Horizontal Lightbox Vs Perpindicular Copy Stand

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Author	Replies: 5 / Views: 2,957
BoomerSoonerOKU Valued Member United States 128 Posts	Posted 12/05/2011 9:34 pm So, I'm mulling over the pros/cons on the different setups to assist in cataloging my collection. I've checked out the various copy stands on the market, but I'm concerned with the weight limit on the (affordable) copy stands. I know I could drop $150 - $200 on one made for large format cameras, but that's money that could be spent on coins. The cheaper ones would probably work for me right now, but once I upgrade my body the larger camera plus my 100mm Canon Macro I could just imagine a costly accident. I'm also not a fan of the way you need to position everything with a copy stand. I don't have enough space in my office to put a photo set up in there next to a desktop, so I'd almost have to tether to a laptop to keep from having to have back surgery from bending like that. Has anyone had any experience doing a horizontal/angled setup? Obviously some type of holder/rest would have to be made for the coin and camera, but both of those seem like they would be pretty simple. Just seeing if anyone here has any experience with trying something like this. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Report this Post to the Staff

SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 12/05/2011 11:49 pm If you're going to be using photographic equipment of that quality, then getting the lens plane and the coin parallel is going to be imperative. This will be very difficult with anything but a vertical setup. Not to mention, a homogenous background will only be available to you with the coin lying flat - any other coin orientation, and whatever you're using to hold the coin up will appear in the frame. So, here's your compromise: Buy a $20 full-size tripod at Best Buy. Weight one end of a board 6" wide by 24" long with books, and dangle the other end a little (a few inches) off the corner of your desk. There's your flat surface for the coin, and the tripod will be able to center above it, pointed straight down. I speak from experience. In truth, the tripod will catch enough of the square corner of a desk to not need the board, but with something the size of a Morgan it's close. If you own a Canon 100mm Macro, I'm going to assume you own a Canon body. You're going to want to tether with that setup anyway. Report this Post to the Staff
aladinslamp Pillar of the Community United States 3076 Posts	Posted 12/06/2011 01:37 am I have to agree, either a stand or tripod puts the coin perfectly flat to the lens, the other is not consistent. I use the tripod but need the copy stand, but I also use the corner of the desk, just enough room to get my shots in and removeable for overall desk usage.... Best is a stand.......It does not take up that much room, and the control is ten fold over a tripod.... I have got back online from moving,, trying a new lens,post my feeble shots on another thread... Report this Post to the Staff
CitizenPatriot Valued Member United States 158 Posts	Posted 12/06/2011 12:22 pm After much trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that a copy stand and some LED lights may be the best option out there for photographing coins. Here's a decent copy stand at a decent price : http://www.ebay.com/itm/36038324151..._2400wt_1398 I need a slightly larger set-up because I also photograph the wifey's jewelry : http://www.ebay.com/itm/39036611783...t_3560wt_907 Hope this helps point you in the right direction ! Edited by CitizenPatriot 12/06/2011 12:23 pm Report this Post to the Staff
BoomerSoonerOKU Valued Member United States 128 Posts	Posted 12/06/2011 1:16 pm Thanks for the advice, everyone. I hadn't thought much about the holder being in the frame with the horizontal setup, and that is pretty much a deal breaker. I have a nice tripod (that was the first accessory I bought due to my shaky hands) that I've been using. But, setting it up and taking it down every time I want to snap a few shots stinks. So... I was looking at this stand from Adorama: http://www.adorama.com/CECS1070.htm...source=gbase I like the 42" height, since I'll generally be using the 100mm lens on a body with a 1.6 crop factor (until I break down and look at upgrading). Probably overkill for coins, but would let me take pictures of album pages all at once. Anyone see any negatives to that stand that I've overlooked? I'm going to try to get a couple of the Ikea lights that everyone here has had such great luck with, I assume they would be able to be integrated with this setup pretty easily? Thanks again for the advice! Report this Post to the Staff
SsuperDdave Moderator United States 23522 Posts	Posted 12/06/2011 1:25 pm Do a little experimentation to see just what distance you'll need from the subject to do an entire album page with a 100mm lens. You may be surprised. I usually switch to the kit lens for anything larger than just the coin, maybe the whole slab. Usually I can handhold shots like that, taking advantage of IS. Report this Post to the Staff
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