Photographing Coins: Macro Vs Zoom

I think macro mode is more important with older cameras that do not have high MP's. Bryan takes great photos with I think a 3mp camera, but as he said, when using just zoom, he can lose some sharpness. I use a 5mp camera and it's almost a wash. Typically I use regular zoom and full auto which allows me to get light in. I'm probably 6 inches away, and I can only zoom in one or two ticks before it can't focus on its own. I have two macro settings, one of which is super marco and you can't zoom with it. But it is great for taking close-ups on full auto also.

This is full auto from about 8 inches on a tripod, zoomed in a couple of clicks, and with timer. The edges start to lose a bit of focus, but it's not a dedicated macro type camera. Could also be from just one overhead light. Good enough to grade from I think. No post processing either.



This was in super macro, and you can see how lighting suffers since the lens is so close to the coin, but it seems much sharper. I didn't work on the lighting that much to begin with, but I didn't really need to get carried away. Keep in mind, I think the sharpness of the second photo is due to super macro AND lighting, and it's not the same lighting in both of these shots. I don't think I have a side by side comparison like that, but I could try it.

to take pictures that do not require resizing, would you take them at say 640 pixles as apposed to the 2200 pixles? and still get good detail? I have been using the super micro on my cannon power shot pro, and many times I can not get the correct lighting and the picture looks different than the coin in hand.....Thanks.......