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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,588 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5953 Posts |
I have noticed that my coin setup is not as stable as I thought the camera is four feet away from my computer and yet the action of me leaning forward to click the mouse produces a slight tremor on the image. the same when a train passes and the tracks are over a mile away from the house. The setup is on a 400lb sold glass topped coin chest. Any suggestions on what to do to eliminate this movement? Telling me to loose weight has already been suggested by the wife.
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
I have the same problem I had been thinking of getting a remote shutter control.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
What is the camera attached to?
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Pillar of the Community
  United States
5953 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
I feel confident that the big heavy coin case is stable, so I would blame the tripod or head. It's actually pretty hard (expensive) to get a tripod that works. Make sure everything is tightened down as much as possible, and spread the legs further apart if possible. Try tapping on the setup lightly in different places while looking at a live view to see where weakest points are. If the tripod itself is wobbling, you might get some improvement by putting the feet on bean-bags. If it's the head, you might only be able to improve by going to a better support, like a copy stand or microscope stand (or higher-end tripod and head).
It's also possible that the big pane of glass is acting like a drum and amplifying vibrations. The solution there is to set up the tripod on something else or on the floor.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I get the same thing, working at high magnification. Solution? Wireless mouse. Doesn't have to be touching anything when you trip the shutter. 
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Pillar of the Community
  United States
5953 Posts |
Whats a wireless Mouse? I bet its one of them there new fangled things, will see if best buy or frys is having a sale.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Quote: Whats a wireless Mouse? I bet its one of them there new fangled things, will see if best buy or frys is having a sale. Although they're also available singly, they usually come paired with a keyboard. A little receiver (comes with the package) plugs into one of your USB ports, and both mouse and keyboard (optional) contain batteries and transmitters. No physical connection to the computer exists. I can stand up, walk across the room, and run an entire tethered session using the mouse and the palm of my hand for a surface. That's not how I do it, of course, but once you set the mouse cursor over the "shutter" button - having set all parameters and you're ready to shoot - I can walk away from the area and just click the left mouse button to snap the shot. Nothing physically touches anything, no chance of vibration.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Are you using mirror lock up? That is enough to blur an extreme close up image, - the mirror slapping up out of the way of the light path to the sensor), you might want to also try hanging some weight off the bottom of the center coloum of your tripod, adding weight there will pull the whole assembly down and prevent tripod shake.
I just borrowed my roommates carbon fiber tripod rig ($800) amazing how much more stable it is over my heavy duty aluminum Bogen model, and at 1/3 the weight.
One last thing to check the center column is tightened down, I've forgot that before and it will induce wiggle, slightly but perceptible.
"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
Edited by westcoin 02/09/2013 6:50 pm
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Formerly nancyc
Australia
5385 Posts |
Quote: Wireless mouse.  Best thing since sliced Bread! 
life is a mystery to be lived not a problem to be solved
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Pillar of the Community
  United States
5953 Posts |
OK Wireless mouse installed. Have to admit I like it but has not helped the issue much. Also suspended a roll of Ikes from the Center of the tripod. Still getting a fair amount of shake. I don't want to increase the light too much more and shorten the exposure time I like the results with lower light levels and longer exposure times. But I think unless I can do something about the movement I am going to have to go this route.  
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
most modern cameras have a "timer": y'know - set up the camera, usually on a tripod (or gatepost), pose the rest of the family, set the timer, hit the button, run over & take your own position & smile, and then the camera "fires" - so you "take your own photo".
Fast forward to your coin set up: position your coin & lighting & camera (tripod), check the view, set the timer, then hit the button and stand back ... when the camera fires, you aren't touching the camera, or anything else of relevance. This method is independent of using a computer as part of your set up.
If you are using high magnification, then vibration will be more significant. Rather than using a "solid" platform, which transmits vibration from mother-earth, perhaps you might be better interposing some dampening ?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
If these dideas don't help, I'd say it's the tripod. I have a big heavy aluminum Bogen Manfrotto tripod that is solid, but after borrowing my roommates light weight carbon fibre tripod, I'm blown away by how solid and steady it is. Huge difference in long exposure shots over my 20lb Bogen and his is only about 4lbs. But then again it colst more than most people would want to pay around $675.00 with the head and QR system. Ouch expensive, but I'm sold and want one now, not just for coins, but for packing, I'd use a tripod a lot more if mine wasn't so dang heavy.
"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
5953 Posts |
I borrowed an accelerometer from the office; and its the floor that is causing the problem. when I lean forward in my chair this causes motion on the camera not a lot but more than enough to mess up a 3 second exposure. I am going to move my rig down stairs when I get back from Angola and set it up on the bare slab in the garage. Maybe this will cure the problem I also plan on building a copy stand rather than using a tripod.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,588 |
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