Camera Lens Reflection For Proof Coins.

One thing that has worked for me is to expand the field of vision such that the coin does not fill the full picture. Then you can take the picture with the coin off center and crop it later. Imagine a box with four quadrants and you photograph the coins so that it only fills one of the four quadrants. Most cameras have plenty of resolution / pixels to allow you to crop and really not lose much for most situations.

For brilliant proofs, about the only way I can get decent pics is with diffuse axial lighting. For frosted proofs, I usually shoot them two ways: (1) diffuse axial lighting, for a brightfield effect with darker devices, or (2) lighting at an angle low enough so that nothing reflects off the mirrored fields, but the frosted devices are still illuminated, for a darkfield effect.

If you have a tilt/shift lens or bellows, you can simulate axial lighting by bouncing direct light off the coin at an angle, directly into the lens. If you don't tilt the coin, this is a variation of the method in the last post (I've only done this once or twice). If you do tilt the coin, you need to fiddle with the "Scheimpflug angles" to keep the whole coin in focus (I've never tried this).

jadey this is what Pepactonius is talking about light angles. camera plus lens directly over top of the coin. aim light in on coin at low angles with direct light. ps dont be afraid of light its your best friend. when it comes to these coins. here is what he is talking about.

That is a really nice photo. I've tried the low angles, but I still get the reflection of the camera lens.