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 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,973 |
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I recently bought a Bausch & Lomb 7x, mainly to look for coin errors, marks, ect. I had heard anything stronger wouldn't be necessary, but I've recently heard discussions about 14x, 20x, and so on. In the grand scheme of things, and as a beginner coin roll hunter, will having only a 7x get me by okay?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
785 Posts |
I crh with a 10x, yours should probably be good enough for anything you will come across in circulation.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
I have found that 16X is necessary for variety attributing. 7X is not strong enough.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2124 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
I like the 10x for a quick look. I also like my 80-250 microscope.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 to CCF.This topic comes up a lot. I roll search cents for errors and varieties.I recommend a 10x and a 14x triplet hastings.You can get by with a doublet which is a lot cheaper then a triplet.I use a 14x doublet that cost me about $5 and works well.I have tried a 16x but is gave me a distorted view and my 14x doesn't.And make sure you have good lighting also.Good luck to you. John1  |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I use a 5x/7x doublet, almost always at 5x and rarely, doubled.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
My personal favorite is the 7x Bausch & Lomb APO triplet, but yes for certain uses, mainly variety hunting, a 15-20 power can help tremendously. I like the 7x as it's size allows for me to see most of the entirety of the coin and I never need any more than 7x for grading, I most often only use it for coins I'm on the edge about being AU or UNC, and for RPDs and DDOs/DDRs. If I was roll searching, I'd get one of the larger magnifier lamps at an office supply store, the ones that clamp to a desk top and have an articulated arm for adjustment. Much easier to do the initial sorting, then move to a good halogen/LED lamp with pin spot lighting and a more powerful loupe on the suspected coins you are hunting. Being comfortable is half the battle in optical viewing, whether magnifying or telescoping (my other hobby). A saying in astronomy is a comfortable chair can add several magnitude of light gathering, I have found this to be true, reduce eye and back strain, you'll enjoy it more and see more. "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440Edited by westcoin
01/07/2014 05:12 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have a 4 element in three groups lens. The diameter is only about 15mm, and depth of field is only about 1/2mm. 20x magnification, with no colour aberration or distortion.
Basically useless for the examination of coins, unless you want to look closely at the structure of scratches or inside the peripheral cracks of ancient coins. Much more portable than a micro(macro)scope, with no setup.
I bought it for examination of internal flaws of cut gemstones, but whenever I want to examine some minute detail on a coin, I say to myself:
"Now is the time to bring out the heavy artillery." The very narrow depth of field, does however, make it difficult to use without an acquired skill.
Normally, you need a large depth of field, (say 10mm), so the whole coin can be examined, without any part of the coin being out of focus.
Edited by sel_69l
01/07/2014 07:55 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I've been purchasing magnifying glasses for a long time now. I probably have 15 different ones. Most just sit and are never used. I usully use a 5X and that is good enough for me. Yes there are much stronger ones and even many now use the computerized microscopes. I have one of those too that is good for about 200 to 300X. Tried it once and put it away with all the rest. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I've essentially quit using a loupe at home; it's a "to-go" thing for shows and the like. When I can project a coin onscreen at a size too large for a 27" monitor, from my imaging rig, who needs a loupe?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
 It has been said in more than one way above; the higher the magnification, the smaller the field of view. Personally I use a 10X Hastings Triplet by Bausch & Lomb (I had to pull it out of my pocket to be precise in the name), and it has served me well in variety attribution. If I need more magnification I have a Dino-Lite USB Microscope for taking close-up images to share. Edited by oih82w8
01/09/2014 3:52 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Since I primarily collect die varieties, a good-quality loupe is essential to minimize eyestrain.
I have a 10X loupe and a better quality 8X loupe. I use the 8X much more because of superior optics.
And depending on what you collect, you might need a loupe over 8X. I think detecting minute mintmark and die varieties on LMCs requires higher magnification.
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Valued Member
United States
297 Posts |
 I run the same exact setup and works great for me as well and got a couple extra's laying around I don't use much at all since I got original referenced setup but do work well which is a 16x double and a 7x aspheric with illumination. Quote:
It has been said in more than one way above; the higher the magnification, the smaller the field of view. Personally I use a 10X Hastings Triplet by Bausch & Lomb (I had to pull it out of my pocket to be precise in the name), and it has served me well in variety attribution.
If I need more magnification I have a Dino-Lite USB Microscope for taking close-up images to share |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1745 Posts |
Along with others, my go-to is a Bausch & Lomb 10x Hastings Triplet. I bought it over 35 years ago.
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Valued Member
United States
50 Posts |
I like my 10x, but I was too cheap to get a name brand one.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 3,973 |
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Posted 01/04/2014 1:35 pm
