Hey all, I'm still pretty new here and I was looking for some suggestions on how to improve my images. I'm currently using my phone to share images which has a 48 megapixel quad camera setup. It takes pretty outstanding pics unless it's close up even with the macro camera, which is obviously an issue if I'm trying photo a coin. I'm not looking for something extravagant for cataloging or anything like that, just something simple to clearly capture a detail I may have a question about. Thanks in advance!
Yes, I have a few tricks . Loupe in front of phone lens . Use an editing program called PhotoScape or LunaPic .
There are several posts on CT that show set ups using phones to photograph coins, and those individuals do an excellent job, so have you done a search here at CT yet?
Yeah I actually started with a search here to see if I could find some info before I posted. I'll admit I skimmed through them kinda quickly while I was on lunch break. The several search results I read through involved using DSLR cameras like Canon and Nikon with lighting setups. They took amazing and highly detailed images of coins but at $700-$900+ for one of these cameras it's a little pricy for me.
I tried using a little lighted currency loupe and even the clip on phone lenses but I couldn't get a clear image. My phone uses AI assisted imaging to supposedly help get better pictures. Unfortunately the AI takes info from multiple cameras in the 4 camera cluster to do that.
Hmm, you saying I should use secondary lighting instead on the camera flash or torch on my phone? I guess that would make sense since the light from my phone causes light flares that I'm assuming the AI can't fix. I tried using just ambient light from the room but the images were dark and washed out. I'll give secondary lighting a try, thanks!
Would like to see the results and hear what you think! I don't like the effect from incandescent though!!!
Place your phone on a stable base, coffee mug, can of soup etc Put your coin on a neutral background, black, white or dark grey are best depending on the color of the coin. For obv/rev shots don't zoom in, raise the coin on something until it fills the screen or is in good focus. Set the timer for a couple of seconds which will eliminate any camera shake. Use two or preferably 3 individual light sources, about ten o'clock, two o'clock and a third low down level with the coins surface, experimentation will show you how high/low and where your lights should be. For close ups of an area of the coin, zoom in bit by bit till you are satisfied with the clarity of the image. Once saved on your device, crop all unnecessary background out. When you upload the images to your post, always click on the Full Image button for each image as this gives other members the ability to click on your image and it will enlarge on their display. Avoid overuse of editing programmes for normal images other than to orient and crop out all unnecessary background. An editing programme is unable to make a blurry, un-focused image any better.
