Man, even the music for this video is upper-class. You could say that my search for an optimal shooting solution has been an ongoing multi-year effort ever since I started selling coins on eBay exactly 20 years ago. My existing desktop setup is a tripod lashed onto a metal flowerpot stand with two 100W equivalent LED lights on either side of a thick black card I use as the blackground. The camera points directly downward, and no flash is used. The reason for the Gilligan's Island setup is so I can also shoot groups of coins and not just individual ones. Since the flowerpot stand tends to wiggle, I have to use the self-timer, but none of the cameras I've used over the years has that as a settable permanent feature, so I can shoot with a 2 second delay each time I press the shutter and NOT have to set the self-timer manually for each shot. Sometimes I need a 10 second delay so I can position my hands between the light and the coin(s) so as to assure optimal lighting. What I'd really like is to be able to press the shutter using "Enter" on my computer while viewing the coin right side up on my computer, despite it being shot upside down due to the nature of my setup. I'd also like the luxury of being able to name the file instantly after I shoot it, which I need for keeping track of which photos are of which coin(s) when I post them to eBay.
What an excellent video, I like that you used materials available to the average person. About the only thing you may want to add is the fact someone could alternately use this same method with a slower shutter speed, self timer (for shake) and use a table lamp instead of the flash as long as they white balanced the photos later. Just thinking not everyone will have a system to trip the flash off camera. I own strobes and soft boxes but heck, I'm going to try this for fun next time I photograph small items for ebay sales. Thanks for the video!
I purchased a $40 HD 2 element "Macro lens" from Amazon screws on like a filter, x10, Used my cheap ring flash for the speed-light, results are amazing! Details, consistent colors! That secret sauce thing, I've tried a whole bunch of complicated setups from white sheets to DIY phot booth, just really frustrated, but this desktop setup changes the game for my eBay coin sales.
I enjoyed your video today because I need to photograph many a coin about the size of a dime. People I speak to on FB say to use bellows and bellows lens etc. Then I'm left with how to light the coin. Your video gave me a completely different perspective, one that is affordable and readily available. Thank you for your approach.
This was helpful but I do not have a camera or any equipment lol. I guess my phone camera will have to do. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if a phone was just as good as these professional shots, gotta love digital technology.
It works! Set up Canon T7i w/macro EFS 18-55mm lens and speed light, any will do, and it solved my problem of close up coin work inexpensively, thank you!
Could you use this approach for postage stamps? Have an awesome day! From Fun at Home (Stunts, Jumps, Flips, Corkscrews, Lego, Animations and Collectables)
hi bill if try godox strobe system you will be amazed. you don't know what you missing so far. 600 watts whit a super compact small battery, portable power you in full control of light.
Freaking AWESOME! Thanks for the camera settings.. like iso, shutter speed etc.. love it all.. can you use a black felt cloth rather that the black construction paper?
As a newbie for photographing, what would be a good light box to get instead of a flash? Do you think a light box and then some sort of DSLR camera would be a good choice? What would you recommend?
I updated my camera recommendations (Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7) adorama.rfvk.net/Y9e46P (Panasonic Macro lens) adorama.rfvk.net/xkMXW1 (Tripod) adorama.rfvk.net/9gkx5e You can use a clamp light from Home Depot
Hey love your video! Really informative! I was wondering if this set up could also work with a TAMRON SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F017). Thank you very much!!
Great setup! You aren't kidding about those sets being hard to photo. The reflections on those made me insane for a while. LOL It took me WAY too long to photo them for eBay listings. I am using cheap Amazon photo lights, but I want to use my Speedlight because the white balance is so much better with it. I don't have the cable or wireless part though, so the weight of my Speedlight messes with everything on the tripod. :-P I might have to buy that cable now or a wireless variant. I love how you raised the coins to the lens, I will deploy that tip too. I couldn't get my tripod lower and have it still be stable. That is such a smart and simple tip! Thank you for the video!
I don't have access to any toned coins. It is my professional opinion that some toned coin photos are PhotoShopped to enhance the color. Especially if they are trying to sell them.
Bill, I loved your video. I'm really new to taking pictures. You said you need a macro lens, is there a type of macro lens? I'm thinking about getting a Nikon D750 DSLR, so what would be the best lens with the D750? Thanks
super tuto. is the secret sauce paper a normal paper as we use for laserjet 80g/m^2 ? i didn't imagine a flash could go thru it ! do you have similar tricks for watches ?
You might know the answer to this. I wanna scan collectible coins into a 3d scanner. I heard of a special clear adhesive that holds the coins upright for 3d scanning. Yet this clear adhesive doesnt damage the coin or leave any residue behind that can lower the coins value. What is this adhesive called?
I ordered all the supplies you mentioned. I already have a Canon Rebel. What is the light in the back? Do you recommend any additional lighting aside from the lighting of my room and the flash? Such as a studio light from Amazon? Thank you!
I have a question. I want to take a picture of a silver eagle and then have it enlarged until it is almost one and a half times the circumference of a basketball. Then I will frame it and hang over my desk. Do you have any tips for doing this?
I have an older Nikon D200 which is only 10mp. With this camera I don't think I can enlarge the photo and still maintain a 300 pixel rate.Therefore I decided to buy another camera... not just for this photo. I will get a Sony a6600, which is 24mp. It should do the job and allow me to continue to enjoy my hobby.
Hi Bill. Thank you for the very informative video. I am new to photography and set up as per your video, but the camera settings make the pictures look too dark. It does not look like your video where it is light, you can see everything. I cannot see the image at all at these settings. I searched on the web and it looks like I need to adjust my exposure but I am using an old Canon Rebel XS/1000D and I am having trouble making adjustments. Any suggestions? Btw, I am using the Canon EOS Utility and the Canon Photo Professional to do remote capture of photos to my computer and can snap the pics onto my huge screen. It works great, but I just need to resolve the fact that the pictures come out almost completely black. Thanks!
@@lawsonpix Hi Bill. Thanks for your kind reply. The image is dark/almost black without flash but looks ok when the flash goes off. The picture is presentable with the flash and your technique works very well. Still having trouble because the autofocus is not very sharp. I adjusted the focal point to the center of the image but the outcome is still blurry. I think the issue is that the subject (coin) being dark/almost black pre-flash, the autofocus is not working properly. But sometimes I see the object in the viewfinder in normal room light conditions and other times, I see just darkness in the viewfinder. I do have the AF mode set on the lens in single shot mode. Bewildered as to why it won't focus properly. Using a Canon 18mm-55mm macro lens. Do I specifically need a 35mm lens? I thought this one would be in the range. Thanks!
Set the flash to manual mode, 1/4 power. Then you'll probably need to bring some regular light closer to your setup so your camera can autofocus. Cameras need light to autofocus.
@@lawsonpix Thanks for your continued help! My room setup is a little dimmer than your setup in the video and sometimes I can see the coin in the viewfinder and sometimes I cannot on tripod. To ensure that there is enough light to autofocus, I added an LED light directly onto the coin to get the camera to autofocus, but it doesn't seem like the camera wants to do anything. When I point the camera to different objects in the room off tripod, autofocus seems to work ok. I thought technology would make things easier, but calibrating the setup is more challenging than I imagined.
@@ETFnerd You might be to close to the coin. Back away a little bit. Also, you said you have a dark coin. Autofocus looks for a high contrast area. As an example, autofocus can't focus on a white or dark wall. Try focusing on the edge of the coin. (dark edge, white paper)
Man, even the music for this video is upper-class. You could say that my search for an optimal shooting solution has been an ongoing multi-year effort ever since I started selling coins on eBay exactly 20 years ago. My existing desktop setup is a tripod lashed onto a metal flowerpot stand with two 100W equivalent LED lights on either side of a thick black card I use as the blackground. The camera points directly downward, and no flash is used. The reason for the Gilligan's Island setup is so I can also shoot groups of coins and not just individual ones. Since the flowerpot stand tends to wiggle, I have to use the self-timer, but none of the cameras I've used over the years has that as a settable permanent feature, so I can shoot with a 2 second delay each time I press the shutter and NOT have to set the self-timer manually for each shot. Sometimes I need a 10 second delay so I can position my hands between the light and the coin(s) so as to assure optimal lighting. What I'd really like is to be able to press the shutter using "Enter" on my computer while viewing the coin right side up on my computer, despite it being shot upside down due to the nature of my setup. I'd also like the luxury of being able to name the file instantly after I shoot it, which I need for keeping track of which photos are of which coin(s) when I post them to eBay.
What an excellent video, I like that you used materials available to the average person. About the only thing you may want to add is the fact someone could alternately use this same method with a slower shutter speed, self timer (for shake) and use a table lamp instead of the flash as long as they white balanced the photos later. Just thinking not everyone will have a system to trip the flash off camera. I own strobes and soft boxes but heck, I'm going to try this for fun next time I photograph small items for ebay sales. Thanks for the video!
I purchased a $40 HD 2 element "Macro lens" from Amazon screws on like a filter, x10, Used my cheap ring flash for the speed-light, results are amazing! Details, consistent colors! That secret sauce thing, I've tried a whole bunch of complicated setups from white sheets to DIY phot booth, just really frustrated, but this desktop setup changes the game for my eBay coin sales.
That's great!!
Great video. No nonsense, to the point, good info. I will be trying out your process.
I enjoyed your video today because I need to photograph many a coin about the size of a dime. People I speak to on FB say to use bellows and bellows lens etc. Then I'm left with how to light the coin. Your video gave me a completely different perspective, one that is affordable and readily available. Thank you for your approach.
That is awesome!
Great video - thanks for posting!
You make this look waaaaay too easy lol. Great job man! Best coin photography video I've watched ;)
Simple quick and easy. I'm going to have to do this with my Romans!
Thanks!!! The black / white paper made the "sauce" for me!
That's great
This video is SO good. Holy cow. Wow.
Thanks!
This was helpful but I do not have a camera or any equipment lol. I guess my phone camera will have to do. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if a phone was just as good as these professional shots, gotta love digital technology.
This is genious. Thank you also for sharing these great ideas within a 5 min video. Thumps up for content and extent!
Thanks!
Wow, excelente video.
It works! Set up Canon T7i w/macro EFS 18-55mm lens and speed light, any will do, and it solved my problem of close up coin work inexpensively, thank you!
Awesome! The results are amazing with just so a basic setup.
Excellent tutorial, thank you!
Wow! You're Amazing - Thank you! :-)
Great..!!!
Great video!!! Simple and easy to understand.
Glad it was helpful!
Very nice video. Thank you, sir.
You need to be a bullion and coins collector and start saving collectible silver and gold coins. You are going to need them, trust me, nice video.
trufax
Loved the video, learned a lot, please handle the coins by the edges
You got it!
Good tips! Thanks for sharing this!
Great 😉 information
thanks for a very instructive video!
Thanks!!
🙏 Thanks for informative video 🙏
I haven't tried this yet but I will... I love your easy to use materials. I plan to share this video link in our Macro Chat Show today :-)
That's great, thanks!
Thank you!!!!
nice images
Thank you, good information
Easy, Mr. Lawson. This is a UA-cam audience. If you use big, fancy words like "parallel" peoples' eyes will glaze over! lol
Could you use this approach for postage stamps? Have an awesome day! From Fun at Home (Stunts, Jumps, Flips, Corkscrews, Lego, Animations and Collectables)
Sure, why not?
Easy, Mr. Lawson. This is a UA-cam audience. If you use big, fancy words like "parallel" peoples' eyes will glaze over. lol
Great video. Can you link the actual pictures?
I don't have those pictures, the coin dealer has them.
hi bill if try godox strobe system you will be amazed. you don't know what you missing so far. 600 watts whit a super compact small battery, portable power you in full control of light.
Thanks ProShoot. I've heard that flash is great! Maybe I'll get one!..
Freaking AWESOME! Thanks for the camera settings.. like iso, shutter speed etc.. love it all..
can you use a black felt cloth rather that the black construction paper?
Sure.
Nice coins I would like to hire you to take pictures for my specimen. Its amazing did you happen to get that 1799 from NYC
I'm glad you like my work. The 1799 was in a local shop. I'm sure he sold it by now.
Packed a lot of content into a short video - like poetry. My only problem is No macro lens (yet) Can I get these results with an 18-55mm lens?
You can try, but I'm not sure you can focus that close
Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll have to sell enough coins to buy a used macro lens.
As a newbie for photographing, what would be a good light box to get instead of a flash? Do you think a light box and then some sort of DSLR camera would be a good choice? What would you recommend?
I would also be interested in removing the background on the photos to list the photos on my eBay store.
I updated my camera recommendations
(Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7) adorama.rfvk.net/Y9e46P
(Panasonic Macro lens) adorama.rfvk.net/xkMXW1
(Tripod) adorama.rfvk.net/9gkx5e
You can use a clamp light from Home Depot
Hey love your video! Really informative! I was wondering if this set up could also work with a TAMRON SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F017). Thank you very much!!
Sure, any macro lens will work
Why doesnt the paper taped to the camera block the light from the flash?
The flash goes through the paper, and the paper becomes a diffuser.
@@lawsonpix thank you! I appreciate the reply!
Mr. Lawson, are there any changes you would incorporate into this video now in 2020 if you had a chance? Any gear changes or new recommendations?
Nope, no gear changes. The gear doesn't matter. It's the principal of black and white that makes it work.
Great setup! You aren't kidding about those sets being hard to photo. The reflections on those made me insane for a while. LOL It took me WAY too long to photo them for eBay listings.
I am using cheap Amazon photo lights, but I want to use my Speedlight because the white balance is so much better with it. I don't have the cable or wireless part though, so the weight of my Speedlight messes with everything on the tripod. :-P I might have to buy that cable now or a wireless variant.
I love how you raised the coins to the lens, I will deploy that tip too. I couldn't get my tripod lower and have it still be stable. That is such a smart and simple tip! Thank you for the video!
Sounds good, Glad I could help.
Why do you use a black paper in the back? Why not a white card tht will bounce back some light into the shadow areas?
Because you want shadows. You can always try a white card and see if it works. But white and white just washes everything out.
Photographer Bill Lawson I’ll try it. Thanks.
Excellent video! What is your constant light source?
My constant light source was in room lighting. But I used flash lighting too light the coin
@@lawsonpix seriously? Just the speed light through the white paper?
@@roanokejoe yes
Could you please try and shoot some toned coin so that it shows the true colours of the coin, that is quite difficult to capture.
I don't have access to any toned coins. It is my professional opinion that some toned coin photos are PhotoShopped to enhance the color. Especially if they are trying to sell them.
Bill, I loved your video. I'm really new to taking pictures. You said you need a macro lens, is there a type of macro lens? I'm thinking about getting a Nikon D750 DSLR, so what would be the best lens with the D750? Thanks
I use this lens. It's fantastic. www.adorama.com/nk6028afdu.html
super tuto. is the secret sauce paper a normal paper as we use for laserjet 80g/m^2 ? i didn't imagine a flash could go thru it !
do you have similar tricks for watches ?
Yes, normal printer paper. You can photograph whatever you want with this technique.
You might know the answer to this. I wanna scan collectible coins into a 3d scanner. I heard of a special clear adhesive that holds the coins upright for 3d scanning. Yet this clear adhesive doesnt damage the coin or leave any residue behind that can lower the coins value. What is this adhesive called?
I don't know
I don't know, I'm not familiar with this
@@lawsonpix was worth a shot. Can't find anyone who knows lol
how do i photograph my coin ?
Thanks for your comment. Watch the video and find out
I was over complicating. Ring Flash makes a really flat looking coin. :-( Thank you for the tips.
Happy to help!
I ordered all the supplies you mentioned. I already have a Canon Rebel. What is the light in the back? Do you recommend any additional lighting aside from the lighting of my room and the flash? Such as a studio light from Amazon? Thank you!
No need for additional lighting, just the one.
I have a question. I want to take a picture of a silver eagle and then have it enlarged until it is almost one and a half times the circumference of a basketball. Then I will frame it and hang over my desk. Do you have any tips for doing this?
As long as you have a good camera and lens, this method will work great.
I have an older Nikon D200 which is only 10mp. With this camera I don't think I can enlarge the photo and still maintain a 300 pixel rate.Therefore I decided to buy another camera... not just for this photo. I will get a Sony a6600, which is 24mp. It should do the job and allow me to continue to enjoy my hobby.
Dear Sir, thank you so much!!Let me know the speedlight flash brand please.
Use whatever brand works on your camera. I have an Nikon camera, so I use a Nikon flash. If you have a Canon camera then you can use a Canon flash.
when he rubbed his hands together after saying "collectable coins" i knew then that he was a virgin.
Hello, What inexpensive camera and lens would you recomend for coins? Thank you
I posted recommendations under the video. Click the "show more" text.
Hi Bill. Thank you for the very informative video. I am new to photography and set up as per your video, but the camera settings make the pictures look too dark. It does not look like your video where it is light, you can see everything. I cannot see the image at all at these settings. I searched on the web and it looks like I need to adjust my exposure but I am using an old Canon Rebel XS/1000D and I am having trouble making adjustments. Any suggestions?
Btw, I am using the Canon EOS Utility and the Canon Photo Professional to do remote capture of photos to my computer and can snap the pics onto my huge screen. It works great, but I just need to resolve the fact that the pictures come out almost completely black. Thanks!
Try changing your f stop or aperture number. A lower number will give you a brighter image.
@@lawsonpix Hi Bill. Thanks for your kind reply. The image is dark/almost black without flash but looks ok when the flash goes off. The picture is presentable with the flash and your technique works very well. Still having trouble because the autofocus is not very sharp. I adjusted the focal point to the center of the image but the outcome is still blurry. I think the issue is that the subject (coin) being dark/almost black pre-flash, the autofocus is not working properly. But sometimes I see the object in the viewfinder in normal room light conditions and other times, I see just darkness in the viewfinder. I do have the AF mode set on the lens in single shot mode. Bewildered as to why it won't focus properly. Using a Canon 18mm-55mm macro lens. Do I specifically need a 35mm lens? I thought this one would be in the range. Thanks!
Set the flash to manual mode, 1/4 power. Then you'll probably need to bring some regular light closer to your setup so your camera can autofocus. Cameras need light to autofocus.
@@lawsonpix Thanks for your continued help! My room setup is a little dimmer than your setup in the video and sometimes I can see the coin in the viewfinder and sometimes I cannot on tripod. To ensure that there is enough light to autofocus, I added an LED light directly onto the coin to get the camera to autofocus, but it doesn't seem like the camera wants to do anything. When I point the camera to different objects in the room off tripod, autofocus seems to work ok. I thought technology would make things easier, but calibrating the setup is more challenging than I imagined.
@@ETFnerd You might be to close to the coin. Back away a little bit. Also, you said you have a dark coin. Autofocus looks for a high contrast area. As an example, autofocus can't focus on a white or dark wall. Try focusing on the edge of the coin. (dark edge, white paper)
Just curious: what is the purpose of the black paper; BTW? Excellent tutorial video; I really appreciate it.
The black paper creates contrast.
Photographer Bill Lawson That makes sense; just like the EZY speedlight boxes that are black inside. Thanks.
This is great. But I won't lie. That lens being off the body for so long stressed me out a little.
Great video, but the way you say "collectible coins" is weird. Just "coins" is fine.
If you are a coin collector you collect collectible coins… video was great.
@@alexgiertych5101 All coins are collectible.
Mom We need hole world🙂