New member!

clarkbar04 · November 23, 2006 4:05AM

I am a member of a few car related message boards, and I recently found this one for coins to be enjoyable. Those are my 2 favorite hobbies. I mainly collect Morgans but I also have a near complete set of unc franklins.

Anyway, I noticed that most of you can take excellent coin pics, and I was wondering how you all do this? I have a samsung 7.0 MP camera so I think I have the right equipment, but I suffer from operator error. This seems to be the best I can do: (MORE PICS ADDED AT BOTTOM!!)

Unarguably, these pictures SUCK! These were taken with no flash, and lighting from an incandescent light.

Also, what is your opinion on the crazy reverse toned 1881-S? (1st pic) It looks great in hand and the colors look NT, to me anyway. The red toning areas appear to have some textile pattern in them.

Here is a pic of my other passion:
pic1
pic2
pic3

Oh and happy thanksgiving!

notwilight · November 23, 2006 4:08AM

Welcome. Nice first post.

Here are the first things you need to do to improve your photography in a couple of hours:

1. Tripod.
2. Ambient lighting of some sort. Play around with it. Diffuse lighting on a cloudy day is a good start.
3. Manual focus is nice but if you don't have it, make sure your autofocus is doing the best it can.
4. Set your white balance to match the lighting or learn to use custom white balance.
5. Use a cable release or self timer to eliminate vibrations.

Crop and post to photobucket.com

--Jerry

Julio · November 23, 2006 4:15AM

Welcome. There are many on the board who will help. Notwilight has already given you some excellent advice.
I'm coin Photo challenged.

.

Fortunately we have many on the board who display genius. jws

Pentimento · November 23, 2006 4:20AM

Welcome!!

Jerry gave you a great reply, but I will say a couple of things too.

1. There is no reason for blur. If you are getting blur, check distance, tripod stability, and timer/cable release.

2. Nothing should be cropped out. Try laying pic on a table and shooting straight down.

I think the secret to coin pics is white balance. In the first pic your whitest white is on the rim at 2 o'clock. Doesn't do much to show off the coin. On the 3rd pic, your whitest whites are on the hair highlights. This is one of the places where I would want the whites to be on the obverse of a Morgan. In the third pic I get a good idea of how deeply the coin is toned-- all because of the white balance.

Great first pics!

DorkGirl · November 23, 2006 4:23AM

I think you did great for your first pics. Now just practice, practice, practice...........

Cladiator · November 23, 2006 4:27AM

; ^ )

MisterBungle · November 23, 2006 4:28AM

Welcome clarkbar04!!

Can't help you with the pics. I use my
scanner and people throw things at me!!

~

twodrhrdtp · November 23, 2006 4:28AM

From what I have learned (and I have a long ways to go) background plays a big part in how the coin looks. I bought a tablet of construction paper with all different colors. Take the same coin pic with all the different color paper and look at the difference it makes. I agree to lay coin flat and lighting is the most important.

karpman9 · November 23, 2006 5:11AM

Welcome!

I'm no expert by any stretch, but here are a few tips that aren't always apparant when starting out.

When you take your photographs, make sure you have the 'macro' function engaged properly. Also, don't use your zoom funtion, it screws up everything when photographing coins. Hope that little bit helps.

Keep on posting pics. We all like pics.

MikeInFL · November 23, 2006 5:11AM

clarkbar04 · November 23, 2006 5:14AM

Thanks for all the tips so far. Keep 'em coming!

TorinoCobra71 · November 23, 2006 5:15AM

To The Forums!

Those Pics Arent Half Bad!

TorinoCobra71

mgoodm3 · November 23, 2006 5:16AM

Welcome. Click the link below.

AZLARRY · November 23, 2006 5:25AM

Welcome, the link mgoodm3 is excellent, you also might try this link.

Linky

clarkbar04 · November 23, 2006 6:17AM

Just started reading the links, and found them very helpful so far.

OK new try - hows this? (its slabbed hence the line) More white I guess!

RichieURich · November 23, 2006 6:23AM

to the Forums, clarkbar04! Enjoy and learn!

karpman9 · November 23, 2006 6:26AM

Clarkbar04,

Freakin' awesome! Great improvement! I love it. Keep 'em coming and remember, digital film is reusable, so don't be arfraid to experiment every which way!

Most importantly, have a great time!

TwoSides2aCoin · November 23, 2006 6:28AM

Hi Clarkbar and welcome. Is this your camera ?

If so, try using the Macro setting and not the zoom. Stay about a foot away and strait above the subject with and without flash.
You can crop it later in a photoshop program.

<-I'm Joe.

TwoSides2aCoin · November 23, 2006 6:29AM

nevermind, yer already shooting better than me

thanks to AZLARRY for that link, too.

clarkbar04 · November 23, 2006 6:32AM

Yeah thats my camera!!!

What a difference a day makes..... OK heres my last one. Taking coin pics is actually fun now!

I need a little more light I think....

TwoSides2aCoin · November 23, 2006 6:37AM

that's a heckuva coin shot there, clarkbar. Is that DMPL or what ?

clarkbar04 · November 23, 2006 6:49AM

<< <i>that's a heckuva coin shot there, clarkbar. Is that DMPL or what ? >>

Sure looks like it to me, but I've never seen a slabbed DMPL for comparison. Unfortunately the front is not DMPL or even PL!