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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,567 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
So I'm relatively new to the coin collecting deal...
I mean I started 20+ years ago when I was in my teens...but nothing impressive then... Now I'm starting to pick up a few nice coins here and there. The I.T. guy here at work collects old roman coins and so we chat a bit and he shows me this software he has that logs each of his coins.. has a lot of room for all this extra information and has a picture (or up to 10) filed for each coin.
I think this is GREAT and would love to start taking pictures of my coins to catalog. The thing is my digital camera recently was busted.. (unfortunately placed into the hands of my 1.5 yr old.. though I can't blame him he WAS trying to take pics of my coins... just pushed in the auto lens and broke the working parts inside.. ARGH)
So I really don't want to spend a whole bunch of cash but what would you recommend for taking pretty good pics.
a) another digital camera
b) a USB microscope
c) something else?
Tell me what you have.. and also what you would recommend for someone that's all pretty new to this once again!
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
Go to this thread https://goccf.com/t/158182Im waiting for the items to arrive. I think this is the best most economical way to go and will give you high quality pictures. rmpsrpms and SsuperDdave have been amazing with helping me out. Edited by rmc
09/23/2013 5:25 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
3049 Posts |
Read the thread... wow.... I'm totally in over my head... I may as well have been reading high german ....
I should point out... For the majority of my life.. I was kinda a big jock... while it has it's upsides... the concussion rate was high and exposure to electronics and computers was very low..
What's your opinion on the USB microscopes...
I was hoping to get something that could get a really good close up of my coins but something that may be very simple..
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
There are members here who are getting OK results from USB microscopes. I know little about them my self; at the risk of sounding elitist, they don't provide results I'd consider satisfactory until you spend enough money on one to have a good dSLR/bellows/duplicating lens setup, at which point you also have a superb camera for all other photography uses, something no USB 'scope can do.
If you explore that path, consider that many microscopes by nature cannot image the entire face of a coin. Some can, so if that's a concern for you, research carefully. If all you wish is closeup detail images of certain features of a coin, such a microscope will probably provide results you can live with.
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
Im a carpenter and have no idea about photography either. I have a USB microscope and hate it! I want a unit that produces high quality pictures without having to spend a pile of money. There is a list of items you will need to buy on that thread...I even posted the ebay threads where I bought them. The camera I purchased was used and if you buy from a respected eBayer or vendor, used is fine. All the items I bought totalled under $400. rmpsrpms posted how to put it all together...the next step is playing with the functions, lighting and editing. If you want high quality photos...no set up is simple. lots of trial and error and editing Edited by rmc
09/23/2013 11:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
From the sounds of it.. I think I may have a bit of a learning curve ahead of me...
Well I better start reading up on the stuff.. I'd love you to e-mail or PM me and tell me how you're coming along with your set up so I can also learn from you... $400 is very reasonable especially when you have a nice DSLR that you can use for every day activities as well.
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
I don't believe that I'm aloud to until you have a certain # of posts. Keep your eye on the "Best under $400" threat...I will be posting lots of picture once everything gets here...don't worry, it has been and will be a huge learning curve for me as well. I don't think it will be as bad as you think
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Valued Member
Canada
478 Posts |
A USB microscope IMO will be just as tricky to set up for function, and lighting...and a lot more editing required after with still a so so photo. And you are right, a camera will allow you to do a lot more photography than just coins etc
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4593 Posts |
Also microscopes top out at a lot lower resolution than a DSLR. My DinoLite is 1280x1024, while the DSLR is 53xx by 4xxx something.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,567 |
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Posted 09/23/2013 11:40 pm
