Time for a new camera ..any suggestions

bestday · October 24, 2014 12:47AM

My old camera has dived for good .. any good coin friendly cameras to recommend?

LanceNewmanOCC · October 24, 2014 12:52AM

.
aside from new comments, there are enough suggestions in the archives to write a lengthy book.

.

ambro51 · October 24, 2014 1:20AM

How about a 32"x36" Format wet plate camera with a 6' bellows extension?

lcoopie · October 24, 2014 1:23AM

The highest quality coin photos use a long 150mm macro lens which are quite pricey especially if you also need a body.

The lens is more important than the body.

The photographer is more important than either meaning you can also get very good photos from a point and shoot.

link to ken rockwell

messydesk · October 24, 2014 1:24AM

Your budget?

kaz · October 24, 2014 2:15AM

Hey Ambro, is that camera really huge, or is that cat really tiny?

ambro51 · October 24, 2014 2:21AM

The camera is huge. It took two men to carry it down from my shop. It's currently on a 40 day RV photographic excursion across the America.

LanceNewmanOCC · October 24, 2014 5:23PM

<< Hey Ambro, is that camera really huge, or is that cat really tiny?

>>

LOL. good catch.

there are some real goombas out there that take images like that and make all sorts of idiotic claims. not to imply that it is happening here by any means.
.

kaz · October 24, 2014 9:49PM

You don't necessarily have to buy a new camera if it's mainly for coin photos. I think any old DSLR will do, as long as the sensor screen is in good shape. Old manual macro lenses (105-150) work fine and are dirt cheap. A solid copy stand is very important for the setup.

leothelyon · October 24, 2014 10:04PM

I'm still using my camera from 1999........with the old floppy drive. But I need to get the drive to work on the computer my son gave me. So.....no, I wouldn't have any suggestions.

mrearlygold · October 24, 2014 10:41PM

This one has a built in flash

morgansforever · October 24, 2014 10:47PM

Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route?

astrorat · October 24, 2014 10:57PM

<< This one has a built in flash

>>

Almost ... this one needs the good ole flash cubes!

ms70 · October 24, 2014 11:03PM

Get one with excellent macro.

Just an idea- Go to a store and try some out on pocket change. I have a Sony that I'm really happy with, but like
everyone else it's a matter of getting proper lighting for coins.

bestday · October 24, 2014 11:09PM

<< Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route? >>

In the 300 dollar range and under.. thanks

rmpsrpms · October 24, 2014 11:18PM

<< The highest quality coin photos use a long 150mm macro lens which are quite pricey especially if you also need a body.

The lens is more important than the body.

The photographer is more important than either meaning you can also get very good photos from a point and shoot.

link to ken rockwell >>

Not really. Long lenses give you more room to optimize lighting, and this is why shots done with the 150mm lenses look good. It has virtually nothing to do with the lens.

lcoopie · October 24, 2014 11:24PM

<< 

<< The highest quality coin photos use a long 150mm macro lens which are quite pricey especially if you also need a body.

The lens is more important than the body.

The photographer is more important than either meaning you can also get very good photos from a point and shoot.

link to ken rockwell >>

Not really. Long lenses give you more room to optimize lighting, and this is why shots done with the 150mm lenses look good. It has virtually nothing to do with the lens. >>

right, it allows you to light it better which gives you better photos

rmpsrpms · October 25, 2014 12:00AM

<< 

<< Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route? >>

In the 300 dollar range and under.. thanks >>

Under $300 is tough but do-able. Since you only say you need a new camera, I assume you have lights and a copy stand or tripod already.

You can take near state of the art photos with the following setup:

Camera: Canon Rebel XS DSLR: $175 shipped on eBay (used)
Bellows: Chinese EOS Bellows: $25 shipped on eBay (new)
Lens: 80, 90, 100, or 105mm enlarging lens: $50 shipped on eBay (used)
Adapter EOS-M39: $6 shipped on eBay (new)

This puts you at $256. You will need to put in a search for the camera and lens as these are used, but suitable examples show up several times per week. Here's an example camera:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XS-1000D-10-1-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only-/121467715990?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item1c480a4196

Beware though that this one does not have the software disk. You will need the original software disk in order to tether your camera to your PC.

Here's are a few examples of Nikon enlarging lenses (all recently sold):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-80mm-f-5-6-enlarging-lens-/161415359874?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25951aed82
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-EL-Nikkor-80mm-1-5-6-Enlarging-Enlarger-Lens-Made-in-Japan-/331329764092?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d24cafafc
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EL-NIKKOR-1-5-6-f-105mm-Nikon-Enlarging-Lens-Macro-Photography-Made-in-Japan-/261582503983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce788402f

These went cheaper than the $50 I quoted, but you might not get that lucky.

bigjpst · October 25, 2014 12:24AM

I did like someone else here suggested when I was looking for an inexpensive camera and took some change with me to Best Buy and took pictures with their display cameras. I ended up with a Sony Cybershot for around $250 I think but that was a few years ago. Bought a $10 tripod and tip it straight down for shooting. 2 desk lights from Target. Smaller coins can be a bit hard to image with my setup, but it gets the job done

morgansforever · October 25, 2014 12:46AM

bigjpst, quite impressive for a P&S.

robec · October 25, 2014 12:58AM

<< 

<< 

<< Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route? >>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XS-1000D-10-1-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only-/121467715990?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item1c480a4196

Beware though that this one does not have the software disk. You will need the original software disk in order to tether your camera to your PC.

>>

You can download the software for this camera free from the Canon website.

rmpsrpms · October 25, 2014 2:07AM

<< 

<< 

<< Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route? >>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XS-1000D-10-1-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only-/121467715990?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item1c480a4196

Beware though that this one does not have the software disk. You will need the original software disk in order to tether your camera to your PC.

>>

You can download the software for this camera free from the Canon website. >>

Careful with that. My understanding from several folks who have tried is the download is upgrade-only. You still need the original software that came with the camera. I may be wrong, as I'm relying on reports from others.

robec · October 25, 2014 3:20AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route? >>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XS-1000D-10-1-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only-/121467715990?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item1c480a4196

Beware though that this one does not have the software disk. You will need the original software disk in order to tether your camera to your PC.

>>

You can download the software for this camera free from the Canon website. >>

Careful with that. My understanding from several folks who have tried is the download is upgrade-only. You still need the original software that came with the camera. I may be wrong, as I'm relying on reports from others. >>

You maybe right. It's been awhile since I downloaded the drivers from their site.

You can occasionally find the manual and software on eBay for less than $5. This includes a disk with the camera manual and drivers. Link

rmpsrpms · October 25, 2014 3:24AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Budget and what are you planning to shoot? Dollars? Dimes? Tough shooting a dime with a 55mm macro lens, great for slab shots though.
Are you planning on a DSLR route? >>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XS-1000D-10-1-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only-/121467715990?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item1c480a4196

Beware though that this one does not have the software disk. You will need the original software disk in order to tether your camera to your PC.

>>

You can download the software for this camera free from the Canon website. >>

Careful with that. My understanding from several folks who have tried is the download is upgrade-only. You still need the original software that came with the camera. I may be wrong, as I'm relying on reports from others. >>

You maybe right. It's been awhile since I downloaded the drivers from their site.

You can occasionally find the manual and software on eBay for less than $5. This includes a disk with the camera manual and drivers. Link >>

Excellent!

Swampboy · October 25, 2014 4:40AM

<< bigjpst, quite impressive for a P&S. >>

I'll say!

sybildvane · October 27, 2014 11:06AM

canon or nikon, the rest are posers

COALPORTER · October 27, 2014 11:45AM

I bought a SONY Cybershot too, because it is inexpensive and has a crazy amount of megapixals ( 21)
and the Macro -Mode is automatic and the batteries recharge by the USB cable or from a wall outlet with
the provided adaptor . The only thing I don't like is the smallish size for my hands. I bought it 100% to take
photos for ebay and it appears to do a adequate job without too much learning and no need to spend a ton
on exotic lenses.

rmpsrpms · October 27, 2014 12:05PM

<< canon or nikon, the rest are posers >>

The only Nikon I'd recommend would be the D810, but most folks would not want to pay that much for a camera. Pretty much any Canon DSLR back to the XS is recommended, except the D60. If you want to know why I make these recommendations, just ask...Ray

Time for a new camera ..any suggestions

Comments

The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

My Jefferson Nickel Collection

Leave a Comment