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 Replies: 17 / Views: 4,060 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
I have been bidding on some IHC from an ebay seller who has a large inventory of quality coins and excellent feedback. However, many of his pictures are slightly out of focus. On the reverse the bow knot and leaves around the bow are often fuzzy, and on the obverse it is often difficult to tell if there is wear above the ear. This varies from coin to coin. It makes it very difficult to distinguish wear between what may be an AU or MS coin, and I, therefore, bid on the coin as if it was an AU where it may be an MS. It seems to me that this seller is only hurting himself because as I said these are quality coins and I don't think he is trying to hide anything. I would like to continue bidding on coins from this seller but the picture quality is an issue for me. I am not a good photographer and have not taken pictures of coins myself, so I don't want to sound to critical. Is it difficult to get the whole coin in focus? Are there depth of field issues that are hard to overcome? When I look at coins on some of the other auction sites the pictures are quite clear, so I know it is not impossible to take quality pictures |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I am sure many people on here will tell you that taking a picture of a coin is very challenging to say the least. Some cameras just don't do it well no matter what you try and some others do a very good job with coins but much anything else
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2120 Posts |
Short answer, No... its not hard to get a sharp, clear, in focus picture... with a nice camera...
With a point and shoot or compact on macro setting, it varies. The blurriness is mostly due to hes holding the camera and moves slightly in and out as he snaps the pic. If he bought a $20 tri pod he would have much better results most likely.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4038 Posts |
Focus is the first goal of any photo. Out of focus shots are pretty useless except as examples of what not to do. That said, it's hard to comment without seeing the pics. Can you provide a link to an auction (maybe a closed one?) from the seller with comments on the problems you see?
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New Member
United States
25 Posts |
It is not easy to take really good coin photos, but it is VERY easy to take photos that are at least in focus. If you sell in any sort of volume, which I am assuming from the OP, this seller does then their is no excuse for taking continually bad photos. It is in my opinion the single most important thing for any online seller to do. Grading or describing the coin in a listing is important, but not nearly as important as the photo, because the buyer should be buying the coin, not the sellers opinion of it. Sorry if this seems like too much of a rant, but this is close to my heart because we photo and list about 3,000 coins a week on ebay and then go back through them to ensure quality before posting the listings and I think far too many sellers on ebay do not take their photos seriously enough. It is not really about how good or expensive the camera is, it is about caring enough to make sure you do a decent job. I for one would not buy any coins online without decent, (not necessarily perfect), photos. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Unfortunately, Logic, you are the exception to the rule. I know of you on ebay; I generally view every Morgan you offer because I'm cherrypicking interesting varieties, and your photography is good enough to leave no doubt as to condition. You guys could just post the pictures with no copy whatsoever, and it wouldn't matter to me. But you are in the minority, and underestimating (as have others here) the incompetence of many ebay coin sellers. They either don't think their photography is that bad, they don't care, or they're intellectually incapable of learning to do it right. ebay is capable of making an entrepreneur out of a flatworm, and the proof is before us every day. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
648 Posts |
Quote:
Ebay is capable of making an entrepreneur out of a flatworm, and the proof is before us every day. Suppose Flatworm is easy to get in focus cause they have no depth? I do take a lot of pics till one is in focus .then save that one! tried different things, lights ,not moving (trypod )(ha left it )or just bracing against something . the point ( My point ) is take lots . look at them (email to self) if you don't like em take MORE ..film is cheap ... ( no silver ).... edit for smilie removal not funny ,, ha ;) Edited by tokenmast
07/07/2011 02:06 am
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Valued Member
United States
374 Posts |
For some reason when I have coins with slight toning. The pictures always look like the toning is greater than it is. I sell on ebay and my pictures are clear and in focus. But I'm not selling any high dollar coins and most of my coins do okay. Yes I agree alot of sellers pictures suck and you are rolling the dice if you buy off them. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
618 Posts |
Out of focus?-----You lose!---Everytime!!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
It is INSANE.....to think that most people who will post a coin or anything and SELL on ebay, Have absolutely no idea of how to take a photograph........PERIOD....half the time the lighting is so bad you can't quite see what you want to bid on but its something you want to bid on...... LOOK, in this forum..in the photo section.... its beyond simple photos, its about high end photo's that you will not see on ebay as a general example...GSCoins who we all must stack its coins photo's to make them appear so much better...Yet the general public which are dealers do not no how to enhance there items by :WORD or pictures"..... This forum is not about sales or anything like that, but informs us on how to ge3t the most out of our equipment to take the best pictures from what we have.... on the back side of this I would impliment....we can also see.. with..this knowledge.....those who can enhance photo's ......the knowledge hear SEVERLY shows those that have done so...This is a great site!!! |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
618 Posts |
Hear , Hear ----well said. About the site and the eBayers!
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Why did you go 10 pages deep into the archive to bump a thread?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
618 Posts |
I was going to post a new topic-- but then thought a thread about ebay photo quality must have occur before---search for a thread and found this one. I feel that topics that constantly re-occur could somehow be consolidated---something like an index system---a resource--a library of sorts--a knowledge base of opinions and dis-agreement. |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
My best buys are from ebay sellers who took poor coin photos! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3076 Posts |
In Truth, one of the greatest things I think all of you will agree with is...With the knowledge of shooting coins..seeing our good shots and horrible shot's, one can decern the coin you may be interested in, and if it is taken by some one who just can't get a good coin shot or some one who is PURPOSLY taking a BAD SHOT....
For example, may sellers have great shots for most of there listings...and occationaly they have a horrible shot....HUMMMMM MUST BE A MISTAKE LOL...that I doubt...But they must get rid of it so why not list a PROBLEM coin with a bad picture......
There are many who still think PYRITE IS GOLD. so sell the dream....
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
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I feel that topics that constantly re-occur could somehow be consolidated---something like an index system---a resource--a library of sorts--a knowledge base of opinions and dis-agreement. I'll buy that. Carry on.  |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 4,060 |
Posted 06/29/2011 8:34 pm
