Coin Photography

[trout]

I just bought a new camera the other month, It cost me about $200 and I still cannot for the life of me get a picture anything like some of the members here.
Its a 14 mega pixle 10x zoom Didgital jobbie , I recon I wasted my quids on this one :dash1:

Any suggestions as to what camera to get without digging into my coin budget too much ?

[Fordprefect]

I just bought a new camera the other month, It cost me about $200 and I still cannot for the life of me get a picture anything like some of the members here.
Its a 14 mega pixle 10x zoom Didgital jobbie , I recon I wasted my quids on this one :dash1:
Any suggestions as to what camera to get without digging into my coin budget too much ?

It is not Easy to capture coin images suitable for posting.
It is also Not the Dollars you throw at camera gear.

Any current Point and Shoot camera that has a Macro Mode
selectable can give acceptable results.
The Zoom feature is rarely used at all, and it has been shown
that P&S cameras with LESS zoom capabilities provide a better image
than the Super Zoom cameras.

The Basics.
1: Select Macro Mode on camera.
2: Mount camera on tripod.
3: Have camera lens at 90 degrees to coin.
4: Front of lens will need to be approx 50mil from coin.
5: Use a plain white background.
6: Table Lamp, single 11w Cool Daylight Compact Flouro.
7: Aim lamp at coin between 11am-1pm will be about correct.
(Two lamps are better but this is the Basics)
8: At this point Shoot with all default Auto modes
(The default setting of the camera in the box)

The image below comprises the results of :-
A $20 Sanyo from K-mart (In car camera I carry)
and a $300 Panasonic.
The Pana is better but not 15 times better!

[trout]

Thanks for the tips :good:
I'll have to get myself a tripod and give this a try.:yahoo:

[accumulator]

The image below comprises the results of :-
A $20 Sanyo from K-mart (In car camera I carry)
and a $300 Panasonic.
The Pana is better but not 15 times better!

I'd agree with that Rob,nice coin by the way.:ok:

[Robster]

Torn what little is left of my hair out in the last few months. I keep saying to myself- "Myself"- how hard can it be to take a respectable photo of a lump of copper.! Bloody harder than it looks I answer.! I am not posting another photo until I get it right.!
In the meantime I will marvel at those clear, concise, well lit, perfectly composed easy on the eyes examples we see from the "Cool Kids.! LOL.

[trout]

Torn what little is left of my hair out in the last few months. I keep saying to myself- "Myself"- how hard can it be to take a respectable photo of a lump of copper.! Bloody harder than it looks I answer.! I am not posting another photo until I get it right.!
In the meantime I will marvel at those clear, concise, well lit, perfectly composed easy on the eyes examples we see from the "Cool Kids.! LOL.

It would be nice to get a result half as good as the "Cool Kids: :dash1:

From what I can gather so far there is nothing wrong with my camera, It's just the idiot using it :kez_11::shock:

[ausjack]

Don't know about tripod but have noticed a lot of people say they use a cut down milk bottle as a stand, sorry I can't help as mine are probably..no they are the worst around  :mocking:

[Fordprefect]

Torn what little is left of my hair out in the last few months. I keep saying

From what I can gather so far there is nothing wrong with my camera,

Your Fuji FinePix T200 is capable!

That is correct, below is your Morgan.

Cropped, we only won't to see the coin :angel:
Resized, we like them big.

The attachment method limits your display size
and resolution which reduces detail.

The angle you have taken this shot ap75deg
picks up the lustre at the expense of focus
The middle section of coin is fine, the top and
bottom of coin has fallen outside the cameras
"Field of View" for auto focus.

[trout]

Torn what little is left of my hair out in the last few months. I keep saying

From what I can gather so far there is nothing wrong with my camera,

Your Fuji FinePix T200 is capable!

That is correct, below is your Morgan.

Cropped, we only won't to see the coin :angel:
Resized, we like them big.

The attachment method limits your display size
and resolution which reduces detail.

The angle you have taken this shot ap75deg
picks up the lustre at the expense of focus
The middle section of coin is fine, the top and
bottom of coin has fallen outside the cameras
"Field of View" for auto focus.

So all I have to do is get a tripod and practice,practice,practice :yahoo:

[ausjack]

I have finepix s5800 and use super macro..on mine it looks like a flower on the menu thingy and I press once and it goes macro and then again to go to super macro

[trout]

I have finepix s5800 and use super macro..on mine it looks like a flower on the menu thingy and I press once and it goes macro and then again to go to super macro

I didn't know you could get games on cameras, the super macro bro's sounds like fun :laugh2:
How's this ?
freehand, a tripod should be better.
I found the flower icon :yahoo:
[attachment=1147][attachment=1148]

[Fordprefect]

Torn what little is left of my hair out in the last few months. I keep saying

From what I can gather so far there is nothing wrong with my camera,

Your Fuji FinePix T200 is capable!
Resized, we like them big.

So all I have to do is get a tripod and practice,practice,practice :yahoo:

That would be a yes.
In your Morgan pic, your camera selected :-
ISO 320 "Film Speed" (Not too important)
Shutter Speed 1/30 second
Exposure F/stop F3.4
If the camera had selected a higher shutter speed
which they generally do, the F stop would have dropped
to F2.8.
This combo would have produced an even more out of focus shot.

If you do get into it, make a physical note of the Info
that shows up on the camera's LCD screen.
The Fstop selection is very important, I like to see F4
or higher being used, it increases the Depth of field,
therefore increases the area that remains in focus.
(My camera a Canon can be manually set)

I have finepix s5800 and use super macro..on mine it looks like a flower on the menu thingy and I press once and it goes macro and then again to go to super macro

I didn't know you could get games on cameras, the super macro bro's sounds like fun :laugh2:

How's this ?
freehand, a tripod should be better.
I found the flower icon :yahoo:

Progress is good, but and it's a Big But,
Photographing Proofs is another totally different ballgame.
Best to get the copper and silver right first.
The Decimal's also offer up a challenge with there high gloss finish.

Lighting type, position and intensity/direct/diffused come into play.
On the example you have shown your camera has lost the plot
on another area of coin photography, "White Balance"
it has missed the correct balance by a wide margin.
The highly reflective nature of the coin is the culprit.
To counter this start by difusing the light with a single
layer white tissue, move the light further from the coin.

If your game the camera should/may have a custom
White Balance setting inside it, via menu.
You take a photo of a Known white surface illuminated
by your light source and store it

[lacey]

I just bought a new camera the other month, It cost me about $200 and I still cannot for the life of me get a picture anything like some of the members here.
Its a 14 mega pixle 10x zoom Didgital jobbie , I recon I wasted my quids on this one :dash1:

Any suggestions as to what camera to get without digging into my coin budget too much ?

The only way I could get a decent photo was to put the coin on the handrail on the verandah but not in the sun.  

Other than that, I'm as stumped as you trout.

[trout]

I just bought a new camera the other month, It cost me about $200 and I still cannot for the life of me get a picture anything like some of the members here.
Its a 14 mega pixle 10x zoom Didgital jobbie , I recon I wasted my quids on this one :dash1:

Any suggestions as to what camera to get without digging into my coin budget too much ?

The only way I could get a decent photo was to put the coin on the handrail on the verandah but not in the sun.  

Other than that, I'm as stumped as you trout.

I am nearly at the stage of going into a Camera store and telling them what I need to do with a camera.
Then close my ears when they give me the quote and simply hand over my card to pay for it.
I have tried all sorts of digital cameras, USB gizmos and even a stupid lens that sticks to my iPhone.
I am 99% certain it is MY ineptitude that is stopping me taking amazing pic's but a better setup can only help.
Remember an athlete on a pushbike will never beat a wheezy old geezer in a Porsche in a drag race :laugh2:
About time I got rid of the pushbike.

[Fr45h3R]

Hi Trout,
Before spending money on more camera gear, maybe pick up a cheap camera tripod / stand, or improvise.
I've seen someone taking photos of coins in a 'glass' which would purely have been to steady the camera.
Too bad the glass had like salt crystals or similar in the bottom.

Here is my setup.
[attachment=1158]