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 Replies: 22 / Views: 5,838 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
My fiancé gave me a certificate from Lighthouse for a 20-200x digital microscope. The e-store didn't have them in stock but told her that we could buy it at the FUN show.
Anyone have any experience with this DMC? No other name except the lighthouse digital microscope was given and I didn't see any info on the CCF.
Thanks in advance.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2781 Posts |
I got this one for xmas:  almost identical (except for brand name) but the celestron is less than 1/4 the price (cost $50 canadian = just a little over $35 US). for $170 you can do much much better. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/celestr...kuId=5395617quick review: image quality was good for close up on dates etc, but impossible to take a picture of the whole coin (ya, I know - its a MICROscope!). I decided to upgrade this one as the stand is very inconvenient to adjust and you can not turn off or adjust the LED lights (major drawback) I ordered the next model up which appears to have improved adjustment controls and dim-able lights and 5MP sensor. @ $99 ($89ish USD) it looks like a steal compared to $170... http://www.bestbuy.com/site/celestr...kuId=9760397 if it were me I would cash in the coupon (shouldn't be a problem since they are out of stock) and shop around. keep in mind that these are just "toys", and you can probably get similar results from a cell phone with an $8 add on macro lens.  Edited by Wade
12/30/2014 09:18 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Lighting can make a huge difference to the pictorial presentation of a coin.
When you first use your new microscope, experiment with the lighting until you are happy.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I have the 44302 and it is ok. I paid around $70 a few years ago. The lights are a big problem so I ended up blocking off all but one and put a filter over that one. I recommend researching before buying one. Here is a nice one but cost more then the better Celestron http://www.amazon.com/Aven-26700-30...p/B00AOBM77OJohn1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
I bought a cheepo $24 one off ebay and it works just fine up to 200x. It's called "Digimicro". As mentioned it is a bit hard to get a whole coin, but I can fit a whole morgan if I stack books (eventually I'll make a stand) and keep the scope high. The only issue with these I've found is the led lights.. I found it worked best to block a few of the bulbs or diffuse the while thing.  A couple close ups ..   |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I can't endorse this as an appropriate price for the quality received. It's only a 2MP camera, which should be a *huge* red flag - digital sensors are commodity-cheap in far higher pixel densities, and I take this to mean the optics aren't sufficiently sharp to support larger images.
For $50, maybe I'm in but your budget is within $50 or so of finding a cheap used dSLR with a cheap lens you can turn into a serious coin camera with the addition of a $3 lens reversing ring.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
I apologise for not being more precise in my request, and yes I did read Bobbys latest rules published in early December. The money really isn't the issue. I usually shoot my coins with a D90 with a Nicor 85mm Macro lens and they give great photos but usually have around 3000 mpxls that the CCF reducing tool can't reduce. I also use a large AmScope microscope that get to 400x for really close work. The problem I have is that none of what I usually use at home is really portable. My rigs take up most of my little home coin shop/work area. I need something portable and easy to add to a laptop or iPad. I have the iPad adapter to use the power cord as a USB to upload and crop photos. With that in mind, what do you folks like, and if you had it to do over again, which would you choose for a USB microscope? Again, thanks for the advice. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2448 Posts |
By the way SSuper DDave, you're the only one I've run into that understands how to use a reversing ring. I have one for my old Pentax, but can't find one for my Nicon. Still looking though. They work slicker that the dickens and a lot less expensive than Marco lenses.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Reversing rings and extension tubes are required accessories in this Forum.  As you may have figured, I'm not a fan of USB scopes but that's partly snobbery. Under the conditions you've established, one is appropriate to your needs. I feel you can meet your goals for half your budget or less, though, leveraging the recommendations of others in this thread. The CCF Optimizer has bandwidth as an included priority, and although it can be manipulated to offer larger images I tend to recommend offsite hosting for ease of posting larger images. We don't like imgur because of the potential for NSFW imagery, but Photobucket works quite well. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2448 Posts |
Thanks all! Great info and advice as ever!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
To add to this thread.
I have a USB camera/microscope. I have found the 2MP range a bit below what I want. Also, trying to take a picture if a silver dollar is difficult. can't get the whole image in.
I don't mind buying a regular USB camera for full coin images, or a combo item, if the MP is higher.
Any ideas?
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
this looks like mine except for the MP size.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Didn't you say you wanted a higher MP? John1 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
yes, but more then just a microscope..
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
So, what's your budget?  |
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Replies: 22 / Views: 5,838 |
Posted 12/29/2014 8:47 pm
