No card reader hear so it'll be an USB upload, but that doesn't take long on my computer. I've been thinking of an SLR or one with a macro lens.
I do. I point the Fuji into the right or left eyepiece. I then adjust the focus/height of the microscope while looking through the camera viewfinder and adjusting the camera's autofocus alternately. Once I'm satisfied with the clarity, I set the 2 second timer and hit the shutter button. The LED on the stereoscope seems to work effectively as lighting. Also note that my SLR wouldn't be compatible in lens size for this method. Here's a few shots using this method: 1883 Shield Nickel - Reverse (motto strike/authentication/die retooling investigation) 1912-S Liberty Nickel - Mintmark (metal flow for mintmark authentication) 1875-S 20-Cent - Liberty Shield (for grading) 1855-O Seated Liberty Quarter -Mintmark (and bagmark/harsh cleaning verification/investigation)
Billy and Cheetah, I do not know much about cameras. My son has a powershot IS 3 which I use. It's an SLR with a macro function. When I went looking for an 80 - 100mm lens to get better closeup photos. I found that this camera is not able to have any other lens/es connected to it. Is that true for all SLR's?
Nope. Here is a link to the Sony SLR that I have; It can accept lenses. Mind you, as per an earlier post, I use my Fuji Point & Shoot instead as it's less awkward, quicker to mount, and easier to use. You shouldn't have to use another lens. Have you tried using your camera's macro mode? Click here for instructions on how to use your macro mode for close-ups.
Great, now I am craving biscuits. That Ike photo is pretty good, and if you invest in a copy stand you'll do even better.
Get a decent camera and you'll never look back...... Scanners are adequate but don't always achieve the results we look for.
Blessed with Both I'm Blessed with Both a cheap scanner & a pocket digital camera with macro mode. But damned with poor visual acuity. For getting beautiful images their is no substitute for spending gobs of money on: SLR/Macro Lens/Lights/copy stand etc. Then spending gobs of time moving lights/camera/copy stand/tweeking lens and defusers / reflectors etc. So if you love photography, go that way and spend as much time (and money) taking great photos that make you happy. OR: Read your scanner instruction book, throw a coin on the glass and get a representation that can be evaluated at your leisure in great (albeit most likely blander) detail. I use both for different things. (Except for spending gobs on camera stuff.....yet).
Photos are good for showing the coin, but scans will more often than not show imperfections the photos won't.
Cheetahcats, yes I have used the macro function. I made a mistake on the camera name . It is a Canon PowerShot S3 IS digital camera. Let me see if I can find a pic using it. The " FG " IS A MACRO SHOT. The Unc. mint sets were the very hardest for me to get good shots of because of the coins extreme gloss or luster. I hope they show up good here:
The link to the manual in my earlier post points exactly to a PowerShot S3 IS, so based on this, the manual is still relevant.
They show up fine :thumb:. I still strongly recommend getting a copy stand. Then you can get close-ups of each, without much effort. To me, nothing is more of a pain than trying to hold the camera over a specimen trying to take a shot, while not shaking the camera, while not casting a shadow over the specimen, getting it perfectly at 90 degrees, and not blocking the light source.
I use a small tripod . It is better than nothing. And with a little delay almost all of the jitter is gone. A STAND IS NOW THE NEXT ITEM ON MY LIST. tHANKS
Initially, I used a scanner (HP Scanner) to take pics of some of the silver art bars that I have. The scans were ok but were not great in my opinion. In June 2009, I bought a digital camera for about $140. It is a 10 MP Polaroid T1031 digital camera and once I started taking pictures of some of my silver art bars to post on here and elsewhere, it made a huge improvement in terms of quality of the pictures. I also have a mini-tripod that I use to take close-up pictures and that helps cut out any movement that will cause blurriness of a picture. I find that it is better to take pictures outside to get the real look of a silver coin or bar. That works for me.
Indoors, the only inside light source that I found to be easy to implement and cost efficient is the GE Reveal light bulb. Cheapie/regular incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes, Granola "green" screw-in twirly fluorescents - they all make my specimens look unrealistic.
I finally solved the inexpensive camera problem by creating an sort of manual focus rig. I cut a hole in the bottom of a large plastic container, like the size that peanuts come in. Then removed the labels and cleaned it. I cut several small pieces of cardboard to fit under the mouth of the container. OK, Now I put the container upside down over the coin and set the camera on top with the lens portruding through the hole I cut. Now the camera is at a fixed distance for every shot and will not move. I take several shots, adding a piece of cardboard under the coin until I get a perfect shot. The clear plastic jar allows light from all sides without shadows. You can set it outside and get a good natural light. AND the price was right ! It is steadier than a tripod. Here's an old worn out IH Cent I shot using it. I got some rechargeable batteries for the camera so I could keep taking pics until I get the disgtances down. Once established, it's pretty simple.
That's aMacGyver copy stand! :thumb: Same concept as a copy stand - get control of all parameters like fixed distance. I also use rechargeables. Saves a ton of money, easy to swap out, and no digging around the junk drawer trying to find crusty old alkalines!
My chief beef with scanners is that they don't focus well at all. If you've got a coin in a holder it's always out of focus. I've tried everything conceivable, with my scanner, (an HP 4200 series) to achieve acceptable focus but no soap. Holdered coins never scanned well. Hence the "upgrade" to a modest digital camera with macro capabilities.....
When I was still working, the guys called me McGiver because I would make a custom tool or jig for whatever I needed. We didn't buy much when I was growing up. Dad used to make everything out of junk. LOL Not only does it give me a project, I can buy more coins.
I grabbed a 7.0 megapixel with all kinds of auto setting for $17 on eBay. Another $2 for a usb cable, so the cost is not all that great. And by playing around with it, I believe it can take some really good pics ? The scanner reflects too much light off the wrong surfaces. IMHO
LOL. Before I bought my out-of-the-box copy stand (pictured earlier in the thread), I built one out of an erector set for proof of concept.
