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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,781 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
I have previously just used a cell phone camera and a USB microscope, but I would like to put a bit of effort into taking decent pictures of coins. I am working with a Nikon D70 and have the following lenses:
AF Nikkor 18-35 mm 1:3.5-4.5 D
AF Nikkor 35-70 mm 1:2.8 D
AF Nikkor 70-300 mm 1:4-5.6 D
AF Nikkor 50 mm 1:1.8
None of these seem to be very good for taking close-up pictures of coins, so I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
Hi Numisma...the best lens you have for coins is the 50mm. I'll give you the same advice I gave to edweather...buy a 2XVMFT (Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Teleconverter). It will turn your 50mm f1.8 into a 100mm f3.6 capable of shooting down to around 1:1. For larger coins and medals, proof sets, etc just use the 50mm on its own. Shoot at f8. For smaller coins, like Dimes or Cents, shoot at around f4...Ray
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4963 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
Edited by austrokiwi
10/24/2016 01:16 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Nikkor has at least 2 lenses specifically labeled macro.
I have the 60mm.
I believe the next one up is 105mm.
And I believe there is a 150mm that you'd have to find used.
Your pockets will have to be reasonably deep to buy any of them ($1000+).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4038 Posts |
Reversing lenses is for sure a better solution if higher magnification is desired (>1:1). Numisma, when you say "close-up pictures" do you mean of the whole coin, or are you looking to zoom-in even further (like on dates and mintmarks)? If you're just trying to get good full-coin pics then the teleconverter is the better choice. But if you're trying for higher magnification details, then AK's reversing/extension method will work better.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9395 Posts |
Quote:
Your pockets will have to be reasonably deep to buy any of them ($1000+). How much better is the new $1000+ 60mm Nikon macro lens compared to the various old manual focus 55mm Micro-Nikkors. Is it a lot better in the 0.5x to 1.0x range, where you had to use the 27.5mm extension tube with almost all of the old lenses? (I use a Canon camera, so the new 60mm lens would not work, unless it still has an aperture ring.) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Quote:
when you say "close-up pictures" do you mean of the whole coin, or are you looking to zoom-in even further (like on dates and mintmarks)? If you're just trying to get good full-coin pics then the teleconverter is the better choice. I really just want a good one for shooting the whole coin, so it looks like I'll probably go with the teleconverter. Thanks, everyone, for all the help. Edited by Numisma
10/24/2016 6:41 pm
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,781 |
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Posted 10/24/2016 12:06 am
