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What I learned about coin photography today.
mgoodm3
Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
Today I learned a few things about coin photography.
#1 Put the camera as close to the coin as humanly possible, while still maintaining lighting. Don't use the zoom if you don't have to. I find focus is nicer and images are sharper that way.
#2 I had previously been a proponent of a bag to diffuse light from multiple sources. I have now decided that the bag is not all that. I have been using 3 sources, all from the same side, that seems to produce nice pics. We'll see how this works out over time.
#3 Coins with portraits look nice with lighting from the top, looks like natural sunlight, faces looks more natural. The shadows are placed where they would normally be. I have only tried this with a merc as of now, top lighting also shows off full bands. Iposted my endproduct on the "post your merc" thread.
#1 Put the camera as close to the coin as humanly possible, while still maintaining lighting. Don't use the zoom if you don't have to. I find focus is nicer and images are sharper that way.
#2 I had previously been a proponent of a bag to diffuse light from multiple sources. I have now decided that the bag is not all that. I have been using 3 sources, all from the same side, that seems to produce nice pics. We'll see how this works out over time.
#3 Coins with portraits look nice with lighting from the top, looks like natural sunlight, faces looks more natural. The shadows are placed where they would normally be. I have only tried this with a merc as of now, top lighting also shows off full bands. Iposted my endproduct on the "post your merc" thread.
coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
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Comments
Completely agree with #3. I also light up the portraits. See my first pic in the Merc thread to get an idea of my favorite lighting angle.
NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
Type collector since 1981
Current focus 1855 date type set
Stuart
Collect 18th & 19th Century US Type Coins, Silver Dollars, $20 Gold Double Eagles and World Crowns & Talers with High Eye Appeal
"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity"
&^^&%
Great pic. It's those darn slabs that still give me a problem when trying to show the toning on the coin.
tom
<< <i>#1 Put the camera as close to the coin as humanly possible, while still maintaining lighting. Don't use the zoom if you don't have to. I find focus is nicer and images are sharper that way. >>
I will protest this one... READ THE CAMERA'S MANUAL! Some cameras, Nikons, for instance, have the best macro at a certain zoom setting... for me, half zoom will enable the best closeups, and, many times, the crispest macro shots of all. My camera has a little icon that tells me based on the zoom and item I'm focusing on when I'm at the best setting for a shot. If it's a small coin, I might ignore it
Here is a recent shot of mine I did for board member fivecents:
(these are a PAIN to image
Oh, and let me add #5:
However much you think you know, practice some more! The more you try, the better you'll be... period.
Jeremy
That Liberty Nickel shot is 100 times better than your last shot of that coin. it is the same coin, right ?
Ken
<< <i>That Liberty Nickel shot is 100 times better than your last shot of that coin. it is the same coin, right ?
>>
It is... but the obverse is very subtly toned, mostly just an off-white and lustrous side. The reverse has some serious colorage.
Jeremy
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
<< <i>ok question then. i have a camera that makes everythign fuzzy . and all pictures ar3 372x152 in bmp form wiht no way it looks like to get to jpeg form. any ideas how to fix this problem >>
Get a new camera. I'm assuming it's a web cam, and those are junk for capturing detail.
<< <i>#5 practice. >>
I definitely said that first!
<< <i>Bite me
*CHOMP*
<< <i>Just send them to airplanenut. >>
I wouldn't mind some more business
<< <i>i couldnt impose. but if you do see scanner forsale let me knwo >>
Don't buy a scanner... buy a camera.
BTW, no imposition... I charge
<< <i>Any thoughts on how it will work? >>
No idea
<< <i>wellwell i got a new camera. turned out its still giving a blury pic. i give up maybe you all arent suppose to see my coins and maybe i shouldnt know if anything i have is worth anything. such is life >>
The problem is what camera you get. Cameras on this board range from $100-$1000+... it's simply a matter of mastery of the camera, and the camera's capabilities... doesn't sound like you got a good camera