D300 does copper

[MikeInFL]

Some of you may know I recently upgraded my camera from a D100 to a D300. This week, between trips to the bank, conference calls and business trips, I've taken a few photos of old friends and thought I'd share them:

 

Native resolution obv: http://www.pbase.com/image/93216586

Native resolution rev: http://www.pbase.com/image/93216625

 

Native resolution obv: http://www.pbase.com/image/93216568

Native resolution rev: http://www.pbase.com/image/93216590

 

FWIW, all of the above photos were using a Nikon 200mm Macro (Micro) lens, two reveal bulbs, and a tripod. They were captured using Nikon Camera Control, using Live View Tripod Mode to focus, then processed using Capture NX and Photoshop Elements. The photos were captured in 14 bit RAW using a custom white balance. The only post-processing adjustments were sharpening, resizing, cropping, dropping the photo down to 8 bit, then changing the color profile to sRGB, and adding the background.

 

Overall, the D300 seems to be quite an upgrade. It produces more accuate colors, better contrast and dynamic range, and overall sharper photos. Live view makes focusing a breeze compared to trying to do it manually with the D100. All-in-all and while I think there's still a bit for me to learn about the new camera, I am quite happy with the upgrade.

 

Have fun...Mike

[EZ_E]

Those are beautiful pics and two gorgeous half cents! Gotta luv 'em!

[rrantique]

Those are some great photos Mike. (thumbs u

[MunkyMan95]

Those are beautiful pics and two gorgeous half cents! Gotta luv 'em!

 

Only one of them is a half cent

 

Nice coins Mike!!! I really love the color on both of them.

[TomB]

I love the spectacular, hard color on that half cent!

[RI AL]

W O W! Need I say more??

 

RI AL

[Just Bob]

Great pictures, Mike! (thumbs u

[ant]

awsome pics and that large cent of 1852 is awsome also

[DJCoinz]

Those are beautiful images of spectacular coins.

[MikeInFL]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Here's another one:

 

 

[MunkyMan95]

Wow, I can definitely say that I've never seen a blue 19th century Large Cent before. Pretty cool! Very nice photos as well. :thumbsup:

[MikeInFL]

Although you don't see it very often on large cents, that shade of blue/green not that uncommon of a color for coins from the Randall Hoard -- although previous attempts failed at capturing the color just right.

 

Here's one more (from the LeeG hoard ):

 

[MikeInFL]

Two more, and that's all for a while....

 

 

[IGWT]

This thread is a treat!

[chinook]

Very nice pics of some super coins!!

[harvey8542]

Awesome pic's Mike (thumbs u

[bsshog40]

Nice Copper there Mike!!!

[Just Bob]

Mike, would it be possible to post a pic of your setup, so that we can see how you have your lights positioned ?

[MikeInFL]

Bob, I'll try and take a pic sometime soon....but hopefully this description will help....

 

For every single shot in this thread, the lights are positioned at 10:30 and 1:30, and literally right up againt my lens. Because of the length of the lens (200mm), the camera is about 3 feet and the lights about 2.5 feet from the coin. The result of this additional "working distance" is the lights hit the coin at a high angle of incidence (i.e. close to perpendicular) resulting in photgraphs that "pop" (i.e. show good contrast and even lighting). Also, I shoot from a tripod, not a copy stand, and the home-depot reflector/lights clip on to the edge of a table/desk. The lights have 75W reveal bulbs in them.

 

Hope this helps...Mike

 

p.s. One last one before I sleep, part of a (cough, cough ) incomplete 1905 proof set, and probably my favorite of the new photos:

 

[physics-fan3.14]

Wow, those pictures and those coins almost make me want to start collecting copper. Almost.