Cable Shutter Release

G'day, back when I was getting good with my 35mm SLR, I had a cable release, and used it in conjunction with a tripod to get my best photography.

When I went digital - quite recently - I read on this forum, advice to the effect that when photographing coins, one ought not to be in contact with the camera at the instant the shot is taken. That appealled to me, and like you, I thought about shutter release. Then, on this forum, someone pointed out that all of our modern digital cameras have a timer-function. For our purposes, this is even better than cable release: I put my coin where I want it; set up my camera, with tripod; frame the shot; hit the button, hands away, and seconds later ... CLICK. I found that 3-second delay was all I needed.

I use natural light, in my dining room, by a window facing north. I'm in the tropical part of the southern hemisphere, so I get plenty of light for most of the day. I'm still experimenting with backgrounds. Once I get my space set-up, it's just a matter of removing the subject coin, and inserting the next one. Can be tricky getting it "lined up". When I change to a coin of a different thickness, there is a difference in focus, which surprised me, but I'm taking the mega-fussy view.

So, my advice is, perhaps you don't need a cable release for coin photography. I understand that a cable release might be useful for other tasks, of course.

Peter
in sunny Darwin, Oz

I was missing something. Timer delay...duhhh
Thanks so much!