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

Very nice. How did you light it? Do you have a photo of your set up?

 

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RAW makes no difference in proper shooting and learning curve. He can shoot in raw+jpeg I'd he wants. It just makes post a lot easier since more data is in the file. Making adjustments like exposure, saturation, etc won't look good if he tries to edit a jpeg.

He might as well learn this was if he's going to buy all this crap as a beginner. LOL!!

 

kinda why I advocated the method that I did

 

I don't have a big set up, just my little $150 Canon Powershot, and 2 lamps. I take a lot of close ups for VAMs, sometimes it takes a little tinkering, but imo the Powershot does a pretty good job, especially since I don't have a stand to steady the camera.

Here's an example:



Green18 might recognize the second pic :thumb:.

 

Care to share the rest of this pic? Looks like a nice little JR-3 LDS busty.

 

Where's the "drool" smiley?? You and I need to talk more camera chat through PM. I could learn alot from you!

 

Thanks,

I don't have an image of my setup but I have 2 regular light bulbs set up at 10 and 2 o'clock and I use a cheap-o copystand from ebay.

 

Thanks, lovely uncirculated example. This one of my years...she is toning up nicely!

 

Here is her little sister.

 

I have a Casio Exilim and am pretty pleased with the results. The trick is, it can't focus closer than 17 cm, so I put it on a drill press 17 cm from the coin, nudge the coin exactly into the middle of the field, and then take a picture. With flash seems to work best. The picture you get is just a pretty small dot, but you can zoom it and get a nice image. The camera has feature to move the image around, but it's too crude, better to move the coin exactly into the center of the field before photographing. Here is one I took this way.

 

Here's a very interesting microscope that hooks up direct to your computer.
They show it here for stamp collecting, but it looks like it would be good for coins as well.

Chuck

http://store.komando.com/p-617-handheld-digital-microscope.aspx


0.3MP camera with 640x480 resolution

• 10x - 200x magnification
• Video frame rate: up to 30 frame-per-second
• Application software CD
• Micro-touch button for instant pictures
• Flexible gooseneck desktop stand
• Measures 4 " long and 1 1/4 " round
• 8 LED lights with on/off switch
• Min. requirements: PC running Windows XP or Vista with an available USB 2.0 port
• Compatible with most MAC OS

 

Sry, just now saw your question.

I've owned or used most of the popular ones -- Nikon 60, Sigma 90, Nikon 105, Sigma 150, Tamron 180. These days, I use a Nikkor 200mm Micro for 99% of my coin photos.

There is no substitute for focal length & working distance, IMO.

 

p.s. I agree 100% with the poster who suggested RAW. It actually makes taking good photos easier, not harder, once you get over the learning curve. Said a bit differently, you can do things in post processing in RAW that you can't do with JPG, allowing you to correct mistakes at capture that you otherwise can't.

 

Kodak Brownie Hawkeye....

Now where have I seen that second Pic? She's a beauty Mike.....

 

i have a canon AE1. does anyone know if the lenses will work with any new digital models? I have alot of lenses and don't want to have to part with them if i can help it.

 

Pentax K20D with a Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro lens.

 

The lens mounts are different. There is an adapter but you lose auto diaphragm operation. You are better off selling the AE1 equipment and buying the new EF style that works on digitals and current Canon film cameras.

 

thanks. i was thinking about Rebel T1i EF-S 18-55mm IS Kit. This should be a good one right?

 

That's a nice camera but you will probably need a better lens to shoot coins.