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OK, so I get an OTT light...

and without changing anything, not background, not camera settings... whereas before I used either a 40 Watt Reveal or a 40 Watt clear or both of them together in tandem, NOW my pix are worse and I am overwhelmed with nothing but Blue. Any helpful advice from users of the much touted OTT lamps would be very much appreciated.

If you want an idea of what the pix looked like with the old setup just find the thread regarding the 1934 Washington die stages giveaway. Compared to the OTT the pix in that thread look fantastic.

All I did was plug the lamp in and shoot and there are no true colors ... nothing but Blue everywhere.

Thanx in advance. I'll be in & out all day so feel free to offer helpful advice if so inclined. I'm like totally disappointed here. image

Comments

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    LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,763 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Is white balance on or off?

    Sounds like it is off!
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    poorguypoorguy Posts: 4,317 ✭
    adjust the white balance.
    Brandon Kelley - ANA - 972.746.9193 - http://www.bestofyesterdaycollectibles.com
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    I'll check it now. I think I have it zeroed out. Let me look.

    Thanx image

    The EV setting was dead on 0 and the pix pre- OTT were True, so now I went as far negative as possible and will need to see if it helped any.

    Be right back.
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    IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    Boom they are correct your white balance needs adjustment.
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    ellewoodellewood Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭
    I am very interested in hearing more about this thread. Word on the street is that OTT lights are great for shooting coppers (ie. indians, lincolns). I still have not mastered the lighting technique...this is something that I want to do in the near future.

    ANYONE SHOOT LINCOLNS WITH OTT lights? If so, do you have photos? I believe Russ uses Reveal lights for his lincolns and I cannot figure out how the hell he does it. I have tried every white balance setting on the camera...and Reveal bulbs just say "blue" to me as well.



    image
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    IrishMikeIrishMike Posts: 7,737 ✭✭✭
    All shot with Ott
    image

    image
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    MacCrimmonMacCrimmon Posts: 7,058 ✭✭✭
    OTT-Light

    image




    TrueView

    image


    While the OTT image I shot looks very good, the TV image kills it for depth and lustre intensity.


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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    Oh, my bad. I'm still learning and my ignorance is showing. I just put EV back to 0 because Itried and it didn't help and in the process, off to the right I saw WB (White Balance image:smackimage

    Thanx for the advice guys. What do you find is the best setting for White Balance?

    Oh my GOD, someone just ran over a toddler right in front my house and never even slowed down. Man, we're talking about a highway here (55 MPH). I need to go and help.... this'll keep.. OH NO...Oh my God.
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image
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    image
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    OK, so what should the White Balance be set on?
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Depends on the camera. I set white balace w/grey-card and shoot. Coustom set. If not set to florescent.
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just kidding before.
    image
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    Boom, do you have a grey card?
    image
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    MikeInFLMikeInFL Posts: 10,192 ✭✭✭✭
    Two things could be happening:

    1) Your white balance is off.

    2) Your shutter speed is too fast -- fluroescent lights actually flash on and off very quickly, so if your shutter speed is less than around 1/30th of a second, you may get strange colored results.

    Hope this helps...Mike
    Collector of Large Cents, US Type, and modern pocket change.
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    tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
    Boom, I've had the same experience. I got a couple of OTTs and have had the blues. I've been taking out the blue with a photo editor and it hasn't been bad, but I would rather not have to adjust colors as it's not as true.

    I don't have a grey card. Sounds like I'll have to get one.
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    mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Ott lights have a color temp of about 5500K with a strong shift towards blue/green. You need a good WB measurement.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Boom-What camera are you using?
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    Grey cards are about 5 bucks. Get one and use it. They can be used for other areas of photography, too, of course. In a pinch, I've seen photographers use the palm of their hand....
    image
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You can get by with a white sheat of paper too.
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭

    OK guys, so like I have absolutely no problem asking for help OR openly admitting my own shortcomings. I am not as computer literate as the vast majority here. I had to learn by trial and error and by asking questions.

    Let me explain what I have here. Grey card? NO ... wouldn't even know what that would be. What I DO have is a FujiFilm FinePix A330 set on a fixed base and an old, shortened top part of a tripod that allows the camera to be moved from straight down to 90 gegrees (parallel with the base). The memory chip allows for like 64 pix but I constantly delete the pix from the device once done so that it is always zeroed out and ready to go.

    I have the camera set on ten pix and everytime I shoot and upload them to my editor I delete the pix from the camera. I'm thoroughly rattled by what just happened right in front of my home with the toddler being run over so please bear with me.

    I could take more than 10 pix at a time with whatever memory is in the camera but simply chose to opt for 10 at a time.

    When I got the camera I didn't know jack about digital photography and obviously am still learning because JUST NOW I discovered the WB (White Balance) I had previously found the EV setting and quickly learned that it took great pix indoors under artificial lighting when set on zero but if I wanted to use outdoor light, either direct or difused that this EV setting had to be changed.

    It's hard to learn on your own but you do what is necessary ... so I found a way. When I first got the computer I used an hp psc All in One (printer, scanner copier). With it came the hp editor which I still use because I just got comfortable with it. I do not know how to use the Fuji editing software nor Photoshop. Just haven't had the time or patience to learn.

    So, in lieu of all this I upload the pix to the hp editor, do my cropping and send them onto eBay or email pix to people using that application's share feature. Under the circumstances I've learned to do what it takes and to take decent pix but just NOW image is the very first time I have found the White Balance which is now set on Auto and EV is set on Zero.

    There simply is no one to teach me and thus the POWER of the Forum. image I ask and people help and so it's back to the drawing board and just like one of the best photographers on here once told me when I asked certain questions, he replied "simply take a lot of pix" and that's where I am now ... still trying to learn, so I thank everyone for their patience with me... a Dummy doing his best.image
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    OK- get your point. Now, if there is a setting for a little flower, set on that. If the flash can be turned off. turn it off. NOw, is there a setting for sun, light bulb, cloud? That's the white balance setting.
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭


    << <i>You can get by with a white sheat of paper too. >>



    Funny that you should mention that because that is exactly what I use. I discovered the Yellow Flower (Macro) a long time ago and use it but I cannot seem to figure out the Zoom feature on this small but mighty camera. Flash is Off and stays off. So, I have all those parts down. image
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    Found the White Balance and have it set on Auto. Is that acceptable or preferred?

    I have the shutter speed set on slow. the yellow flower for Macro, the camera set for 10 pix (under the quality setting) EV on Zero and WB is set on Auto and No flash.
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Auto is least that you want - best for natural sunlight. What are your options for white balance?
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    mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    Does it have a custom or preset setting for WB?
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    Can't understand the AJapanese looking settings so I'll try to explain. Top setting looks like the sun but with no light, beneath that are 3 rectangles #'d 3,2,1 respectively then I don't know what the heck this next one is but it looks like the sun with something under it. Beneath that is the full sun and then lastly, AUTO. Hope this helps and makes sense to you. Heck, I haven't even been able to find or use the Zoom on here. I just always use Macro image
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just take 4 quick pics @ 3, 2, 1, and auto. See what happens.
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭




    << <i>Does it have a custom or preset setting for WB? >>



    Wouldn't know but I just snapped off a pic of the same coin with every WB setting available and will have to see which came out the best.
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    I'm not real sure right now but I think it's a toss up between Auto and #1.
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Improvement! That's when I'm happy, my pics are less worse.
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    CoinHuskerCoinHusker Posts: 5,034 ✭✭✭
    I know this is OT but WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TODDLER? image
    Collecting coins, medals and currency featuring "The Sower"
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    RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I believe Russ uses Reveal lights for his lincolns and I cannot figure out how the hell he does it. >>



    I set the white balance using the white preset feature and a white piece of paper for measurement. NGC slabs and ANACS slabs require nothing further. For PCGS slabs, I shoot it laying on the same white piece of paper I used to measure.

    Russ, NCNE
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    Man, I've been tinkering with this all evening and have come to the conclusion that I like the way my pix looked before particularly when using one clear 40 watt bulb. I don't see where these OTT lamps are all that ... not impressed at all. I've tried every setting imaginable.

    Coinhusker, the toddler didn't make it. There is just something about the blood curdling scream of a Mother in distress than immediately tells us that something is terribly wrong and gets you into a dead sprint instantly.

    What really pisses me off is when I wonder just why and how in the hell was this child left unattended and able to wander onto a state highway? While I DO feel extreme sympathy for the mother on the one hand, on the other I'd want to kick her dead in her ass for permitting this to transpire.

    I know, I know, 3-4 year olds are so fast but HEY, that's your child, your responsibility. Simple precautions ... paying attention could have prevented this needless waste of such a young life. Gone forever. How Devastating.

    Seeing a dog get hit at 60 MPH is gross enough but a small child. I'm still visualizing what I saw. How very, very sad and horrendous and I suspect I'll be seeing it for a long, long time. Damn!

    image
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    Boom, what's the latest on the child? Did the catch the hit and run driver? Is the child okay?
    www.jaderarecoin.com - Updated 6/8/06. Many new coins added!

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    tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
    He answered that in the response above yours. The child didn't make it.
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    BoomBoom Posts: 10,165 ✭
    Progress Report:

    This is making me crazier than I already am. I thought OTT lights were the real deal but after 2 days and countless attempts using every setting imaginable I'm still not pleased. At this rate I'll never manage to post a thing on eBay.

    I use Macro and was using either a Reveal/ clear duo or one or the other alone and the pix were much better as far as I'm concerned. Now I think I'll try 2 40 watt clear bulbs and see what happens.

    It's hard being a Dummy but I suppose I'll either figure it out or go back to what I know works ... just have to keep practicing with the OTT. If all else fails I can always sell it to someone that knows what they are doing. Man, this is frustrating. image
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    drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,055 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You're NOT being a dummy. It's takes time to learn to control all the variables. It took me almost 2 years of reading, trying, and making pics less worse. The key: don't give up, after a while, hopefully, it becomes fun. Mike
    image

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