New Coin-Capturing Camera

bhartman35 · February 19, 2006 11:25PM

Hi, Everyone.

After getting advice here and on rec.collecting.coins, I've decided to bid on a new camera. Here's the one I'm bidding on (a CoolPix 4100):

Link to Ebay auction

Opinions? I've been told that the most important things to look for are autofocus and macro mode. This one has both, and it looks like it's got some automatic white balancing to boot.

slipgate · February 19, 2006 11:40PM

If this is your budget, that is not a bad camera. I bought that one for a friend of mine for a birthday.

If you can afford a better camera, get a digital SLR. I just got the Nikon D70s and it is awesome for closeups with a macro lense. The small, fixed pocket digitals never seemed to focus right for me so I gave up on them. I now use the D70 for everything that needs photographing. But at $1000 for a basic package, this may be out of your price range.

bhartman35 · February 19, 2006 11:46PM

Hi, slipgate.

The digital SLRs are kind of more than I want to spend, especially considering the fact that I've got a camera right now that I can use for basic picture-taking. The Coolpix is going to be exclusively for coins. I've got a bunch of coins I want to help people sell, and most of them will be sold raw, since they don't merit slabbing with PCGS or ANACS. (I've got a 1796 dollar out to ANACS (because PCGS wouldn't grade it), but that's probably going to be the extent of my slabbing in the near future.) Anyway, because of this, I want to get some decent Ebay pictures ready. Hopefully this camera will do the trick. (Now I just have to find the manual for it. The manual's not included in the auction.)

joeyuk · February 19, 2006 11:52PM

My wife and I just purchased a slr package link over our coolpix 8700 we were using.
a world of difference. We are very happy. The biggest downer on the 8700 for us was action shots
of the kids.

bhartman35 · February 19, 2006 11:58PM

Hi, joeyuk.

Sounds like a great kit. A little out of my price range, but definitely something to shoot for. Maybe if I can score big on some Ebay sales...

mgoodm3 · February 20, 2006 12:10AM

Not sure specifically about the 4100, but the 4000 series are popular cameras around here.

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 12:35AM

Well, I won the camera. It cost me $81.00. No manual, but hopefully I can scare one up somewhere. It's also not sold with a USB cable, but I've got one from my old camera.

slipgate · February 20, 2006 12:41AM

Congrats! - 3 things:

1. Don't use the internal memory - get a 1MB or larger SD card
2. Get this - SD Card reader - you won't need the USB cable then
3. Start "sniping" on EBay auctions!

Good Luck!
1GB SD Card link

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 12:51AM

Hey, thanks for the links.

I've got a card already (from my Vivitar) so I'm all set in that regard. I'll post some pictures when I get the camera. Hopefully they'll be slightly less pathetic than pictures I've posted in the past!

AlixTCat · February 20, 2006 1:24AM

I believe that was a good choice for your budget. I had recommended the Nikon CoolPix 2100 in the RCC group, but I'll bet this one is even better. I know for a fact that the macro mode of the 2100 works great at 3-6 inches. I know folks were telling you to get 24 inches away from the coin, but I don't see any reason to get more than 6 inches from the coin, getting a great, clear, close up image.

Good luck to you, post your images when you get some.

Jonathan

TwoSides2aCoin · February 20, 2006 1:32AM

<< <i>Hey, thanks for the links.

I've got a card already (from my Vivitar) so I'm all set in that regard. I'll post some pictures when I get the camera. Hopefully they'll be slightly less pathetic than pictures I've posted in the past!

>>

Hey a camera is as good as the operator....
My g/f bought me one that was about 5 hundred and my pictures still suck

.... It's hard to blame the camera and I dare not blame her. LOL

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 1:34AM

<< <i>My g/f bought me one that was about 5 hundred and my pictures still suck

.... It's hard to blame the camera and I dare not blame her. LOL >>

It's the camera. Definitely the camera.

Conder101 · February 20, 2006 1:43AM

Personally I would rather have manual focusing ability rather than automatic, and for me one of the major pluses would be either remote shutter release or timed shutter release. (On really close in shots any vibration can cause blurring of the pictures, so it is better if your hands are not touching the camera.)

Something else that would be nice would be if you could plug the camera into your computer and see the image there rather than on the little screen on the back of the camera. It would make focusing and image composition much easier.

Still it looks like you got a real good deal.

Here's where you can get a copy of the manual.

Ebay auction for Nikon 4100 manual

ibzman350 · February 20, 2006 1:50AM

bhartman35

I use a Nikon 8700, upgraded from a 4300, I think you'll like the Nikon.

I noticed no software, won't you need that to download pics to the computer ?

The one negative I can say about your camera is the silver body, you may want to paint it black, at least the front of the body. I had problems with the silver body reflecting off the slabs. Of course if your taking pics of raw coins that won't be an issue.

Good luck,

Herb

mgoodm3 · February 20, 2006 1:55AM

Easier than buying the manual, you can download a PDF version from Nikon for free.

link to manual

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 2:11AM

Hi, Herb.

The Coolpix (according to the manual, anyway) is recognized as a mass storage device, the same way my Vivitar works. Therefore, I don't think the software will be necessary. (My Vivitar came with software, too, but I never use that.) I'll have to see if the silver's a problem. On raw coins, I don't imagine it will be, but I do think I'll be taking slabbed images once I get some things back from PCGS and ANACS. I'm a little concerned about the idea of painting it, since it doesn't have a warranty (because it's from an auction), and I'd be afraid to muck something up if I painted. I'll take some pictures first, then come back here for advice if I find I need to kill reflections.

mgoodm3: Thanks for the manual!

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 2:14AM

Conder101: Thanks for your link to the manual, too. I must have missed that reading over the rest of your post.

mgoodm3 · February 20, 2006 2:15AM

I've never installed the software for any camera that I've had (2 nikons). If using the USB cable just plug it in and the computer sees the camera like a drive.

Russ · February 20, 2006 2:31AM

I like my Nikons black.

Russ, NCNE

Conder101 · February 20, 2006 2:56AM

Thanks, I looked for the downloadable version on Nikons website and couldn't find it. If your computer doesn't recognize the camera as a drive the softwars IS on the Nikon website. 4100 camera software

mrearlygold · February 20, 2006 3:00AM

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 3:13AM

<< <i>Thanks, I looked for the downloadable version on Nikons website and couldn't find it. If your computer doesn't recognize the camera as a drive the softwars IS on the Nikon website. 4100 camera software >>

Thanks.

MikeInFL · February 20, 2006 4:13AM

Here's the link to Nikon View -- Nikon's transferring and viewing program. Although plugging your camera into the USB port will work, I think you'll find Nikon View useful. Hope this helps...Mike

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 4:16AM

Thanks, Mike!

bhartman35 · February 20, 2006 4:19AM

While I'm on the subject of cameras, does anyone want to buy my old one (Vivitar Vivicam 4100). Obviously, this wouldn't be for taking coin pics, but maybe you'd want it to give to someone else or something? Figured I'd give people here first crack at it before I Ebayed it.

bhartman35 · February 25, 2006 3:16AM

Hi, Everyone.

I just got my new camera! Woo Hoo!!

Unfortunately, the cable that I have right now doesn't fit the camera, so I'm going with Plan B for now: I use my Palm Piilot to read the card, and transfer the images that way.

Here's my first attempt at a picture. (It's a common Washington quarter from my change. This is just a test.)

It's a little bit blurry from not being on a tripod (even though I used autofocus). Hopefully better pictures of more interesting coins will be forthcoming. Let me know what you think of my first attempt.

bhartman35 · February 27, 2006 11:53AM

Hi, Everyone.

I finally got some decent white balance out of my camera. (White piece of paper, together with a previously-unnoticed white balance adjustment menu). Here's a picture of a quarter eagle:

http://home.comcast.net/~bhartman24/wbfquartereagle.jpg

Not too bad, considering I had to have the tripod aiming at an angle. Anyway, thanks to everyone for all their help!

New Coin-Capturing Camera

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