Photo tips - my 'cheap' solution

Russellhome · Veteran Member

I've had some nice comments on my photos lately. Thank you. It has taken some time, but I am getting the hang of it.

Believe it or not, I do this 'on the cheap'. Welcome to my studio...

Some people use expendsive microscopes with camera attachments and special lamps. I just have a cheap halogen desk lamp, a digitial camera, and a mini-tripod.

The camera is a Canon Powershot A640. I picked it for 3 reasons:

1) It has great macro capabilities. It allowed me to get closer to the coin than any other 'point-and-shoot' camera I tested

2) It shoots a large image (10 MP) to capture lots of detail

3) It has a 'Save Settings' feature. I set up my camera for macro photography and saved my custom settings. When I want to shoot coins, I twist the knob to "C" and I'm ready to go.

To get good color, I set the white balance to Tungsten -- otherwise the images are a shade of yellow. Sometimes, I have to adjust the exposure setting to over or under expose the photo to get the area in question to have the exposure I want. I don't care if the whole coin is properly exposed -- I will crop most of it away later anyway.

For stability, I use a mini tripod. I have the flash turned off - so a tripod is essential. I also use the 2 second delay feature so that once I press the button to take a photo, I can release the camera and have it absolutly still.

The most important keys to getting a good closeup are light angle and having something to defuse the light. I use a foam sheet to defuse (which I remove when I'm done so I don't burn the place down). To get the right lighting I often have to take many different shots - moving the lamp, rotating the coin, etc. Sometimes a little change makes all the difference.

When I load the photos to my computer, I delete the bad ones and crop (aka change the paper size) of the image down to just the area I want to see.

It takes some work to get the camera to focus exactly where I want it to -- but with practice, I have been able to make this cheap setup work.

At times, no matter what I try, I can't get all the detail I want to show up in a single photo. Sometimes it requires two or 3 different photos to show everything well. But sometimes, you get it all in one shot -- like this one...

Good luck with your photos. I hope this helps.

eagames · Expert Member

Wow!

Similar to my own but I use a cheaper camera and add a lens.

The one problem I think we both have is after we get the setup working notice in your pic that the camera angle is not flat to the coin? Mine is the same, if the camera is above the coin flat the lighting is blocked. The problem it creates is if I do overlays there's some distortion because of the angle.

A coin ramp helps but then the lighting never seems right.

Sometimes I wish for a scope but never was eager to spend on one.

Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, I was reading your comment, and Altho the "setup" is similar, my camera is a cheapie, AOL PhotoCam-plus, with several ramps: 10 degrees, 15, and 30 degrees., also flat ramp, ie 0 degrees. I want to get a "powershotA640" also, but don't seem to find one. they must be scarce, and expensive. My pics are all thru the eye-piece, on the scope. The QX3 is useless, as it has no light, or not enough to be useful. The mag (10/60/200), is okay, but not practical.
you will see what i mean, (if I get it to work).
i have always admired the quality, and clarity of Ken's pictures, and "One of these days......).
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Wish my cheap camera had a remote "take switch".

Touching the button is enough to mess it up. If anyone does this be sure to get a remote switch. Smile

Dick · Expert Member

Ed, does your camera have a CD? If it does, I'm sure there is a way to "make that shot", with the mouse. Each one of mine do. I use one as a video camera, but at times, it doesn't want to work on XP. Other times, yes it does.
I use the Paperport, Photosuite III. It allows a variety of cameras.
Dick

eagames · Expert Member

Dick,

No CD but it does have a tiny plug for something other than USB, need to see what it is.

I'll need to see if the booklet tells Wink

Russellhome · Veteran Member

Dick · Expert Member

Ken, This is the third time I have tried to reply! I keep checking back to your picture, and then "lose it"! How thick is the foam? It looks like it shines thru, onto the coin, rather than hang directly above. I notice the tube is square, indicating a ramp with zero angle. I am going to build a similar setup, and see what it will do for me. My pictures thru the eyepiece, just don't "cut it"! Re the foam, I have some that is 1/4" thick. it could be doubled. I also have a canon flatbed scanner, but can't get it to adjust the pixels, so that is out. I also see a "Digital blue. Is it the QX5?. it does not have the same 'clearance underneath as mine. I can't hardly get the coin under there, (dainty little fingers)!
Thanks,
Dick

daggit · Senior Member

I like the topic headline because "cheap" is good Laughing

thanks for all the info and ideas!

Russellhome · Veteran Member

Russellhome · Veteran Member

Dick · Expert Member

Ken, I agree with you there. That is why the three ramp angles. Each ramp has a rotating top, which allows me to change the reflected light, so that I can try to duplicate the light angle used on the site. Some times it helps. It is also very helpful when searching for trails.
You say "if we had invisible cameras.....
What about this: A ring of lights, with an open center, to make the shot thru? That way the lights, and the camera do not change relationship with each other when making adjustments.
Dick

Dick · Expert Member

Hi again, Ken! I see what you did! I couldn't see the base, and it threw me! That is about what mine has been doing, or collecting dust. Ten PM, time for some "munchies"!, then start thinking how this stuff is going to fit!
Dick

coop · Expert Member

Ken have you tried shooting over a dark background? You could wrap the tube with very dark material and it would cut down on the white background and focus more on the coin's color. If the coin doesn't look round, that can be fixed in Photoshop. You just crop the coin to the edges (all four exactly from the rim of the coin) and resize the image to make the let say 200X225 image back to 200X200 and then the image will be round again.

coppercoins · Site Admin

Ken has the right basic idea, and it works well for him. I'm glad it does. His shots look very nice.

He has figured out that there are two VERY important factors of taking digital micrographs of coins. Lighting and good optics. They are everything, and neither can be compromised. With poor lighting the best camera in the world cannot get good images. Without a decent camera, the best lighting solution won't allow enough detail.

The good 5-7 megapixel cameras are now easily available for under $200 online, and are the very lowest I would recommend for decent shots. Anything less is not going to do the trick. It must have, at the very least - macro feature and at least 3X optical zoom.

I use a microscope and take my shots through the eyepiece of the scope with a Nikon coolpix 5200 camera. It's four years old now, and can probably be had at a garage sale for $25. Email cameras, pix sharing cameras, and 'freebie' cameras simply will not do the job.

Lighting is an issue of trying to get the light between the camera and the coin without impeding the view of the coin from the camera. It's a difficult task, but can be accomplished with minimal effort using fiber optic light guides. Finding a box that allows this attachment may be a little tricky, but it's worth the effort and cost. Your lighting problems will be forever solved with such a contraption.