Proof Cent - Axial Vs. Ring Light

Any opinions on which is better? I like how the relief details are clearer on the axial version, but it exaggerates the spottyness of the coin. The black fields seem like a more traditional presentation of a cameo proof. Also older proofs, which are less flat than the most modern issues, show more detail with the ring light than this particular example.

When I get time I may try some sort of half-and-half axial technique, where part of the field is lit and part is dark.

I am very fond of the axial shot specifically because it shows the coin as a proof but also shows its weaknesses, which are hidden with the traditional presentation. It also gives a better presentation of device details, especially on Lincoln's face, hair, and coat and on the scroll on reverse. Nice comparison, and makes me want to try axial on the few proofs I own. Thanks for this demo...Ray

This was also my first attempt at using a flash for coin photography (the axial shot - the ring-light is my usual cheap-o LED one). It did a better job than the Jansjos of illuminating my diffusor in a broad, even way. It should also theoretically be able to produce more accurate color.

I also have made a few improvements in the axial setup, most notably using a spare M42 extension tube as a shroud around the coin to block out non-axial light. I had just been using a piece of cardstock between the light source and the coin, but I had a problem with a gradient of light across the coin. The tube seems to do a better job of keeping the light even, and I can use its shadow to verify that the angle of the light.

My best result with axial lighting on silver is my reverse proof ASE. I think it's probably a 70 (the only perfect one from my anniversary set, sadly), and it looks almost like a rendering of a coin:


2011-P American Silver Eagle Reverse Proof by CaptainFwiffo, on Flickr

For the ringlight, I have a direct comparison of silver and clad proofs:


2010-S Clad Proof Yellowstone ATB Quarter by CaptainFwiffo, on Flickr

2010-S Silver Proof Yellowstone ATB Quarter by CaptainFwiffo, on Flickr

They have the same exposure and white balance. Look how much brighter and whiter the silver is! Here's an old silver proof (again same exposure and white balance), and a 40% bicentennial:


1964 Proof Washington Quarter by CaptainFwiffo, on Flickr

1976-S Bicentennial Silver Proof Washington Quarter by CaptainFwiffo, on Flickr

I agree about the laser-etched frost! I don't like the stripe pattern on my quarters. Interesting that quarters seemed to have started the super-aggressive version a year earlier... The exception would be the reverse proof, which looks OK, IMO, because it's not obscuring any detail.

I will be out of town over the weekend, but I will try some regular silver and cupronickel proofs with the axial lighting next. I also need to try some brass bucks to round out the metals. I plan on rebuilding my axial setup from scratch. I've been biased against using it because it's so fussy to set up and process, I need to streamline it somehow.

I like the last two "with axial lighting and part of the light source blocked out". It looks very professional. It would be interesting to see if you could split the background diagonally with 1/2 black and 1/2 lit.

As a side note, Jefferson seems to be looking in different directions based on how his pupils are lit up.

It would be difficult to set up, and probably wouldn't really work. It would be pretty hard to balance the light levels between the two sources and virtually impossible to match them in terms of white balance (barring an expensive ring-flash matched with a speedlite for axial lighting). Also, the geometry would be extremely difficult - the ring light probably won't fit with the axial lighting rig in place. I also don't think the results would be that impressive; the two methods are almost a negative image of one another, so the whole thing would end up just looking really flat.

The next thing I think I'll try will be a half-lit axial with the light-blocker thing at a diagonal. I do like the way that version shows the 3D shape and texture of the coin.

BTW, here is a shot I just took this morning for tomorrow's 7070 thread:




I don't have a ring light, but this uses a combination of a single overhead light and a single axial light. I angled the camera so the reflections (of my hand, my shirt, the camera, etc.) are just off the fields. I'm happy with the clarity and amount of detail, but I wish I could get the darker fields that your images have so it looked more proof-like.

There isn't much light actually falling on the lens itself because it's shrouded by the ring-light. Any reflection would be very out-of-focus and not really identifiable because it's twice as far away as the coin. This is the ring-light I've been using. It's got bright, blue-white LEDs (about 6200K), but the color comes out OK after white-balancing.