Coin Photos Lighting Requirements

Well, that is instantly a better picture than the last one you posted.

 

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The tilt has helped the glare thanks .. now on to magnification of image

 

If you're using a tripod, there is no reason not to use the absolute lowest ISO (i.e., ISO 100). As for your shutter speed, you should be able to use an auto determined shutter speed (with bracketing of -1/3 or +1/3 if necessary). There is no reason to set the shutter speed manually. Also, if you're not already, you should be using a delayed timer of 2 or 10 seconds (depending on your camera, most DSLRs have both), so that you are not physically touching the camera at the time that the shutter/camera takes the image.

Of course, some of this discussion is moot since almost all coin photos get downsized for web display, and you'll not notice substantial differences at this level of minutiae unless you're pixel peeping.

 

There should be a setting somewhere in your camera to take images in "raw" form, or have the camera perform some processing or compression. You may see this along with some number of pictures available (for example, in high compression your card can hold 3000, medium 2000, low 1000). You want to choose the lowest compression, highest resolution setting available.

 

great photo of that coin

 

I take all of my pictures while tethered to my computer. I don't actually touch the camera at all. Clicking my mouse will take the picture. Thus, no time delay necessary.

Next time I take some pics, I'll try other ISOs and see what I like.

 

Done that already these pictures were shot @ Fine Quality JPEG 2946 x 2695 converted with PhotoScape to 800 Max DPI then downloaded to forum

 

The tilt worked wonders with an increase of F Stop to accommodate the DOF .. Orientation of this coin what also needed as the Light @ 10:30,1:30 and @ 6:00
How the light reflected from the images did wonders along with the tilt

 

Much better. You might want to move the light at 6:00 farther from the coin, or maybe add some diffusion to it. Overall contrast is a little low, and the image is a little over-exposed. Try -2/3 EV to bring down the exposure while changing no other settings.

 

Sometimes, I solve this problem by, quite simply, only using 2 lights (at the appropriate angles).

 

I should have brought this up week ago thanks. You ppl have made my day ..

Ok this image is 1/3 EV late one was +1 so I thought you only wanted to remove 2/3 EV .. Moved 6:00 Light further away with downward angle about 30 Degrees

 

3 of those lights are now on order thanks @rmpsrpms

 

I can see that would be necessary with some type coins.

 

Better, but still a little over-exposed. Try making the EV -1/3. Not 1/3 less, but actually -1/3.

What Style settings are you using in the camera? If you've made no changes vs the stock settings, you are probably using Standard 3,0,0,0. I would recommend going with 3,-2,0,0 to reduce contrast a bit, which will help compensate the reduced EV.

 

I have made so many changes to this puppy in an attempt to get good pictures all I know for sure is ...it is different than stock but no user settings have been changed ..
When I attempted the -1/3 the image was very dark .

 

Not sure what you mean by Standard 3,0,0,0 the Camera is a Nikon D7200 and haven't seen anything like those settings

 

I'm a firm believer in a diffuse light source to get an unbiased photo of a coin, which is needed to avoid shadows and highlights. Although Tpsadler states she is attempting to tone down highlights, they are prominent in the gorgeous image that is posted. Its highlights of the numbers and letters might be mistaken for DDs. Northern lights offer the least biased biased light. This can be a problem for me in Seattle much of the year, but if a single bright light is not too close, its flux will act diffused. In this arrangement, that should be the only major light source. And with the high ISO achievable with digital cameras, this should not be a big problem.

Jim

 

@tpsadler , you have made amazing improvements already in the course of this thread. These cameras are incredibly complicated, and it takes a great understanding of the settings to really maximize the output. (As for Ray's most recent suggestion, if you have a user's manual, it will tell you how to update the setting he suggests. I have a Canon, so cannot guide you on this one).

Keep up the good work!

 

The question for this 1960 D Lincoln on the L of Liberty and G of God is what appears in real life with 10x as a Double Die but the real question of this point is to get a good enough photo to ask this question ... and He --> tpsadler is looking for good photos

 

This user manual is next to worthless unless you are accustom to reading very fine print Nikon really saved on this document