coin photography advice

jesbroken · November 24, 2015 12:54AM

As you will quickly see, I am quite the novice when photographing coins.

I have a question re:lighting. I am using a canon powershot sx100is, camera

stand, and single/dual lighting(60 watt incandescent bulbs). One question is, what is the best angle for the lights...high, medium or level with the coin? I should have had

joe best photograph them before he sent them. I love his photo's as the many other

great photographers I have had image coins for me from this forum.

Here are some examples, all of which are from a 1955 Mint Set. I believe due to the scratches on the holders, I may have to remove them to get unmarked photos. The main complaint I have is the yellowish tint of the coins that is not there with the actual coins. Would a higher wattage light bulb remove that or having the camera further away from the coin?

Thank you for your help.

Jim

LanceNewmanOCC · November 24, 2015 1:56AM

.

if your camera has live view, use it while moving your lights around.

unfortunately, if your camera settings are messed up, they can negate the most optimal lighting angles.

seeing as hiw 99% of newbies images are too dark (which can usually be fixed in post-processing) i say, go too bright and come down in lieu of too dark and come up. (although adding light is better in post-process, if needed)

move them lights around and adjust brightness, wb, iso, aperture, modes until you get that just-right combination. set your camera to max resolution too.

i do not recommend manual mode for anyone but the most trained and maybe not even then. P mode, if you have it, is a good place to start.

your wb is for sure off a bit.

looks like you are close though to being a good numismotographer.

.

ctf_error_coins · November 24, 2015 2:03AM

[
i do not recommend manual mode for anyone but the most trained and maybe not even then.
.

I only use the manually mode and recommend it.

derryb · November 24, 2015 2:14AM

experiment, experiment, experiment.

Each camera and lighting being used gives different results. Find what works with your setup and stick with it. Use at least three lights.

cheezhed · November 24, 2015 2:34AM

The white balance needs to be adjusted.

photog · November 24, 2015 3:55AM

An incandescent bulb will always give a yellow-cast to subjects unless you compensate with other light sources (such as flash, studio lights, etc) OR you can compensate with camera settings. As it has been pointed out, your white balance needs to be adjusted. You're going to have a setting somewhere that looks like a lightbulb, that's the standard representation for "I'm shooting inside without a flash," and it will help your camera compensate for the yellow tinge. Adjust that as step one.

A higher wattage will only decrease your exposure time, as it would simply be brighter.

And don't give up - the beauty of digital is that you can see immediately what you have captured. If you don't like it, adjust your settings until you do. Over. And over. And over again. Until you get better.

jesbroken · November 24, 2015 4:18AM

Thanks to all for your *****istance. I think one of my major issues has to do with ignorance of

the workings of my camera. I can see the AWB button but cannot figure(even with the manual) how to access it. I obviously have something set that prevents it's access. I will study first on the useage of this camera before struggling with what I cannot change until I become far more familiar with its use.

Again, I truly appreciate all of your help.

Jim

ctf_error_coins · November 24, 2015 8:06AM

Dang, I brought my daughter to the photo store for her school supplies. The guy behind the counter handed me a new Canon catalog. Now I have to have the new top of the line camera. Did not know I "needed" it last week. Now That's all I can think about.

Unknown · November 24, 2015 8:18AM

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LanceNewmanOCC · November 24, 2015 8:23AM

In lieu of that, try this

Step 1. Box up coins.

Step 2. Ship to PCGS

Step 3. Wait.

Viola!

+1

winky · November 24, 2015 9:11AM

I only use manual mode.

jesbroken · November 24, 2015 11:19AM

FTB...Todd has photo'd some Morgans for me in the past and loved them, as has Joe Best and Shane Canup, Mark Goodman and a few others, all of which I was completely in love with the results. You are probably right, I should send the coins out, along with all my others. lol

BTW...Shane sold me the camera, so it should be on him to tell me how to operate it.

Jim

OldIndianNutKase · November 24, 2015 11:54AM

In addition to all of the other good suggewtions in this post, I recommend the following:

1. A good copy stand where you camera will be totally stable and you can mount your lighting
2. An adjustablre tilt table where you can adjust the angle of your coin relative to the lens. This will alow you to stabilize the tonal reflections in live view mode.
3. A program such a ViewNX2 will allow the actual image on your computer screen,. Then you can adjust the tilt pad to capture the toning.

Have fun.

OINK

leothelyon · November 24, 2015 1:53PM

Well, is the dime bluish? That's what I got when photo shopping your coin. For the time being, I have no-way of posting the results here.

Unknown · November 24, 2015 2:15PM

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Christos · November 24, 2015 3:32PM

All correct advice and the Canon software that comes with their cameras is very easy to use. If you are not using it go to Cannons site and download it as it is free. You can tether your camera and see everything on the screen before you take the image.

jesbroken · November 24, 2015 11:17PM

Leo...the dime is not bluish at all, but silver with the brownish toning.

Thanks,

Jim

cheezhed · November 25, 2015 4:10AM

I'm sure your coin doesn't look like this but you get the idea using white balance.

coin photography advice

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