Cameras and Macros

[spy88]

As I may be in the market for another camera, I am going to ask everyones help in making a decision on which make/model is best for coin close-ups.

 

I know almost everybody here has a camera for their coin pics and other things, but I wanted to focus on the different capabilities of everyones macro setting to get a fair assessment of just how good a close-up each type of camera make/model can do with a coin. Not worried about luster or color as these are too intangible, but all should be able to give their cameras best photo at the highest macro setting.

 

If you use any after-market lens attachments or loupes in front of the stock lens to get your close-ups, please don't. Only looking for what the camera is capable of doing on its own.

 

So here is the assignment! One pic! One nic! Use a Jeff nickel and focus on the reverse step area. Any nickel will do but keep them raw. No slab shots. Also, if you use the same camera for other personal pics, please give me your reasons for liking/not liking it.

 

Below is the best my Canon G2 can do without any help.

 

Thanks for everyones help and participation!

 

David;)

[jom]

The best Macro shots come from (what I'm told) Nikon cameras. I don't know what the latest model is as I have an earlier model (Nikon 950). I'm VERY happy with it. The only thing I don't like is that you can't take Macro shots using the shutter delay. This was fixed in later models....

 

jom

[Wihlborg]

David,

 

I just bought a Fuji FinePix S7000 about a week ago. It has two macro settings, the first is normal macro and has a focal range of 3.9 in. to 2.6 ft. The second setting is super macro and has a focal range of 0.4 in to 7.9 in!

 

The photo I am posting had to be reduced because the close-ups I can get with this camera are too large to be posted to the NGC board. The camera has 6.3 million pixels and takes outstanding photos.

BTW, I was not using a tripod when I took this photo, it was taken by hand. It would have been even clearer had I used a tripod.

 

John

[Hoot]

Whoa! Scared the wits out of me John!

 

Hoot

[Wihlborg]

 

Hoot,

 

Sorry I scared you, but this is one serious camera. I am still learning how to use it, but I have already taken some unbelievable photos with it. The photos are so sharp and the colors so vivid compared to the 3 megapixel camera I was using.

 

Now if I can just figure out a light setup that brings out the colors and or the luster on a coin in a slab without glare ruining the photo.

 

John

[spy88]

John, seems as if you scared away all other contenders for the title of "Best in Show Macro" too! Don't think there are going to be too many (if even one more from a Olympus 5050) to try to beat yours! That is one serious close-up and doing some price checking, at $500 or so, I think hard to beat. For this kind of close-up, do you use a ring flash or well-aimed bulb light?

 

How is the camera for all-around use (people, landscape, zoom, etc)? I would imagine the quality in these departments are just as good?

 

David

[Wihlborg]

David,

 

I took the photo using just a single Ott light angled from the right side of the coin. I don’t have a ring flash or any other special lighting setup. I wish I could figure out the right lighting set up for taking photos of coins.

 

The camera is great for all-around use. As I said earlier, compared to the photos I was used to seeing from my old 3 megapixil camera the photos from this one are so sharp, and the colors are so vivid that it amazed me.

 

John

[jom]

John, seems as if you scared away all other contenders for the title of "Best in Show Macro" too!

 

OK, that's a challenge! I'll will try to do a set up this weekend (maybe) and I'll post a shot.

 

Scared? Bah!

 

jom

[*JeStEr*-migration]

Hey David,

I also have a Canon G2. Can you tell me how you got such a good shot? I've put mine in Macro mode and tried several different modes but no luck. I'm just starting to shoot coins and I'd like to make this camera work instead of getting a newer one.

Thanks,

Charlie

[spy88]

Charlie,

 

In order to improve the macro for the G2, I bought a Canon lens adapter (LA-DC58) and a Canon 58 mm close-up lens (#250D). Together with the cameras macro setting, I can get the pic as seen in my post.

 

But to get anything even close to Johns pic, I'd have to put a loupe in front of the CU lens and even then, I'd not get the clarity or fullness of shot and what he shows is what I am looking for.

 

Still use the Canon as I've not got around to thinking of buying another but the FinePix is still the strongest contender for a replacement.

[*JeStEr*-migration]

Thanks David,

Since I already have the adapter, I'll pick up the 50mm lens from Ebay. They're going pretty cheap. Then I just need to experiment with lighting and settings... sounds like fun huh?

-charlie

[scroll]

I just purchased my first digital camera - a Kodak CX7330. So far the outdoor shots are fantastic but I was hoping to use it for my coins. Looks like I'm already blown out of the water before I have even had a chance to properly read the operator's manual.

 

Nice pics guys. Hopefully I will be able to afford a nicer camera some day. But I'm not sorry I made the purchase!

[Bruceswar]

I would recommend to anybody.... the Canon Digital Rebel... You can put any lens on it you want..... once I get a better lens.. I will be able to get some really close ups...

[chinook]

This is the best I could do so far on the steps. I did not zoom in on the photo to retain crispness. I just cropped the photo from the actual size. Needless to say the entire photo takes up about 4- 19in monitors.

 

Sorry Dave. I did not follow the directions precisely. This was shot thru an NGC slab.

[IrishMike]

This was shot with Olympus C-5050 zoom with a preset macro, light etc setting, which the camera allows you to set up automatically. You push a button and that setting comes up with the preset macro, coin size choice, lighting, etc. that you chose. Coin is a 1948.

[spy88]

Thanks Dave, IrishMike and everyone else. I think I've decided on a Fuji 7000 like Johns...there's no getting around the fact that it has the best macro for CUs I've yet to see beaten. Dave, what kind of camera do you use?

 

Now all I have to do is find an extra $500 or so from my coin funds to get one!

[chinook]

David,

 

I bought a Canon Digital Rebel with a 100mm Macr lens. Yea it broke the bank. I have seen others take some absolutely amazing pics with it although I am still practicing.

 

The pics it takes are fantastic, but they are huge-3 MB or bigger. I lose a lot of quality then the pics are compressed to show in the forum. The original pics look as though I took them thru a 15x microscope. Every detail is crystal clear but they are just way too big to show here. If you have a big mailbox I can send you the original of the nickel. Send me your e-mail.

[IrishMike]

chinook, you don't have an option to shoot the pictures at smaller sizes?

[chinook]

 

Mike,

 

I probably do but I have havent read the instruction manual yet

[IrishMike]

It took me awhile to realize that I needed to print off the pdf file that came with mine to really learn how to use it.

[Bruceswar]

Chin there are 6 sizes you can shoot with the digital rebel........

 

Large(BQ)

Large(SQ)

Medium(BQ)

Medium(SQ)

Small(BQ)

Small(SQ)

BQ = Big quality

SQ = Small quality....

 

Here is how you choose the size.... Hit the Menu button on your camera and you will see a RED camera tab... Using the 4 arrows hit the down arrow once...and it will go to quality.. hit set use the up and down arrows to pick a setting.. I shoot on Small(BQ)... Pictures come out somewhere around 500 KB - 750 KB or so normally...

 

Hope that helps...

[chinook]

Thanks for the help Bruce.

 

I tried that and it does save me from having to resize the pics. When I zoom in, I find the quality to be very similiar. However when I need to save for the web, I think I will be able to retain much of the original detail.

[Bruceswar]

Here is a shot with my new lens..... I had to crop it down some... but I wanted to try to keep the size... just a tad out of focus.. also lost a bit of the image crispness when sizing it down... but it is the first shots with the lens...

Nice color.... and not too bad on closeness.... besides that .. the rebel is just so functional...

[litvan-migration]

Hi,

actually I don't think picture quality depends on the specs of the camera much.

Of course, some minimal properties are essense. 3 megapixels, macro mode - and that's all.

Light is the main one. I still haven't managed to find the best light conditions, maybe some professional photographers may help, but I managed to do a photo below that I consider to be one of the best of mine.

It was just 3.2 mp Toshiba with primitive macro mode. But right time, right day and right position. And, of course, right coin. Usually coins are worse on photos than alive, especially in my experience;O) Enlarged photos show lacks that never noticeable live and even don't inluense on grade. But this one is as is, because it's really extremely nice.

Flash is never needed at all. Maybe some artificial light.

That old Toshiba was not very convenient - I wasn't able to do sharp pics without tripod. I recently bought Minolta dimage z10, that was recommended to me to be the best macro shooting camera. 3.2 mp, 8x optical zoom - but zoom is absolutely not needed and even makes pics worse! Maybe, just focusing system is essense. I do can shot without tripod now, and w/ and w/o tripod pictures are the same quality, the only difference appears when I change LIGHT conditions.

Cheers

Dzmitry