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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,712 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
I know the short answer is I'm using an el cheapo kodak camera, but I don't do enough of this to invest money in real equipment. I can shoot silver coins relatively well, hough sometimes it's tough to capture subdues mint luster.
My flying eagle shots are always mushy looking, and the color reproduction is horrible. They just look like they're minted from silly putty instead of cupro-nickel.
Any guidance really appreciated.
FWIW, I'm just using a Kodak easy share 14 Megapixel camera, and maybe it's just not capable. It just seems odd that I just cannot capture a decent image of this coin, or of the other 2 I have tried to shoot.
I've got the camera set to macro, and have the exposure set at -0.3
Chance
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
Let's see your picture. I think you should be able to get a decent image from the camera.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1372 Posts |
Here are 2 images of the one I repatriated from Italy. It is not as "hammered" as it appears here. It's a very nice coin, and much sharper than it appears here. Chance   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
You want to get the camera straight on to the coin so the whole thing is in focus. What's the color of the background? It looks like you need to play with your white balance settings.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
The background is an imitation ivory. Vertical for the coin is difficult, and horizontal for the camera pretty tough too.
I'll work on that, though.
You think a plain white background would be better?
Chance
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
A neutral background makes it easier to get color right - white, gray or black.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4038 Posts |
It looks like you can get some good results from this camera with just a little bit of work. The Captain's suggestions are the first things to work on. Then lighting. How far are you away from the coin with the camera lens for these images?
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
I'm probably 6 inches or so away from the coin, which is as close as the auto focus will allow me to get. I'll change backgrounds and see if I can square the camera.
My lighting source is not the best. It's one of those "Ott" lights, a flourescent desk lamp. I probably should add some incandescent. If you get the exposure set too dark, you can see the slow pulsing of the light as it goes dim, then bright in the camera's preview screen.
Chance
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1372 Posts |
OK ... That's a good bit better. These were both purchased from an Italian coin shop via ebay for a fraction of what they cost here. Better lighting may even improve it more, I suppose, but these are so much better. Thanks ... any further guidance is welcome, and greatly appreciated too. Chance     Edited by Chancellor Sutler
08/22/2012 02:29 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
 much much better, the coin is round once more..!! Its a great improvement, and I'm sure you will get better results yet...The reverse shows the even rim from top to bottom and right to left..the obverse is not so, either from the strike, id doubt, or its not yet quare to the camera lens,,, try the old mirror to lens trick,, center your lens upon a mirror, and adjust your cameras "LEVELNESS" by observing how the lens roundness of the lens is reflected back into your view screen...adjust until is even and round |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
The color looks reasonably natural to me now. The image quality is mostly going to be limited by your camera at this point. You might continue to experiment with the lighting if you want to go further. There may also be macro filters or lenses that can be attached to your camera that allow you to get closer (and therefore get better resolution).
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10038 Posts |
I am using a Kodak Easyshare 7MP - with an inexpensive modification that allows me to get closer than the cameras normal macro setting. See this thread for instructions. Originally this idea was from the web (not mine) - but I could not find the right page. https://goccf.com/t/89250I also tend to use sunlight for pictures. Although I am still not yet seriously getting into the photography aspect yet. edited for proper link Edited by Earle42
08/22/2012 1:50 pm
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,712 |
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Posted 08/21/2012 9:52 pm
