Taking Pictures of Coins

broke and frustrated Wanting to take Photos of VAMs and good detail shots of current coins and of Client Coins.

 

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This should be a smaller image .. from what Green18 explained to me this image should have pasted here .. but would only copy to the uploaded file area

 

Most of the work in coin imaging is getting the lighting right. Is your 105mm lens a new Micro-Nikkor AFS type? If so, lighting is going to be your biggest challenge. I have developed some lighting techniques that can be used on your lens, so if you are interested I (or SuperDave) can describe what to do to improve.

 

Most of the work in coin imaging is getting the lighting right. Is your 105mm lens a new Micro-Nikkor AFS type? If so, lighting is going to be your biggest challenge. I have developed some lighting techniques that can be used on your lens, so if you are interested I (or SuperDave) can describe what to do to improve.

 

Don't know about New I have had it for about 6 years it is a AFS Type with Autofocusing shut off

 

I am extremely interested been working on this for weeks The lens is an Micro-Nikkor AF-S 105mm 2.8G ED Lights are R1C1 Remote Wireless with 2 SB-R200 Lights that can be located off the Ring

 

Best for you to start another thread to talk specifically about lighting.
Don't want to hijack this thread, unless the OP wants to go down this path...

 

great tell me where and when don't know how to do that

 

When you're posting your reply and have uploaded a file, it gives you a clickable button (they're called CTA's - Call To Action Buttons) choice of "Thumbnail" or "Full Image." Choose Full Image and you'll get a pic post like mine did.

To post a new thread, in the subforum view ("Coin Chat," for instance) where you see all the available threads, at top and bottom right of the thread list you'll see blue "Post New Thread" buttons. Click one of those and go to town.

 

Thanks

 

Your right SuperDave about the scanner not taking that good a picture but I found that it takes a better picture than my 10mm Kodak camera...I have not heard of the USB microscope ( Yes, I am REALLY out of touch ) and just checked them out on Amazon...Looks like you ( actually me, I am buying one!) can get a decent one for $20ish...Here's a photo of what my scanner did.

 

So I played around this morning with natural sunlight & trying a few different setting with my camera. What are your thoughts about if you saw this coin on eBay in terms of the pictures? I'm not asking what it might be worth. Do you think the images are good enough to show the overall condition of the coin as well as the unfortunate slash on her cheek. It's funny, the hardest thing about describing a coin, is getting a decent picture!! Thanks for the input.

 

Not terrific, but I'd have no problem deciding whether or not I wanted to buy it from these pics, especially since you included the clear detail of the gouge. The coin is otherwise rather nice, probably 65 without the gouge.

 

Thanks. I am trying to figure out how to get the most out of my camera. After 10 years, I figured I should at the very least, thumb through the manual!

Good eye, Dave. I showed this one to a dealer yesterday, and he told me without the gouge most likely a 64-65. He commented and said even with the mark it was a very nice coin.

Oh well. I guess that is why the good ones are the good ones. Too bad she was mugged, and got her face slashed.

 

One additional advantage of extensive coin photography experience is it teaches you to accurately evaluate imperfect photographs. Those who denigrate the concept of grading from images don't realize that.

 

I really liked the Depth of Field you got on these photos. What settings and type of camera did you use if I may ask

 

The highly detailed surface appearance comes from extreme low-angle side lighting, likely below 10-degrees.

 

Yes...you may!!! haha

I use a nikon cool pix s510 on a short tripod. It is a 8mp point & shoot with some features I am trying to figure out after 10 years.

According to the info I get from the pictures on the computer, the front & back are:
ISO64, 17.1mm (???), 0ev (???), f4.7, 1/149 (shutter speed I assume?)

The close up of the slashed cheek:
ISO93, everything else is the same except the 1/149. On this one it says .01988s.

I hope this helps you 'cause it sure confuses me!

 

It was on an east facing glassed in porch, direct low sunlight, 9:00am this morning.

Oh yeah...sun was to the right side of the photos. I am located in upstate NY so you can get some idea of my latitude. Not my attitude...that is always bad!

 

Thanks .. just learning myself ..