Extreme closeup setup.

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in2Coins
in2Coins Posts: 401 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

There’s been questions of what type of setup I have for extreme macro photography. I have listed the progression of my setup for extreme macro photography. See below.

If anyone decides to try getting into extreme closeup photography, I recommend reading and getting info online first! There are lots of videos that you can learn from. Also read into photo stacking which will be very important to learn in order to get sharp photos from different focus plane. In addition, type of absolutely needed components (extensions, tube lens, step up and down rings, focus rail, photo stacking software etc.).

Setup #1:


Setup#2: with DYI components

Setup #3: added objective lenses with appropriate extensions.


Setup #4: Current and latest setup. Will stick to this for a while. I hope!



Comments

  • Mr_Spud
    Mr_Spud Posts: 7,272 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That’s fantastic!

    Mr_Spud

  • shortnock
    shortnock Posts: 522 ✭✭✭✭
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    Nice view of the slope down the sides of the mintmark!

  • The_Dinosaur_Man
    The_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thanks for sharing! You have an awesome set up.

    Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
    Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
    https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.

  • PipestonePete
    PipestonePete Posts: 1,987 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @in2Coins said:
    There’s been questions of what type of setup I have for extreme macro photography. I have listed the progression of my setup for extreme macro photography. See below.

    If anyone decides to try getting into extreme closeup photography, I recommend reading and getting info online first! There are lots of videos that you can learn from. Also read into photo stacking which will be very important to learn in order to get sharp photos from different focus plane. In addition, type of absolutely needed components (extensions, tube lens, step up and down rings, focus rail, photo stacking software etc.).

    >

    Would that be a 1955-S Lincoln with RPM?

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    As good of a coin closeuo photo artist as I have ever seen. Great work, Criselda.
    Jim


    When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln

    Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
  • in2Coins
    in2Coins Posts: 401 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @PipestonePete said:

    @in2Coins said:
    There’s been questions of what type of setup I have for extreme macro photography. I have listed the progression of my setup for extreme macro photography. See below.

    If anyone decides to try getting into extreme closeup photography, I recommend reading and getting info online first! There are lots of videos that you can learn from. Also read into photo stacking which will be very important to learn in order to get sharp photos from different focus plane. In addition, type of absolutely needed components (extensions, tube lens, step up and down rings, focus rail, photo stacking software etc.).

    >

    Would that be a 1955-S Lincoln with RPM?

    It’s a 1951 S.

  • in2Coins
    in2Coins Posts: 401 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @jesbroken said:
    As good of a coin closeuo photo artist as I have ever seen. Great work, Criselda.
    Jim

    Thanks, Jim!

  • redraider
    redraider Posts: 368 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    lol….you have the Hubble telescope set up in your office.

    Absolutely great images!

  • asheland
    asheland Posts: 24,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Awesome photography!

    My YouTube Channel

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    B)

  • Seraph21
    Seraph21 Posts: 122 ✭✭✭
    edited October 19, 2025 7:24AM
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    wow wow, what macro rail and lights are you using in pic 3 (actually i'm interested in all the gear in that diy setup)? Also please list some your lenses <3

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    This is amazing!

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • Morgan13
    Morgan13 Posts: 2,691 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Very nice setup!

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
    Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
    JWP PROMETHIUS88

  • logger7
    logger7 Posts: 9,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    What do you use for lighting? I seemed to get an amber glow on coin images until I went with a "Refresh" GE led.

  • in2Coins
    in2Coins Posts: 401 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @logger7 said:
    What do you use for lighting? I seemed to get an amber glow on coin images until I went with a "Refresh" GE led.

    I really like the below rechargeable cube light from Amazon. My white balance setting is in Auto and I seldom do any post WB editing. It retains the coin’s contrast. It also comes with diffuser and really controls harshness to minimum level. I have 2 attached with adjustable arm to my setup. 3 would be ideal. I also bought a backup battery bank to charge them. Very convenient!

    I’ve tried and used most lighting there is and this cube gets the job done with pretty accurate white balance. My alternate lighting would be the old Jansjö gooseneck lamp.

  • in2Coins
    in2Coins Posts: 401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 19, 2025 10:55AM
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    @Seraph21 said:
    wow wow, what macro rail and lights are you using in pic 3 (actually i'm interested in all the gear in that diy setup)? Also please list some your lenses <3

    The manual rail is manufactured by German company, Novoflex. See below.

    I have multiple Objective lenses but my main lenses are:

    -Mitutoyo 10x M Plan APO: This has the longest working distance of 34mm between your subject (coin) and the lens. Mitutoyo Objectives lenses are the best there is. Not cheap. Be careful if buying used from eBay. These MIT lenses are very sensitive. Minor drop from mishandling can misalign the internal components and make these lens almost useless.

    -AmScope 4X Plan Achromatic: Working distance is short. About 8mm.

    I bought the Mitutoyo 5x Mag for its working distance of 34mm but it could not cover Morgan $ date in its entirety with a “Full Frame” camera. I read about this lens and the reviews are justified. Also cost a fraction of the Mitutoyo 5x.

    Absolutely sharp for a lens that cost less than $30! They manufacture different model with the same magnification. Make sure to get the below lens appearance. The Red ring should be as shown. The other one has the Red ring on the other end. They are not sharp like this one.

    -I also use a Nikon Fluor Plan 10x: Backup Lens. Working distance is 16mm as shown on the lens’s marking. It’s sharp as well. Price is cheaper than the MIT.

    -Laowa 100mm 2x Macro Lens: My go-to lens for full coin photography. Sharp!

  • in2Coins
    in2Coins Posts: 401 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Pics using Amscope $30 lens.

  • Old_Collector
    Old_Collector Posts: 1,210 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'm using your copy stand with a bunch of add on stuff and a 1 meter 4040 post -- still loving it! Thanks again.

  • epc
    epc Posts: 459 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @redraider said:
    lol….you have the Hubble telescope set up in your office.

    Absolutely great images!

    Actually, I have some measure of control of Hubble. I'm not at the console sending commands to the spacecraft, but my team wrote the code that tells it what to do to "point and shoot". Details would take some space... While we do occasionally take images while pointed at the Earth (for calibration purposes), Hubble does not have the resolving power to see anything like an individual coin, much less metal flow around a mint mark.

    Collector of Liberty Seated Half Dimes, including die pairs and die states

  • messydesk
    messydesk Posts: 20,814 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @PipestonePete said:

    @in2Coins said:
    There’s been questions of what type of setup I have for extreme macro photography. I have listed the progression of my setup for extreme macro photography. See below.

    If anyone decides to try getting into extreme closeup photography, I recommend reading and getting info online first! There are lots of videos that you can learn from. Also read into photo stacking which will be very important to learn in order to get sharp photos from different focus plane. In addition, type of absolutely needed components (extensions, tube lens, step up and down rings, focus rail, photo stacking software etc.).

    >

    Would that be a 1955-S Lincoln with RPM?

    No. That's fairly normal for that S if it's strongly punched and the inside isn't polished down.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • Coins3675
    Coins3675 Posts: 1,138 ✭✭✭✭
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    Amazing!!! I could never do that.

    Successful Transactions With: JWP, DBSTrader2, greencopper, bretsan, ajaan, Ted1, Desert Coin, olah_in_MA

  • marcmoish
    marcmoish Posts: 6,936 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Coins3675 said:
    Amazing!!! I could never do that.

    me neither, insane results, color me impressed.

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