Please post pics of your photgraphic contraptions

Steve27 · October 4, 2004 7:53PM

I need to know what the angle of the glass should be as well as where the light source should be.

Thanks.

cosmicdebris · October 4, 2004 8:04PM

Darkhorse · October 4, 2004 8:05PM

I use only a poor desk lamp or the sun and perhaps a piece of white paper. Nothing glamourous but I get suitable results.

Steve27 · October 4, 2004 11:14PM

Anyone else?

eyoung429 · October 4, 2004 11:26PM

This is about as good as I can get at the moment......

earlwbollinger · October 4, 2004 11:31PM

Mine camera stand from a earlier thread.

I love your light setup, I'll have to make up something like that using mini-white florescent light sticks for my stand.
I am still thinking about how I want to do the extra lighting.

mgoodm3 · October 5, 2004 12:16AM

have a differrent copy stand now.

lordmarcovan · October 5, 2004 12:54AM

<<

>>

Hey, Cosmic, what're them little bells on it for?

cosmicdebris · October 5, 2004 12:59AM

Actually those are lights. I bought the stand without the lights.

shylock · October 5, 2004 1:15AM

Not very hi-tech (Mr. Met is optional).

mgoodm3 · October 5, 2004 1:34AM

cool-looking lights.

shylock · October 5, 2004 1:58AM

mgoodm3 - your new camera and stand looks like the contraption my dentist uses to X-ray my teeth, very impressive. Looks like you found a way to keep that sensitive SLR very stable.

photoman · October 5, 2004 2:10AM

Glass should be at a 45 degree angle. Its called Axial lighting. Look it up on the net. Pretty straight forward.

Doug
ANR

mgoodm3 · October 5, 2004 2:37AM

<< mgoodm3 - your new camera and stand looks like the contraption my dentist uses to X-ray my teeth, very impressive. Looks like you found a way to keep that sensitive SLR very stable. >>

The stand in the picture is my old one. It was too flimsy to hold the new heavy camera stable and tended to vibrate with the shutter release. I'll have to take a pic of the new one, much sturdier. Jxnboy now owns the stand in the picture.

shylock · October 5, 2004 2:53AM

Just noticed you "have a different copy stand now", and am trying to imagine a more impressive one that isn't the size of a car lift!

mgoodm3 · October 5, 2004 3:00AM

i'll take a picture of it the afternoon. It's great. has a hand crank to adjust the height and weighs about 20 lbs.

K6AZ · October 5, 2004 3:04AM

Smitty79 · October 5, 2004 4:09AM

<< 

<<

>>

Hey, Cosmic, what're them little bells on it for?

>>

LOL, I thought the exact same thing when I saw that.

My setup is a little less complicated. I prop the coin against a table lamp using a Reveal bulb, set the camera on a tin of Jelly Belly jelly beans (I kid you not) , set the timer, aim acordingly and shoot.

Here are some shots I've taken.

Sometimes I'll shoot through a 17x loupe to get ultra close ups like these:

ss350camaro · October 5, 2004 4:17AM

Looks like there are quite a few variations of design for the copy stands and lighting.

It seems to me the biggest problem that needs to be overcome is the colors.

We'll see some great shots of coins with terrific details but the color of the coin is off.

A Silver Kennedy looks like it's Copper...etc...

mgoodm3 · October 5, 2004 5:15AM

updated. new copystand.

Russ · October 6, 2004 7:39AM

I'm poor.

Russ, NCNE

ss350camaro · October 6, 2004 7:50AM

Russ,

Are those 'reveal' bulbs ?

Mark,

Halogen only ?

mgoodm3 · October 6, 2004 7:52AM

Yes. i just use cheapo desk lamps. the small heads help them get in closer. A good white balance will make up for most any lightbulb/lighting combo.

WingNut · October 6, 2004 8:07AM

Very informative thread! I have a digital camera with macro capability but can never get a clear picture of my coins. I'm assuming this is due to not being able to hold the camera absolutely still. Will a copy-stand completely solve my problem? Or do I also need a camera with remote shutter release? Thanks.

--- WingNut

Russ · October 6, 2004 8:18AM

<< Russ,

Are those 'reveal' bulbs ? >>

Yep.

<< Will a copy-stand completely solve my problem? >>

It will if the lack of focus is caused by the unsteadiness of the camera. Some cameras that have macro capability don't really have very good macro. Also, make sure you're not shooting in closer than the minimum distance.

Russ, NCNE

ldhair · October 6, 2004 8:39AM

mgoodm3
Great looking setup.

I,m thinking thats a Rebel. May I ask the lense you picked?
Will the Canon software let you see the image on the PC before you take the shot?

mgoodm3 · October 6, 2004 8:43AM

It's a Nikon D70. No image on computer until I move the card to the reader. The nice part about SLR's is that you see what will be shot through the viewfinder. I have a Sigma 105mm macro lens.

ldhair · October 6, 2004 9:04AM

<< It's a Nikon D70. No image on computer until I move the card to the reader. The nice part about SLR's is that you see what will be shot through the viewfinder. I have a Sigma 105mm macro lens. >>

Sorry I called you Nikon a Cannon.

I can't decide the SLR that's best for me.
Would sure like to see the image on the PC before I take it.

Some of my older software worked like this but won't run on XP.
Wondering if anyone has some hints?

mgoodm3 · October 6, 2004 9:12AM

your eye and the viewfinder have better resolution than your monitor. Can't tell what any images look like until the shutter releases. I generally take 3 or 4 images in a batch and transfer them to the computer, even then you can't tell how good they are until you zoom up on them in photoshop.

tmot99 · October 6, 2004 10:37AM

Russ:

Is your "Duster Plus" box for toned coins? It looks like a 45 degree angle thingy.

ldhair · October 6, 2004 10:47AM

<< your eye and the viewfinder have better resolution than your monitor. >>

Thanks. That's something I should know from the old days of SLR.

dragon · October 6, 2004 10:51AM

ldhair · October 6, 2004 10:56AM

Ain't no SLR

But a great camera in it's day.

Russ · October 6, 2004 11:04AM

<< Is your "Duster Plus" box for toned coins? It looks like a 45 degree angle thingy. >>

It's a box full of manuals that props up one of the desk lamps. I'm poor.

Russ, NCNE

earlwbollinger · October 6, 2004 11:48AM

isn't it interesting how we'll spend jillions of dollars on coins, but a nice camera setup?
We're all poor then.

Please post pics of your photgraphic contraptions

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