Re^6: The best object to provide scale on a photo showing a small object is:

It would be interesting to find out what the average diameter is for modern day coins. Anything too large is now handled via paper currency (or plastic), so I do not think the variance is anything to be too concerned about. Though if I knew the average diameter, I would probably pick a coin that was very close to that size. Good point on your part!

The biggest factor for me, even to the point of overriding the variance size concerns you raised, is that the coin is the only item on that list that can be used virtually anywhere without looking too out of place.

Regarding CDs/DVDs/BDs, I think there is still the issue of potentially being too big, and thus distracting from the small object that should be the main focus of the photograph. And of course the location issue. The size can be partially mitigated by using a Mini-CD, but not the location.

Hm. This is a silly poll, and yet, we're taking it seriously. It's that coders instinct to want to solve the problem I guess :)

Lol!! I've been doing a lot of 3D graphics work lately (as a hobby), so I think I'm in "how would I create a scene as described in the title?" mode. It's almost like a render challenge. (^_^)

Update: As a side note, if more than one coin can be used then I think that also pretty much negates the size variance issue.

Elda Taluta; Sarks Sark; Ark Arks

Comment on Re^6: The best object to provide scale on a photo showing a small object is:

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Re^7: The best object to provide scale on a photo showing a small object is: by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Mar 02, 2011 at 02:26 UTC
Regarding CDs/DVDs/BDs, I think there is still the issue of potentially being too big, I'd just place the object near (or in) the central hole and macro focus in on the hole and object. Chose the right angle and you can have whatever seems relevant reflected in the CD as a background; or simply isolate the object using depth of field. Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error. "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.	[reply]
Re^8: The best object to provide scale on a photo showing a small object is: by Argel (Prior) on Mar 02, 2011 at 03:25 UTC
I wasn't really thinking of using photographic artistic tricks like that! Interesting. Could definitely work. Almost makes me want to setup a test render! Elda Taluta; Sarks Sark; Ark Arks	[reply]
Re^9: The best object to provide scale on a photo showing a small object is: by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Mar 02, 2011 at 04:22 UTC
Almost makes me want to setup a test render! I just did. Albeit a rushed and crude version of what I was envisaging. The housebrick-sized, 3kg lump of scrap in the background at the top of the image could store 400MB. Huge in it's day. The DVD in the lower foreground can hold 4.7GB. The keyfob atop the DVD, the working components of which would easily fit within the central hole of the DVD, has 10 times the capacity and costs 100th the original price of the disk drive. Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error. "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.	[reply]