Photo samples--I need help!

[jesbroken]

I bought a Canon PowerShot SX100IS Camera from Shane last March and have been so busy making albums plus several months in and out of VA for surgeries that I am just now getting around to trying to use it.Sorry Shane, I really like the camera. Well, as you can see I have some lighting issues. I am using incandescent bulbs(2@60 watt soft white) One overhead and one at about a 45 degree angle from the northwest corner. I offer three photos: an IHC with lots of color(not with my pics), a Buff with nice light toning, and a Morgan with very light rim toning. This way I offer three different metals. I would appreciate any help from you camera specialists before one of you gets grabbed up by Don Willis and become ULTRA famous. Seriously, I need your assistance, regardless. If you think the photos completely suck, say so(I'll get over it, someday). Thanks for your help.

Jim

 

 

 

[lcoopie]

I think you have to move both lights

to get them in the best position

 

start out with one light, and after you get that one in the best place,

add the second light

 

the focus seems to be a little off on the indian cent obverse,

are you using a copy stand?

 

the camera has to be exactly parallel to the coin

[jesbroken]

I have a copy stand, but I was trying to get the color to show more so I took the pic at a slight angle(you can tell by the size of the holders) inhand. I did move the lights around and this seemed at the time to be the best lighting as I could tell, but obviously I was in error. I'll keep trying with only using the copy stand.

Thanks lc.

Jim

[dimefreak]

Just a little bit of FYI. Shane never used a copy stand with that camera.Dont feel bad Jim, I am terrible no matter the price of camera I use.

[bsshog40]

Don't look bad JIm. As mentioned, just move ur lighting around a little more to get it even. When you tilt a coin for pics, hold in your shutter button halfway until it focuses the whole coin. Sometimes you may have to do this a few times until it finds it's sweet spot.

[Conder101]

I think you've actually done quite well. The cent obverse is slightly out of focus and slightly dark. The reverse is lovely.

 

The buffalo obverse looks spot on but I think the reverse may be just a hait out of focus

 

The silver dollars seem to have a slight lighting issue in the lower right quadrant and I suspect the camera was not parallel to the coin because they are in sharp focus at the top but not at the bottom.. Color is nice but what good is it if the coin isn't in focus?

[messydesk]

If you have two lights and are trying to light the coin evenly, they should be the same distance from the coin. Start with them at 10:00 and 2:00 and at a 60 degree angle from the table, then move them, one at a time, to get the highlights, shadows, and luster you want. If you have one light as the main light and another as a "fill" light, as it sounds like you're doing, you'll get uneven lighting, especially on lustrous coins like the dollar.

 

Focus issues on the nickel may have to do with the fact that the camera is focusing on the scratches in the slab.

[Buffalo Head]

I bought a Canon PowerShot SX100IS

 

I not to sure about the camera your using, but tell me, can you adjust your Aperture? If so open it wider and then adjust your shutter speed longer open for more light. Now I'm not sure if you can do this with your camera, but it will allow more light for your image.....Joe

Also get your light just as close to your lens as possible. I like the 12:00 o'clock position.....

[jesbroken]

Thanks for the advice I will spend the weekend playing with this and let you know how it works.

 

 

Joe

what's an aperture?........................just kidding. I'm only on page 66 so I haven't got there yet. Or maybe it was in the 60 pages I skipped to get to 66.

[jesbroken]

Here's something I will try this weekend. It is a 6 inch lazy susan type tool rotator, I plan to use it in conjunction with my camera stand to rotate the coin on a pedestal instead of changing or moving the lights I will just rotate the pedestal on the lazy susan. I will trim the square bottom panel so that it doesn't interfere with my finger turning the top part of the base. Anyway, it sounds better to me, but I'll see.

BTW, if interested Ace Hardware has these for sale on Amazon.com for $2.05 and shipping--500# test so I believe they will even work for the hockey pucks.

Jim

 

[Keigwin]

But the angle of the light never changes, does it? It's landing the same way on a different part of the coin.

 

Interesting idea and it may have other benefits. But it's no substitute for moving lights around.

Lance.

[jesbroken]

Lance,

Didn't say I had photography skills just an idea. There you go and put logic to it and it appears to be faulty thinking.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Thanks

Jim