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Coin Pics..Autofocus or Manual?

beartracks42beartracks42 Posts: 2,834 ✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
What do you use with your DSLR? I recently purchased a Nikon D40X and am in the process of picking a 105mm lens to use on it. It will only be used for coins, so if the more expensive AF lens is not needed, I will buy one for manual use only.

What say you folks who take such fine pics??

Thanks
Gary
image

Comments

  • AnimalkeeperAnimalkeeper Posts: 649
    Auto-focus. Couldn't imagine not using it.
    Spare your best friend's life!! Adopt an adult dog at your local "kill" animal shelter. You will be changed.
  • GFourDriverGFourDriver Posts: 2,366 ✭
    Manual all the time.
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,318 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Manual. On a tripod with a patient, stationary subject, there's no need for AF. Also, you will have issues if the coin needs to be tilted at all or if there's not much detail in the AF sample area of the coin. I bought a ca. 1979 mint, manual focus 105/4.0 AI Micro-Nikkor for $180 that is insanely sharp, as others here with the same lens will attest. The current 105/2.8 AF VR Micro-Nikkor weighs in at $750. VR is contraindicated with a tripod, so you don't need that, either. Also, while the 105/2.8 can focus down to 1:1, as you focus closer, the focal length of the lens drops quickly, thus reducing your working distance to that of a 60mm lens. Finally, I'll send you to Bjørn Rørslett's lens survey page where he compares all 105mm Micro-Nikkors, auto and manual focus, that he could get his hands on.
    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • DJCoinzDJCoinz Posts: 3,856 ✭
    Manual.
    aka Dan
  • PrivateCoinCollectorPrivateCoinCollector Posts: 2,415 ✭
    With slabbed coins the automatic cannot do as good of a job.
    Morgan HerdTO Gold Mine
  • speetyspeety Posts: 5,424 ✭
    Both...I take both sides with autofocus once and then take many shots in manual. When reviewing i compare the shots, whichever is better i use. I've gotten so that most of the time the manual shots are better.
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!

  • notwilightnotwilight Posts: 12,864 ✭✭✭
    I find I don't get the best focus when I do it manually, perhaps because I now need reading glasses. So I use autofocus. I also use Aperature priority mode to force the f/ stop up a little (or a lot) for depth of field. Eventually I want to buy the stuff to preview on the computer on the 21" screen and then I'll try manual focus again. --Jerry

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