Featured A photo comparison of CFL and incandescent lighting on toned coins

Most cameras, other then very basic P&S cameras, have light source settings that compensate for different lighting source color temperatures. I no longer use my old SLRs, or digital cameras, I only use the camera in my Samsung S4 smartphone. I routinely take pictures using CFL lighting, incandescent lighting, natural daylight, and a combination of different lighting sources. After smartphone camera initial setup I don't believe I've ever had a picture that was unacceptable due to lighting source or color temperature.

Mike

 

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Gonzo You need to look at the settings of your camera and see what they are set to. Most point and shoot cameras have some ability for in camera processing. You may need to compensate for a bad lens by adding a bit of sharpness. Try to brace the camera as much as possible. You can get some decent images from cameras in the 100-200 range like Canons or Sony and they will have some free post processing software you can use.

 

Midas1 could you post some of your S4 images for us to see as a comparison?

 

Already did all of what you stated. Built a nice copy stand, currently using CFL lights, adjusted white balance on camera utilizing a white back ground for imaging, and using photoscape for post process. The camera is the issue as you can see on my pictures http://gonzosgt.wix.com/gonzoimages#

 

I've been shooting with LEDs for 3 years, and I am very happy with them. I know others are perfectly happy with CFLs, incandescents, and halogens.

The light type isn't as important as how you use it. Always set your white balance to your light source, keep your lights high and close to the camera, and deflect and/or diffuse your lights so that their point sources are large enough to light the full coin.

Lighting that doesn't work well for professional coin images are light boxes and flat bed scanners. You simply won't get professional quality images by either of those methods. You might get "okay" images for posting on eBay or for insurance purposes, but neither of those two methods shows luster and a coin's surface will look washed out and dull.

These are my experiences, your mileage may vary.

Cheers, Brandon

 

John41,

I haven't taken pictures of coins in a several years. I'll look and see what I can find.

 

Ok no big deal I just figured it would be good for a comparison for the others as I have a Note 3 and it does a decent job but nothing like my actual rig.

 

I think Valante's pictures are good except for the color balance w/ incandescent
lighting. The pictures I last took I was using a small home made light box lined with white tissue paper. The light box showed promise except for a slight pinkish hue from the paper. Around the same time I was calibrating the camera I switched to collecting ABNCo (mainly) currency. No more pictures of coins.

 

exactly!

The correct lighting showed that it was a Morgan $, not apparent in the old lighting.

 

I found some images from the light box I made. The image files are very small. Somewhat larger files may produce better images. I don't believe any of the images were free of dust when photographed. I fooled around with lighting to emphasize the medal highlights, make 'em less flat. It was a work in progress. Note slightly brownish/pink background hue. Giving it some thought it may be due to cardboard under the white tissue paper.
My avatar, In Flight from the French mint, was created outside of the light box.

 

Midas:

Is that Cleopatra invading NYC?

 

That's good, Treashunt. A large portion of my medal collection were bought from the French mint. They NYC city medal was the first one purchased.