Macro Copy Stand - opinions

lsica · July 18, 2006 11:52PM

Anybody ever use this one? I'm wondering if it'll hold up the Canon A430 after repeated use or if it'll fall apart and drop the camera on top of the coin after moving the camera up and down the vertical bar more than a few times.

DPCS66 Macro Copy Stand

jayboxx · July 19, 2006 12:00AM

I haven't used it, but going by the pictures I don't see any reason why it wouldn't hold up.

robertpr · July 19, 2006 12:03AM

I recommend for a lightweight solution the Testrite CS-7

The one you linked to is too small to give you enough flexibility to move further from the coin for better lighting, for photographing larger coins or mint sets, or to do much of anything.

lsica · July 19, 2006 12:10AM

<< <i>for photographing larger coins or mint sets, >>

Ah.. mint sets... didn't think of that. No way you could take a pic of one under that

Thanks.

greghansen · July 19, 2006 12:39AM

I agree that it would be much better to have one that had a taller verticle arm to give you more flexibility as to what you can photograph.

segoja · July 19, 2006 12:51AM

I use this one!

Link

Very sturdy. The lights are suspect, as I've already replaced the inner switches on two of the four lights. I've had it for about 3 months. The switches cost all of $3, so not a big deal.

mgoodm3 · July 19, 2006 1:06AM

i'd put out a little more money and get somthing a little bigger.

ss350camaro · July 19, 2006 1:18AM

Too small and flimsy = Camera shake = blurry photos

lsica · July 19, 2006 1:20AM

<< <i>Too small and flimsy = Camera shake = blurry photos >>

Exactly my original fear

Russ · July 19, 2006 1:27AM

<< <i>I recommend for a lightweight solution the Testrite CS-7

The one you linked to is too small to give you enough flexibility to move further from the coin for better lighting, for photographing larger coins or mint sets, or to do much of anything. >>

Robert has the correct answer.

Russ, NCNE

AuldFartte · July 19, 2006 6:44AM

Isica - I purchased that exact copy stand. It's pretty useless unless you have a lightweight camera (no SLR's!!!) and only want to photograph single coins.

millennium · July 19, 2006 8:51AM

Mark (mgooodm3) which one do you use?...You're one of the best.

Cameonut · July 19, 2006 9:24AM

I also use the Testrite CS-7 - works great - easy to store - inexpensive.

joeyuk · July 19, 2006 11:12AM

mine

I've switched to a flat black piece of construction paper for coin background.

IGWT · July 19, 2006 11:28AM

Instead of buying a copy stand, I bought an old drill press for $2.50 at a yard sale, salvaged the motor, and built a camera mount for the cast iron stand.

The mount is adjustable on the tube, and the upper table is also adjustable. The camera mounts into the stand with a sliding dovetail. You'll see the "tail" attached to the bottom of the camera (using a machine screw just as you would attach the camera to a tripod). Here's a picture of the setup.

Here's a photo with the camera mounted in the stand. You'll see an extension tube (a 3-part tube) on the desk in front of the camera stand. An extension tube attached to a macro lens permits very close shots.

messydesk · July 19, 2006 11:33AM

Too low. The camera will cast shadows. I have this difficulty with one twice that high sometimes. You want a copy stand that maximizes your freedom of lighting while at the same time allowing you to get a full-coin shot. With the Canon A430, you can only focus closer than about 10 inches when the lens is at its wide angle setting. I get around this using the Canon A80 by using a +2 close-up lens. I then can use the 3x zoom at about 7-8 inches. The A430 doesn't appear to accept accessory lenses, however. Fortunately, you have a longer optical zoom than I do, which means you'll be about 11-12 inches away for most pictures, which is within the range of the camera's macro. For small coins where you'd want to be closer, go to 8-9 inches and use the "Av" setting with the lens stopped down to f8.0 or smaller and depth of field should give you a little more focusing range.

AlixTCat · July 19, 2006 12:54PM

IGWT, neat setup! I like the dovetail mount. I get tired of unscrewing my camera and remounting it with the mount I have.

Jonathan

19Lyds · July 19, 2006 2:40PM

IGWT.......Is that a converted Drill Press?

MajorDuty · July 19, 2006 3:58PM

IGWT, that's bad-ass.

Is that white tube a bumper?

IGWT · July 20, 2006 1:48AM

Yes, it's a converted drilll press. And, yes, the white tube is a "bumper" that ensures that the camera lens won't strike the table of the stand. Good eyes!

Macro Copy Stand - opinions

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