Loupe. , Microscope For Taking Good Pictures

With some of the best cellphones with a very high density of pixels,
the use of a loupe is unnecessary. It just makes coin photography more awkward.
A more than acceptable level of detail of the coin can still be retained even with close in zoom.
I have found that sunlight is the best light source but you have to be careful and patient to avoid shadow on the subject.

In sunlight,
gold coins photograph best with a matt blue background,
silver and bronze coins are OK on any background, as long as it is matt, and contrasting with the coin.

I have a USB microscope, but I have obtained equally good and very acceptable results with the cellphone.

All of the more valuable coins in my collection have been photographed for record purposes, and to avoid always having to get them out of my safe when I need to review them.

I have a scope that has an app for your phone that will transfer pictures to your photo gallery and I don't have to use the optimizer for which I like because I struggle with that bad the quality of pictures is decent but not outstanding can take better pictures with my I phone.

I take pictures of every single coin I place into my Dansco Albums. (both obverse and reverse) for record keeping. Soon, I'll be getting all of my OGP sets out to get images of them as well (intact of course) for my records and insurance purposes.

Great info, thanks all. I have a Tomlov coming, but this read is all good food for thought.

As far as no pc at all, apparently there is a Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader lets you import photos & videos from your camera's SD card to your iPad or iPhone I just found that might work as a possible solution using one of the below scopes or better. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...amera-reader Of course you can use just the phone with the added clip on macro lens as needed.
Some models now use USB-C instead of lightning, so the same with a USB-C to SD CARD READER. Browse the compatibility drop down on the page if your not sure which you need. https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...-card-reader






Even the lower priced models of Tomlov can also connect direct to PC through usb and use the "Windows Camera" for Windows 10 app to view the image from the scope on your pc screen instead in real time/take photo on pc while its connected (switched into usb-pc camera mode). Or can use the scopes built in screen on its own and the memory card added (which comes with most of the models) to save photos/video without any computer to the SD card.

For those with a computer can then later connect the scope to the pc through USB to access the memory card files you saved without removing the SD card physically out of the scope by choosing USB-Disk mode. Or its possible to remove the memory card and place into a reader which may be compatible with other hardware (see further below).

The lowest models are the Tomlov DM4 or DM4S with extra lights on the base typically around $50. The only issue is that you cant zoom out enough to snap the entire coin, but can look at errors/varieties and take photo/video if desired. You can however take full coin photos if you add later either Tomlov Digital Microscope Extension Tube ET02 around $18 or replace the base with a taller 10 inch one - Tomlov Digital Microscope Stand Base BS02, Taller 10 inch Adjustable Microscope Base around $39. Of course you can then consider higher cost models, dearborn bought one I remember, but was just checking if a low cost one would work for those just getting started and they do.