A comparison of film macro vs digital: More-or-less full frame film shot (scanned in print): This an 1805/4 half dollar. The lens used was a (reversed?) 55mm/f2.8 Micro-Nikkor. This was taken in the late 1980s to the mid 1990s. Color balance has been heavily adjusted in Photoshop. Notice the poor focus and fuzzy detail -- the central split-prism rangefinder circle in the viewfinder would have been totally blacked out, so you had to rely on just the ground glass screen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here is a digital version of the same coin (but a couple of decades later): This is a full frame (4000x6000) image reduced for uploading. It was taken with a microscope objective (either 4x, 5x, or 10x, I don't recall), and focus stacking was used (Zerene Stacker). It's amazing how much easier it is now, with microscope objectives and stacking.
Another film vs digital comparison: Film -- mint mark area of an 1890-CC dollar: Same coin, with digital: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here's a digital close-up of a 1956-D US cent with a repunched mint mark (full frame): This one was taken with a Mitutoyo 10x/.28 M Plan Apo microscope objective, using stacking, etc. Here's a cropped image (2400x2400 out of 6000x4000), reduced for uploading: Getting a shot like this would be tough in the days of film. Stacking with film was possible, but not easy (I never tried it).
I did a lot of film macro work back in the 70s. Had my own darkroom with some really nice equipment. Had a lot of fun playing with it.
I bought it in 2008. Noticed it pretty much as soon as it arrived. I think I sent it to James Wiles for attribution in 2009.
I was wondering how long it would take for you to show up. Amazing work Paddy, and everyone else. I can't even take a decent phone shot. It's really incredible!
Here is an image of a newer Canadian Silver Maple Leaf 1 oz. coins with the newer anti-counterfeiting radial designs that I shot. I loved the graphic qualities of the radial lines and the highly polished high contrast maple leaf in the center. This looks like a black and white image, but it is actually full color.
Here's another image. This one was taken at an angle of a Morgan Dollar focused on LIBERTY and the cotton leaves and bolls.