Coin photography

[declanwmagee]

Chaps

The time has come when I must seriously think about equipping myself to take proper photos of coins. I see too many coins that aren't as good as mine, going for more than I could get - and it's down to the scans. Even a better coin looks lifeless, flat, on a scanner - particularly high grade silver.

I know diddley-squat about photography, so don't start talking f-stops please, but I'd be very interested to know what models of digital camera you've had success with. Then, once I've bought one, I'll be back to ask about lighting, angles and all that.

thanks in advance

Declan

[argentumandcoins]

Chaps

The time has come when I must seriously think about equipping myself to take proper photos of coins. I see too many coins that aren't as good as mine, going for more than I could get - and it's down to the scans. Even a better coin looks lifeless, flat, on a scanner - particularly high grade silver.

I know diddley-squat about photography, so don't start talking f-stops please, but I'd be very interested to know what models of digital camera you've had success with. Then, once I've bought one, I'll be back to ask about lighting, angles and all that.

thanks in advance

Declan

My ebay listings are now taken on a cheap as chips Canon Powershot A480 Declan.

I bought it after a plug from Hus and find it okay. Lighting and focal distance don't seem to be a problem at all. It does have a tendancy to only partially focus on the coin for some strange reason, which sometimes leaves (usually the bottom) a small portion slightly fuzzy. I bought it from Argos online and it was only about £55 I think.

[declanwmagee]

Chaps

The time has come when I must seriously think about equipping myself to take proper photos of coins. I see too many coins that aren't as good as mine, going for more than I could get - and it's down to the scans. Even a better coin looks lifeless, flat, on a scanner - particularly high grade silver.

I know diddley-squat about photography, so don't start talking f-stops please, but I'd be very interested to know what models of digital camera you've had success with. Then, once I've bought one, I'll be back to ask about lighting, angles and all that.

thanks in advance

Declan

fantastic, John! That's just the calibre of information I was after - you are a star.

My ebay listings are now taken on a cheap as chips Canon Powershot A480 Declan.

I bought it after a plug from Hus and find it okay. Lighting and focal distance don't seem to be a problem at all. It does have a tendancy to only partially focus on the coin for some strange reason, which sometimes leaves (usually the bottom) a small portion slightly fuzzy. I bought it from Argos online and it was only about £55 I think.

[1949threepence]

Wasn't there a really good thread about coin photography, somewhere else on the forum ?

Edited November 4, 2010 by 1949threepence

[Peckris2]

Wasn't there a really good thread about coin photography, somewhere else on the forum ?

Yes, there was. And no, I cant remember where, either.

Just a word on scans : Photoshop will bring back to life a coin that has been muddied somewhat in a scanner. Levels and Curves will do a wonderful job.

[Peter]

I have a Nikon D40 and although a few years old I wouldn't swap it.

If not too serious a Sony Cyber shot is always a good bet.

[Red Riley]

I have a Nikon D40 and although a few years old I wouldn't swap it.

If not too serious a Sony Cyber shot is always a good bet.

I have taken thousands of coin photographs with a Cannon 400D and Sigma DG Macro lens in conjunction with a stand/tripod, mostly in natural sunlight but I still have problems in a few areas;

1) Worn copper/bronze where the combination of tone/contour 'confuses' the camera and the results can frequently be disappointing. George V heads are a nightmare!

2) Any coin with mottled toning.

3) Highly polished proof coins where the reflection dazzles the camera. I have had some moderate success by using sunlight but shielding the coin with my hand. I doubt the experts do it this way though!

This isn't cheap equipment, but I made the mistake of telling my son (who considers himself an expert) what I wanted and sending him out to get it without enquiring as to the likely cost. I dare say you could get equally good results with a cheaper camera, but I'm hoping this will last me out. Does take very good images of overdates though.

Edited November 5, 2010 by Red Riley

[declanwmagee]

I have a Nikon D40 and although a few years old I wouldn't swap it.

If not too serious a Sony Cyber shot is always a good bet.

I have taken thousands of coin photographs with a Cannon 400D and Sigma DG Macro lens in conjunction with a stand/tripod, mostly in natural sunlight but I still have problems in a few areas;

1) Worn copper/bronze where the combination of tone/contour 'confuses' the camera and the results can frequently be disappointing. George V heads are a nightmare!

2) Any coin with mottled toning.

3) Highly polished proof coins where the reflection dazzles the camera. I have had some moderate success by using sunlight but shielding the coin with my hand. I doubt the experts do it this way though!

This isn't cheap equipment, but I made the mistake of telling my son (who considers himself an expert) what I wanted and sending him out to get it without enquiring as to the likely cost. I dare say you could get equally good results with a cheaper camera, but I'm hoping this will last me out. Does take very good images of overdates though.

thanks all - choosing the camera I anticipated to be the easy bit - so I have taken John & Huss's recommendation and ordered one. The fun starts when it gets here. As most of you know, we live in a bus, and this means that I can't have a permanent setup with tripods and the like. It also means direct sunlight is a bit of a scarce resource. I may even have to invest in an anglepoise lamp. Probably a useful thing to have anyway! At the moment, even in the daytime, I tend to use an LED headtorch when examining coins, but it's a very white light to be taking photographs with.

I shall experiment, and I shall enjoy experimenting, and I shall let you know how it goes!