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Taking Macro Coin Shots With A Ring Light

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Pillar of the Community

Canada
1248 Posts
 Posted 11/13/2009  1:31 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add hhbkiddo to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hello,
does anyone have any experience with a ring light?
NOT a flash ring light! that is another gadget.

they can be bought for around 60-80 dollars. It sure looks like this could be a super solution? to take coin close ups with a macro lens.
they have a whole bunch of cold LED's and the ring is mounted directly on the lens. I.e. the light is where the lens is and illuminates the coin hopefully perfectly in the same direction as the lens points. Hopefully NO shadows or dark spots, or too much light.
any input would be much appreciated, as I am about to embark on coin photography experiments.
thanks a lot
HHB
Pillar of the Community
daltonista's Avatar
United States
1057 Posts
 Posted 11/13/2009  9:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add daltonista to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I've noticed that a few of us have begin using digital microscope cameras that are equipped with a ring of LED's situated around the lens. A drawback mentioned in one thread, I believe, is that the light can be too bright, or perhaps too directly head-on/perpendicular to the coin, thus limiting your ability to pick up shadows, mirror finishes, toning, and the like. I've used mine -- a pretty inexpensive Celestron 44302 -- only twice so far, and the results haven't been too terrible...maybe I'm an idiot savant when it comes to this macro/micro stuff.

In any case, here are three samples of my Eddystone Light token from Devonshire:

Taking-Macro-Coin-Shots-With-A-Ring-Light

Taking-Macro-Coin-Shots-With-A-Ring-Light

Taking-Macro-Coin-Shots-With-A-Ring-Light


I think if you do search within this forum on the term "LED" you'll come up with some of the earlier discussions.

Best to all ~
Tom


"If everything seems to be under control, you're just not going fast enough."
--- Mario Andretti


Pillar of the Community
Canada
1248 Posts
 Posted 11/13/2009  9:56 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add hhbkiddo to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks Tom.
how close, or how far away did you have your led light source?
Pillar of the Community
daltonista's Avatar
United States
1057 Posts
 Posted 11/14/2009  06:37 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add daltonista to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
For the first one of the full coin, I had the lens (and of course the built-in light ring) at about 8". The other two were taken at the camera's "native" focal length as determined by the stand it's on, which is about an inch and a half. Visualizing this will be easier if you can see what the camera looks like, so here it is:

Taking-Macro-Coin-Shots-With-A-Ring-Light



"If everything seems to be under control, you're just not going fast enough."
--- Mario Andretti


Pillar of the Community
Canada
1248 Posts
 Posted 11/14/2009  2:08 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add hhbkiddo to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
wow, I looked at Microscope stuff, but decided to by a macro lens and the appropriate camera.
now I am thinking light ring with adjustable density of the LED's..
this will allow me to be further away from the coin.
presently I use a canon G10 and find I have to be too close for good details. the lighhting is a problem, as the lens is too close.
Valued Member
United States
322 Posts
 Posted 11/14/2009  8:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mikep to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Hi. I have a couple ringlights for macro work. They are great on subjects other than coins. The high angle of light reflects off the coin and directly into the camera lens making the lighting look unnatural, flat and very reflective. Try finding a cheap goosneck type desk lamp to start. Don't be afraid to lay the lamp on it's side,placing the bulb very close to the coin. Try experimenting with the angle of light. Are you using a tripod? If not, you should be.
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