Poll: How would you like your photo service photos to look like?

CarlWohlforth · November 7, 2006 9:37AM

Just trying to help figure out how to provide a service that might be successful.

RYK · November 7, 2006 10:47AM

I want the photo to look like the coin does under my desktop Ott lamp. I want to see all the bumps, bruises, and marks, and I really want to see all the DIRT.

66RB · November 7, 2006 10:52AM

<< Show me exactly what it is, no more, no less! >>

Carl, i think mgoodm3's images do exactly this.

Julio · November 7, 2006 10:53AM

My vote was a no brainer.
I've said it before and I'll say it again.
An accurate depection.
Now if I'm going to do one of the wife, I'm pleading the 5th. jws

mgoodm3 · November 7, 2006 11:00AM

I want the picture to look like I'm not looking at a picture. Can't always acheive that, but it's a goal.

Russ · November 7, 2006 11:02AM

<< Show me exactly what it is, no more, no less! >>

Russ, NCNE

RichieURich · November 7, 2006 11:43AM

<< 

<< Show me exactly what it is, no more, no less! >>

Russ, NCNE >>

As often happens, I agree with Russ!

nwcs · November 7, 2006 11:46AM

I want it to be a good exposure and an explanation of the conditions the coin is taken in and that's all. A photo is an interpretation and cannot adequately represent reality.

jayboxx · November 7, 2006 12:12PM

As often happens, I agree with Russ!

It's a scary thought but that's pretty much my thoughts too.

JRocco · November 7, 2006 12:31PM

Wow- the voting is so lopsided yet so many praise the TruView pics which OBVIOUSLY showed off the color advantage.........how quickly some retreat.................

RYK · November 7, 2006 12:32PM

<< Wow- the voting is so lopsided yet so many praise the TruView pics which OBVIOUSLY showed off the color advantage.........how quickly some retreat.................

>>

I enjoy looking at TrueView photos. I enjoy looking at photographs of my coins that are realistic. The two are not mutually exclusive.

JRocco · November 7, 2006 12:34PM

<< 

<< Wow- the voting is so lopsided yet so many praise the TruView pics which OBVIOUSLY showed off the color advantage.........how quickly some retreat.................

>>

I enjoy looking at TrueView photos. I enjoy looking at photographs of my coins that are realistic. The two are not mutually exclusive.

>>

Damn that was good....

tradedollarnut · November 7, 2006 12:39PM

You need one more choice - 'be flexible and show it the way the owner wants'. That was True View .... Phil would show the color if you wanted, the surfaces if you wanted, the luster if you wanted. It's impossible to show all three in one image, so he did what the owner requested. What more can you ask for?

pharmer · November 7, 2006 12:43PM

Depends on the lighting-if I'm looking at them under fluorescent lights, then like that.

If I'm looking at them under incandescent lights, then like that.

If I'm looking at them in sunlight, then like that.

If I'm looking at them outside in the shade, then like that.

In the unlikely event I'm looking at them with high tech photo pro lighting, then like that. I think that's the lighting everyone thinks makes it look EXACTLY like it is, but that's not true if you're under fluorescent lighting when you look at your coin, is it?

"Hey, this doesn't look like my coin!!!"
"Well, I used four GE Reveal bulbs to image it. Are you looking at it under four GE Reveal Bulbs?"

EvilMCT · November 7, 2006 8:46PM

<< Show me the little details! >>

I see there are only a few of us who pay attention to the details. I need to get a scope. . .

MikeKing · November 7, 2006 9:14PM

<< I want the photo to look like the coin does under my desktop Ott lamp. I want to see all the bumps, bruises, and marks, and I really want to see all the DIRT. >>

messydesk · November 7, 2006 9:47PM

It depends. First of all, taking a single picture of any coin will get you a compromise. If I wanted a picture to look at while my coin was in a safe in an undisclosed location, I'd want a glam shot. If I wanted to use it to sell the coin, I'd want something that looked like how the coin would look to most people when first inspecting the coin. Of course, unless you have a stereoscopic picture, you'd be producing sometihng that represented how people looked at the coin with one eye closed, especially if it had really good luster.

etexmike · November 7, 2006 10:26PM

I want the pic to look just like, or as close as possible, to the coin.

-------------

etexmike

Sunnywood · November 7, 2006 10:36PM

I have participated in quite a bit of debate about the accuracy of photographs, particularly in the area of colorfully toned Morgan dollars. Of course the comments are equally applicable to other areas of numismatics as well. One thing has been very consistent: not only do people disagree as to which images of a specific coin they prefer, but in addition, they cannot even agree as to which image most accurately depicts or represents the coin. So there will always be subjectivity involved. Further, as TDN points out, there is always a trade-off between color, light, luster, contrast, detail and other characteristics.

I personally have found the True View photographs to be excellent. But there were additional benefits: PCGS took the coins out of the holders for purposes of taking the photos, and that allowed them to get a better image than is possible when the coin is entombed in the slab. Further, there was the convenience of combining regrade and/or reholder with the photography service.

I hope the rumors are false that True View is being discontinued. If it is true, then I hope that PCGS can be convinced to recant that decision.

Best,
Sunnywood

Athena · November 7, 2006 10:59PM

The PCGS service produced some high-quality photographs. Too bad it has been discontinued. I enjoyed seeing the photos that everyone posted.

Poll: How would you like your photo service photos to look like?

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