PCGS vs NGC

[markn]

well then explain it markn as my photos look like that as well when I have fading light.
I for one would love to hear how to make my pictures better
if you could explain you set up that would be good because I would love to be able to do this

Don't take you pictures outdoors.  Do it indoors, get some lights, get a tripod or a copy stand.  Learn how to do manual white balance on your camera and if yours doesn't have it get one that does.  You want so much light that your coin gets too hot to touch.  And then you want more light.  You want to shoot at ISO100 to maximise the detail your camera gives.  ISO200 and ISO400 just gives grainer images.  And more lights helps you with this plus gives your camera the best chance of doing it's magic.

[serial]

What sort of lights and how many? i cant get natural colours indoors hence why i rely on good weather to take my pictures
the white balance i have has options, cloudy, sunny incandescent, fluorescent and auto

[markn]

What sort of lights and how many? i cant get natural colours indoors hence why i rely on good weather to take my pictures
and white balance is that exposure comp?

I use 3 100W halogens.  I'd like to try the equivalent wattage in LED's but the globes are expensive and it could be a costly experiment.

White balance is not exposure compensation.  White balance can basically be thought of as telling your camera what constitutes white.  Every type of light has a different "warmth" that tints the colour the camera sees.  For example, incandescent bulbs are warm and yellow/orange shifted.  So, adjusting your white balance in these lighting conditions removes the tint that you'll see in your images.  Most cameras have a number of preset white balance settings and some have a full manual balance.  Full manual white balance usually involves putting a white or grey card in front of the camera and taking a picture of it under the lights you're going to use.  The camera says hey this should be white but it's a bit yellow, so from this time forward I'll remove a bit of yellow.  Or red, or blue, or whatever colour temperature your lighting happens to be.

[trout]

You're flogging the same dead horse with your two shillings because it suits your arguments.

I am NOT arguing anything here , I simply need proof that PCGS is a better grading company than NGC rather than anecdotal evidence from people heavily invested in the  PCGS product :ok:
Since my not so bloodless conversion to Slab's I have spent a few grand on grading fees that I could have spent on coins instead and I simply want a definitive answer as to who is the most reliable grading company to spend my hard earned quids with.
Simple as that with NO hidden agendas whatsoever.

I do see that PCGS graded coins get a better price than NGC graded coins at auction But is that because the PCGS coins are graded better and more reliably or is it simply because there are fewer NGC coins on the market and there is a conception that the grading at NGC is "Inferior" to PCGS.
I have also noticed that most of our American cousins rely on NGC for grading their "World Coins" that includes Australia but use PCGS for US coins.
I am NOT looking for arguments here , I simply want a definitive answer (without prejudice) as to where I should send my coins and spend my quids :angel:

[serial]

camera?

[markn]

camera?

Nikon D7100 with a Tamron 90mm fixed macro.  The lens is more important than the body.

[serial]

ouch i just saw the price of that set up
let me know if you are upgrading and want to sell the rig

[markn]

ouch i just saw the price of that set up
let me know if you are upgrading and want to sell the rig

The camera and lens are the last things I'd upgrade.  Lights and copystand first.

[ausproofs]

You're flogging the same dead horse with your two shillings because it suits your arguments.

I am NOT arguing anything here , I simply need proof that PCGS is a better grading company than NGC rather than anecdotal evidence from people heavily invested in the  PCGS product :ok:
Since my not so bloodless conversion to Slab's I have spent a few grand on grading fees that I could have spent on coins instead and I simply want a definitive answer as to who is the most reliable grading company to spend my hard earned quids with.
Simple as that with NO hidden agendas whatsoever.

I do see that PCGS graded coins get a better price than NGC graded coins at auction But is that because the PCGS coins are graded better and more reliably or is it simply because there are fewer NGC coins on the market and there is a conception that the grading at NGC is "Inferior" to PCGS.
I have also noticed that most of our American cousins rely on NGC for grading their "World Coins" that includes Australia but use PCGS for US coins.
I am NOT looking for arguments here , I simply want a definitive answer (without prejudice) as to where I should send my coins and spend my quids :angel:

Hey Trout,

I am not a professional when it comes to coin grading nor an expert when it comes to coin collecting. IMHO comparing PCGS and NGC is similar to measuring distance with "m" and "Yards" and expect the length to be the same. I believe the two companies use different considerations (one consider eye appeal for the numeric grade and other doesn't ? )  hence the results you get are different. All comes down to consistency and accuracy. I would stay away from a company that grades the same coin twice and comes up with two vastly different grades. I personally think NGC coins graded much leniently and PCGS is much harsher. I have spent a handy sum of money in the last 12 months on coins. I have collected both NGC and PCGS coins with the ability to compare larger sample sizes. I have personally decided to buy PCGS predominantly due to the quality of coins I get when I buy over the net.

I still buy NGC coins, however if I can only see clear photos and know the coin will grade similar if I get it crossed over to PCGS. If not I would only pay the value of a coin that is 1 or 2 levels below.

In saying that I have had coins graded by NGC that are absolutely gorgeous.

Therefore my conclusion is if you buy coins for collecting (& have no intention of selling or expect it to appreciate handsomely in the years to come) purposes only, then it should not matter what you buy, just by the coin you like. However If you are a collector who does it for bit of fun and as an investment for my kids/grand kids, then buy what would hold the highest value. Like anything else any investment is a gamble and comes with risks. What to say next year a company would come up with 100% accurate/consistent electronic microscopic grading with no human interaction ? Then we all have to double guess what we have in our collections are what they say it is to be...

my cheap opinion:thank_you:

[trout]

my cheap opinionThank_you

NO opinion is "Cheap" Mate and I appreciate your answer as a collector . :yahoo:

[ausproofs]

my cheap opinionThank_you

NO opinion is "Cheap" Mate and I appreciate your answer as a collector . :yahoo:

I feel very special mate :biggrin:

[trout]

I feel very special mate Biggrin

I feel that we are ALL pretty special as collectors here Mate :good:

[bellyflorin]

[/quote]

I use 3 100W halogens.  I'd like to try the equivalent wattage in LED's but the globes are expensive and it could be a costly experiment.
I'll remove a bit of yellow.  Or red, or blue, or whatever colour temperature your lighting happens to be.
[/quote]

wow that would be a lot of heat , i have visions of slabs melting and the raw coins  toning.

sorry i am off topic, just had me wondering

[markn]

sorry i am off topic, just had me wondering

I don't leave the lights on too long or coins under them very long.

[markn]

May as well put this up here.  Bought this as an NGC MS64 and apparently it had been in an NGC MS65 holder but was cracked out for some unknown reason and resubmitted and was downgraded a point.  IMHO I think the coin is a technical low end MS64 but the toning would likely give it a boost at PCGS.  Expecting it to come back an MS64 with an outside chance (20%) of a plus or MS65.  This coin is for my own collection and only being re-submitted because I want it in a PCGS holder with the rest of my 1901 GB coins.