NumisPam

Hi I am new here. I just spent about 4 hours looking at coin info posts and pictures on this site. Most of the coin photo's are awesome! Would someone please tell me some tips on taking good coin pics? Are most of them scanned or taken with a camera? and if by camera, what kind do you use?
I would like to post some of my coins but I cant take decent enough pictures!
I would love to someone to tell me how they take good coin pics. Please, pretty please, and Thank YOU!
NumisPam

Lehigh96

I use a Canon Powershot SD880 IS (10 megapixel) camera with two gooseneck lamps with fluorescent light bulbs and a copy stand. I just recently upgraded to a Nikon D90 SLR but need a macro lens.

My advice to you is to use the search function at the top and type in photography. You will find some very informative threads.

Also, if you are very serious, consider purchasing a book by Mark Goodman called Numismatic photography. He is one of the best coin photographers in the business and his book is very easy to read and follow. In case you want to see his credentials, here is a photo of a coin I own taken by Mark.

Leadfoot

" Great Coin Photos! How do you take them?"

I can't say it any better than these two guys:

illini420

Takes lots of practice, plenty of trial and error. I also bought a copy of Mark Goodman's Numismatic Photography book which helped some too.

I use a Nikon Coolpix P80, just a $250-$300 or so point and shoot. I think it's 7 or 8 megapixels, but the most important thing is you need to put the camera in macro mode (has a little flower symbol). Then you zoom in just a tiny bit to bring the coin into the shot, Goodman's book tells you that having the camera further away from the coin rather than closer is better so that lighting can make it to the coin. After I get the photos off the camera, I'll sometimes need to fix the white balance in my photo editor, or maybe the brightness if the photo doesn't look like the coin. Then I cut out the images in photoshop and put them in the template I use. Again, just plenty of trial and error.

__________________
My 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set
http://tinyurl.com/bbzy8y
My 1909 Mint Registry Set
http://tinyurl.com/dj7nbg

tribby

Excellent photos, I'd like to get the template as well...
Thanks

crusherjc

Wow, illini just amazing phots, mine are ok, but your fantastic. I would love it you shared your template any any info on what you did in photoshop.
Thank,
Jim

illini420

See post #20 for the link to the info you are seeking

Thanks for the comments on the pics too

__________________
My 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set
http://tinyurl.com/bbzy8y
My 1909 Mint Registry Set
http://tinyurl.com/dj7nbg

north49guy

Wow illini! those photos are great and that template...amazing! It looks so professional, where do you find templates like that? And what background color do you use for photographing coins? Black, white, cream lol?

__________________
-north49guy

Dansco 7070- 53/76
69.74% complete

illini420

Thanks for the nice comments

I just take the photos of the slabs lying on a sheet of white paper. White paper makes it much easier to do the white balance adjustment in the photo editor later on if needed to correct the colors of the image.

The template I use was made available by a member of the Collectors Universe forum and another member wrote up a good set of instructions on how to use photoshop to crop out the images and insert them into the template. Took some time to get the hang of doing it, but now I find it pretty easy to do.

If anyone wants a link to the information regarding the template, just let me know

__________________
My 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set
http://tinyurl.com/bbzy8y
My 1909 Mint Registry Set
http://tinyurl.com/dj7nbg

kanga

I've been noticing your images too.
VERY appealing presentation.
I'll stick with mine, mostly because this is my third time imaging most of my coins and I'm tired of reinventing the wheel.

Lehigh96, I've got a Nikon D90 too and also the Nikkor 60mm Micro Lens (Nikon doesn't call it Macro).
I'm confident I could do better, but eventually I had to start taking pictures and stop experimenting.
But at the moment I have to change some settings. My current settings don't work with brown copper and that's what I'm trying to image now.

__________________
ANA Member
APS Member
ARA Member

There are 10 types of people: those that understand binary, and those that don't.

urbanchemist

i bought my wife the new canon rebel digital slr for christmas. i have ordered the book mentioned and will read up on it, so when she gets the camera i can try it out

__________________
THE CHICAGO COLLECTION(404 NOTES SO FAR)
http://www.banknotebank.com/user_vie...NUTZFORCHITOWN
CHECK OUT MY CURRENCY COLLECTION: http://www.banknotebank.com/?collection=urbanchemist
(441 NOTES UP RIGHT NOW)

north49guy

Thanks for the info, I would like the link please, thanks!

__________________
-north49guy

Dansco 7070- 53/76
69.74% complete

GoldCoinLover

I've heard his book is good, and his pictures are amazing. You can send him your coins to professionally photograph them if you want..I sent one of mine in. I bet the book is good too, I haven't really dabbled too much with coin phtography myself. Here's a few pictures of his that he took for my coin:

__________________
1834 Breen-6138. No Motto, Small Head style. (Small head variety)
NGC AU53/CAC $2.50 classic head
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...4labelcomp.jpg

skippy

If you have a Canon DSLR camera (interchangeable lenses), look for the 60mm macro lens. For $350 - $400 it's the best for macro lens out there.

Most quality coin pictures are taken with a camera with a two light setup. (Trial and error involved).
Scanning a coin on a flatbed scanner makes the coin, well.. appear flat and unappealing.

dctjr80

I use a Canon MP470 Scanner
it cost me about $40 and can print things also

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

__________________
Sincerely,
Donn
http://www.cointalk.com/forum/member...80/albums/123/ See My World Coins