Photographing Coins

[PunkReaper]

Again, new to the site so bear with me. Looking at the new acquisitions thread there are some beautiful photos of coins. Also I have been trying to practice grading coins using R.PCoins website. I have a decent SLR Nikon digital camera but I was wondering what kit you all use (lenses and flashes) to take your photos. Also any advice you can give. Thanks to you all. If only I had had the internet when i started collecting.....

[Peckris]

Again, new to the site so bear with me. Looking at the new acquisitions thread there are some beautiful photos of coins. Also I have been trying to practice grading coins using R.PCoins website. I have a decent SLR Nikon digital camera but I was wondering what kit you all use (lenses and flashes) to take your photos. Also any advice you can give. Thanks to you all. If only I had had the internet when i started collecting.....

I use a flatbed scanner for mine. The final image is not so fine as a camera, but you don't have to worry about focus or plane. "Swings & roundabouts". (As an former keen amateur photographer, I'd suggest a lens at "Macro" setting, and a coin-holder attachment, possibly converted from a filter holder? A ring flash would work well if your finances run to it.)

[Kronos]

I use a flatbed scanner for mine. The final image is not so fine as a camera, but you don't have to worry about focus or plane. "Swings & roundabouts". (As an former keen amateur photographer, I'd suggest a lens at "Macro" setting, and a coin-holder attachment, possibly converted from a filter holder? A ring flash would work well if your finances run to it.)

Peckris, I have a HP Photosmart C7180 printer/scanner and have touble with the finished scans, they just dont look right compared to other peoples scanned coins. Any recommendations for settings and/or software for amending the images etc?

[declanwmagee]

I use a flatbed scanner for mine. The final image is not so fine as a camera, but you don't have to worry about focus or plane. "Swings & roundabouts". (As an former keen amateur photographer, I'd suggest a lens at "Macro" setting, and a coin-holder attachment, possibly converted from a filter holder? A ring flash would work well if your finances run to it.)

Peckris, I have a HP Photosmart C7180 printer/scanner and have touble with the finished scans, they just dont look right compared to other peoples scanned coins. Any recommendations for settings and/or software for amending the images etc?

Ditto - cheap Canon scanner; at least 6 years old. I scan a dozen or so at a time at 600dpi but don't ask the scanner to do an A4 scan - just a postcard sized part of the platen. It can do 1200dpi, but then that's one coin at a time. Sometimes they're a bit dull, particularly with older bronze, and I find a brightness tweak of about 10% and 5% contrast brings out detail you'd otherwise lose in the gloom.

[Peter]

I use a flatbed scanner for mine. The final image is not so fine as a camera, but you don't have to worry about focus or plane. "Swings & roundabouts". (As an former keen amateur photographer, I'd suggest a lens at "Macro" setting, and a coin-holder attachment, possibly converted from a filter holder? A ring flash would work well if your finances run to it.)

Peckris, I have a HP Photosmart C7180 printer/scanner and have touble with the finished scans, they just dont look right compared to other peoples scanned coins. Any recommendations for settings and/or software for amending the images etc?

Ditto - cheap Canon scanner; at least 6 years old. I scan a dozen or so at a time at 600dpi but don't ask the scanner to do an A4 scan - just a postcard sized part of the platen. It can do 1200dpi, but then that's one coin at a time. Sometimes they're a bit dull, particularly with older bronze, and I find a brightness tweak of about 10% and 5% contrast brings out detail you'd otherwise lose in the gloom.

I use a Nikon DSLR and get brilliant results with out a tripod and using natural light.

[£400 for a Penny ?]

I use a Nikon Coolpix 4100 - it's brilliant, although I am only ever succesful in natural light, flash photography doesn't work for me at all.

[declanwmagee]

I use a Nikon Coolpix 4100 - it's brilliant, although I am only ever succesful in natural light, flash photography doesn't work for me at all.

and I bet the Nikons do bronze much better than any scanner...

[choolie]

I am being passed on a high quality SLR digital camera which I shall probably use for the sole purpose of photographing coins. I would also like

to know which lense to purchase for this use. I know that micro focus lenses can cost about £500 but I only want to spend about £60 or £100 at a push I'm sure it will suffice with only a single distance being used. Any suggestions for lenses?

Thanks

[£400 for a Penny ?]

and I bet the Nikons do bronze much better than any scanner...

I don't know anything about scanners, but can they do this ?

or this...

It's been my best friend, my Nikon, I've got a 17 inch monitor and I can fill the screen with any part of the coin I want. It's so much better than a loupe with a bloodshot eye at one end and a shaking hand at the other.

[Peter]

I've got a Nikon D40 which although not current has a cult status.

I just use auto focus with the standard lens supplied (18-55)....my surplus coins are selling like hot cakes

I'm going to re-photograph all my coins (my daughter will as she has less camera shake )

I know some people go to great lengths to obtain quality pictures....life is too short.

This isn't meant to be a plug but here is a 1935 1d currently on my selling http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230432800998&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:ITEbay domain.

This was knocked off in about 20 secs on the window cill on a piece of red felt.

[azda]

I've got a Nikon D40 which although not current has a cult status.

I just use auto focus with the standard lens supplied (18-55)....my surplus coins are selling like hot cakes

I'm going to re-photograph all my coins (my daughter will as she has less camera shake )

I know some people go to great lengths to obtain quality pictures....life is too short.

This isn't meant to be a plug but here is a 1935 1d currently on my selling http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230432800998&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:ITEbay domain.

This was knocked off in about 20 secs on the window cill on a piece of red felt.

I use my Olympus camera with marco and always in daylight, a more natural picture, some of my coins are dotted around the site from my efforts with the Olympus

[Peckris]

Peckris, I have a HP Photosmart C7180 printer/scanner and have touble with the finished scans, they just dont look right compared to other peoples scanned coins. Any recommendations for settings and/or software for amending the images etc?

I scan coins at 300 dpi for best effect (or 1200 dpi for close-ups of portions) - I use standard settings, but if yours is giving odd results, you may need to re-calibrate the scanner. And I always finish mine in Photoshop anyway.

I am being passed on a high quality SLR digital camera which I shall probably use for the sole purpose of photographing coins. I would also like

to know which lense to purchase for this use. I know that micro focus lenses can cost about £500 but I only want to spend about £60 or £100 at a push I'm sure it will suffice with only a single distance being used. Any suggestions for lenses?

Thanks

Any lens which will focus close enough (doesn't have to be macro as long as it will go down to a few cm). This is where a coin holder would come in handy.

and I bet the Nikons do bronze much better than any scanner...

I don't know anything about scanners, but can they do this ?

or this...

It's been my best friend, my Nikon, I've got a 17 inch monitor and I can fill the screen with any part of the coin I want. It's so much better than a loupe with a bloodshot eye at one end and a shaking hand at the other.

Actually, your Britannia head is very sweet, but a scanner+Photoshop should come close to that. I'm afraid your Vic head looks very patchy indeed - there are some really burned out highlights on that. You get NO burned out area on a scan - it's a uniform tone, the main criticism is that it might look a little dull.

To everyone who has talked of using natural light rather than flash : sensible advice, but it's why I mentioned a ring flash above - it's speicifically designed for this kind of situation. It's what naturalists use for close-ups of plants, insects, etc.

[declanwmagee]

this is about the best I can get for old bronze at 600dpi scanned

but the newer stuff comes out better...

[Peckris]

this is about the best I can get for old bronze at 600dpi scanned

but the newer stuff comes out better...

Hey, what's wrong with that 1895? Looks fine to me! Er, I mean GEF!!

[declanwmagee]

Hey, what's wrong with that 1895? Looks fine to me! Er, I mean GEF!!

well, that's the thing really - that's why a decent camera has never quite made it to the top of my things to buy list.

When it comes down to it, I'll always buy more coins instead when the old scanner can still do that...