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 Replies: 19 / Views: 5,821 |
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Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
I'm wanting a coin microscope to see errors and photograph using USB from scope to computer. Budget at 200.00 , can someone advise on brand and model #? I use Amazon and Walmart, any ideas will be helpful!! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
I have an AmScope for around $162. I didn't opt for the camera but take my shots using my iPhone through one of the reticles. More than enough for searching smaller varieties in my opinion. A decent value for the price. Good luck Ten! |
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Valued Member
 United States
134 Posts |
Thanks Rack. What is a reticle?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4037 Posts |
Ocular or Eyepiece. This is called the "afocal" technique because your camera focuses at infinity. All the focusing is done by the microscope. A trick to make this work best is to set the camera focus on infinity, ie "mountain" or similar.
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Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
Wow, I didn't know I had a setting for my iPhone 4, where is that? I found the am scope 10-20-30-60 w/camera for 179.00 direct through AmScope. If I could get the great shots with iPhone I would skip the scope and use a 40x loop. I looked for the nimbus dome and light box on ebay, no luck there. Did get gray card. Trying to keep costs down. Don't want to jump in on buying just anything. Thanks for any tips rackster , love the knowledge |
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Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Edited by John1
06/24/2015 05:15 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Glad to chip in. I also have a celestron (?) ubs microscope. The lighting is to bright and isn't very practical in my opinion. Not worth half the $70 I paid for it. I did what John suggests here and shopped ebay and Craigslist but didn't find anything like I have for the price I paid. Mainly found antique microscopes and very high end lab equipment. Kids toys too. But if you're not in a rush you might find something at a steal. Good luck on the hunt! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
I just bought a Plugable USB digital microscope and am just starting to play with it. So far it seems to suit my needs, it takes pictures, and has adjustable light brightness. See http://plugable.com/products/usb2-micro-250x I bought an older model, but the one linked looks to have a better stand. No, this is not top dog microscope, but it's $35. I thought it was right for the price. Available via Amazon. |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
It says the lowest is 50x? Thats too much IMHO John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
Edited by Garoyn
06/24/2015 11:56 am
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
That's much better 1x-50. I have a Celestron and my stand is similar. Works ok but I have to tighten it a lot. You can get a better stand on the bay if you want to. John1 |
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Valued Member
United States
134 Posts |
Very helpful! Thanks to All! I've got a 40x loop that I am using for grading and errors, works great. I'm buying the 9x14 light box and made my own stand out of PVC so we will see how photography works when I get back in town.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts |
I picked up a cheapie USB microscope off ebay. The software that came with the device didn't work. I found working software by googling the microscope. It is an OK device once I played around with it. I'm sure that there are far superior microscopes, but being on a budget this one will do for now. This is a little nick on a MOD set's W-proof dime.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4037 Posts |
That is a very nice shot with good sharpness. I think you have a winner. What is the mag range? Not the numbers, which don't mean much, but the range of field of view. Would be nice to see a full "sweep" of the capability of the scope from min to max on same coin.
Contact me for photographic equipment or visit my home page at: http://macrocoins.com |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1476 Posts |
Looks like it will work out for you.  Be careful though, it can become another obsession.  I started with one of those, moved up and bought a stand that cost more then the USB scope. Started to get pickier and got an AmScope stereo Microscope and a 10Mp camera for it. I still use the AmScope because it is Very useful for scanning coins quickly and comfortably and the getting quick images to post. But, then I wanted even more from my images so I stepped up yet again to a Canon camera body and bellows setup with a microscope objective which the great people her at CCF helped me to put together to get even higher quality images. The Thread is in this forum. I haven't used the USB setup in a while but Still use the others every day. So for me it turned out to be another hobby within a hobby and I am enjoying it very much. I hope you get as much enjoyment as I. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 5,821 |
Posted 06/23/2015 10:49 pm
