Tree Coin Pics

How about less than $500? For that, and some fairly serious learning on your part, we can equip you with the skills to shoot images as good as anyone anywhere. If you'd prefer a brand-new camera to a used one (we can show you good places to buy used), add a couple hundred. That's the only expensive part. Otherwise, a bellows and any one of a large number of differing film duplicating lenses - both available for <$50 each - are capable of matching the quality of $1000 bespoke macro lenses. You would be joining a sizable group of CCF members who have already traveled this road and become excellent coin photographers.

But make no mistake, it's an intensive learning experience, especially if you're a beginning photographer.