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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,061 |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
I've been messing with cameras for quite a few years and still shoot film in my old Nikon N8008. Years ago I won a dinky digital camera, a Ricoh ZR1 Caplio, but never really liked the pics it took. Then I stumbled onto this forum and was immediately bit. So, here is my first attempt at coin macro photography. Other than the obvious lighting issues that I'm working on, what do y'all think?  |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Lighting aside, I think you've got a good start. The coin is sharply-focused all around, so your setup is right. Contrast is good; you're working well within the capabilities of the lens.
Is this the actual size of your images, or did you downsize to post here?
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New Member
 United States
26 Posts |
I had to cut the size almost in half to get under the posting limit. From now on I'm uploading to photobucket then posting the image link from there.
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
For the time being, I'll play around with this camera, but I see a Canon A series in my future, I just have to decide which one. The 520 will do tethering, but I wonder what doors will open up with more that 5 mega-pixels. And I'll be brainstorming to see if I can build a nice little photo stand and box.
Thanks Dave, you truly are "Super".
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Buy yourself a tiny bit more posting capability by cropping closer to the coin. It's tough to find a comprehensive list of which Canon point-and-shoots support tethering and which don't. Although I'd recommend using ZoomBrowser's inherent tethering since it's Canon software and free, Breeze Systems has PSRemote which does the same for a price. This is their list of supported point-and-shoots: http://www.breezesys.com/PSRemote/features.htm#psI post that because chances are the same list would be applicable to ZoomBrowser. I do not believe it's comprehensive, though. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
It was a fantastic job for your first time. All I have to say is work on your lighting a little bit, there is just too much glare coming from the left.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Good sharpness on your image!  One way to control the highlights burning out the left side of the coin--on the right side, use a white card just outside the field of view. This will fill the shadows a little and the camera's exposure program won't have to burn out one area to properly expose the right side. |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
Thanks.
Yeah, I'm not really sure where that hot light from the left is coming from. I'm working on a little light booth to control lighting and I want to use LEDs on a rheostat.
Since the A520 is tether capable (with the Canon software), would the canon hack open this up on other models?
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
Since the A520 is tether capable (with the Canon software), would the canon hack open this up on other models? It's my impression that CHDK does not affect this capability if Canon doesn't originally provide it. I don't believe *anyone* offers current-generation point-and-shoots with tethered shooting capability - you either have to find an older one with reduced megapixel count, or look into dSLR territory. |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
Yeah, I was researching trying to make up my mind and found that only a few of the "A" series were tether capable. So, I've set my mind on either the A620 or A640. 7 Megapixel and 10 Megapixel, respectively. Both come with the Canon Remote software. And the swing out LCD is a nice bonus. Either one will serve as the dedicated macro rig quite nicely I think.
I'm not quite ready to give up my Nikon yet to trade up to a dSLR. (But I feel a change coming on!)
Thanks a ton Dave for your help.
Edited by BadKarma
01/17/2011 11:41 am
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
The A640 would be the obvious choice, but they're going for ridiculous prices where available. Food for thought - an average dSLR with whatever the "stock" lens is, will immediately duplicate the best you can do with most point-and-shoots. With that said, I think only Canon offers tethering software for free. Nikon and Olympus have it, for a price.
My standard lighting rig uses halogens; I wired a dimmer in, but find I never use it. All that happens when I dim them is, I have to change exposure parameters and still get the same artifacts. Placement is far more important than sheer intensity of light. LED's are on the list of things I want to explore down the road, though.
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
Like you Dave, I've been a dedicated Nikon(nope, NOT Canon) user for many years. Got a ton of lenses, so a dSLR brand is pre-determined! I will only use tethering on the macro rig anyway so the Canon is a no brainer.
I have an idea for a light tent using some sheer nylon material and some 1/2" pvc tubing. I'll post pics if it works out. The A640 is supported in Win7, which is my newer laptop, but I have a spare Win XP laptop that can work for the A520 if needed.
Frankly I'm rather excited, new ground to explore. I can already see this overflowing into my other pastimes, like homebrewing. Anybody want some CLOSE UP pics of hops?!
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Well, when you take the dSLR jump, I'd guess the brand is settled.  No real qualitative difference exists between Nikon and Canon, anyways; Canon is just where I landed years ago and I settled there. As far as OS support, if you're going Canon point-and-shoot it's more about ZoomBrowser rather than the OS. In Win7 it seems to work well for some and has issues for others. Worst case, maybe you do it in XP Mode. A light tent will be a solution to *some* problems, not all. They tend to work well for general illumination, at the cost of accurate representation of luster. |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
Hehe, in microsofts infinite wisdom, XP mode is not part of Win7 64-bit Home Premium!
Either way, I've got it covered with either laptop.
The light tent will be an interesting way to experiment with lighting. Many years ago I worked here in Branson in the theaters as a lighting tech, so trying out some gels might provide some direct light with out the glare. We'll see how it goes.
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
Well, Dave, you were right, the A640 are going for big prices.
So I wound up with a Canon S2 IS. $89 shipped. Tether capable with Win7 !!
Color me giggled!
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I am quite pleased to hear that. The S2 IS is one I am experienced with; it is the camera I replaced with my first dSLR. It could be said that I learned coin photography with the S2 IS. Learn its' capabilities, and you will find it quite satisfying. Furthermore, it's a tremendous everyday camera; left on Auto and playing outside, it does sharp images with prefect color.
Couldn't be happier for you.
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,061 |
Posted 01/16/2011 10:31 am
