So I got a camera with macro...

...and I still can't get good coin pictures. They're blurry. No detail shows. When I used my brother's camera I just turned it on macro function, held it really steady and got pretty good pictures. Then when I experimented with different lighting, angles, etc. I was able to get good coin photos. I even tried the same setup and lighting as when I got pictures I liked with my brother's camera, but I still can't get good pictures with this new camera.
Any ideas?

 

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Hmm, are you zooming in on the coin? Maybe the camera is too close to the coin. Or I've noticed sometimes my camera doesn't focus under lights (lol I have no clue why), try some pics with just natural light.

 

yeah. trade cameras with your brother

What kind of lighting are you using? If you are utilizing an external flash you will have to manually set your fstop and shutter speed. Some kind of tripod mount wouldn't hurt either. Macro is a fussy deal, you'll need to get the camera distance from your subject just right. Not every coin is going to look great under the same set up. Sometimes you need to play around with it a bit. If you're using on camera flash you aren't going to get good pictures. Flash look better in my opinion with something filtering the light to soften it. Out of curiosity what kind of camera/set-up are you using?

 

First, do not zoom in. Most cameras have a much longer focal length when zoomed. i.e. mine is about 1' with no zoom, but 14" when zoomed - and, no, I did not leave the decimal point out. Alternatively, read teh directions and make sure you are far enough back.

Secondly, you have to hold everything still - more so than what most humans can do. Either get yourself a tripod or make do taking pictures on a table.

 

Out of curiosity, what type of camera is it? And it is amazing how much better the operation can be if one does read the instruction book, especially the section on macro, auto focus choices, white balance, and Image stabilization ( if yours have it).

I found that I could finess the auto focus area to be sure the area of the coin I was photographing was the center of the autofocus . On mine, I can not set the white balance except on the "manual" setting, but it follows through when I switch to auto. The Image stabilization settings vary on cameras, but it virtually eliminates a tripod.

Jim

 

I presume this is a digital camera so depending on the size of the card, you could shoot many, many pictures. Not sure but today most cards are either SD, XD or compact Flash. If so, and your camera has several different megapixel ranges, you could use a card that would allow you to take thousands of photos.
The reason I mention this is since your camera is new to you, you may be a little overly expectant of fantastic photos right from the start. Sort of like a new car, get to know it first. Now again, depending on the card size, just take your time and shoot, shoot, shoot. With a pen and paper record what you do each time. Then when you put them on your computer and the ones that do turn out great, you'll have the method written down. And eventually you will have good photos.
As a rule most digital cameras require more light than a film camera. So try it outside on a dark surface, not in direct sunlight though.
Again, usually it's not the camera, it's the person using it. Here is another tip. If you do not use a tripod, when taking any kind of photo, stop breathing. What most people don't realize is when you breath, your chest expands and contracts. Since your holding something in both hands, usually, your arms are touching your sides and moving with you chest movements. If your arms are moving, your hands are connected to them and they are moving too. And your camera is in your hands.

 

Yep it can be hard. I don't use a tripod or anything, but I usually have to rest my arm over the table to keep it steady, or hold the camera real close to your body.

 

When I use macro with my camera I still have to be about 6" away AND can't completely zoom in.
I sort of make up for that by shooting at the highest resolution the camera offers.

 

Great advice from Hobo....

 

I say that you don't have the Macro turned on and/or you don't have it set on AUTO (the little camera thingy, not the P). :goofer:

Ribbit

 

Toad may be right. Be sure the macro came on. On my camera it takes a second or two for the macro to come on. I can't just press the button, I have to hold it down till the macro flower show on the screen.

Lou

 

Here's a site that some of you may find interesting about coin photography: http://www.tabletopstudio.com/documents/coin_photography.htm

Lou

 

My experience has been that you MUST use a sturdy tripod, especially under normal lighting. A close-up shot will magnify even the smallest camera shake. Try to set the shutter speed at something faster than 1/60 sec. (might have to set Shutter Priority mode).

And if you have a digital SLR, some macro lens require that you be quite a distance back at max zoom. I have one that requires about 30 inches back.

 

Well, I AM SURE macro is on. I have tried alot of different things. Lots of different lighting. Lots of different zoom, or not zoomed. The on thing I know I haven't tried is a tripod, because I don't have one. I was able to the camera sturdy enough to get good pics with my brother's camera, but maybe I need a tripod for this one. I read over everyone's posts carefully and I apreciate all of them. I'll try resting the camera on something to keep it steady. And maybe I'll buy a tripod. I'll also try out some of the other things suggested in this thread. Thanks. And I'll let you guys know what happens.

 

If your going for a tripod, you may want to just get a cheap one since you'll probably only be using for coins. They are available at places like Walmart, Kmart, Sears, etc.
A odd experiment would be to ask someone else to try taking those photos. If still the same results, then at least you would know it's not just you.

 

I have never used a tripod, although someday I will be getting one, and I don't have a focus problem. The only time I have a focus problem is when I get the wrong angle or too close, but my initial button push will tell me I'm too close or at the wrong angle, since my focus box won't show up or won't be square (I don't know how to say it except that way). I utilize the focus box to make sure I'm at the right angle and not too close, before I ever take a shot, so I don't have problems usually with focusing, unless my camera setting got changed accidently, then I will have out of focus shots. :goofer:

Ribbit

Ps: I use a Sony DSC-H7. :thumb:

 

I didn't catch if someone else said this but sometimes you get shutter shake.

Try using a tripod. They are cheap for small ones.

Lighting is a big key but others mentioned that.

Also a book on photographing coins is coming out in May.

Oh and it's almost May! Yay!

 

It's not you and I don't think a tri-pod is going to help you. If it's not showing up in focus on the display before you snap the picture, the tri-pod isn't going to do it for you.

From someone that has used 4 different, modern, digital point and shoots extensively.....

My wife had a Minolta Z2 that took awesome macro shots with no tri-pod. It was effortless. No adjustments. No add ons. Amazing pictures!!

Then I got a Canon S3 IS and I thought I was going to kick some a$$ shooting macro shots! NO WAY! This was a $400 camera and the zoom is WORTHLESS without attaching the macro lens to it on the extension. In any mode. If your camera can do this, I would get a cheap macro lens to add on and it will make a world of difference. I set it to macro in manual mode. Then I use my manual focus on the side. If it runs out, I can physically move the camera in or out to get it in perfect focus, without a tri-pod. This works well.

Then my wife got a Canon A640 10 megapixel powershot. With the macro lens attachment, it beats the S3 in ability IMO. Just slightly better. Without the attachment, it doesn't do real well in macro mode either.

 

If you're using a small, (relatively) cheap point-n-shoot, even if stability isn't your problem this time a tripod or, better yet, a small copy stand would be a solid investment. It depends on the minimum focal length of your camera in macro mode. And if you don't know that, look it up, because you need to be sure any stability aid you get can get you at least that far away from your subject.

There's a place online that sells fairly cheap, small copy stands for smaller cameras, like yours probably is. I have one and used it with my point'n'shoot until I replaced it with a Digital SLR. If you have money, I can't overstate what a difference a good camera and lens makes. I did also have to buy a bigger copy stand, though.

If you want more info about the small copy stands, PM me.