Picture critique - New ( Used ) Camera for me

jgrinz · April 29, 2009 8:52PM

I am not used to all the gizmo's on newer cameras and now having to use a copy stand running at ISO 50
How am I progressing. I am not looking for perfection here ... I am looking for a setup that will do a consistant
picture everytime.
Thoughts ??
1904-s XF40

lasvegasteddy · April 29, 2009 9:48PM

i likes it...very crisp details too

VAMSKY · April 29, 2009 9:58PM

Very nicely done. If your intent is to sell using these, they appear to represent the coin well. The only issue I would raise is "white balance". The shot has a blue tint that is probably robbing some of the more vibrant hues. Not critical here, but you'll really see the problem on a toner or frosty white coin.

boucharda · April 29, 2009 10:05PM

Nice....I'm sure it shows the coin as it looks in hand

UtahCoin · April 29, 2009 11:52PM

<< Nice....I'm sure it shows the coin as it looks in hand >>

Looks very good. Here I took your image and tweaked it a bit.

LanLord · April 30, 2009 12:01AM

I'm curious why ISO 50?

Most cameras have excellent image quality up to (and many beyond) ISO 400 and if you can increase depth of field (with a higher F-stop) or decrease exposure time with a faster setting why not?

BTW, I can't shoot coins to save my life, so you may be on to something that I don't understand.

jgrinz · April 30, 2009 12:07AM

Looks like I need to just white balance a little bit
I did a White balance lock on a piece of white paper
Should I try to do a white balance on the coin itself
with all the lights in their positions ???

OR do a manual adjustment from a WHite paper

jgrinz · April 30, 2009 12:08AM

<< I'm curious why ISO 50?

Most cameras have excellent image quality up to (and many beyond) ISO 400 and if you can increase depth of field (with a higher F-stop) or decrease exposure time with a faster setting why not?

BTW, I can't shoot coins to save my life, so you may be on to something that I don't understand. >>

I was told image quality is better and less chatter in the photo ...
BUT you need a copy stand

jgrinz · April 30, 2009 12:09AM

<< 

<< Nice....I'm sure it shows the coin as it looks in hand >>

Looks very good. Here I took your image and tweaked it a bit. >>

I do not like the adjustment - looks to red

AUandAG · April 30, 2009 12:34AM

I think that you pic shows the coin very well!

Nice job.

bob

VAMSKY · April 30, 2009 12:42AM

<< Looks like I need to just white balance a little bit
I did a White balance lock on a piece of white paper
Should I try to do a white balance on the coin itself
with all the lights in their positions ???

OR do a manual adjustment from a WHite paper >>

This may depend on the camera and the options that are available. I do my set-up which includes lighting and adjust using photo paper designed for white balancing. Place the sheet under the lens with the lighting you intend to use and hit the "white balance" on the camera. Using a regular white sheet of paper will work but the best results are with paper designed for this purpose (it's a bit off-white). Once you have the WB set it will work for all aperature/shutter speed settings used with that lighting.

You can easily bump your ISO to 100 or more without any significant chatter in your shots. This will give you more options with shutter speed/aperature.

Still, you're way ahead of most coin shooters with your results so far.

mgoodm3 · April 30, 2009 12:42AM

fine pic.

Low ISO will allow for a little smoother and less noisy pics, but will take a longer exposure. You can still use whatever aperture setting you wish, it will just require a steadier camera - thus the copystand becomes your friend. Longer exposure can be mitigated by lots of light.

mgoodm3 · April 30, 2009 12:45AM

White paper works fine to measure the WB. It's very slightly blue (to make it "whiter appearing"). The effect one the WB setting is pretty minimal in my own testing.

Swampboy · April 30, 2009 12:47AM

<< Longer exposure can be mitigated by lots of light. >>

Mark, as always, thanks for chiming in.
Can I trouble you to explain that sentence. I don't get it.

And nice pic jgrinz. With a little work on lighting you've got something there.

mgoodm3 · April 30, 2009 12:52AM

More light wattage ---> more light on the coin ---> faster shutter speed ---> less problem with unwanted motion ---> sharper images.

ISO 50 with a megabright light requires the same shutter speed/aperutre setting as ISO 400 with a not so bright light.

jgrinz · April 30, 2009 2:26AM

<< fine pic.

Low ISO will allow for a little smoother and less noisy pics, but will take a longer exposure. You can still use whatever aperture setting you wish, it will just require a steadier camera - thus the copystand becomes your friend. Longer exposure can be mitigated by lots of light. >>

I guess coming from you - its a real compliment

Noisy was the word I was looking for when explaining the reaon for using it.

Thanks Mark

Bcsican · April 30, 2009 2:42AM

Excellent...looks great....

adamlaneus · April 30, 2009 2:55AM

Good images so far.

If "utahcoin"'s adjusted photo looks too red to you, then I think that your monitor may be set a little 'warm' (reddish).

Your photo looks a little greenish to me and 'utahcoin's photo looks a little more neutral. If lots of people agree on this, then that means your monitor is showing colors unusually warmly.

Add a second light.

ISO50 may be overkill. I suggest you take a series of photos of the darkest coin you have at various ISOs. Then pixel-peep on the computer to see what you feel is the cutoff. You will find that the high ISO images are indeed noisy, but that at some point the noise is gone as you reduce the ISO and there may be no reason to go lower. Each camera is different. Longer exposures are more susceptible to noise, thus I suggest using the darkest coin you have.

Swampboy · April 30, 2009 2:58AM

Got it. Thnaks.

Picture critique - New ( Used ) Camera for me

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