I can't STAND to take pictures of my coins... at least till now.

I think most of the collectors here have taken pics of their coins. Do you use a full-sized or a desktop tripod? Ever tried to hold the camera by hand? It's a PAIN. The tripods are clumsy (maybe it's me). My hand isn't that steady. The equipment's limitations make my pictures turn out lousy.

I use a lamp on an adjustable arm to search coins. I recently found a magnifying lens with the same arm. The arm allows me to place the light or lens exactly where I want it. It occurred to me that I could do the same thing with my camera. Now I am not the type to run to the camera store and buy brand-new equipment, so I don't even know if this camera mount that I envisioned exists. It doesn't have to... I made one. I found a light fixture with an arm and a mounting bracket. All I had to do is remove the lamp and fashion a bracket so that I can attach my camera. I found everything I needed in my garage. All it took was a bolt, two nuts and some plumber's strap. We used to make whistles with the plumber's strap when I was a kid, and I happen to have a roll of the stuff. It is available at your local hardware store. Simply bend the strap into the profile of a hat and attach the bolt to it. A couple of small screws will marry the contraption to the arm and the abomination is complete. The bolt threads into the bottom of my camera. and, TATA! I have an infinitely adjustable camera mount. I use the two-second delay on my camera to compensate for the slight shimmy after I push the button to take a picture. Now I can concentrate on placement of the lighting and positioning of the coin. My pics are of a much higher quality simply because I can concentrate on what makes them good, rather than on that dumb tripod.

Yes, it's ugly, and yes, I found it at a thrift store.

I would assume that most people who collect coins are not like me. I have more time than money. By building what I need instead of buying it, I can spend more money on those jewels that we love so much.

By the way, I am coming along with my SP69 Lincoln satin set. The 2010 Satins have started to show up in the market, but I have yet to see an SP69. Patience, Captain, patience.

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