What Camera do you Use to take those Clear Crisp Images of your Coins?

Slang for a 50mm prime lens.

 

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Thanks . . but. . . umm . .

So now I'm up to two more questions (hey! where's the coin-camera forum?! <g>)

- Are there "non-prime" lenses?

- Nikon advertises "Includes 3x AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II lens:" I'm guessing that's not a 50mm lens? It just can "act like one" when it zooms? Or am I totally off base?

 

Sorry, was typing on my phone and it's really late here.

A prime lens in short means the lens isn't a zoom lens. A 50mm lens is just that, 50mm, no more and no less (well, it's more if you are using a non full frame camera, but that is a different story).

And yes, any lens that is a 'zoom' lens is a non-prime lens. Prime lenses have the best quality, although now-a-days zoom lens' sharpness is pretty damn close.

As for the advertisement it's a 18-55mm lens, and the f stop is 3.5 at 18mm and 5.6 at 55mm. I'm not familiar with Nikon so someone else would have to tell you the exacts on Nikon's letter schemes. Not sure how they label their lenses (e.g. dont know what ED is on their lens).

Here are two great sites for canon photography: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/

I know you mentioned Nikon, but it's still worth the reading on the first link.

 

I bought the Sigma 150 macro but it's more than the camera.
This is a link to B&H. Check around but they are said to have good prices.
Keep in mind that you will need some type of stand.
It's going to be heavy and not something you can use in hand.
If you get the software with the camera, check out the remote shoot.
It lets you control the camera settings on the PC and take the shot with the mouse. You get to see the images as you take them. It's a great tool.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?ci=274&N=4293919688+4294185281+4294951193

 

If your taking your pics near your computer then the usb powered digital microscope cameras are cool,some have their own adjustable lightsource,for 100 bucks you can buy one on ebay that will magnify from 20x to 300x for close-ups of detail,I use a cheap digital sony cybershot with indirect led lighting to make standard size pics,really simple to do,lots of indirect light and a steady camera stand,adjust till I like how it looks onscreen and use a remote shutter button if you can.

 

Guys what's a good Macro lens for my soon to be new Canon Rebel 12 megapixel camera?
Help me find one on ebay if you can, guys.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-100mm-...mera_Lenses?hash=item2a03d78168#ht_500wt_1182 Is that one good?

 

I already told you Check the link I posted earlier: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-100mm-f-2.8-USM-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx

 

Oh lol sorry, I just pulled a bnb..Clutzy ole me!

So that one is good for my Rebel? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...63182&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_8625wt_1165

 

Yeah... and the 450d is a 1.6 sensor so it's really 160mm.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Field-of-View-Crop-Factor.aspx

 

I use a Canon MP470 Scanner and haven't had any complaints, costs me about $40 at Walmart.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-100mm-...mera_Lenses?hash=item2a03d78168#ht_500wt_1182

Is that good? If so I'll buy it now.

bnb

 

BNB, you spent all that dough on a camera without research; that's insane

I have an olympus e510 and I just purchased an extension tube, and am in like flynn. I bought one from fotocola for $7.91 free ship...it comes from china but arrived quickly. Just do an evilbay search for "rebel xsi extension". It gets you closer than you could ever imagine all while keeping the camera far from the coin. Or you can check out a bellow for $46 free ship http://cgi.ebay.com/Macro-Bellows-f...ItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item27ae3501c7

either way, go the extension route or a bellow before dropping hundreds of dollars on a macro lens.

-LTB

 

I just grabbed this from my pocket change an took the shot using an extension tube. Although you do have to do a manual focus, it's well worth it to me, and I like to be in control of the focus anyway. I'd rather save my money for coins :kewl:

-LTB

 

SEA&SEA 1200HD

 

Yes it will work, but like everyone has said earlier, all the gear in the world won't help you be a good photographer. It takes experience, patience, so on... you could use a small handheld and pretty much achieve some of same results for coin photography.

btw, im speaking from experience here and people are showing you you don't need a high end camera... this is my gear (cut/paste from photography on the net signature):

My Gear: EOS 5d Mark II, EOS 40d, Powershot SD990, 16-35mm f/2.8L II, 24-105mm f/4L, EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5, 100mm f/2.8 Macro, 50mm f/1.4, 580 EX II, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM, Gitzo GT1550T Traveller Tripod, Gitzo GH2750QR Tripod, Gitzo Ballhead

I use the 40d and the 100mm macro the most (yes, not the 5D, that's my landscape body) but I've had great results with the powershot SD990. All depends on your lighting and technique. I think the better title for this thread would have been 'What are your techniques to achieve sharp images'. If that were the case it'd be a pretty short list:

1. Understand light and lighting
2. Avoid vibrations. On a dSLR, flip mirror up. Use remote trigger. Have a GOOD quality tripod or copystand.
3. Understand shutter speed.
4. Understand f stops
5. See 1.

 

Like I said, I use the Canon Rebel EOS XSi with the stock 18-55mm zoom lens. I feel the quality is extraordinary. If any of the following are to par with what you are wanting to achieve, I would not bother with a macro lens, at the moment.

Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 4

I also use manual focus and no post processing, as the Rebel should really not need it except to crop whatever portion of the photo you want to utilize and resizing. I use the same lighting and set-up as I did with my Canon PowerShot with macro, and the photos I get now are clearer and truer to the original.

Technique does have quite a bit to do with the overall quality, but the equipment does most certainly make a difference, as well.

 

Do any of you use a macro stand? If so, where's a good place to get one?

bnb

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=copystands&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

 

I went back and reread just what you bought. You might bew able to tkae coin pictures with that lens. Here is a quote from Steve's digicam;

I would at least see what you can do with it before you invest any more money. This time look before you leap.

 

Old thread.

http://www.cointalk.com/t76914/