I recently took a chance on a poorly-photographed toned Morgan on eBay and it turned out pretty well. The problem is, I can't seem to take good pictures of it either. I've photographed a few slabbed Morgans in the past using Lehigh96's light diffusion method (paper towel covering the lightbulb in a desk lamp) but it doesn't seem to be working this time. The only way I can get the colors to really pop is by tilting the slab into the glare: which highlights the slab scratches, distorts the coin shape, and makes for an overexposed picture. If I position the slab so that it's out of the glare, none of the colors show up: Any suggestions?
Honestly practice makes perfect, everyone has a different way of photographing, mess around with light, camera settings and after a few hundred (maybe thousands ) of pictures you'll find what works for you. Edit: there are even books on the subject http://www.amazon.com/Numismatic-Ph...d=1381196910&sr=8-1&keywords=coin+photography And a nice website too http://coinimaging.com/photography.html
You really shouldn't need to use diffused lighting with a mint state Morgan Dollar. Your problem is that you are not getting enough light on the surface of the coin. My guess is that this is happening because you are not using enough light sources. For a coin the size of a Morgan Dollar you need at least two gooseneck lamps with your choice of bulb placed at 10 & 2 o'clock. Make sure that the glare on the slab doesn't overlap the surface of the coin. I always tilt my coin into the light source by placing a casino chip under the bottom edge. If done correctly, it should look something like this: If that doesn't do the trick, increase your number of light sources to 3 or 4 if necessary. Always use direct lighting if possible. Diffused lighting mutes the luster of the coin severely and I only ever use it to show color on proof coins. Another problem you might be having is that your camera needs to be at least 6-8 inches away from the surface of the coin, otherwise the camera will block all of the incoming light creating a shadow over the entire coin. A problem that I encounter when I try to add lights number 3 or 4, which is why I usually just make do with 2 lights.
I use 5500K CFLs for my lamps and coin photography. I'm guessing you might actually want three light sources and a DSLR with at least a macro 80mm lens to be able to capture that many color bands, though. Another option could be to use axial lighting. Also, I purchased Mark Goodman's book based upon the great info on his website. It's a nice read, and I recommend it to others. The main reason for the DSLR/macro lens combo (as opposed to a P&S) is distance from the coin and using the full sensor. Mark talks about this in depth in his book. Basically, in order to capture color bands/luster, you need your light to be coming essentially from the lens. The closer you are to the subject, the further from the lens that your light will be. Also, the other problem is that if you're too close, you have to deal with reflections.
I use CFLs and yes, Borgata chips rule! While I agree with North Korea about the DSLR, they are expensive and require a much longer period of time to master than a point & shoot. All of my photos are done with a Canon Powershot SD880IS. While not getting the same distance as a DSLR, I am able to get about 8-10 inches away from the coin depending on the size of the coin. I have to get closer for the minor coinage, dimes & cents. I think I am able to get great results with respect to color & luster. Where the point & shoots fall short IMO is with focus. All of my photos look out of focus when compared to those taken by a DSLR/macro lens.
Try getting a desk lamp that bends and lower the lamp about an inch to an inch and a half from the desk near the coin and try it that way. Keep it pointed slightly away from the coin. You might have to mess with it to get it right for the first dozen of shots. Hope it helps. It works for me most of the time. It also helps make relief stand out a great deal.
Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'll hop over to Goodwill and pick up another adjustable desklamp and give that two-light setup a try. Are CFL's way better than halogen bulbs?
Halogens might get better color, but they get hot quickly and are a pain to work with. A set of four 5500K CFLs costs $16 or something at Lowes, and that's a pretty good deal. If you're going to pick up a lamp, pick up two (three total), and go buy the photography book.
Tried it again with a two lamp setup and got slightly better results. Just ordered that numismatic photography book too. Middle pic is diffused light, bottom is non-diffused. If it was a scarcer date I might just send it in to kryptonitecomics and see what kind of pics he could get out of it.
