Good evening folks- I am new to CT and coin collecting in general. This is my first post. I only own about 10 coins and I'm focusing on collecting ASE's, Morgans, and Peace Dollars. My question is about photographing these pieces. I've read some pretty complex threads on here about photographing coins and just don't think I'll be able to perform that well. Would a computer scanner work? What about a digital microscope? Any hints on using a cell phone? Any and all responses will be much appreciated and I thank you all in advance for your help and advice! Best regards, Tony
Scanner won't work, since the light emitted from the "scanner" tube will cause the coins to wash-out. Camera on a newer iPhone/Galaxy/Nokia should be okay. As for the digi scope, that depends on the type. If you mean the short handheld ones, they're kind of hard to get clear captures with, since the focusing mechanism has such a wide range over a short rotational distance.
I haven't read any of the other threads about it yet, but you could probably get some killer shots with as little as a point and shoot camera with a macro mode, a small tripod and a desk lamp. I use a DSLR for my coin photography, but I was really quite happy with the macro mode on my old Nikon point and shoot. Throw a P&S on a small tripod, set it to macro mode, and add some pure/white light and you're set. That said, I have heard of people using scanners... not sure on the results you could get though. In theory, it doesn't sound like a bad idea when you weigh the outcome with the time/monetary investment of other options.
Thanks NK and turbo- appreciate the responses. Have some extra time on my hands tomorrow and will play around with a few different methods. Thanks again!
Scanners return mediocre results. Opt for a digital point and shoot (they're really quite inexpensive) with macro capability and you'll be more than satisfied with your results. I used a scanner for years before I switched to the point and shoot. It was a difference between night and day.........
All it takes is time and patience with a camera (which I have neither) But I can tell you that its more about the lighting than the camera. Robec,Lehigh96, Gbroke they all use point and shoot cameras.
Robec does not use a Point and Shoot camera. He uses a digital SLR with bellows set-up (same as mine). However, I believe Lehigh and gbroke do both use P&S cameras.
Buy Mark Goodman's book on coin photography and read it thoroughly. It contains a wealth of information. I use a dSLR also.
I bought a Polaroid tabletop studio, it wasn't very expensive at eBay. I'm still learning my self. Make sure you have a camera tripod. The studio I bought came with one and two lights also. I'll post a pic soon As I take a good one.
