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 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,354 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Awesome description Superdave, including the one for your setup.  I'm curious how you even took this picture since your camera is mounted in your display. Although with everything I see that is hooked up, I wouldn't doubt that you have some kind of mirror configuration wrapping around the room to keep an eye on things.  But regardless, your post is fantastic, and the time you take to explain things is another reason that you are a Mod on this site IMO. |
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Valued Member
 United States
114 Posts |
Gee whiz, Dave. Now I know why "Super" is in your name! Expect to see some pics of my Morgans later next week, and hopefully they'll be better than the stuffola pics I originally posted. I'm sure once I get everything set up, I'll have a few more questions. Thanks so much for suffering through my ignorance of pretty much everything!
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I have two cameras, tights24 - a Canon S2 IS, with which I took that pic, and a Digital Rebel XT, which is the one you see mounted on the tripod. The lens alone in that rig cost more than the S2 IS (  ), but I am determined to achieve results equal to PCGS TrueView shots. I am very close to that goal, lacking only the refinement of my lighting technique to get there. The original shot of the Crown I posted is 2000px in diameter. Here's an actual-size crop from the original image:  |
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Valued Member
United States
114 Posts |
I have taken about 50 pictures of a Morgan dollar today. Only one is even passable. I even sent my poor husband all the way into town to get a special bulb for this little adjustable lamp I have. Every pic with it sucked (I haven't told him that yet!). Below is the decent one. Other than the fact that the tip top of it is cut off, is this a passable pic or do I need to keep experimenting? I can't make it look silver no matter what I do. I'm really frustrated! Image:  morgans 008.jpg |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Superdave, absolutely awesome.
Mary, I feel your pain. It took me forever to get even a decent picture. I have multiple lights shining in different driections, different camera heights, different tripods. I'm down to it possibly being just not a great camera for macro. I would guess that it is me though!!
Have you tried taking a picture in natural light? I have seen this do wonders for photos. It's way to cold here right now, and it gets dark too soon, but in the spring time I plan on setting up shop on my deck and going at it.
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Valued Member
United States
114 Posts |
Tights- Well, it's nice to know I'm not the only one who can't get this right immediately! Luckily, we're in the middle of a heat wave right now (high should be 50 today!!!) so as soon as the sun gets up, I'm going to try your trick and see if that helps. How about a Morgan dollar with a snow background? ;) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
If it helps, I use Photoshop CS2 for my imaging software. It's very expensive to buy off the shelf, so hopefully you have a software nut around that will lend you a copy. I have found this to be the easiest to maintain some quality. You need a PHD to use it to its full extent, or 100 free hours to try different settings.
My biggest problem initially was trying to take free hand pictures. Once I started using the tripod, it didn't matter that much if I used the macro setting, semi-macro, or regular auto for the picture. Once it was cropped, it looked the same. Of course this is without messing with any exposure or ISO settings, which I really need to learn how to do. I don't think this approach will work as well for shooting dates and such blown up, but it works for me.
One more thing, I think once you load pictures here into "your gallery" if you have one created, you can save the files in a larger size. Larger than the 90K limit that is for regular posting. What I don't know is if that statement is true, and if those larger files can be moved right into a topic without having to be downsized. I'm sure the staff can answer that one for both of us.
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Valued Member
United States
114 Posts |
Tights, you are my new bestest friend! That natural light tip definitely fixed the yellow problem I was getting indoors. I'm not into cameras, so I don't really see myself ever going out and getting a tripod or software or stuff like that, but I'm pretty pleased with what I produced outside just holding the camera in my hands. I'd like some expert opinions though. Anything simple I could do to make them better, or are these passable pics for having you guys give me a general idea (not exact) on grading? Edited Link: http://www.monshaugenfamily.com/Coi...tion/CC.htmlEdited by maryhm
02/08/2007 10:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1541 Posts |
Is the black lamp the only lighting you're providing?
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
Is the black lamp the only lighting you're providing?
That was addressed to me, I hope, because I'm going to answer it.  In my pic, above the camera you'll see a white 4ft section of track lighting with two gooseneck lights dangling from it. They're the primary lighting, movable and removable, as well as able to flex in any direction. I have 4 of those goosenecks, but in the picture I have only two installed. The black lamp is only used for side-lighting, usually to get better definition of a die crack or pitting. I have a grand total of about $30 in everything except the camera, and that $30 includes the tag-sale tripod. Of course, the lens cost more than my computer, and the camera cost more than the lens. That's all for a specific purpose, though. I want big pictures. Have you ever seen a PCGS TrueView pic, shatsi? They can image the coins they grade in *huge* fashion, with the final coin image 2000 pixels in diameter. That is my goal with this setup. I'm still working out light angles, but I've got everything else. Here's a Morgan from my collection, shot with the Digital Rebel you see in the pic:  Don't worry about all the scratches on the bottom - it's a 1921-P VAM-41, and those scratches are die polishing lines. Now, here's a crop of that image, full-size:  The full-size coin image is 2100 pixels wide. I'd post it here, but Bobby would shoot me. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Aw, heck. The Coin Community Gallery downsizes me to 800px anyways, so I never stood a chance of getting shot. Warning! Extremely large pic! Don't click the link unless you want to do some scrolling. http://www.compucoin.com/gallery/ma...ViewsIndex=1 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1541 Posts |
Thanks SuperDave. I'm very happy with the Sony H2 but the problem I'm having is getting good lighting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Mary, note Superdave's point on the cost. I can also tell you from my own purchases that tripods are relatively cheap. Under $15 for a decent one for coin pics. of course they probably go into the 100's for some. Your link is not working so I can't tell how much I helped....  Superdave, fantastic photo. But be careful, when getting that close I can see some dirt underneath the eagle's claw nails.... But I also have to ask since this is by far the clearest picture I've seen this close, is the first "S" in states normal? |
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Valued Member
United States
114 Posts |
Edited by maryhm
02/08/2007 10:34 am
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
But I also have to ask since this is by far the clearest picture I've seen this close, is the first "S" in states normal?
For a 1921, it's normal. That recut is, I think, a master die thing, as many 1921's have it. The second S is recut also. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 5,354 |
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First Page
Posted 02/04/2007 11:03 am
morgans 008.jpg
