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Photographing gold coins
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Mar 22, 2014 20:49:34   #
Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA
 
christofras wrote:
I have not tried doing this, but what about applying a thin coating of vasoline, or light machine oil


The issue is to keep the high quality of the coin facing, and reduce the reflections from entering into the camera. This can be done by placing the lights at a 45 degree angle to the coin, and to the camera.

In addition the angle of one lamp can be decreased to provide shadows on the raised surface of the coin, and adjusting the intensity of one lamp downward to allow shadows to appear.

Michael G

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Mar 22, 2014 21:04:22   #
Murray Loc: New Westminster
 
steve_stoneblossom wrote:
I have no experience with gold coins, but you might try using a light box (maybe sometimes called soft box). They are cubes of translucent material open on one side, in which you place the object to be photographed. Supplemental lighting is most often directed at the object from outside the box.

Additionally, they often include a separate sixth side which has a slit cut in the middle and attaches to the front of the cube via velcro. You then slip your lens through this slit, and hide the rest of the camera (and you).

In doing so, you may find the need to shoot in full manual, as some of your camera's sensors may be blocked.
I have no experience with gold coins, but you migh... (show quote)


I agree. I have a set of these in different colours (3). Have used them to photograph small cultural items like antique Indian brass artifacts that are quite reflective. They worked well for me.

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Mar 23, 2014 01:13:49   #
dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)
 
steve_stoneblossom wrote:
I have no experience with gold coins, but you might try using a light box (maybe sometimes called soft box). They are cubes of translucent material open on one side, in which you place the object to be photographed. Supplemental lighting is most often directed at the object from outside the box.

Additionally, they often include a separate sixth side which has a slit cut in the middle and attaches to the front of the cube via velcro. You then slip your lens through this slit, and hide the rest of the camera (and you).
In doing so, you may find the need to shoot in full manual, as some of your camera's sensors may be blocked.
I have no experience with gold coins, but you migh... (show quote)


Terminology: A Light Box is a box with a backlit translucent top on which you would place slides or negatives to view and sort or edit them. A Soft Box IS a (usually cloth) enclosure of a photographic light with a translucent surface to diffuse the light as it illuminates the photographic subject.

A light tent probably will do the job on these coins. If reflections are still a problem, cross polarization may be needed. If the camera lens is causing a problem reflecting off the lens, using shift on a view camera, or a shift lens on an SLR (Nikon has made one) is the answer!

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Mar 23, 2014 01:50:04   #
merrill01
 
I think you all are getting a little off subject. She just wanted to photograph some gold proof coins.

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Mar 23, 2014 02:31:15   #
PhotoMan1929 Loc: Virginia, USA
 
izzi wrote:
I built a website for a client, www.themarylandmint.com and take a lot of his photos for his coins now. Its just as tough as can be because it seems that I always get a reflection of the camera in the coin. Has anyone ever had to take photos of gold coins?


Use polarizing gels over the lights and a polarizer on the camera lens. You will have TOTAL control over all reflections. The last time I checked the polarizer sheets (gels) were still available from B&H Photo/Video in New York.

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Mar 23, 2014 10:32:11   #
wrogers Loc: Kew Gardens, NY
 
B & H seems to have something called a "pop-up" light box (or photo box) for photographing small objects at about $50 (which is a lot cheaper than say a Canon ring light at $549). I've never used either and am not an expert, but if you were only going to take a small number of pictures, say for a coin set done for a client, the ring light might be a waste of money. In addition, the search keys used for finding these things may be causing confusion regarding the correct terminology.

http://www.google.com/#q=pop+up+lightbox

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/speedlite-flashes/macro-ring-lite-mr-14ex?utm_source=google&utm_medium=Product_Search&utm_campaign=Google_Product_Feed&cm_mmc=GA-_-Camera_Flashes-_-G_Canon_Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-8127

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Mar 23, 2014 23:51:52   #
0627ramram32 Loc: Orange County, CA, USA
 
Steve Stoneblossom has given you very good advice; the only thing I can add is that you put a Circular Polarizer on you lens, and learn how to use it.

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Mar 29, 2014 10:40:28   #
izzi Loc: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
 
we tried this (putting the coins on the scanner), it sucked (but was fun)

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Mar 29, 2014 10:42:09   #
izzi Loc: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
 
Thanks for these leads, wow, this forum is great

wrogers wrote:
B & H seems to have something called a "pop-up" light box (or photo box) for photographing small objects at about $50 (which is a lot cheaper than say a Canon ring light at $549). I've never used either and am not an expert, but if you were only going to take a small number of pictures, say for a coin set done for a client, the ring light might be a waste of money. In addition, the search keys used for finding these things may be causing confusion regarding the correct terminology.

http://www.google.com/#q=pop+up+lightbox

http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/lenses-flashes/speedlite-flashes/macro-ring-lite-mr-14ex?utm_source=google&utm_medium=Product_Search&utm_campaign=Google_Product_Feed&cm_mmc=GA-_-Camera_Flashes-_-G_Canon_Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-8127
B & H seems to have something called a "p... (show quote)

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Mar 29, 2014 10:51:00   #
izzi Loc: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
 
Believe it or not, I actually made a pop up box for children's dresses I was photographying and then products.

I looked at the ring. I'm glad I have a Nikon and don't have to worry about it. Yikes. price tag halt.

izzi wrote:
Thanks for these leads, wow, this forum is great

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Mar 29, 2014 10:57:25   #
izzi Loc: Fort Walton Beach, Florida
 
I'm just catching up on the forum replies to my coin question. You may like the site I built, http://www.themarylandmint.com/ and you can see on the cover shot the gold coins photograph. I covered the reflection of the camera by putting more coins from other shoots on the photo. We used an angled piece of glass precariously set to catch the light and an overhead camera. In the early days, you could see my fingers in the coins...what a hoot. My customer even bought a camera like mine (Nikon P510) but is still sending me coins -- he doesn't like the results he gets.
merrill01 wrote:
I am a numismatist (which is a fancy name for a coin collector) and have photographed coins of all types for years. My suggestion is to photograph them in the sun and hand hold the camera. This gives you more opportunity for different angles. A velvet background works well. I also have had good luck using close up lenses. These can be found in a set of four for less than 20 bucks. If you do not have a DSLR, I have had good luck just using my point and shoot camera. This set up works well for a small to medium amount of coins. Hope this helps. --- Mark ---
I am a numismatist (which is a fancy name for a co... (show quote)

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