Harpers Ferry DDR

Since you seem so knowledgeable please tell me how to adjust my white balance on my USB camera. Been trying to figure that one out ever since I bought the camera. I am using Windows 10 camera viewer. On my USB camera. The program has many filters that you are able to use. Went to settings can't find anything to adjust camera balance. But when it comes to my computer I'll be happy if it just comes on when I push the button. Talk to a photographer friend of mine. He basically laid it out like it is you get what you paid for. And he was even surprised at a couple of the photos that I've shown him photos off the camera in the course they were of coins. And he basically told me what I've been told from the beginning. It's all in the lighting. He is a professional photographer and does a lot outdoor events in South Florida. Even outdoors he says you need a lot of additional lights and even filters. To achieve the professional photos that his clients require. But since I'm not a professional photographer I have to do with what I have. All I found since I started using this USB camera you do not have to spend a lot of money all you need to do is just be a little creative and find out what works with you and your camera. My set up is in a very tight space on my desk. But try and plug anything more electrical devices into my outlet I'm going to have a big problem. And as far as a natural lights I also have two of them that I bought for my other camera set up. Found them very difficult to position. But that's just me. Any advice would be helpful. On adjusting the color balance on this USB camera. Do not know the make and model because most of the stuff coming out of China you do not get a make they just give you some number that they create. But I'm happy with my set up. And yes it may take me a little while to put the light in the right place or to place a piece of white paper in the right place to deflect back the light. But I make it work not all the time but most of the time until I figure out the next little trick.

 

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I've had absolutely no experience with USB cameras, so I can't help you there. @Paddy54 or @coinzip might be able to lend a hand.

 

I appreciate your come back. My only experience we USB cameras are a couple that I've owned since I bought this first one. What research I can find out about them everything is basically basic and set at the factory. Now for my understanding from computer savvy people that know more about computers than I do you can obtain software to achieve the lighting within your USB camera. But so far I have not found that software. All I know on the camera that I've been using sometimes I have to turn the lights off in the room and do not use the USB cameras lights. Have to provide an alternate light source this seems to work best with these kinds of cameras. All I know for a fact that is florescent light with the USB camera tends to be blueish or purple. That's why most of the times I do not use the LED lights in the camera. But I do appreciate your help, and thank you.USMC60

 

I wish I had the answers and could do more to help, but I can't. I'm not personally familiar with the usb "scope" you use, nor do I know if adjusting the white balance is even possible. I know it wasn't an option on all inexpensive cameras, at least at one time, so it only goes to reason that the same may go for such scopes as well.

I understand you don't have a make or model number, but there has to be something identifying it; some sort of number or code or...? If you can find such a thing, if I were you, I'd try searching it out to see what I can find. Such things are clearly quite popular, and I can only assume some are rebranded, so perhaps someone who is familiar has taken the time to discover and write of its capabilities. Have you throughly gone through the menu options? I assume so, but no harm (or offense) in asking.

That said, I realize you like and are happy with what you use, and is all that really matters, but please try to understand that offering other suggestions/options to another member isn't meant as a slight to you. As with most everything in life, rarely is there a "one size fits all" type of solution, so what may be best for you isn't necessarily what's best for someone else. Even back when I was regularly imaging coins, I never went with a bellows setup simply because it wasn't necessary for me, and was overkill for my then needs, even though the quality it offers is undeniable. This doesn't mean I was right and those who prefer said method are wrong, but only that it wasn't the best choice for me. Well, the same may be true with your scope. It may be the best choice for you, but isn't going to be the same for everyone and is why I was trying to offer Mr. Gallego options to consider.

 

If you use something like my coin is sitting on, you won't have a glare issue .

 

Then you can take images like this .

 

There are all kinds of tricks when it comes to a USB camera. For that particular camera that you're showing a photo of your little book box evidently works for that particular type of camera. But I have a USB camera that I actually paid twice as much for as I did for the cheap one. This particular USB camera if you use the cameras LED lights especially on a nickel reflective surface. You get glare. I get glare even with the LED lights on my cheapo camera.I don't know about you but in my set up I am able to interact with the coin to position it for the best photo. It seems in your little book box you do not have any room to adjust the coin. But that's okay whatever works. And that is a nice photo you're showing. Just a slight little glare up at 1 o'clock. But over all still a good photo.PS. Photo of my set up could be seen on page 1. And you can also see I have plenty of room to make adjustments to the coin

 

Here's a image of this coin ( Proof ) and it's a close up .

 

I only have to use the books on Proof coins, everything else can be shot in the open ...

 

Rick real nice photo. But with a little filtering you can get rid of those 15 Shiny spots on that photo. And from what I can see it's caused by the USB camera lights. But overall an excellent looking photo. I found that I can eliminate 80% of those little glare spots by just using a piece of white paper to reflect the light back on the coin without using direct lighting on the coin. Photographer friend of mine suggested that and it seems to work not all the time but some of the time.usmc60

 

Rick and you can still see the glare spots on the coin I quit counting the glare spots on this photo. But Rick if you're like me it doesn't really matter you can still see what you're trying to display. And especially for CT.

 

Rick this is one of the ones that I mention about using a piece of paper to reflect light back. And still because of the nickel getting a little bit of reflective light

 

Here's some full shots using that white foam cup .

 

Lincoln Cent are the toughest for me to image .

 

If you can't set the white balance, you still have options to play with.
Each type of light bulb put off a different color. Don't mix the type of lighting in the room. Turn off everything else. Don't have anything around the coin that has a bright color. Light will reflect that color to the coin. Even the shirt you are wearing can mess with the image. Move the monitor away from the coin. It is putting different colors of light on the coin.
With the right imaging software, you can edit the white balance after you take the image. It's really easy with the right software. I don't know the names of them but some of them are free to download. Some folks here were talking about a free one called Gimp? I think. they were having good luck with it. Just some ideas.

 

I don't know it sounds kind of kinky sitting in a dark room with no clothes on to just take a photograph of a coin. LOL but you're absolutely right about lights. But as a buddy of mine told me they can also work in your favor. I don't know I use Windows 10 camera photo and I have the paint program. Which I can use to manipulate a photo. But I have found on some of these USB cameras if you use your lighting right you can achieve a decent natural photo. As most things it's a trial and error . Believe me I've shut all the lights off in the Room but I haven't tried that Naked thing yet.

 

Totally agree with you on that. They are also my nightmare to. Sometimes I think I have it right As far as a natural looking cent. And for a photo for CT I think these will do you can see the error within the coin.USMC60

 

I really like this one.

 

Here's another one I'd like to add. 2016-p 25c wv u009.
Description. Doubling shown in the center window frame. Bottom of L4.

 

Well less add another one to the list.2016-p 25c WV U010.
Description: doubling shown on the left side of center window multiple windows.