Coin photography - Axial set up

[coxspau]

Can anyone advise if they use the axial set up for taking photos of coins?

I was going to use a milk carton diffuser and two standard desk lamps until I stumbled across the axial set up.

Can't quite figure out which way to go, although the axial set up does appear to give better results.

Any advice?

Axial set up can be found at www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgcoins.htm‎

[enworb]

I tried it but the results were no better.

[markn]

The axial method is good for bringing out colour in toned coins and for taking images of proofs with mirror fields.  It doesn't give a good indication of lustre.  It should be one tool in your photography toolbox.

[coxspau]

Photography toolbox....hmm. I've only just realised that no one method of photography is going to work for every coin or banknote.

The goal now is to come up with a list of coin types and associated photographic methods which best capture the quality of the particular coin.

Looks like I've got a busy weekend ahead of me.

[Robster]

A weekend full of :exclamation: plus some:yahoo:,then a period of :ireful:, followed by a bunch of :read:, a couple of:dontknow: but in the end it is all:dance2:.

[JeffH]

Sound like a similar result to what you could expect with a ring flash (but not mentioned in the article).
Ring Flash
Only problem is they can be rather expensive.

Jeff

[ausjack]

if the little finepix don't do it than it don't get done I need my money for coins :winkextra:

[keldaw]

if the little finepix don't do it than it don't get done I need my money for coins :winkextra:

 a j , when your production line starts up making the key holders from wood and pennies , you will never have to worry about money anymore you will be the CEO  of the company ..
trout has a chainsaw , he can supply you with all the wood you need , just ask him , he has staff all ready to go ..

[Triggersmob]

if the little finepix don't do it than it don't get done I need my money for coins :winkextra:

My thoughts exactly.

[Fulvio]

I seem to recall a post in the Melbourne Photowalkers Community on G+ about a homemade ring light that used a heap of white LEDs. Let me see if I can navigate this Bull**** new update (which I hate) they just pushed out and find it.

[JeffH]

Forget the ring of LEDs. Been there, done that and it doesn't work.

Jeff

[ausjack]

between photos and storage I don't have any money left for coins..I can't justify spending heaps unless I was to try and sell..you lot are happy enough with my crappy pic's aren't you..let me put  that another way..AREN'T YOU :blackeye:

[Fulvio]

Grrr... I give up... I absolutely HATE this new layout Google have foisted on us, and I logged out in disgust.

However, I did a little searching and came up with some interesting things. Firstly, this commercial unit on Amazon which sells for a ripoff price of about $150 in Oz:
http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER®-Macro-Ring-LED-Light/dp/B0031AQ302

Secondly, these rings designed to go in car headlights. Again, they're about three times the price locally, but I see they say free shipping to Oz...
http://dx.com/p/t10-21-led-white-light-car-angel-eye-70mm-diameter-25511

They come in various sizes, so its just a matter of digging up a suitable lens hood, picking two sizes to suit, gluing them in and plugging them into a 12V battery, or even a 9V if the reduced intensity isn't a problem. You could even cut up some milk bottles for a diffuser over the LEDs.

The way to mount them would be with the smaller ring closest to the lens. If your lens does autofocus, like mine, then you need to be sure not to cover the sensor. I would imagine the large ring on the outer lip of the hood, and the smaller one maybe 10mm below that would work well. So they'd be maybe 20mm different diameters, to suit your hood.

Forget the ring of LEDs. Been there, done that and it doesn't work.

Why didn't it work, Jeff?

[Australian coin]

I just got a round led light setup and its working good for me, I no longer rely on the sun for lighting, it will give a reflection on shiny surfaces so it is tilted to one side, and it also has a slight blue hue to it, but I fixed that up by putting some baking paper stuff over it as a diffuser of light, I am now in the process of cataloguing my threepence collection
it easily click on and off with a flick of a switch when not in use and it plugs straight into a usb port.
it did take a month by budget mail tho, well for $3 I don't care
>> http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/160562394186#ht_2683wt_1161

[Fulvio]

well for $3 I don't care

Jeez. For $3 I wouldn't care either.

Two things... for Macro photography, you really want the two stepped rings, because you're so close the lens is nearly touching the subject. And for your blue tinge, you can set your white balance to compensate. The camera should have a button for it, or if not, fix it in post, as the movie guys say. Which means adjusting colour balance in Photoshop or whatever editor you use.