Just got this coin back and I wanted to try a new photo technique.

I just got this coin back from NGC this morning and I have been playing with remote camera controls for my camera. This allows me to take a picture from my PC and automatically control the camera and it's settings. I'm pretty pleased with how it's working. Whaddaya think?

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Nice pictures as well as nice coin, where'd you get the dollar? I'm looking for the places to buy key-date Silver dollars and Half-dollars.

 

I bought this coin from a dealer at a coin show. He thought it was a MS65 and priced it that way... I thought different.

 

Eh, I agree with him, it doesn't look like a 66 to me... but heck, if it's in a 66 slab, someone will pay 66 money for it.

Solid pics, by the way, but something strikes me as a bit... "off" about 'em.

 

Can you nail it down a little? I'm always looking to improve.

 

I'm not sure... Not much of a photographer here, I think it might be overexposed just the tiniest bit?

 

Nice coin - and I think the pictures show how lusterous that puppy is. Beauty for sure.

 

Thanks!

I'm still playing with the settings... I'll get it nailed down the more I play with it.

 

Dutchman,

I'm super interested to hear what program you're using with your camera. I am hopefully 3 days away from getting myself a $750 copy stand (lights included) for $75 and already have the DSLR ready and waiting. Being able to control that puppy from my MacBook sounds perfect!

 

As for a critique of the photo - what kind of lighting setup are you using? I think Numismatic Photography mentions this as the key to a great photo. It seems like you could play with the locations of your lights to show off the contrast between the high points and the fields a bit more. Also, there is something about the sharpness for me that is a bit off.

Let me add that I am new to this technique, but I'm willing to start a discussion because that's usually the best way to increase my knowledge on a topic. I may be wrong, may be right - but we'll never know until others chime in. Nice coin!

 

Nailed it, particularly the contrast. That's what's throwing me off.

 

stunning coin! i love it. fantastic luster.

 

Matt, Those are wonderful photos. Are you using Camera Control Pro 2? Neat program, isn't it?

 

I think the photos suck, so to keep you from giving yourself an ulcer over it, you should give me the coin.

Chris

 

Nice coin and image LD. My first take I was going to say the images may be slightly overexposed. But after looking at them more, I'm betting the coins look almost identical to the images when in hand. Somission accomplished, nice shots.

That's the Nikon program I use too; and yes, it's really neat. My only complaint is that the LiveView (LV) resolution is lacking. I have a manual focus lens, so what I'll do is zoom LV to 100% and get the coin's detail into razor sharp focus, back out the zoom to Full View and then capture the image. However, when LV is zoomed to it's max, it's grainy and pixelated and is far from a "true" view of what the image will look like after being captured.

Does anyone else experience this?

-LTB

 

It is pretty cool... I need a new lens now... I only have a 80mm sigma macro lens on a 40d body.

 

Nothin' wrong with them pics......

Mat. Die crack going through the stars under Libertys nose (obv) and "States of America" (rev)?

 

Yep.

I'm sad to report that the first customer who saw this coin bought it this morning.... It lasted all of 3 hours...

 

See? That's why we take pics. Memories..........

 

This is a favorite subject for me. I hope that some coin image standards are soon accepted or practiced or suggested . As DSLR's come down in price and files get larger, computers get faster. we will see more threads like this one.

Please keep in mind that I am a newbie collector, but I learn super fast and question things that don't make sense to me. This post will entirely be my opinion and should be valued at what you are paying for it. or a grain of salt, something to think about, or the gospel. take your choice

BTW- first! I am stoked that you are shooting from your computer! Yes! That is awesome!

Okay for sake of discussion/clarity, lets stay in the MS 63-68 category without including color for now..

IMO Imaging/portrayal of a Certified coin should be directly tied to the grade. In other words..... Numerical Grades are determined by: Nicks and dings, luster, strike strength and the overall opinion of eye appeal.

I found this on the popular easy to read aboutcoins.com website

(MS-63) - Uncirculated, but with contact marks and nicks, slightly impaired luster, overall basically appealing appearance. Strike is average to weak.
(MS-65) - Uncirculated with strong luster, very few contact marks, excellent eye appeal. Strike is above average.
(MS-68) - Uncirculated with perfect luster, no visible contact marks to the naked eye, exceptional eye appeal. Strike is sharp and attractive.



The problem presents itself when each of those grading criteria are not weighted equally. However as you get higher in the MS scale, certain characteristics, again IMO! should stand out.

Let me put it this way. A MS66 and up coin is highly lusterous in hand. To shoot a lusterous coin in diffused/muted/matte portrayal is an insult to the coin! lol. Harshly, I feel it misrepresents one of the main attributes that gave the coin it's grade.

Shooting diffused also tends to hide nicks and dings. On the other hand, heavily contrasted images shot with direct single/dual lighting will grossly exaggerate nicks and dings and may not be pleasant to look at 20x+ on a monitor.

Now with that said, the artistry of what the image is to be used for is going to be/should be considered. How does the owner of the coin want others to see the coin? IMO finding a balance of the main 4 grading criteria. marks, luster, details and eye appeal is the ideal image for MS coins.

In the OP's image.... The coin should have "hot spots" IMO the coin is reflective in hand, is it not? Contrast, the image is excellent however it to me again, seems lifeless for a 66, nothing jumps at me on first glance. High grade coins are obvious in hand. Shoot in a way that makes your images of high grade coins attention getting!?

Iekgwin - has been posting some gorgeous images lately here on CT. He scales his images down from their original size and there is nothing wrong with that at all! He knows that many will interpret the high resolution image unfairly. errrrrr.. off on a tangent..... resolution is a separate subject.

Okay. Lastly. These big Auction house p me off! They have the wherefore all to shoot coins exactly the same way each time. they can white balance. OR do they know this and purposely post high resolution images that are more artsy than technically correct?

If I see one more 67RD copper coin that looks to have a modern satin finish on it I am going to scream! lol

I have posted this a couple times - it is also in more detail on the front page in a thread by lehigh ( i miss his posts btw)

I think Heritage images look nicer, but mine are much more accurate even though the the contrast (shadowing) is exaggerated from the use of direct lighting. I wanted to capture the luster of this 67RD coin first.

Heritage:



Mine:





Direct and blunt comments/counterpoints etc (or support) about my above opinions are encouraged!