Practicing coin photography

[midwest]

Trying some new lighting

 

 

 

 

[jgrinz]

Nicely done. I have trouble getting the colouring to come up with my pictures. What are you using for lighting and lenses.

Mike

[Bruceswar]

2 OTT lights works wonders on coins... just take the coin out of the 2x2 flip for less glare.... sometimes I only use 1 OTT light.... here are 2 recent photos I took...

 

 

Very nice coins by the way and nice photos as well! Oh and what litghting are you using?

[HaydenTubbs]

2 OTT lights works wonders on coins...

 

Yeah,for raw coins and un-toned slabs,it's the toners in slabs that are pains in the neck!

[midwest]

Nicely done. I have trouble getting the colouring to come up with my pictures. What are you using for lighting and lenses.

Mike

 

Well for lighting I am using a small lamp with a shade. In it a 60 Watt "Phillips Reveal Bulb". Sometime in the future I will buy some Ott-lites. Right now however my main thing is to purchase a different camera. The Kodak Easy Share was not meant for coin pics!

[toyonakataro]

What's ott light? Is it different from usual incandescent light?

[Bruceswar]

I would recommend you get a Digital SLR! Man these are great... Not only for coins but everything else.... The photos I took were with a Digital SLR(Canon Digital Rebel) and a 18-55mm Lens and a set of magifiers on the end of the lens... OTT lights on ebay right now are pretty cheap... might be the time to buy.. or check your local sears.. they are closing out on them...

[Bruceswar]

What's ott light? Is it different from usual incandescent light?

 

OTT light is a full spectrum light.. its like having bright sunlight indoors.... I have found it to be very usefull... I found it the best light sorce... other than the sun

[michael]

superlative photography midwest

 

ott light is the best a natural light the only light to use for reading close work and looking at coins

 

http://www.ottlite.com/

[toyonakataro]

Thanks for the info. I did some reserch, but couldn't find a webstore whitch sells one of them in my country. I assume it's not popular yet here in Japan.

[JamminJ]

Thanks for the info. I did some reserch, but couldn't find a webstore whitch sells one of them in my country. I assume it's not popular yet here in Japan.

 

They're available on e-bay, with at least some sellers shipping to Japan. The original use for these was to help match thread colors which explains why there are lots of sewing machines in the auctions.

[toyonakataro]

Thanks, but I think the electric power we apply is different from what is applied in the States. I have to do some reserch before getting one from eBay.

I rather need a new camera with macro mode for my X'mas present(I'm not a Chiristian, but I like presents )

[jgrinz]

I am sure you can find "IT" on Ebay Japan

 

Plenty on Ebay here in the US

 

Mike

[cpm9ball]

I rather need a new camera with macro mode for my X'mas present(I'm not a Chiristian, but I like presents )

 

HINT, HINT....................WHO DOESN'T..................HINT, HINT!

 

Chris

[EZ_E]

I would recommend you get a Digital SLR! Man these are great... Not only for coins but everything else.... The photos I took were with a Digital SLR(Canon Digital Rebel) and a 18-55mm Lens and a set of magifiers on the end of the lens... OTT lights on ebay right now are pretty cheap... might be the time to buy.. or check your local sears.. they are closing out on them...

 

Bruce,

 

I have a Canon AE1 Programmable with various lenses. So, with a digital body, I can use these lenses? And this is what you're referring to by SLR (single lens reflex). Right?

[Bruceswar]

As long as you can change your lens out from your camera you can use any lens you desire... If I am correct the Canon AE1 allows you only to attach end pieces to a set in lens(Non Removable) Also if I am correct the lens fitting is smaller than the Canon EOS series.... I am sure you can find these magnifier in that size. I would talk your local camera shop and see what they can determine... I have not looked for lenses in that says or add ons for your camera, but I am sure there are quite a few. Hope that helps

[Bruceswar]

you know... I just responded.... and did not realize you had a film camera... I was thinking of the Smaller canon digtal with different lenses. As long as your film lenses are part of the EOS lens system them they will transfer over.... I don't think the AE1 is in the EOS system of lens.. so no they will not work... Sorry about the misread

[jom]

What's ott light? Is it different from usual incandescent light?

 

The ones I've used look (physically) like those highly flourecent lights that came out a few years ago when we had the energy problem here in CA. They have a cork-screw look to them.

 

As to the light emitted by the OTT: It has a higher color temperature that is far closer to sunlight than incandescent bulbs when gives the subject more of a "blue" look to it....although much less so that flourecent does...it seems.

 

As to Jammin's pointer to Ebay: I've never had good luck with those pull-out OTT lamps. For some reason the light gives me trouble while trying to photograph. Like I said above, I use the "blub" type that just fits into a normal lamp...the light seems to be directed better or something. If someone is interested I'd sell one of my pull-out OTT lamps...

 

jom

[Bruceswar]

What's ott light? Is it different from usual incandescent light?

 

The ones I've used look (physically) like those highly flourecent lights that came out a few years ago when we had the energy problem here in CA. They have a cork-screw look to them.

 

As to the light emitted by the OTT: It has a higher color temperature that is far closer to sunlight than incandescent bulbs when gives the subject more of a "blue" look to it....although much less so that flourecent does...it seems.

 

jom

 

The 2 OTT lights I use have the stick style bulbs....

[EZ_E]

Bruce, I bought the AE1 in the late eighties. I have the standard 35mm lens as well as a telescopic and wideangle lens with various filters. Ao, just to be clear, there are Canon digital cameras which will mate with these lenses? And these provide nice quality photos? Coin photos?

 

Thanks for any add'l info.

[MikeInFL]

Concerning lighting and photography, with properly calibrated white balance and a good camera you will not see any difference between a Reveal bulb and an Ott light. If you have a cheaper camera that doesn't have the ability to use a grey card to remove color cast, then an OTT light may make your colors more accurate.

 

Hope this helps...Mike

[chinook]

Victor,

 

I believe the older lenses will still work with the new digital SLRs.

 

I had a Canon EOS Rebel I bought in 1996 and can use the lens from it on my new digital rebel.

 

You should look for a macro lens. I use a 100mm, although some of the guys across the street are having phenomonal success with a 150mm. I believe both run about $500.

[rexcat]

Victor,

 

I believe the older lenses will still work with the new digital SLRs.

 

I had a Canon EOS Rebel I bought in 1996 and can use the lens from it on my new digital rebel.

 

You should look for a macro lens. I use a 100mm, although some of the guys across the street are having phenomonal success with a 150mm. I believe both run about $500.

 

Yes they will work, but...

 

Due to the smaller size of the CCD chip *(22.2 x 14.8mm),compared to the size of a 35mm frame (24 x 35mm) your old SLR lenses will appear to be telephotos. The 50mm lens that is the standard on your old SLR will look like 100/110mm on a digial SLR.

 

*chip size for a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT (a.k.a. 350D)

[Bruceswar]

Bruce, I bought the AE1 in the late eighties. I have the standard 35mm lens as well as a telescopic and wideangle lens with various filters. Ao, just to be clear, there are Canon digital cameras which will mate with these lenses? And these provide nice quality photos? Coin photos?

 

Thanks for any add'l info.

 

I have an older Canon as well and there is no adaptor for the older lenses. Only EOS Series lenses work with the Canon Digtal cameras... They all use the EOS lenses. I was bummed to find that I could not use my lenses either... and I ask but they do not make any sort of adaptor to adapt the older Canon Lenses to the EOS series... My Digital Rebel took the pictures above.. and I am just an Rookie at this relitivly speaking...