85MM or 150MM ?

mrearlygold · March 23, 2011 10:56AM

Help! Which is the better macro lense for coins in general?

Dang, how do you add a poll?

blu62vette · March 23, 2011 11:00AM

who makes a 85mm? I would go 150.. in a heartbeat.

edit: for major typos

llafoe · March 23, 2011 11:03AM

I'm 150MM... thanks for asking!

Broadstruck · March 23, 2011 11:08AM

If its a digital aspect era designed lens 150mm for close-ups... 85mm is good for slab shots.

Yet an older manual 35mm lens uses a 1.5 x aspect ratio when used on a digital SLR... So a 85mm would equal 127.5mm and a 105mm would equal 157.5mm.

MikeInFL · March 23, 2011 11:18AM

Longer is almost always better.

keyman64 · March 23, 2011 11:29AM

I use a 105mm Macro with a 2x Teleconverter. I have trouble because of the crappy Teleconverter....I really want to go buy the 200mm Nikon F4 lens but it is almost 2K! It would help me a lot with my nature photography as well! You can always back off if you need to. Longer is way better!

BlueCC uses a 150mm I believe.

Broadstruck · March 23, 2011 11:33AM

<< Longer is almost always better. >>

Any lens would really work as I shot this Norfolk below with a 55mm marco on my knees and if your shooting 1 coin it's not bad.

If your shooting a lot of coins and using the view finder depending what you have your copy stand on greater distance would be easier on your back.

messydesk · March 23, 2011 11:35AM

I'm currently using a 105mm, and I'd probably choose the 150mm over the 85mm, although the 150mm would probably give you issues for full slab shots and hockey pucks (I have a 55mm for this). I'm not aware of an 85mm macro other than Nikon's PC-micro 85mm.

TomB · March 23, 2011 11:37AM

If I had to choose from one of those two options I would imagine going with the 85mm.

Broadstruck · March 23, 2011 11:37AM

<< I'm currently using a 105mm, and I'd probably choose the 150mm over the 85mm, although the 150mm would probably give you issues for full slab shots and hockey pucks (I have a 55mm for this). I'm not aware of an 85mm macro other than Nikon's PC-micro 85mm. >>

Nikon came out with a 85mm auto focus micro last year that fits the space between their 60mm and 105mm.

Ken Rockwell 85mm 3.5 review

blu62vette · March 23, 2011 11:44AM

I recently built a setup for a client of mine. I recommended a long lens, they went short.

When I was training them for a couple days it was obvious to me why I wanted the longer lens. I would always go longer. An 85 would not cut it for me. Just depends on what the goal is with the setup.

messydesk · March 23, 2011 11:50AM

Interesting. I see it's a DX format lens, so it won't work with full-frame cameras like their other macros (or the Sigma 150mm). Much less expensive than their current 105mm, though. (I'd still take the 150.)

lablover · March 23, 2011 12:03PM

The longer 150mm Lens is the best option. It allows you a greater distance from the coin assisting with high angle lighting.

airplanenut · March 23, 2011 12:07PM

I use a 180mm, and it takes an oversized medal to be so large that I can't back my camera up enough with my copy stand (then I switch to a 105mm). Go with the longer lens.

lkeigwin · March 23, 2011 12:10PM

I have a 50mm, 105mm, and 180mm. I use the 180mm almost exclusively, except when I shoot a slab or group of coins. If I could only have one it would be the 180mm.
Lance.

mgoodm3 · March 23, 2011 12:14PM

If you are talking the 85/3.5, I would go 150. The only problem with the 150 is you will need a big copystand. Big lens, lots of working distance.

The 85/2.8 PC-micro is not for the faint of heart, and plus it is $$$.

MikeInFL · March 23, 2011 1:10PM

<< 

<< Longer is almost always better. >>

Any lens would really work as I shot this Norfolk below with a 55mm marco on my knees and if your shooting 1 coin it's not bad.

If your shooting a lot of coins and using the view finder depending what you have your copy stand on greater distance would be easier on your back.
>>

I hear you, brother, and that's a nice photo of your Norfolk (neat coin too!), but let's remember that Tom P's a dealer and he'll be taking quite a few photos (of generally highly lustrous gold). He also asked which was "better". Given that, and IMO, the longer lens will serve him better primarily because of the ability to raise the lights and flash more luster as a result. Now if he were shooting lots of full-size slab shots, or circulated copper or silver where light height is not as important, the shorter lens might make more sense, but not for the majority of coins sells.

Dr. Goodman nailed the primary shortcoming (outside of $$$) -- he'll need a big copy stand and a bit of room for it. As you point out, he might also have trouble looking down through the lens, depending on where he places the copy stand (i.e. on a table or on the floor) and/or how he chooses to focus (i.e. through the viewfinder or through his PC), but in the end the photographs will tend to be better because of the added working distance of the longer lens.

That has certainly been my experience with macro photography of coins -- longer is almost always better.

MikeInFL · March 23, 2011 1:10PM

<< If I had to choose from one of those two options I would imagine going with the 85mm. >>

Hi Tom, What's your thought process here? Just curious...Mike

TomB · March 23, 2011 1:14PM

Based upon the type of coin I typically shoot and how I like to take the images. Obviously, I am in the very small minority on this issue, but that's okay.

MikeInFL · March 23, 2011 1:20PM

<< Based upon the type of coin I typically shoot and how I like to take the images. Obviously, I am in the very small minority on this issue, but that's okay. >>

Thanks for the response, Tom.

For some reason I have circulated silver in my head when I think of your kind of coins....and I was thinking circulated silver wouldn't see much of an advantage to a longer lens, and that might be it.

FWIW, I think your photos are very nice. I really like their accuracy and wish more folks who were selling coins would strive for your level of photographic truthfulness, frankly. There is nothing more disappointing that opening a package and the coin be worse in-hand than the photograph.

AnkurJ · March 23, 2011 2:18PM

<< 

<< Longer is almost always better. >>

Any lens would really work as I shot this Norfolk below with a 55mm marco on my knees and if your shooting 1 coin it's not bad.

>>

Same coin, shot with a 100mm Macro lens. The higher the mm, the more distance = more room to play with lighting.

AJ

DennisH · March 23, 2011 2:33PM

I have (and use) both Nikon 60mm and 105mm digital lenses (DX sensor format camera). The 60mm is my default choice for several reasons:

1. I'm usually shooting full slab photos.
2. It's light and easy to handle.
3. It doesn't require my large copy stand to be raised to its full height, where I need a stepstool in order to look through the viewfinder.

I switch to the 105 when I'm shooting tighter detail.

Broadstruck · March 23, 2011 2:58PM

<< 

<< 

<< Longer is almost always better. >>

Any lens would really work as I shot this Norfolk below with a 55mm marco on my knees and if your shooting 1 coin it's not bad.

>>

Same coin, shot with a 100mm Macro lens. The higher the mm, the more distance = more room to play with lighting.

AJ >>

So what was your point in posting your rendition as do you really feel you did this Norfolk any due justice

I only shot it with a 55mm lens as something special happened while using 650w Kaiser 4397 halogens.

AnkurJ · March 23, 2011 3:13PM

Broadstruck:

I posted it to show the difference a longer lens length can provide. The longer the lens, the more room you have to play with the lighting.

As for doing the coin justice, the owner was very pleased with the image as it captures the color dead on.

Broadstruck · March 23, 2011 4:06PM

<< Broadstruck: I posted it to show the difference a longer lens length can provide. The longer the lens, the more room you have to play with the lighting. >>

There's actually not much of a difference between my older manual 35mm film aspect Nikon 55mm and your Canon100mm digital aspect AF lens.

That's what makes the older Nikkor AI and AIS lenses so attractive as focusing is done manually anyway.

55mm = 82.5mm
85mm = 127.5mm
105mm = 157.5mm

morgandollar1878 · March 23, 2011 4:09PM

Without a doubt 150mm.

BG · March 23, 2011 6:33PM

<< Help! Which is the better macro lense for coins in general?

Dang, how do you add a poll? >>

Tom,
Why the fear to commit?

Your first post asking for recomendations on camera's and or a camera lens was in 2004?

There are six pages of posts by you around this subject.

Camera/Lens

kryptonitecomics · March 23, 2011 9:58PM

150mm hands down....

Windycity · March 24, 2011 12:02AM

I have a 55mm and a 150mm... use the 150mm almost always. I use the 55m for currency and larger items.

mrearlygold · March 24, 2011 12:46AM

<< 
3. It doesn't require my large copy stand to be raised to its full height, where I need a stepstool in order to look through the viewfinder.
>>

The person who would be doing this is 5 feet tall. So we would need a step "ladder"?

blu62vette · March 24, 2011 12:50AM

<< 

<< 
3. It doesn't require my large copy stand to be raised to its full height, where I need a stepstool in order to look through the viewfinder.
>>

The person who would be doing this is 5 feet tall. So we would need a step "ladder"?

>>

It is worth it. I take a 4x6 with me to shows to stand on.

lcoopie · March 24, 2011 1:29AM

I have the 85 Nikon
and in retrospect, I would have been happier with a longer lens.

Broadstruck · March 24, 2011 1:45AM

<< The person who would be doing this is 5 feet tall. So we would need a step "ladder"?

>>

Maybe just the occasional piggyback ride!

renomedphys · March 24, 2011 1:55AM

The real answer is that every coin and lighting scenario is different. I will agree that the longer lens generally gives you the most options, especially with lighting, but on occasion, the shorter lens will give you an unexpectedly positive result. Personally, I use a 150mm Sigma for colse-ups. That said, I have gotten lighting results shooting slabs with my 35mm f:2 Nikon at 8 inches that are both wonderful, and that I cannot duplicate with the longer lens.

BUY THEM ALL!!!

crazyhounddog · March 24, 2011 2:40AM

150mm hands down the best....

photog · March 24, 2011 7:16AM

I use the 150 - and love it. With my copy stand, I can just squeak a full slab photo out of it, which we do occasionally for eBay photos.

Jenna
DWN

drwstr123 · March 24, 2011 7:37AM

90mm Sigma:

85MM or 150MM ?

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