I thought their pictures were great before, but if they're adding these in now that would be even better. I've only checked the Franklins and noticed this extra photo added for a few of the coins, all MS66's I think.
Todd Pollock (BluCC) is advising GC on imagery and set up their imaging section; True View basically happened because of folks like Todd's skills raising the "civilian" bar for imagery. No wonder GC is that good. Todd is the best.
I didn't realize Todd was advising GC (And I strongly disagree that he's the best. He's good, but there are plenty of good coin photographers out there nowadays. Mark Goodman is the best). I've noticed that GC generally has pretty good images.
OK, I will confess to a bit of hyperbole there about Todd. Coin imaging skill is not necessarily a "range" once you reach proficiency anyways. There are many members here whose skills are on that level, and it can be taught to anyone willing to invest the appropriate money and learning. It's a skill, not a talent, and can therefore be learned.
I agree with your sentiments here @SuperDave . I will also agree with @physics-fan3.14 , I think Todd is very good, but I don't think he's the best (if such an objective assessment could even theoretically be determined). In my experiences, Todd IS the best at photographing PL and DMPL Morgan dollars, but I don't care for the way he photographs copper in particular. I would also not agree that Mark Goodman is "the best". I do think Mark has done a lot to improve the quality of coin photography among the masses. However, I believe that @rmpsrpms has done just as much in a shorter amount of time. There is a group of us who have been "trained" up to professional level under the tutelage of @rmpsrpms . Both Mark and Ray (rmp) are incredible resources and brilliant coin photographers. Picking a "best" is like picking a favorite child. Phil Arnold of PCGS' TrueView service is also of note for creating "artistic" renditions of coins (though, often, not very accurate to in hand look). Bob Campbell, Lance Keigwin, and Tom Bush are also fantastic photographers and the photos look like the coins! I'm very glad GC is adding this new service to their auctions. Their auction photographs were already the "gold standard" in the auction world. Heritage uses too diffuse light sources, but I have learned how to interpret them. They are good. Stacks images are okay, but nothing special. Just my 2 cents...
I don't completely understand why you're referring to these photos as GC's "own version of a TrueView". It is not as if PCGS invented putting the obverse and reverse images of a coin side by side in 1 picture. It's an improved close-up composite image, but I wouldn't call it anything like the PCGS "glamour shot" overly artsy (non-realistic) TrueView images.
Brg, you're one of those I had in mind when I qualified my statement. Few holes exist in your photography skillset.
Ok. What other auction companies provide high quality photos in this exact format?? You know, the ones like PCGS Tue View.
Who said another auction company was doing photos like these? My point was that people have been creating high quality side-by-side composite photos of coins for years. Long before PCGS started calling them "TrueView" images. Your post made it sound as if you thought GC was in some way encroaching on PCGS' intellectual property by creating a digital composite image of coins. That's all.
Heritage will take good pictures of the more spendy coins in their auctions, but they're still an assembly line with the volume they have. GC probably still can manage good pictures of most of their lots. The problem with volume is that you lose the ability to pay close attention to detail the more coins you shoot. I have 40 1881-O Morgan dollars in front of me to do this week, and every picture I will need to check for precise focus, slab scratches, saturated highlights or shadows, or a missed patch of luster. TrueView didn't happen because of independent photographers, but I think they may have dropped their prices in half because of us.
