I need some help with the photography part of collecting. I always thought this couldn't possibly be hard to do but I was wrong. I've tried like 15 times with different coins in different locations and I just can't manage to get it like some of the other photos I've been seeing on places like Ebay. I've tried lamps, flashlights, camera flash with all different fills, long exposure, natural sunlight, everything and I just can't seem to show luster, toning, or detail. Right now I'm using a 24 MP Nikon D3200 with a tripod, black sheet of cardboard, and an 18-55 lens. I want my photos to look something like this; http://www.ebay.com/itm/330939725242?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 or this; http://www.ebay.com/itm/300921861070?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 but all I can get is what's attached. Can you guys please post your set-up or help me out with what I'll need to do. Should I buy some sort of stand, some sort of light, a new Hasselblad H4D 200MS? Or should I just have NGC take the photos for me? By the way, this coin just came in the mail today, I wish I could actually get the toning to show but that's the whole problem I'm having (the first two photos show the toning but I want the straight shots to.) It's a silver 2004 French St. Martin 1/4E Essai graded PF68 Ultra Cameo by NGC.
First thing to do is lose the black cardboard. The best color to use is grey, specifically a photography grey board. White is also better than black. This makes a huge difference when it comes to your cameras white balance. The best setup, in my opinion are two desk lamps. To capture toning, try turning your white balance down. Place the lights as closely over the coin you can without actually reflecting on the coin. My setup: Here is an example to show how the lights are shining on the slab. Adjust them at 10 and 2, or however highlights the particular series best.
Well, I'm lotsofmotts and I greatly appreciate the shout out . But to be 100% honest with you.... gbroke taught me everything I know. He is the imaging king. If you want amazing photos he's the guy to go to hands down. His simple, cheap set up is the best and most efficient in my personal opinion. I use the same exact set up as him. Here is his link : http://beta3.thecoinnection.com/Public/coinimaging and a great article http://www.coinimaging.com/photography.html. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me. Hope this helps!
Here is some comparisons I took of before and after gbroke's advice. Mind you..I have gotten 10x better since then but you can see the differences.
Thank you! That really helps and I'll definately go try that out tomorrow. I had been using a white paper before but i was told to get the black. I'll try out the grey next. I was also using the wrong kind of desk lamp (i had one with the lamp shade) and one bell type one. So, what white balance should i be using? Because i think i had left mine at -0.8. And should my D3200 work or should i go out and get a pretty good point and shoot? Because my camera will definately fall if i use one of those tripods. Could this work for using my camera though since it tilts? http://www.ephotozine.com/article/vanguard-alto-pro-263at-tripod-review-19924 . Because i was also having to crop way down with the tall tripod i have and that normally isn't a problem with cars but for some reason it's blurring coins.
wow! That really made a huge difference! How did you get them to shine so much though? Is that really all in the lighting because they look like different coins.
Yes, indeed. All in the lighting. If you review that link from gbroke's coinnection you can see where to position the lights for luster.
That looks cool (although a lot more difficult). You have your own bar? But where do you put your camera in that set-up?
I have been trying to improve my photos too. I have a setup like gbroke's (I have an identical stand, and two lights very much like what he shows). I think my camera is the flaw now, as I still cannot really get the details and clarity I need. I will link to a post I made in another thread with an example photo I made: http://www.cointalk.com/t199698-post1729992/?highlight=#post1729992 I'm using my Samsung S3 cell phone camera - it's 8 megapixel, and it has a macro photo setting (none of my other cameras have that, which is why I'm using it). If that's not a bad choice, what are the key features I want to look for in another camera? I see a lot of cameras where they talk about being able to take macro photos up to 1cm away. I would guess my camera is close to 8"+ away from the coin usually. So any help to improve my photos would be appreciated.
Here is what I use. The camera is a Nikon D5100, I use two lenses a 105mm 2.8 Micro and a 60mm 2.8 Micro depending on what coin size I am shooting. The lights on the long flexible gooseneck are Jansjo LED. The camera adjusts up and down to help frame the shot, and the lights can be positioned anywhere. I use Control My Nikon software so image composition and lighting is viewed on my flat screen before the exposure is made. The software controls the camers so it is a hands off operation to prevent vibration.
The camera goes on the tripod. Perhaps this photo depicts the set-up better. It's pretty simple actually. I always use the lamps on the bar to look at coins. When I want to take photos, I bring the tripod & tray table into the mix. This keeps the camera & the coins at convenient heights. Sometimes I put the laptop on the bar to view the photo work more closely. The main reason I posted in your thread was to show you the toy I use to angle the coin to the camera & lighting. Yep. Stay thirsty my friend.
To go out and buy everything new it would be expensive. The microscope and stand were free. The camera was the result of upgrades over a 40 year span, and the lenses were used. The software only cost about a hundred dollars. So, in time you can piece together any setup you want to go for. And the lights were $9.95 each at Ikea.