How To Take A Photo Of A Stamp!

Hi, I'd like to make a suggestion.

I see a lot of posters with photos of stamps, that are hard to actually view the image correctly. Photos taken at an angle, etc., and etc.

My suggestion:

Explain to posters how to take a photo of stamps. If they do not have a scanner to better answer their questions.

Give simple instructions to either photo a stamp straight on, or if the poster has a digital camera and is light weight or one of those telephones that has a camera. The best way to set up their camera to take straight on photos.

Perhaps come up with a simple and inexpensive system, example would be books set up in a square with an opening just small than the camera, all books same height and level. Light would be a problem. Of course the books would not have to be set up in a square. And of course would not have to use books at all.

We need to help posters take better photos of their stamps. Lets give them ideas how to take better photos.

Stampmaster

My best advice is to buy a scanner!

However, if you have a smartphone or tablet, I can recommend an app called CamScanner.

Thanks Jubilee, I'm going to check it out. I'm usually too lazy to scan stamps

My scanners all went in the trash when I bought my Canon.

When it comes to stamps, covers, documents, and currency, flatbed scanners are infinitely preferable to cameras. There is far more consistency and control with respect to color and brightness. Also, you are not at the mercy of ambient lighting.

The only time I use a camera is if I need to photograph an album or stockbook where the individual pages cannot be removed for placement in a scanner.

For individual stamps and covers, I would never recommend that someone use a camera over a scanner.

Coins, on the other hand, are the exact opposite: you should never use a flatbed scanner, as scanners cannot accurately capture lustre or color on a coin.

Not for me. I have a good sturdy copystand and remote shooting. Still blows a scanner away and is about 10 times faster.