I am looking for recommendations for led ring light for my coin photograph, I use a Panasonic Lumix 4/3 model . I know the camera size does not really matter but can anybody suggest a brand or model? Amazon seem to have selections from cheap to expensive. I am trying to improve the lighting on a few of my coins and Doug had recommended a LED ring light. The coins I am trying to improve my pics for have a dark patina or silvered coins ( Silver coated.) Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
1. Make sure it fits the lens diameter 2. Dimmable or has plastic circles to cover the light to control the brightness on the coin. Too much and everything looks doubled. 3. Be sure it's Q/A are positive . Jim
The wife's got one of those circular 'true light' thingo's (Ott Light) but I've never used it for coin photography. Maybe someone who has will chime in.
I'm so far from being a good photographer that I shouldn't really be commenting at all, but I did buy a ring light for my Cannon T6 and I've been more than pleased with it: Above taken using the Bolt VM-160
Get one with a CRI rating over 95. I got that tip from someone here and it made a big difference, especially for bronze coins. John
The one I use has no brand name markings but was cheap Chinese on eBay made for use on stereo microscopes. There seems to be many. Today the post office delivered my new toy which is larger and intended to be used for making You Tube videos. I have to figure out what to do with it before I 'out' it here. I suggest you avoid models with a color temperature much over 5500K (too blue) or under 4000K. Too bright will be more a problem than too weak at the close distances so one with a dimmer is needed. There are coins that respond well to the ringlight and those that do not. Your job is to figure out what you have. Whatever the lighting, I point out that a small change in the tilt/angle of a coin can make a lot of difference. You look through the camera and wiggle the thing until you like what you see. I'm sorry that I can not give specific band and model recommendations. I have modified the one I have to have a slightly yellow filter/diffuser I made on a 3D printer and probably could not make another exactly like it since I don't recall the brand of PLA used and settings I used when printing. I was not taught to cook from recipes or be scientific in my methods. I have not seen this in small rings. Do you have a link to the one you have? CRI is important for some coins more than others but higher is definitely better.
This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/Aputure-Amaran-Halo-LED-Light/dp/B00IO0RNYE The ring on mine is big enough that it fits around the end of my lens, so it is totally centered on the focal axis (if that makes sense). I put a piece of white paper over the light ring to make it more diffused. I like Aputure and have some of their LED panels. I use the panels more than the ring now because you get more shadows to define the contours of the coin. John
I am thinking of this one. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-Lu...teway&sprefix=panasonic++ring+,aps,192&sr=8-6 It was made for my camera but I cant find all the specs everyone is recommending.
