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Disappointed In My Iphone 16 Pro Max For Coin Macro

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pristine2's Avatar
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1048 Posts
 Posted 01/11/2026  2:06 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add pristine2 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
My daughter left for college with the good camera, but I figured the fancy iPhone should suffice for my ebay pics. No such luck.

The pics I see on the phone are pretty good. Once I transfer those pics to a PC, however, they turn dark & subdued. I can't capture any coin luster no matter how good the lighting. The color isn't quite right, either. This quarter looks nothing like this in hand, even though the detail is pretty sharp.

I'm hoping it is my fault and not the iPhone's. Any suggestions?
Disappointed-In-My-Iphone-16-Pro-Max-For-Coin-Macro
Disappointed-In-My-Iphone-16-Pro-Max-For-Coin-Macro
Edited by pristine2
01/11/2026 2:06 pm
Pillar of the Community
United States
2889 Posts
 Posted 01/11/2026  2:27 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coin rejector to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Even the most basic cellphones can take decent pictures, except you have to experiment with background color, lighting (natural light vs light bulbs), angles, etc. Check out the photography section of CC, there's some good info regarding coin pics.
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HondoB's Avatar
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27514 Posts
 Posted 01/11/2026  7:17 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add HondoB to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I use the exact same phone for my pics. It drove me crazy at first. I posted in the photography section about it long ago, but have learned even more since then.
Camera setup: it's on a wood box I constructed exactly 7.5" high. When I start with a coin, set the camera to 1:1 aspect (square). Turn macro off (tap the flower icon). Very often I place a thin piece of wood (1/3") under the phone to get a very slight angle. Sometimes I use a 1/2" piece.
Light: this is the most important. I have tried a vast assortment of ring lights, desk lamps, etc. but each has drawbacks. I now just use the overhead light with a daylight LED bulb. It's in a swag light about 4' over my desk. I had been using 60W but just before reading your post switched it to 100W. I might switch back.
I just took this picture.
US 25 Cents 1936-D
Disappointed-In-My-Iphone-16-Pro-Max-For-Coin-Macro
Disappointed-In-My-Iphone-16-Pro-Max-For-Coin-Macro
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
Edited by HondoB
01/11/2026 7:21 pm
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cptbilly's Avatar
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2210 Posts
 Posted Yesterday   08:28 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add cptbilly to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
My iphone 13 Pro still meets my needs but the other day, I went to the ATT store with a couple of coins and tested the iPhone 18. . .when I compared the two images side by side, the higher resolution camera of the 18 revealed a bit more detail. . .but not enough to warrant the cost (and obligation) of a new phone.
I run all of my photos through Pixlr before posting them on the CCF. . .editing, cropping, adjusting is just easier than doing it on the phone.

@HondoB: Thanks for describing your methodology. Do you do any other setting adjustments on the phone camera or are you pretty much "pointing and shooting" ? Thanks.
" Even a clock that's stopped is right twice a day. "
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