Just bought a Nikon Coolpix 5400!! Pictures coming as soon as I figure out how to work it!

coinlieutenant · September 20, 2003 2:09PM

All picture taking advice graciously accepted.

John

DanC · September 20, 2003 2:11PM

lighting... lighting... lighting.

It's what separates those taking exceptional pictures with $100 cameras from those who take lousy pictures with million-dollar cameras.

Lighting, angle, composition.

ohbaby · September 20, 2003 2:12PM

It's what separates those taking exceptional pictures with $100 cameras from those who take lousy pictures with million-dollar cameras.

I can attest to that!

airplanenut · September 20, 2003 2:12PM

Lighting has a lot to do with it... angles, too...

Of course, macro is also necessary

DanC · September 20, 2003 2:16PM

<< <i>Of course, macro is also necessary >>

but of course.

1.3" on my $100 Ricoh RDC-4300.

coinlieutenant · September 20, 2003 2:17PM

the macro is the function I tested in the store. Freaking awesome!!!

jacktheknife · September 20, 2003 2:28PM

Is Shylock around? He takes awesome pix. Maybe he has some advice.

airplanenut · September 20, 2003 2:32PM

<< <i>Is Shylock around? He takes awesome pix. Maybe he has some advice. >>

Yup, Shylock is good... I use the newer version of his camera

Well, I can be of more help... what are you shooting?

Jeremy

Cam40 · September 20, 2003 3:07PM

just take the lampshades off before you shoot your pics.

coinlieutenant · September 20, 2003 3:08PM

Jeremy,

Just shooting some coins right now, but only have halogen as a light source. It is drowning in light...

John

airplanenut · September 20, 2003 3:11PM

Ah... I use two incandescent desk lamps... and a lower power small desk lamp...

Shot this yesterday:

coinlieutenant · September 20, 2003 3:20PM

That is a great pic. Not quite there yet and my wife is giving my dirty looks to come to bed.

more in the am.

Good night.

John

dollardude · September 20, 2003 3:23PM

I just posted a new thread entitled "Coin Photography 101" for the same reason -- advice. I am experimenting with my new Sony Cyber-shot. It is a pocket-sized still/video 5 megapixel camera. My best advice from another novice:
- Use a tripod
- Use two lamps with standard 60W bulbs indoors (more consistent) or outdoor lighting
- Don't use a flash
- Use macro focusing (25 cm focusing distance worked best for me)
- Cut down the resolution to 3 megapixels (more than this just creates a larger file size)
- Cut down the f/stop a little from the maximum (widest) setting (f/3.5 worked best for me) for less lens distortion
- Use a fairly wide angle, but not the widest setting (f=12mm worked best for me) for less lens distortion
- Use ISO 100
- Overexpose by 1.0, i.e., set eV to +1.0
- Set white balance to incandescent lighting (indoors) or the appropriate outdoor setting (experiment)
- Use center mode autofocusing
- Use spot metering mode
- When saving the .jpg file, choose true color, progressive mode, and YUV422 subsampling
For a sample, see the picture of the 1900-S Morgan silver dollar at my link below. I am still having trouble with getting the file size down to <=100 KB for the registry sets and still keeping a reasonable quality image.

1jester · September 20, 2003 9:30PM

Outstanding coin, APNut!!!

MacCrimmon · September 21, 2003 2:12AM

CoinLt,

Invest in some OTT-lights. You still need to play with light positioning and camera angles for EVERY coin depending on toning, metal type, etc., but the true color will be 95% spot on.

Backgrounds are very important also. A light cream textured background works well with no fussing with the white balance. Also, using a setting of 1600 x 1200 pixels is as much as would be necessary unless you're planning on using a multi-thousands dollar specialized color printer on Kodak papers.

Remember, most people only have equipment to view 72 dpi shots, and unless you have your own webserver for hosting (300 dpi or better possible), you'll lose a lot of original details and crispness by the time you've shrunk the jpeg down to under 50k.

mgoodm3 · September 21, 2003 2:22AM

I've been looking at the nikon also. I read somewhere that it focuses down to 0.4 inches. Super close-up.

shylock · September 21, 2003 2:44AM

Beautiful shot APN!

John -- a while back I put together a few pages of boring details for a friend who had just purchased a Nikon 4500. It will put you to sleep but you may find some helpful tips, and save you the 2 years it took me to start taking decent copper images. I'm still learning as I go along and these pages could use an update. And I'm sure some experienced photographers can offer better advice.

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3

Besides my discontinued 995, I also own a Nikon 5700 5.0 megapixel that I haven't been as happy with for macro shots. Something about the lens on that 8X zoom camera that just doesn't capture the color & luster as well. Or maybe I just didn't stick with it long enough. The difference in a 3.0 and 5.0 megapixel camera's picture quality is negligible once you've reduced the images to internet acceptable sizes.

coinlieutenant · September 21, 2003 5:52AM

Everybody,

Thanks for the tips. You all have been great. Will work on it and get back to you with pics.

I have to leave school now. My camera and coins are calling. Who cares if it is finals week?????????

John

jom · September 21, 2003 12:09PM

Shylock: Thanks for the warning on that Nikon 5700. If I ever decide to "upgrade" my camera I'll take that into account. But with the result I've had with my "outdated" 950 I don't think I'll be "upgrading" any time soon.

jom

mdwoods · September 21, 2003 12:20PM

Shylock, thanks for the 3 page crib for the 4500. I got one last spring. Your tips will be of great help. Thank you sir.

Jeremy, great photo of a great coin. Good job.

Just bought a Nikon Coolpix 5400!! Pictures coming as soon as I figure out how to work it!

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