Posted 05/10/2014 1:20 pm
I do it all day long. I use a Canon T3i Rebel and AmScope's microscope camera attachment. I have a thread in this forum on it, let me see if I ncan find it.
Camera body was less than 300.00, AmScope microsope attachment was like 90.00. AmScope sells attachments for Canon, Nikon and Olympus.
https://goccf.com/t/173936
The best magnification for coins, is typically 10x, that's what a Loupe usually is, and anything higher than that will probably be considered a "minor" variety or error. I use a magnification anywhere between 3.5x to 40x depending on the photo I want to get.
There ARE adapters out there that will house a regular point and shoot camera, but for the price of that adapter and the Megapixels, you can have a, say 18MP camera body and an adapter for about 400.00. I bought the Canon because it is was on sale at the Canon Outlet store (refurb), came with Battery, charger, strap and more. I did invest another 70.00 in a Canon made power adapter and I will be happy with the setup for many, many years.
I have two microscopes, one heavy duty that weighs close to 18 pounds and another student style microscope that weighs about 7 pounds. The heavy one costs about 240.00, and the light one about 150.00
The KEY here is what pleases YOU. I tell myself all day long, I am in it for the business and customer satisfaction. I am picky, and if I could sell it to myself, then I will have no problem selling it to others.
If your in it for taking beautiful photos, then you have to decide how detailed you want to get. It depends if you want to do just entire pics of the Obverse and Reverse or, getting own to the nitty gritty details of how many D's were struck on the coin, or if it is a D/S or S/D or DDO, DDR. Nothing says you have to jump into it all at once. Buy one component at a time, and when you can afford it.
Feel free to dig through my posts and see some of the photography I am taking with the microscope setup. For full sized pics, I am using a 8MP Sony Cyber-Shot with macro setting ON, zooming to 1.8x and holding the camera by hand. Lighting is a 12.49 Walmart Gooseneck desk lamp and that's how I take the full sized photos. Most come out absolutely amazing, especially the Lincoln Wheat Cents.
Dave is a wonderful source of information, and has obviously been doing it for years. I have a strong background in Coins, Analysis, Attribution and Photography, but I am on the Business side and though my ethics and morals exceed most people's expectations, I tend to buy the upper end stuff. Many people in this community will chime in, but remember - do not feel forced or committed to buy anything or take a single person's advice. We're here to help, but again, its what you feel comfortable with using. Research the topics that people will give you and YOU decide how in depth you want to go. One last thing, spend what you want on the level you want to commit. If you think you may change your mind about this in a year or two, then maybe you shouldn't push all in.
Good luck on whatever avenue you wish to pursue.
Camera body was less than 300.00, AmScope microsope attachment was like 90.00. AmScope sells attachments for Canon, Nikon and Olympus.
https://goccf.com/t/173936
The best magnification for coins, is typically 10x, that's what a Loupe usually is, and anything higher than that will probably be considered a "minor" variety or error. I use a magnification anywhere between 3.5x to 40x depending on the photo I want to get.
There ARE adapters out there that will house a regular point and shoot camera, but for the price of that adapter and the Megapixels, you can have a, say 18MP camera body and an adapter for about 400.00. I bought the Canon because it is was on sale at the Canon Outlet store (refurb), came with Battery, charger, strap and more. I did invest another 70.00 in a Canon made power adapter and I will be happy with the setup for many, many years.
I have two microscopes, one heavy duty that weighs close to 18 pounds and another student style microscope that weighs about 7 pounds. The heavy one costs about 240.00, and the light one about 150.00
The KEY here is what pleases YOU. I tell myself all day long, I am in it for the business and customer satisfaction. I am picky, and if I could sell it to myself, then I will have no problem selling it to others.
If your in it for taking beautiful photos, then you have to decide how detailed you want to get. It depends if you want to do just entire pics of the Obverse and Reverse or, getting own to the nitty gritty details of how many D's were struck on the coin, or if it is a D/S or S/D or DDO, DDR. Nothing says you have to jump into it all at once. Buy one component at a time, and when you can afford it.
Feel free to dig through my posts and see some of the photography I am taking with the microscope setup. For full sized pics, I am using a 8MP Sony Cyber-Shot with macro setting ON, zooming to 1.8x and holding the camera by hand. Lighting is a 12.49 Walmart Gooseneck desk lamp and that's how I take the full sized photos. Most come out absolutely amazing, especially the Lincoln Wheat Cents.
Dave is a wonderful source of information, and has obviously been doing it for years. I have a strong background in Coins, Analysis, Attribution and Photography, but I am on the Business side and though my ethics and morals exceed most people's expectations, I tend to buy the upper end stuff. Many people in this community will chime in, but remember - do not feel forced or committed to buy anything or take a single person's advice. We're here to help, but again, its what you feel comfortable with using. Research the topics that people will give you and YOU decide how in depth you want to go. One last thing, spend what you want on the level you want to commit. If you think you may change your mind about this in a year or two, then maybe you shouldn't push all in.
Good luck on whatever avenue you wish to pursue.
Edited by Collector-Corner
05/10/2014 1:26 pm
05/10/2014 1:26 pm
