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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,777 |
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
Hi there. I'm seriously trying to figure out what I need to do or buy to start getting high quality pictures of my coins. I have a Canon T1i. I am looking into macro lenses, but which one should I get? I don't have the ability to test them out anyhow.
I'm going to get a tripod from my brother and some flexible lights to give better lighting to the coin when I photograph it, but I really need someone to tell me what I need to get to attach to my camera to get the good pictures.
Please!!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
I'd personally recommend a Vivitar bellows with a decent enlarging or copy lens. The bellows should cost <$100, and the lens <$100, so a lot cheaper than the dedicated macro lens. You can't beat this deal (long as you're not sensitive to the engraving): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vivitar-Ext...em5d332f9c40And a lens like this one does not require an adapter to work with the bellows: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spiratone-7...em53ec680ed2You'll need a EOS-Tmount adapter for the camera, but the bellows will mount to your tripod and give you decent fine focus ability. Ray Edited by rmpsrpms
04/18/2012 9:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
tripod is good.
I get best results with natural daylight (indoor, near a window, not too bright), but that might not be convenient.
The other trick is: don't tough the camera when the pic is takem - allow your timer to do the work, so there's no vibration.
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
I recommend the Vivitar 55mm macro lens, in M42 mount. It is a manual lens and great for coin photography. You can buy it for about $100 on ebay, like I did. It is a sharp 1:1 macro that will give you excellent professional coin photos. M42 to Canon adapters are also cheap on ebay. The lens and adapter work fine in program mode. Just set the ISO in program mode, set the aperture on the lens and focus it. Use the tripod and the 2 second timer on your camera. I prefer CFL lamps in my portable lighting. Try to get as close to 5500 Kelvin temperature (daylight) lamps as possible. |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
I recommend the Vivitar 55mm macro lens, in M42 mount. It is a manual lens and great for coin photography. You can buy it for about $100 on ebay, like I did. It is a sharp 1:1 macro that will give you excellent professional coin photos. M42 to Canon adapters are also cheap on ebay. The lens and adapter work fine in program mode. Just set the ISO in program mode, set the aperture on the lens and focus it. Use the tripod and the 2 second timer on your camera. I prefer CFL lamps in my portable lighting. Try to get as close to 5500 Kelvin temperature (daylight) lamps as possible. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
I really like the copy stand for stability and the timer feature on my camera. I just need to work on my lighting angles.
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
I prefer to use a copy stand too, but the OP said that he had a free tripod coming, so I didn't pursue the issue.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
If you spend the money the Canon EF 100mm Macro lens is amazing! But I agree on a budget and for close ups get a bellows unit (you'll need some adapters) and a cheap macro lens or reverse an enlarging lens. I'm just getting back into the bellows, and have had some decent results so far, but it's a learning process. The Vivitar 55mm macro lens is pretty darn good for a very affordable lens, find one used for arund $30-40. Another route is a going with regular Canon lenses 50mm (f1.4 or 1.8) lens or 85mm (f/1.8) with some extension tubes, you can get non Canon brand extension tubes if you don't need electronic feedback, which in macro shooting you don't really need anyways. The 50 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.8 are almost as good as the "L" glass versions and some of the sharpest low cost lenses available from Canon without dropping huge money.
Check on the copy stand!
Ikea Jansjo lamps are a great buy at $10 each get a couple of these they work nice and are very adjustable.
"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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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
1. Use the self-timer or a remote trigger to eliminate vibration from touching the camera during exposure.
2. If your camera has it, use the Mirror Up setting to eliminate vibration from mirror movement.
3. Any of the macro lenses described should suffice.
I generally use one or two Ott-Lites. I generally use two Ott-Lites for slabbed examples.
I use a variety of diffusers, depending.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,777 |
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Posted 04/18/2012 10:03 pm
