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Experimenting with a new lighting setup (an $80 investment, AMZN)
mercurydimeguy
Posts: 4,634 ✭✭✭✭
What do you guys think? My goal...
- even lighting across the whole surface
- show relief (depth of field), plus actual surface/device details
- color to be 98% close to original
I have thick skin so don't worry about flame responses 
PS. If you like it I'll send you a link, just PM me.
PPS. Then medal is white and has reflective surfaces (hard to image, which is why I chose it).
5
Comments
too much light?
Governments can print currency. Only the people can print faith in it — and they’re running low on ink.
I'm getting some crazy pixelation on my laptop.
I can't really judge the image.
The medal I chose was probably the hardest thing I have to image (big size, really funky surface)... here's something simpler, a Jefferson nickel just shot straight on, same lighting setting as medal (just cropped the slab)...
Same here....
Hoard the keys.
Hard to evaluate the medal. The nickel looks pretty good. How does the photo compare to the coin in-hand?
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
To me the nickel looks great and if that represents it's color, it's color is outstanding.
The medal if white first struck me as a light gray. I think you can extend the exposure time a tiny bit more on each and do no harm. I see no areas unlit nor harsh/distracting shadows.
Pretty nice. I'd love to know what you're using.
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the medal is gtg.
the nickel is too diffused but pretty good image.
imho.
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Do those look like the coins? They look a little dark to me, but maybe 100% accurate.
Type 2, I can barely make out your nickel.
How's this token...I have not changed the lighting at all for any of these shots (nothing, literally, no angle changes or height or anything, as is from the first one onward). I'm trying to see how many different kinds of coins/surfaces can be shot without much adjustment. I will make one adjustment at some point, on one of the coins, and will re-shoot them all to see the new look across all the coins.
Here's a token...
Can you tell us what setup you bought?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MUFJTVY/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For the past 2 years I've been looking for as
close to a set it/forget it option as possible. While not 100% ideal for all material, so far I've shot everything with zero adjustments. I used to spend hours on just 4-5 coins, and I'm looking to get that down minutes
I will keep playing around to get optimal lighting but so far so good.
I like your results a lot!
Nice results. Thanks for sharing the details on your setup.
My son built a soft box once, using a cardboard box and a curved piece of white paper inside it.
The pictures look pretty good as they are but if you click on them and "super size" them it really brings out the colors and details. Larger photos usually deteriorate but yours get better. I think they look excellent. You are definitely on to something good.
Can you take a picture of your actual setup so us rookies can get an idea of how to set this up?
Looks great!
Collector, occasional seller
I'm liking it, but you've chosen some rather difficult subjects to show us. The Jeff looks really nice. For the medal I think your best bet would be very diffuse low-contrast lighting. The token looks pretty good.
FWIW, I don't think it's possible to shoot every coin to its full advantage without making some individualized lighting changes. Early circulated copper and flashy high-grade silver are so very different. Proofs, gold, unusual metals, surfaces....... If you're looking for a single good compromise, it will always look like you compromised.
I think your photography is spectacular... Obviously I have no skill, but I know what looks good... Having been around for the very first attempts here at coin photography, I can assure you, something like your pictures would have been considered 'voodoo magic' back in the day... Cheers, RickO
Interesting and your images are fantastic, thumbs up! Care to show us a photo of your setup? I would like to see how you are using your new equip.
Best, SH
That Jefferson pic is handsome.
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
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Checked you product link and that sure is a lot of equipment for $80.
If it works well for you then I think you made a great find, congrats.
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I love your results, definitely met your goal of even lighting, and the coins look very natural. How about a picture of a CAM/DCAM proof?
The two medals work well with this lighting because of the very flat surfaces that cover large parts of the medals. The nickel looks nice, but the portrait is too dark and the luster is subdued. Not coincidentally, it does not have a very flat surface in comparison. I was thinking before seeing what you bought that you must be using a diffused light at a medium angle. Bottom line is that there is no single lighting solution that's best for everything. Be prepared to adapt to the coin as needed.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I have no sophisticated photography experience, but I think your pics look really good for documentation purposes or for selling online. Could you show us how you set up the lights and the coin platform to get these pics?
Commems and Early Type
Here's an image of a 25c...however (read below):
I've run into a few snags... PL coins still get some dark spots, and coins 50C and larger, in PCGS slabs, have a glare problem, so as I've found out yet again -- after a few years of experimenting -- there is no set it/forget it option unless you only image one type of coin
The lighting setup can be used with / without the diffusers which makes it awesome for either detail or luster, or both, the 105W (equivalent) CFL bulbs are really nice and bright, but cool (5500k), so you will need to adjust the white balance manually. Overall, because these things put out so much light, it is easier to just "cover" your whole shooting area and have to tinker with it much less, but alas...you still need to.
Here's my setup for what it's worth... Note my room has a window, so I only try to do coin imaging from about 4pm onward, so I don't get stray outdoor lighting.
That kind of broad flat lighting is what NGC uses (there are some videos and photos posted of their setup). They use a little bit of a smaller setup
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