone!!
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For the money, I think it's fine. It is obviously made by our friends across the ocean. The paper that the smaller parts were wrapped in looked like a Chinese newspaper. When I opened the box there were a handful of little random parts floating around. The screws that hold the ceramic light base in the metal shade had come loose and a few smaller connectors weren't put together right. It only took a minute to sort it all out and tighten a few loose connections. In all, it seems sturdy enough for even a heavy camera/lens setup. The lights are adjustable, but it takes a bit of fiddling to get them exactly right. The engineer in me can envision a more rapidly adjustable system.
The attachment plate to the camera is a basic tripod style screw-in/clamp-in type adapter (photo geeks probably have a name for the widget). There are a few screws on that which allow for some inward/outward leveling adjustment. Rotation on the primary attachment is simple.
As for post-processing, I'm using Photoshop Elements. There isn't really a simple way to crop out a circular coin from it's holder. I stumbled onto a way that seems to work, but it's a bit tedious. I'm sure there are much simpler methods:
I load the photo into PS, create a new layer, paint the new layer entirely black, and reduce the new layer's opactiy to around 20 percent. I then position and use a circular "cookie-cutter" tool to create a black rim around the coin. I then restore the layer with the rim to 100% opacity and use the paint feature again to surround the coin in black. After that, you can pretty much do what you'd like with it.
I'm sure there is a much simpler method, but stumbling around in PS is half the fun, right?
ok this file is a png and will load a bit slow but shows how even basic knowledge can make some decent over-lays.
keep the original projects for future editing ie: shifting a few degrees or off-center etc.
And here is the photo editor that I've been using for years. But please make a donation if you end up using it.
As for the pictures.........they can be seen below.
Cheers!
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<< <i>that is how khanacademy started btw >>
Great place.
Terrific efforts there Bryce. Love those Peace.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
<< <i>that is how khanacademy started btw >>
Great place.
do you use the lessons and videos?
i am around 140/367 of the lesson and 178/3398 of the videos with just a little over 500k energy points
i'm to the point i really need to study up since my goal isn't to just finish the lessons but to attempt to retain and integrate what i am learning which will in my opinion help it stick a little better for long-term use
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<< <i>that is how khanacademy started btw >>
Great place.
do you use the lessons and videos?
i am around 140/367 of the lesson and 178/3398 of the videos with just a little over 500k energy points
i'm to the point i really need to study up since my goal isn't to just finish the lessons but to attempt to retain and integrate what i am learning which will in my opinion help it stick a little better for long-term use
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Yes I do.
I lost all my energy points
I went to log on last month and for some reason my login wasn't recognized so I re-registered with a different email address.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
<< <i>I lost all my energy points
I went to log on last month and for some reason my login wasn't recognized so I re-registered with a different email address. >>
this may explain it. when you log in if you have had or do have multiple google email addresses, you will need to be logged into that email account with gmail or not logged into gmail or any gmail services as it will recognize those tab(s) as open and the software will try to get you to log in with that information.
sometimes i forget i am logged into a different gmail address than the one that is registered with khanacademy and when i get there and see everything at 0 i know i need log in with the proper address, but first log out of all other gmail sites, this may even include youtube but i'm not sure
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Looks loke a nice copy stand too.. Adjustable lights included are a nice touch.
That 34-s is gorgeous!!!!
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well here are a couple images testing the new arrangement based on BryceM's image of his setup. Looks promising for me with a little tweaking :-)
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