Posted 12/09/2007 10:38 am
OK, here we go. Points of interest:
1) I do not like the sharpness this lens offers. All of these images required Sharpness and Contrast adjustments to be presentable. See the last set (the Large Cent) for a comparison.
2) All of the pics were large enough to require downsizing to post here.
3) I did very little about refining the lighting; there's room to improve with that aspect. That might affect the Contrast adjustment I mentioned.
Here's a BU Morgan. The original images came out a little over 1000px, and I could have placed the lens closer:
Daniel Carr's Denver Commemorative. I came closer with the lens - the originals were 1200px. This coin is particularly sensitive to lighting:
Here's a Large Cent. Original images were around 1000px. I'm posting two sets; for each, the undoctored original is on top, and the sharpness/contrast adjusted one is on the bottom:
In all cases, the adjustments I've made bring the coin closer to its' actual appearance - I'm making up for the photographer and the camera's limitations, and not "spinning" the image to make it look better. As a general lens, the 18-55 is perfectly acceptable - it gives decent results outdoors. However, the XT is flash-limited indoors; although the camera is perfectly usable at ISO800 and OK at ISO1600, the flash is only good for about 6 feet. You might want a slave flash or an IS lens (that will give you longer exposures at a given light level to dispense with the flash).
All in all, I don't particularly care for the 18-55 as a coin lens. Remember, though, I'm spoiled.
1) I do not like the sharpness this lens offers. All of these images required Sharpness and Contrast adjustments to be presentable. See the last set (the Large Cent) for a comparison.
2) All of the pics were large enough to require downsizing to post here.
3) I did very little about refining the lighting; there's room to improve with that aspect. That might affect the Contrast adjustment I mentioned.
Here's a BU Morgan. The original images came out a little over 1000px, and I could have placed the lens closer:
Daniel Carr's Denver Commemorative. I came closer with the lens - the originals were 1200px. This coin is particularly sensitive to lighting:
Here's a Large Cent. Original images were around 1000px. I'm posting two sets; for each, the undoctored original is on top, and the sharpness/contrast adjusted one is on the bottom:
In all cases, the adjustments I've made bring the coin closer to its' actual appearance - I'm making up for the photographer and the camera's limitations, and not "spinning" the image to make it look better. As a general lens, the 18-55 is perfectly acceptable - it gives decent results outdoors. However, the XT is flash-limited indoors; although the camera is perfectly usable at ISO800 and OK at ISO1600, the flash is only good for about 6 feet. You might want a slave flash or an IS lens (that will give you longer exposures at a given light level to dispense with the flash).
All in all, I don't particularly care for the 18-55 as a coin lens. Remember, though, I'm spoiled.
