Quote:
You will find your question answered there in excruciating detail and variety, since there is no good single answer.
What do you mean by that? I can add an answer right here that's short, to the point and... well maybe you're right.
First off, homans,
glad you've joined us.
I'm a Nikon man. I've used Nikon cameras from the time I was 17. The camera I'm working with now is a D-200 with a 18-70mm lens. I also use a ring light flash (it mounts to the end of the lens) or a Nikon SB-900, and to process the photos I'm using Photoshop CS5.
You want as high of a megapixel camera as you can get. That way you can make a large image with as much detail as possible.
The setup I have cost a lot as in too much, but I used it for motorsports photography in the past. It takes 5 pictures per second and has more buttons, settings and adjustments than most people will ever need for any type of photography you can ever think of.
I've seen GREAT photos from cameras that cost very little and really poor photos from cameras that cost thousands. It's all in knowing how to use the camera and process the photos into the format and style you need.
My requirements would be:
1. A 10 megapixel or higher image sensor.
2. Something with a macro lens, or wide angle lens without distortion. They can be built-in on the cheaper cameras or interchangeable, on DSLRs. Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras. It all just depends on the type of camera you want.
3. A tripod or other device that will hold the camera as still as possible. If you can get one, a copy stand works best when shooting coins. Check
Amazon if you don't know what I'm talking about.
4. A good photo processing program. Most digital cameras come with a software package that will let you adjust the white balance and make the photo color look just like the coin. Something like Photoshop is wonderful, but it cost a lot and you don't need most of the features it has unless you want to shoot and process on a professional level.
5. Learn to use your camera in manual mode, if it has one, for the best control over focus and detail. Never post a blurry photo
5. Get LOTS of practice. Good photos can sell good coins. Bad photos can keep you from selling them.
You don't have to have a photo printer, but it's fun to print photos and cover all the walls with shots of rare coins. I specialize in errors, so I have some really wild prints.
You can get photos that look good for an investment of less than $200 if you learn how to use the equipment and software. If you don't mind a used or reconditioned camera, you can save some money too.
So just get the best you can afford, but try not to go crazy and buy something you don't really need. You want to shoot as detailed as you can and make sure to match the color of the photos to the color of the coin with the processing software. When you post coins for sale, make sure that each photo of your coin is the same color. Learn about white balance and color matching so you never have 6 photos with colors that don't match the coin or the other 5 shots.
I studied photography in school and have a professional photography degree.
(That means I
might be able get a job at Sears shooting family photos at minimum wage.)
Both my wife and I had a Motorsports and Custom Car photography and video business a few years ago and we both won awards for our work. It was fun while it lasted, but everyone has a digital camera now so and we couldn't make any money even though we did some really nice work.
Go here if you want to see some of my work on coins, cars and our pets. I also shoot a lot of strange things and use Photoshop to for some "Artwork" on cars
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kostynracing/ and go here if you want to see some of my wife's work
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akojen/ She started off in photography at about 16 years old. Her family had a Studio in New York for 40 years.
If you have any question, I don't mind talking (can you tell?) just let me know.
Ben
Posted 10/02/2013 11:16 pm
