Best I Can Get On A $400 Budget? Help

I don't think there would be much difference in reliability between DSLRs. The more expensive camera will just be more expensive to replace the shutter if it ever wears out. Other than the USB port, the shutter is the most likely component to wear out, at least in that list of components that matter to coin photographers.

Now, there are certainly newer cameras which could have a much longer life when used as we do. A few cameras are capable of full electronic exposure, with only electronic shutter. This is the case for the various USB cameras, and for a few MILCs. Even some DSLRs have full electronic option. For folks doing lots of focus stacking, it would make sense to look into this sort of camera, but they are well outside the price range of what we're discussing here.

In the US it's available at most art supply stores. Canson is a US brand so it might be hard to find in Europe. Other art vellums may work just as well. Try a local art supply store and get the heaviest weight vellum you can, and it should be fine.

Welcome back

At the beginning I want to all of you, in particular Ray, thank you for your advice.
I am the next user of the set below $ 400. I use Canon 450D and 75mm f4 el-nikkor.
After difficult beginnings and disappointments (I had problems with sharpness and light), I am probably getting satisfactory photos. I present to you my set and photos of coins and I ask for an opinion what I can improve.

Looks like you're getting good results with this setup, especially the lighting.

Hi jwm784...the <$400 setup as described originally is purely manual focus. Focusing is accomplished using the focus helicoid. If you already have a Minolta AF lens with 1:1 macro capability then you don't have any need for the full-coin imaging capability of the <$400 setup. Just use your existing lens. Of course if you want to zoom-in further for details shots, then the <$400 setup components would still make sense for the details photography.

For full-coin photography, the setup is configured as follows:

Canon Rebel XS -> EOS-M42 adapter -> M42 helicoid -> M42 extensions if needed -> M42-M39 adapter -> Nikon 75mm lens

The camera is mounted to a tripod or other mount via its 1/4" mount.

For details photography, the setup is configured as follows:

Canon Rebel XS -> EOS-M42 adapter -> M42 helicoid -> M42 extensions if needed -> M42-RMS adapter -> Nikon 5x objective

So it's almost the same as for full-coin work, but replacing the lens and lens adapter with objective and objective adapter.

jwm74...you don't need the M42-RMS adapter if you only use the 75mm lens. The RMS adapter is only for the 5x objective for details shots. You could certainly buy a Sony macro lens instead, and still maintain AF, but most macro folks recommend doing manual focus anyway. Most AF algorithms can't decide effectively on the correct focus point, and often will miss critical focus. It's much better to plan on doing MF, even if you buy an AF macro lens. If you do go that way, I'd recommend at least 90mm focal length, and it needs to go to 1:1 to fill the sensor with the smallest coins.

Yes, ImagingEdge works very much like Canon's EOS utility, but only for certain Sony cameras. Which model Sony do you have?