Actually, coins represent an extreme dynamic range problem. Most images of BU coins I've viewed have blown out highlights. Dropping exposure enough to rein this in pushes shadows to black.
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That reminds me of a new feature on the D810--Flat Picture Control--I'm definitely trying this setting on coins.
Quote: A new "Flat" Picture Control option has been added with the D810. Less in-camera processing is applied to images captured at a Picture Control setting of "Flat" than to those captured at a setting of "Neutral", enabling maximization of the amount of subject information acquired. The "Flat" setting prevents loss of detail in highlights and shadows, as well as over-saturation of colors, enabling adjustment of image quality and post-processing for richer tone characteristics, including contrast and colors.
I was ready to pull the trigger on the pre-order with Adorama when I got the idea to check on the maturity of tethering software. I would find the camera useless without tethering. Canon software is of course free, and they send out the correct version with the camera. But Nikon makes you pay for the software, and they tend to lag on releasing it until after the cameras are in the field. I checked on the current version of CCCP2 available for download, and it is version 17 from February. It has support for the D5200 but of course not for the D810. Not wanting to waste time without tethering capability, it looks like I won't be an early adopter after all. I'll keep an eye out on Nikon website, and when the latest CCCP2 comes out with D810 control, I'm there, even though they charge $69.95 for each upgrade...after paying $250 for the original software...Ray
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I have no issue using open source software, but it needs to support the D810. So far nothing I've reviewed is ready to support it. All the new modes for RAW and the moire post-processing functions may take a while to work out...Ray
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com
DigiCamControl says it's compatible for the D800/E, so I would almost expect it will work for the D810 firmware too. I also suspect that Nikon sRAW would be supported, as it's just another parameter loaded as a "compression" value. Supporting Live View mode, I can already see how useful this would be for studio shots--I will try it out on my D810 and report back on CCF.
Ray, I found another option for tethering that comes highly recommended by other photogs--ControlMyNikon. It appears to be a feature-packed, reasonably-priced package (just $29). It's also compatible with the D800/E, so I'd expect the same for the D810. Here's an overview of what's new for v.5:
Quote: Most images of BU coins I've viewed have blown out highlights. Dropping exposure enough to rein this in pushes shadows to black.
There are potential workarounds this issue , like using a small weak LED for lighting-e.g LED`s on mobiles,small torches etc.I have found that using feathering (lighting technique) works well with BU coins ... especially if you are using a continuous light source like the one I mentioned above.
Other things to try would be using subtractors around the subject.One thing I have also learnt to avoid when photographing BU coins is using pop up flash of any kind that almost always blows out highlights especially at close up distances
If you check the numismatic photography literature (plenty online) you'll find that high luster coins are best imaged using the axial lighting method. I believe it's also good for subtle colors that wash out using normal photography methods.
The axial method does indeed reduce luster (actually eliminates it completely) but also results in very high dynamic range. With axial you get direct reflection off flat surfaces, and no reflection off the sides of devices, so there is strong shadowing. It is a similar effect to using one light, but coming from straight on instead of an angle. I wonder what an axial-lit coin would look like with an aggressive EF workflow? Perhaps worth a try...Ray
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com
I'll be posting updates for the D810 as I find them. If you pre-ordered a D810, you may want to get in on this "Switch and Save" promotion by Nikon. Details at that link and below. Granted, $1750 is a serious chunk of money, but if you plan to buy new lenses to match the D810's resolution, that figure is reached pretty quickly.
I just found out: if you've pre-ordered the D810, you need to add the lens(es) to your pre-order. Here's a snippet of an email sent out by Adorama detailing the promotion.
Today, a German photographer posted a video (below) comparing the sharpness between the D810 and D800; a screen cap of that test and the camera settings are pictured below. Roughly translated, the photographer said:
Quote: The two pictures are juxtaposed here and you can see at most a slight marginal advantage for the D810. That picture appears to have somewhat higher contrast and even incrementally sharper. But in practice, apart from the 100% view, it's really hard to notice the difference.
The comparison pictures taken from the video at HD resolution--click for full-size...what do you think? It looks to me the D810 sensor might get a higher sharpness rating by DxOMark
Yes me too...I've studied the video, and the difference seems more dramatic than a slight improvement. Of course, this was the D800 vs D810, so I would expect some stark difference @ 100%, although I think it's visible at smaller sizes too. Ultimately, it's easy to dismiss the results for technical reasons--they are 1/170sec hand-held shots on a person after all--I'll wait for lab sensor tests such as by DxO.
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Posted 07/02/2014 5:17 pm
I also suspect that Nikon sRAW would be supported, as it's just another parameter loaded as a "compression" value. Supporting Live View mode, I can already see how useful this would be for studio shots--I will try it out on my D810 and report back on CCF. 
... especially if you are using a continuous light source like the one I mentioned above.
