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 Replies: 28 / Views: 5,069 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
So I read Half's post about building a DIY light box yesterday. I had been thinking about doing this for a while now. When I read Half's post I decided to just do it. Here is my 1st attempt.  Took about an hour to build. tool used: Box cutter and T-Square Material: Box(free) Tape, tissue paper, White poster board. Total cost $5.00 I also have colored construction paper(large sheet book) to change background color. First picture is of my pocket piece  I need to get 3rd OTT light for top. Also need to find a way to stand coin straight up. I am bad at trying to angle camera right when coin is leaning on coin stand. My Canon T3 was set on Close-Up Raw mode with Auto white balance. It is sitting on sturdy tripod on floor. I think it definitely improves my coin pics. Edited by MontCollector
05/26/2016 04:14 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
606 Posts |
Looking good! I need to find me some nice desk lamps or some such that can handle 100w of fluorescent.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2403 Posts |
My top light is a fluorescent it is much yellower than the OTT lights. It is what is causing the coin to look kind of off color. Coin is worn but grey not yellowish.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
ottlites are very white they are designed for reading lamps. they are consided the most natural to daylight. mont you can buy a screw in bulb for your lamp. there are 2 types screw in and push in. the push in are the same base connector as your lamps. your images are very good keep up the good work.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I use a swing arm lamp like the one on top of MontCollector's light box. I use a screw in standard base CFL rated at 35 watts equal to a 120 watt incandescent for looking at coins. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
Quote:
mont you can buy a screw in bulb for your lamp. They make Ottlite bulbs that screw in? Am I understanding you correctly? |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
There are some on the bay. John1 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Quote:
My top light is a fluorescent it is much yellower than the OTT lights. It is what is causing the coin to look kind of off color. Coin is worn but grey not yellowish. The problem you are having is not due to the fact that the overhead light is a fluorescent. The problem is a thing called "color temperature." I am not going to bore you with the physics of "Blackbody Radiation" but different light sources, when heated or electrically stimulated, emit light (glow) with a range of color differences. Those colors fall on a spectral scale correlated to temperature above absolute zero in degrees Kelvin for a uniform theoretical blackbody. Different kinds of gasses used in fluorescent bulbs emit light with different color ranges. In the old days of film photography film emulsions were specially prepared to respond to light of particular temperatures. Photo grade incandescent lamps glowed at 3200K, which was called "tungsten light." Artists associated the higher red content of this light with warmth, despite the lower color temperature. Emulsions for natural daylight were pitched to respond to 5600K. This temperature has more blue wavelengths in it and appears "brighter." Based on the artistic convention this light is called "Cool white." These became photo industry standards and still have an influence today in DSLR calibration. When you set the camera for indoor or outdoor light, you are plugging into the old system updated for today. When I put together a basic lighting system recently, I went to Home Depot and picked out a couple of spring adjustable desk lamps without bulbs. I want to flex the kind of light I can use with my setup. Then I selected a pair of bulbs that were marked at 5300K which was as close to daylight as I could get at that Home Depot. Then I picked out a pair of bulbs marked at 3100K (don't go below 2700) for the mood difference. If you are using a camera that does not have an automatic white balance, then you should try to keep your lighting as uniform as possible. For example, Ott lights are closer to daylight, and Jansjo lights are closer to tungsten. I wouldn't use them together. A lot of people think it doesn't matter what the color temperature of your light source is once you use the white balance feature to "set" the color. That is mostly true, but not entirely. You can still run into some trouble when you mix light sources, even with automatic white balancing. Moreover, the reflectance/absorption characteristics of different metals vary a bit depending upon the color temperature of the incident light. I like the way silver responds to daylight, and how gold, brass, and bronze handle tungsten. Try it for yourself. Edited by lrbguy
05/26/2016 1:46 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
MontCollector yes they do. the bulbs that are in the lamp that are tubes. these are rated 13 watt. they are 2700 to 3100. so if you buy a bulb. purchase the 13 watt that screws in to the socket. that way they will all match.
lrbguy. yes you are correct with the light sources. but with silver and nickel coins. if you add a one janjso lamp with lots of diffusion. it will bring out the metal look of your coin. so it looks like it does when in your hand. that what I want when I photo coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
I Checked out my "local" 4 isle hardware store. I found a GE 75W "daylight" bulb. Says it is 5000K and is much whiter in light appearance. I will buy OTT bulb when I get to bigger town next week.
Will post pics with same coin using new bulb later today when I get some more time.
Thanks for all the info. Lighting has always been a weak point in my indoor shooting.
BTW I cant figure out how to manually adjust my White Balance on my Canon Eos T3. Can you adjust manually in on this Camera?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2784 Posts |
MontCollector here is 2 images one single ottlite. 1 janjso this coin is encased in plastic. this is about the best I can do for now. I like the results. some coin can be very challenging to light.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
I like the Pics. Not too much difference to my untrained eye. I have always used the ottlites, but never had a box.
The box seems to spread the light more evenly through out the coins without Having the major glare you get from unfiltered lights. Great $5 upgrade.
Edit: I found out my third light(top light) was an LED light at 2700K. Forgot I had put that one in the lamp.
Edited by MontCollector
05/26/2016 10:39 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
OK same pic with both Ottlites and a 5000K Daylight bulb up top.  Better? Too Dark? |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
MontCollector, Yours looks a little dark and dull to me. rocky, Yours looks a little to bright and has hot spots. John1 |
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
Seems to me that by placing the coin on edge near the front of the light box, the photographed side of the coin is missing the benefit of the diffuse illumination inside the light box. You also have a white background behind the coin that might adversely affect the white balance in the photos. IMO this needs some re-engineering.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
606 Posts |
Interesting. I have seen it mentioned that a black background is better for coin photography before.
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Replies: 28 / Views: 5,069 |
Posted 05/26/2016 04:23 am
