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 Replies: 7 / Views: 3,214 |
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
With a recent post I realised that I avoid using one of my macro lenses; the MD 100mm. However I just can't recall why I wasn't that keen on it. I am mostly photographing Crown sized coins....often when I use a 100mm lens and set it to 1-1 magnification the coin is too large for the camera sensor....so I have tended to use 1-2 magnification or alternately I grab my one 50mm macro. So today I dusted off the md 100mm and had a go. Apparently its sharpest at F8 so I just set it to that aperture and took some photos. Now I am even more at a loss as to why I haven't been using it. Heres a 1745 thaler shot using axial lighting( plus some direct) For a test shot it certainly suggests to me I should be using this lens a lot more. The only thing is on ebay the prices of the MD 100mm do get, IMHO, a little steep at times. Heres the test shot:  Edited by austrokiwi
08/23/2014 4:41 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Y'know, aside the exposure being a touch low I can't see a ton wrong with those images. In fact, instead of offering critique (can't think of any) I'm going to just stare at the fullsize images in the other tab for a while. It's a beautiful coin, and must be in the Condition Census for the issue. I've always had a weakness for Thalers, and this isn't helping.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
 Beautiful coin--and really a beautiful shot too. I can't help tinkering with images...I brought your pic into photoshop and noticed on the histogram the shadows were getting blocked up. I brightened the highlights, took out some of the density in the low end. But, you still had areas on the reverse that were almost monotone. Those areas I applied a curve to get some more contrast and better differentiate the grays. I'm unsure this quick edit improves on your shot, because it was nice already. I edited the L channel in LAB color mode so it didn't affect color balance.  Edited by DVCollector
08/24/2014 01:02 am
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Pillar of the Community
 2087 Posts |
DVCollector: You answered my question before I could ask it. The coin looks even closer to real life. Can you show some screen shots of what you did(Perhaps in a new thread?) I have only an academic understanding of using histograms ( I assume that what you meant by curve) for adjusting the picture). For those interested the coin was a very expensive direct sale from a german auction house. I paid above catalog for the coin and have never regretted it. I have not seen a better example.
I have been thinking hard about why I had developed a clearly slanderous opinion of this lens( Minolta MD100mm macro) I suspect it was a combination of inexperience and a dislike of the 1-1 adapter. The picture was taken with out that adapter. The lens was very simple to use. Being an old style lens it has much more helpful and accurate markings on it ( magnification ratio etc) than a modern macro lens. For taking coin photos I find those markings very useful I have learnt to set the magnification ratio I want on the lens, and then use the focussing rack to actually bring the coin into focus. After yesterday's test I suspect I will be using this lens a lot more.
For any one interested in getting an example I would suggest that this lens, and its like, are best on mirrorless cameras. The reason being is the adapters necessary for the lens do not have any infinity adjusting glass in them. Those adapters therefore allow the lens to perform as it was designed to. Furthermore those lensless adapters still allow for infinity focus so the lens can be used as a non-macro.
Edited by austrokiwi
08/24/2014 02:00 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Austrokiwi, glad to hear I got it closer to the real coin! It was just a hunch of mine. If you have Photoshop, going to the histogram (several places to view it) will help you see if there's any exposure problems. I'll post some screen shots Sunday pm. As for adjusting the L channel in LAB, it's a pretty powerful way to improve a photo, but the way you work in this mode is very different from RGB and sort of tricky to explain. But I'll put up a few screen shots to explain things.  |
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
Might be an idea to have a couple of pictures of the lens( it is an ugly beast!!).   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
It may be an older design--but it takes great shots! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
That's a good looking lens with quality glass it seems, great shots.
"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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Replies: 7 / Views: 3,214 |
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Posted 08/24/2014 12:54 am
