| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 5,542 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
You'll note the axial glass setup (45 degree glass with wood sides) for doing axial lighting, vellum for light dispersion, black background for use during axial photographs, 15% gray card, copy stand with spring coil action, Canon XTI with Tokina 100mm Macro (fully extended), standard gooseneck lamp, and a ringlight (sans magnifier) with 6400 degree light.    Edited by Prethen
08/13/2008 10:50 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Australia
2830 Posts |
G'day,
I'm impressed ... I just wish I knew how to use all that equipment.
Peter in Oz
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
891 Posts |
Nice setup. What coins do you use the ring light for? I've never used one. Could you show a coin that you used this light on. I'd like to see the effect on the coin.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
3234 Posts |
The ring light comes in extremely handy for Proof Cameos. I'll have to put up some pictures of those here so you can see what I mean.
Peter, the equipment is fairly simple and not all that expensive to use. You're looking at about $200 worth of stuff, not including the camera. Okay, the camera and macro take a little practice and getting used to, but that's half the fun!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
Prethen....... Ahhh....here's the "new equipment" that you had been waiting for ! I was wondering if/when you would show it !.....  Can't wait to start seeing some "recent aquisitions" posted by you now !! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6389 Posts |
Prethen, I'm looking to invest in a decent coin photo setup. Your system might be about what I would be looking for. A friend recommended a Tokina 105mm macro lens, to be used with a Nikon D40 or N40 camera body, for a total retail cost of about $800. What determined your choice of the Tokina lens? Did you find an advantage for that make, verses the other available macro lens brands? Do you have a specific preference for the Canon? I'd appreciate your input! PS: nice set-up! It probably helps explain the high quality of the images you post! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2177 Posts |
Very impressive set up. I'm wondering how did you set up those goose lamps? What's holding them up and how? I bet you're as excited as a kid in a candy store now!  |
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
One quick note - I've found, while playing with axial lighting, that varying the angle of the glass can have a bearing on the shot. It might be worth your while to do some playing, especially with subtly-toned coins.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
The incadescent goose neck lamp is a simple table stand version...very cheap and available at most office supply stores. The ring light was also inexpensive and is a clip on so it clips onto the edge of the table.
Dave, the glass I use is a "beamsplitter" and I think it's either a 30/70 or 40/60. It needs to be at a 45 degree angle to deliver the light properly. I have experimented by lifting it to different angles and all it does is reduce the light on the coin. If I want to reduce the light, I simply point my lamp indirectly near the coin and let the ambient lighting light it up.
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Dave, the glass I use is a "beamsplitter" and I think it's either a 30/70 or 40/60. It needs to be at a 45 degree angle to deliver the light properly. I have experimented by lifting it to different angles and all it does is reduce the light on the coin. If I want to reduce the light, I simply point my lamp indirectly near the coin and let the ambient lighting light it up. Gotcha, and it makes sense that you'd rigidly mount that. I use standard glass, which has different optical characteristics. Now you've got me wanting to try beamsplitter glass.  |
|
Valued Member
Australia
432 Posts |
Nice Little set up! Looks like its all bought gear? nothing home made?
And yes, it would be great if you could post some pics - I use a halfway decent scanner still, primarily so I can maintain and manage scale, but playing with a nicer set up would be great for those 'one-off' type shots, where scale is not that important...
cheers
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3234 Posts |
Zaggy, do a search for my posts on Coin Community and you should see plenty of pictures I've taken recently using this setup. The only things that were "home made" was using the axial glass and getting a couple of pieces of wood cut to tape the glass to at a 45-degree angle, plus something to stiffen up and hold the light diffusing paper (vellum).
|
|
New Member
Canada
12 Posts |
wow!! Really professional.
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 5,542 |
|
Posted 08/14/2008 07:17 am
