I'm new to this forum. Any suggestions on how to take good coin pictures. My pictures are not coming out to clear and they are grainy. Thank for your help.
You should take a good look at your digital camera. If your digital camera is pretty new, like around 3 years or less, MOST cameras should have a macro function, which is denoted as the flower logo. When taking a coin photo, let it focus by pressing half shutter and hit it in full Another neat thing is to find a stand and use the timer in your digital camera. This is the most basic method that I recommand you to use, and which you can advance to trickier techniques. Another important thing is your lighting: is it too bright, too dark etc. Take your time to play around
I'd try things using a tripod if possible. Even a cheap one ought to work. I'd use the macro function as mentioned in the previous post. You'll want to be fairly close to the coin. I'd also disable the flash, and I would use the timer function on your camera. On my camera, I can set a 2 second timer. This allows me to hit the button, and then let go of the camera before it takes a picture (with the tripod holding it steady of course). That prevents you from shaking and ending up with a blurry picture. Also, make sure you have adequate lighting since you aren't using a flash. I think in most cases a flash will reflect off the coin and give you a poor photo.
So much depends on so many things with that question. For instance you never stated if you are using a digital camera or a film camera. What brand and model camera is it? What kind of lighting are you using? Are you using a tripod? Does your camera have a threaded hole in the bottom to mount on a tripod? Is there a macro feature on your camera? Is there a threaded front lens on your camera? If you are using a digital camera, here are a few hints. First of all if you do not have a tripod then when taking pictures, brace yourself against something, hold your breath while taking the photos. Note that when you breath your chest expands making your arms move making the camera move. Try taking the photos outdoors, not in direct sunlight, but in a well lighted area. Night time won't work you know. Place the coin on a dark background so the coin becomes the focal point of the cameras eye. Now if you do not have a macro feature, check out if the front of your camera has treads. If so it will say somewhere something like 37mm on that area of the lens. That is the filter ring size. There are close up lenses avialable at most decent camera stores for a decent price which is better than buying a new camera. Or try the B & H web site for camera equipment.
If anyone who has made some good pictures could give me a model of the camera they used that would be great. I have a digital camera with a macro function ,but the picture quality is all over the board. plus I have to get right up to the coin yet far enough a way for the stupid auto focus to work. Usually about a foot or so above the coin. No manual focus. Here's some links of some tests I have done. Let me know what you think? http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0289.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0290.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0285.jpg or http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/2006_0515Coins0007.jpg http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/?action=view¤t=DSCF0286.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0277.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0278.jpg Some look bland with the same settings http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0279.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0280.jpg Or too bright. I guess this is a lighting problem and I need indirect lighting or Fluorescent? http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0283.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0284.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i291/jjenno/DSCF0276.jpg Feel free to comment on other suggestions or optimal setups that won't cost an arm and a leg or even the coins for that matter.
Jimij, you are on the right track. I don't see any problems there except for some minor tweaking which can help Perhaps, you should tilt the coin upwards, i.e. lay the coin on a pen or some sort and try to capture it. Make sure the lighting is there too! Hopefully you will be able to see some changes.
Thanks for the encouragement. Its hard for me to get the proper distance to achieve the type of detail I want in the picture and do it consistantly. I think my lighting is off too. I have a huge background metal halide lamp and some incandescent lights off to the side. Its amazing how much the metal halide shows minor details that under most lights won't show up.
