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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,620 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
715 Posts |
Hey everyone, I have recently returned to coin collecting, and I'd like to take some good photos. I did in fact put together a version of the sub-$400 setup a few years ago, and my biggest frustration now is with my tripod. To be honest, I kind of hate it. I can't seem to manage it well enough to get a stable, aligned fundamental position for the camera from which I can fine tune focus. So I suppose my questions are these:
Should I really be looking for a copy stand as a solution?
If so, can anyone help point me in the direction of an appropriate stand that won't break the bank? Or if it's possible for a novice to build a facsimile I'm open to hearing ideas on that, too.
Thanks in advance.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9163 Posts |
Yes a copy stand is the way to go. You can buy one or make your own. There is a member here named Ray I'm sure he will be along shortly with more info.
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Valued Member
United States
191 Posts |
Does anyone have instructions on a do-it-yourself construction?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
For a while I've been building a relatively low cost copy stand that complements the <$400 setup. It's actually quite simple to make, and performs very well. Perhaps I'll put together a DIY instruction and parts list to allow folks here to build their own. Some machining skills (drilling, countersinking) are required but it's pretty simple.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
715 Posts |
Hey Ray, that would be great if you could share that whenever you're able. The more I try to investigate purchasing a copy stand, the more lost I'm feeling. Many seem to be much more expensive than I expected as well. Any thoughts on purchasing one?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4038 Posts |
I've never been fond of the fine focus adjust (or even the coarse focus) on most copy stands, so have never been able to use one seriously. I imagine if you get a Kaiser or similar, they probably work OK, and some pro coin photogs use them, but they are very expensive. Personally I prefer fine focusing using a stage under the coin rather than moving the camera and lens up and down, and that's how I build copy stands, ie with only a very coarse focus capability for the camera, which then gets clamped-down hard for stability, and then fine focus using a precision Z-stage. This is not super cheap, but not as expensive as you might think. Problem is that it's more set up for holding a bellows than a camera directly, or for the <$400 system I have used a clamp to hold the adapter and helicoid, and that worked well.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9163 Posts |
This my copy stand that I got from Ray, the table moves up, down, back and forward and left and right. You can also move the camera up or down. I do not know if he still has any left check with Ray.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
715 Posts |
Thanks mcshilling, I hope he does. Ray, should I be back channeling you on this?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4038 Posts |
Yes, if you want to talk about anything commercial in nature.
I tried emailing you but you have emails turned off.
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
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Valued Member
United States
71 Posts |
I converted an Olympus microscope stand bought on ebay for less than $40, into a stand for coin photography. This is the microscope stand I bought:  This is the converted stand, against the dinosaur copy stand I used before:  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,620 |
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Posted 11/10/2019 11:19 pm
