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 Replies: 18 / Views: 15,080 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
I have a hard time photographing highly reflective coins, silver, nickels. This pic below is my best shot. I've tried diffusing the flash, tried some sort of lighting but always get lots and lots of reflection. What tips do you have to avoid such and get good shots on like nickels or silver coins?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
That's not a bad shot, but try one with no flash, just natural light by a window, using a tripod and your macro setting on the camera if it has one. Search this forum for other tips. There are a lot of them here  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
827 Posts |
I tried without macro and the picture ends up real fuzzy and with like come blue and red spotting on the end result, I have no idea why but using flash is the only way to get a clear picture, I tried blocking out the flash and I still end up with them results up there lol thanks for the comments  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9381 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
936 Posts |
I use the milk carton technique. Take a milk jug, cut the bottom out, then a hole on the top so the camera lens can get through. Take your light source and shine it at the milk jug, the jug will diffuse the light and give a softer feel and you get less shine. I use this for proof coins and ones with highly reflective surfaces.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
thanks triggersmod for that link  chrsb, I've tried something similar to that, I took white paper and rolled a tube form out of it, lenght from coin to the camera. and then tried that out, it works out better but it's bulky or sort of in the way and not real good, I think it's the way I am doing it I guess? I tried that right now with a different nickel, couldn't find the one I originally used, first pic it without image editing, second one has a #35 increase in contrast. Image:  0contrast.jpg50.17 KB Image: contrast35.jpg69.9 KB |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
936 Posts |
Sleaklight,
To me the lighting looks a little funny in those photo's. It almost looks like a regular incandescent lamp?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
the last two? camera flash as well for the first one. I'm still tinkering around with this at least untilI can get a lamp which should be probably next week. |
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Forum Dad
 United States
24150 Posts |
Lower the light, raise the ISO. Play with it and you'll find that magic setting. Then for Pete's sake......
Write it down! |
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Forum Dad
United States
24150 Posts |
Oh, and forget about the flash please. |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Yes don't use the flash. You could also try using two differnt lights one at each side and see if your camera has a function to tone down the brightness on it.
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Forum Dad
United States
24150 Posts |
When I say lower the light, I mean less light, not a lower angle.
Too much light causes reflection, so use less.
The higher ISO setting lets more of the available light to the camera sensor to compensate.
It will work, you just have to play with it for a little bit to get it right for your particular setup.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
I can't adjust ISO, without flash it wont focus at all, all I get is a blob of fuzzy picture lol. First pic in first post had flash but flash covered up so it would not add to the environment, then I diffused it and so on, trying various methods.
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Forum Dad
United States
24150 Posts |
quote:
I can't adjust ISO,
 What camera do you have? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
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Forum Dad
United States
24150 Posts |
According to Sony, you can change it. It's probably factory set on auto, you just need to figure out how to set it to manual. You should then be able to choose between 64, 100, 200, 400, or 800. I would cut the light in half (or move it considerably further away), then try 200 to start. Then work from there.
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Replies: 18 / Views: 15,080 |
Posted 10/09/2007 5:52 pm
0contrast.jpg
contrast35.jpg
