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Replies: 32 / Views: 7,392 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9796 Posts |
I almost pulled the trigger on one of these lenses but decied to wait a bit as I really need to sell other lenses and junk first. It sold for a great price of $161.00 Looked like new too. Too bad I sold my bellows rig when I switched to shooting sports as a profession - needed money to buy all that expensive glass, like a 200 f/1.8, 300 f/2.8, and the 500 f/4 or about the price of a new car, so all my macro stuff went. Now I've sold off the sports glass again, I'm thinking...
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
Hi Dave,
I see you shoot with a Canon, and with Jansjo lamps. Can you let me know what White Balance setting you use with that set up (with direct Jansjo LED lights)? I have been using Otts with the "daylight" WB setting, and that's very accurate. I have used the "incandescent" setting for the Jansjo lamps in the past, but it isn't quite right. Using a bright white sheet of paper and the custom WB isn't quite right either (to my eye). If you have a Custom WB, can you let me know the Kelvin (K) temperature setting of that?
I can't wait to get one of these 75ARD1s in hand. Can I ask what you had to drop ($) for yours? Did you buy it new or used/mint?
Cheers, -Brandon
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Moderator
  United States
23522 Posts |
Brandon, Canon has always struggled with tungsten-type color correction, so I try to use a Custom setting whenever I shoot. The key to an accurate Custom setting is ensuring the sensor is completely filled with the brightest part of the light; if the edges are darker, it'll affect the final correction. Also, focus is important; I use a toothpick to create focus, and remove it for the shot. The 75ARD is a $650 lens brand-new. They're available used, as well - Ray (rmpsrpms) has mentioned seeing them as low as $200 but I don't know where he found that one. I wouldn't expect to find one that cheap.  Your best bet is to contact him regarding one; he won't do you wrong.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
Hi Dave, Thanks for the advice for the white balance. I prefer the custom setting, but I just haven't had great luck with it. I will try again, making sure the entire frame is completely lit. As for the 75ARD1, I picked one up for $230 + $9 shipping this morning on ebay, and I just wanted to make sure that was a good deal. It appeared to be in mint condition, and based on the listing it has essentially not been used. I'm excited to get it in hand (in a week or so) and play with it. The listing is here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/250972246430What do you think? Good deal? -Brandon
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
Aha! I saw that one for sale and wondered how long it would last at that price. Turns out not very long! If it's as clean as described it should be worth $350-$400, though ebay prices have been a but weak on these items recently. Anyway, you got a great deal...Ray
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
Well, I believe I got my white balance working. Thanks for the good advice Dave! Also, I finally got a chance to play around with the Nikon El-Nikkor 75mm f/4N lens I received on Wednesday. It's sharpness is superb, and it's definitely a step above the Vivitar. Also, I built some little light diffusers for my Jansjo lamps similar to those that Ray demonstrated. They work great! Again, Dave and Ray, you guys are GREAT teachers!  
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
The details of the 75ARD are as found wonderful...I have to wonder what a comparision of the Schneider Componon-s 100MM Rates. here....By the way great shots...Brandon
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
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Moderator
  United States
23522 Posts |
Silly, isn't it? 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
548 Posts |
It will make a good coin look outstanding, but make an ugly coin look homely. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
Silly in the sense that I haven't been using this lens for the past 1.5 years. For full coin images I now have essentially no post processing. No contrast, color, brightness, or any other type of adjustment. I just crop it circularly, resize it, and voila...I'm done.
Dave, you and Ray should know that I'm now a "Supporter" primarily because of your immense help...$45 a year is a huge bargain for access to such wisdom and insight. That, and this is one of the only forums with a separate section for "Coin Photography" so kudos to Susan and the others who keep this place up and running!
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Moderator
  United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Dave, you and Ray should know that I'm now a "Supporter" primarily because of your immense help...$45 a year is a huge bargain for access to such wisdom and insight I couldn't be happier to hear this, brg5658. CCF is (IMHO) the best numismatic-related community on the Internet, and it's more because of the voluntary contributions of members like yourself and Ray rather than anything we (meaning Admins/Mods) do on our own. So if you want to figure out why you consider this place worthy of your financial support, you'll find part of the answer in the mirror.
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Valued Member
United States
93 Posts |
I have been following these threads regarding this setup and find it fascinating. As a former pro photographer I am not surprised by the quality of Rodenstock optics. I shot Rodenstock Sironar S large format lenses exclusively on 4x5 and Carl Ziess for other formats. What is making me bang my head against the wall is the fact that I sold my APO Rodenstock and Schneider enlarging lenses for a song on the bay a few years ago. I think I took a $3-400 hit on my 150mm rodagon APO if I remember correctly! Eeesh.
I really appreciate all of the ingenuity and I am real happy that these world class optics are being used for something again! There is nothing like German Glass. Keep it up, this is very inspirational to me... like nothing else since the sad death of film!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
627 Posts |
A friend asked me to image some of his coins, and I wanted to share the one that I found to be the most beautiful. This is a 1909 VDB Lincoln Wheatie. It is one of just a handful that have been graded as MS67RD by NGC. It's absolutely stunning in hand!  
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Moderator
  United States
23522 Posts |
That is a staggering coin. Are those die cracks above ONE and at 3:00, or planchet flaws?
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Replies: 32 / Views: 7,392 |