Copy Stand Vs. Tripod

I think that a good detailed photograph shows every single flaw. Perhaps making the coin appear more damaged than it might appear "in-hand."

Next, one of those lovely pics of a Lincoln Cent with warm delicate patina.

A pix that shows the flaws is doing the job you should be doing with a magnifier. It can't show flaws that aren't there.

Actually, 522² here.

522*525

ForumResizedWidthPx = YourWindowWidthPx / 1.8

Note that its YourWindowWidthPx not YourScreenWidthPx

Once clicked, everyone is the same..... full size.

You should know by now that coding that easy is beneath Rui.

OK, not what you were expecting.
But as everyone has been so diligent, I thought it might be time for a little levity.

I've used a lot of the tips everyone has generously provided to present this Frankenstein.

Next I'll try my hand with Photobucket and Imageshack.

And I am forever indebted to all you Pioneers for blazing a trail for us tenderfoots.

Thanks,
Kurt

Just an opinion: There is absolutely no reason to have a coin photo rig that allows the camera to move up and down. It is much easier to build a rig with the camera fixed in place and move the coin. I do this by placing the coin on top of a vertical dowel rod set in a block of wood (the spindle you get CD's on works as well). You can have several lengths cut to fill the frame with assorted coin sizes or you can use the zoom feature of your camera to make minor adjustments. Holding the coin far from the background also will throw the background out of focus and that looks better. I usually place a collar of craft foam around the dowel so no light falls on the background and like the resulting black. This collar is not shown in the photo below but was used on the coin shown.

The best material for a stand is wood. Metal is very strong but will allow vibrations unless it is rather heavy. Wood dampens vibrations allowing sharper images. Wood is cheap and easier to cut and fasten.

As a new poster I am not allowed to offer a link to my (non-commercial) website where this rig is shown but may be allowed to add a photo showing the most simple stand. This is made from old oak flooring scraps but cheap pine lumber works, too. You can spend a lot of money on a really great and versatile stand but coins from 5mm to 50mm can be photographed at a cost of a few screws and scraps of lumber. This photo shows a point and shoot camera and a fake ancient coin. The same rig does better with a dSLR and real coins.