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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,920 |
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello,
I have taken some pictures of my two Proof Sets and my one Commemorative coin and I'm not 100% happy with the pictures but they will do. I can't post them here to show anyone because I have not yet reached my 50 posts. Any suggestions on shooting cased coins such as proofs and commemorative coins? I saw a topic on the Coin Community Homepage about shooting coins but that was for individual coins, although it was helpful. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rich
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
I'm pretty sure you can post pictures but not of things for sale until the 50 post point
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
You can post as many pics as you like, you just cannot post links before 50 posts. You can always upload your images as long as they are under 100kb in size. When you click on "reply to topic" or "new topic" you will see a tutorial link right above the text box titled "Uploading Images"
Edited by biokemist6
10/22/2008 3:44 pm
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Moderator
 United States
188130 Posts |
As long as you are posting the image relevant to the subject, you do not have to wait for 50 posts! This is allowed becauses it is easier to help new members with questions if there are pictures! Besides, we love pictures!  If you do post a picture, you are encouraged to put the image in the post (surround the link with the [im tags), this keeps you from violating the "no links" rule. Edited by jbuck
10/22/2008 3:53 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
420 Posts |
Hello, I looked at the tutorial and at the and found this: Quote:
Free Image Hosting:
Coin Community Family offers you free hosting for your coin images when you get to 50 posts.
I'l try and get my pictures to the required size and place them in a post. Thanks, Rich |
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello, Below are the images of my Commemorative coin and my two Proof Sets.       Are these OK? Thanks, Rich |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
Might want to check out the photography section on the forum for tips, although they get a bit technical over there.
Personally I scan mine. Do you have a scanner?
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello,
I do not own a scanner, I used to have a nice flatbed but not anymore, although scanners are fairly inexpensive for basic model. I have heard scanning coins doesn't give you the same picture quality, is that true? Since these are proofs do I need to worry about being able to grade from a picture?
Thanks,
Rich
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
You have to play around a little with the settings, ie what size you want the scans etc, but it is much easier to get well focused pics with a scanner than with a camera, unless you have a custom setup, and fairly good camera. Most compacts for example won't focus very close up, and manual focus is better than auto. Plus you definitely need a tripod, or something to mount the camera on. Then there is the question of lighting as the flash is usually too strong if you are close to the coin. And you have to have the white balance correct or you end up with gold looking silver coins etc. You can't beat photos if they are done well, but it's quite difficult to be good at. With a scanner you just slap it on the flatbed, the colour is correct, the focus is correct. Bob's your Grandad. I scanned 2500 coins (5000 sides) 18 at a time and divided them up afterwards, and it really wasn't too arduous. Certainly good enough for me, and so much quicker than photos. Here are a couple of examples. (I had to make the files smaller to upload them) The first example was scanned in its 2x2 holder, the second example was done with the coin still in it's plastic proof set packaging.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
You can try a polarising filter on your camera to reduce the reflections but be aware you will then need more light.
The other thing as you have found out is that if you photograph more than a single coin, as in a proof set, parts will be focused and parts will not. This is because at close range the coins on the outside of the set are further away than the ones in the centre.
This does not matter when you are taking a photo of something at a greater distance as the depth of field is greater. You can try a smaller aperture to give greater depth of field but again this requires more light.
I am not sure how keen a photographer you are, or how much you know about photographic principles.
Suffice to say it's a trade off between quality and ease of use when using a scanner, but I have been happy with the results.
Edited by QuickSilver
10/22/2008 6:11 pm
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
I have to say, for a first try, those are pretty decent photos! Quote:
I have heard scanning coins doesn't give you the same picture quality, is that true? Scans can leave the images a little flat and unnatural, but I have seen some really good scans posted here; like the nice examples posted above. It really depends on the equipment, a good camera vs. a cheap scanner, or a better scanner vs. a mobile phone camera (or older digital camera). But I would take leebreeze's advice and check out the Coin Photography Forum for some excellent help! Quote:
Bob's your Grandad. I thought Bob was my uncle?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1077 Posts |
Yeah, you're right. In my family we always say "Bob's your Grandad", cos he was!  |
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
I almost would have guessed that was the case! |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,920 |
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Posted 10/22/2008 3:42 pm
