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Great Method For Scope Focus & Color

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HumblePie's Avatar
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1117 Posts
 Posted 12/30/2022  2:57 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add HumblePie to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
This is a method I have been using for my scope photos. It helps greatly with a better focus and with showing the true color of a coin. All that I use with it is my lamp, that I position behind my scope.

It is a 3.5 inch glass tube, it is about as round as a dime. I guess you could use about anything that would lift your coin up and not show in the photos. I like the clear glass because I feel it lets the light through.

Once I get my coin set for a photo, I just gently pull the scope towards me (usually just inches) and away from the lamp, until the true color of the coin shows on screen.

A lot of you may already use this method, I just wanted to post this here for those who might not.

I used this circulated 1906 IHC as an example, because we all know how hard it can be to capture their true color for photos.

This cent looks the exact same in the photo as it would in-hand. I had a lot of trouble achieving that before when laying the coin flat.




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John1's Avatar
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56855 Posts
 Posted 12/30/2022  4:10 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Nice. Now allow me to nitpick . The rim (denticles), especially when I click the pic to enlarge is out of focus? Also just wondering why raising the coin up makes a better photos?
John1
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HumblePie's Avatar
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1117 Posts
 Posted 12/30/2022  5:54 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add HumblePie to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
They don't seem that out of focus on my end, but very well could be. I probably should have taken more time to focus, or raised my scope to give myself more room to center the coin. I try to avoid the timestamp and sometimes do not center my coin correctly.

I saw someone using this method while taking photos with a camera and not a scope. It was explained that raising the coin should cause the background to go out of focus/blur, while forcing the camera to focus more on the coin.

My equipment is on the low end, so every little improvement I can make helps out. I feel it grabs a better focus and definitely helps with showing true coin color.

Everything that has to do with taking photos will always be a work in progress for me.
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HumblePie's Avatar
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1117 Posts
 Posted 12/30/2022  6:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add HumblePie to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
This is an example of the out of focus background. The photo was taken with a camera and not my scope.

The non-white background of course shows the blur better than a white background would. But does not show the true coin color better than white.


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HumblePie's Avatar
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1117 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2023  10:04 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add HumblePie to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I just wanted to add this.

I took this photo under my scope. I feel like I centered the coin correctly and gave a little more distance between the coin and camera. Hopefully to get rid of any blur. Keep in mind, my scope was only $100, I can't deliver 4k results.



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John1's Avatar
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56855 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2023  10:26 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Your photos are fine. I think a read that a 14% gray scale background is recommended.
John1
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HumblePie's Avatar
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1117 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2023  11:52 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add HumblePie to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for that information!

I found a 3 pack of background cards on Amazon that will be a perfect fit for under my scope. They come in black, white, 18% neutral grey.

Looks like it is 18% instead of 14%, but I know you were just recalling info. All the other options I see on Amazon have it at 18% as well.

Thanks again!
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John1's Avatar
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 Posted 01/01/2023  12:13 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add John1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
My bad ,I make that mistake all the time,,,14% vs 18%
John1
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