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 Replies: 17 / Views: 6,339 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1260 Posts |
I'm considering getting a microscope and it looks like AmScope has some decent ones at reasonable prices. I know with some of them, you are not able to view an entire coin but some other models you can. My use of it will be mainly to look at RPM's, DD's and things of that sort that I can't see well enough with my loupe or glass but occasionally, I may need to take a photo, (although that is not my concern). If you have an AmScope, I would appreciate it if you could tell me the model number you have and what you like about it as well as what you don't like. There are so many available that it is hard to make a decision sitting in front of a screen and a keyboard. My price range would be in the $200-$600 range. I don't have a smart phone so using one as a camera is not an option. Thanks for any insight you can provide.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7516 Posts |
I've been using one for a long time,it'll take a while to get prone to how effectively use it, but overall it is a good brand ,the lighting that comes with the scope normally doesn't do the job and needs to be modifies by an external light,and the next additional expense will be the digital camera to view and upload images via USB on PC or Lap top and that sometimes runs about as much as the cost of the scope itself.bottom line : start with an inexpensive unit and once you master it sell it and upgrade.
There are good references/advises provided here and you can access them in numismatic search engine before purchasing one.
PS. As far as I know I have not seen one that you can see the entire image of a coin larger than a Dime.The viewfinders are normally not that wide on these scopes!
Edited by Chase007
04/05/2017 4:51 pm
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
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Forum Dad
United States
24173 Posts |
I bought a $600 one with camera and it's been sitting collecting dust for years because my Canon T3I with the 100 mm lens blows it away.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1260 Posts |
Thanks Chase007. I planned on buying a scope with a camera and was hoping to hear from someone who may own the same and get their feedback. There are certain models that AmScope make that have a super wide viewing field so you can see the entire coin. Thanks John1. I figured that a scope would be easier to slide a coin under than having to use the usp scope, I may be wrong. From the threads I have read about the usb cameras, seems like lots of folks aren't really satisfied with them. Thanks bobby131313. I don't think I will be doing lots of photo taking but would like a decent camera in the event I need to. Do you use your camera set up for coin roll hunting as well as taking for photos? |
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Forum Dad
United States
24173 Posts |
Quote:
Thanks bobby131313. I don't think I will be doing lots of photo taking but would like a decent camera in the event I need to. Do you use your camera set up for coin roll hunting as well as taking for photos? I don't use it for CRH but you certainly can. You can pull up a coin full screen using the EOS software, just put the camera in a copystand. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1260 Posts |
bobby131313, do you know if there is a link on CCF that describes your set up (or one similar) and the equipment necessary to go this route? Thanks again.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1000 Posts |
That might be a little bit above your budget, especially if you only want it for coins. I haven't been keeping up with Canon camera bodies, so I don't know how much the T3I is right now. I did a quick search for Canon's 100mm macro lens, and I see the official website selling the 100mm f/2.8L macro for $750. A non "L" version of the lense is available on Amazon for $600, but at that price difference, I'd upgrade to the L. I don't know if we're allowed to link to outside forums, but I've purchased used camera gear from the Fred Miranda forums. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4594 Posts |
What you want is called Tethered mode and/or Live View. Both Canon and Nikon support it and the camera comes with decent software for this. There are other camera brands that also support live view. There is a freeware/open source program, digiCamControl which supports a wide range of cameras. The 'supported camera page ( here) gives you an idea of which brands and models. These people have a good rep for selling used gear: https://www.keh.com/ but I haven't used them personally. I'd call them and get their recommendations. A macro lens around 100mm is IMHO, the best bet for general coin photography. You can shoot as small as a trime (14mm) and as big as a full slab with usable working distance. Outside of the OEM lenses, there are macro lenses from Sigma and Tamron that also get great reviews and great results. Now, if you want to go better than 1:1 - extreme macro, such as mintmarks? Or you just have a DIY bent? Go poke in the under $400 setup thread ( Best I can get on a $400 budget? Help) and also contact RMC - he often can do turn-key setups for people. -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1260 Posts |
Thanks Bstrauss3 for the info. I am not familiar with any type camera set up and don't know what all is involved in putting this together. I was thinking I would get a scope so I could check MM's and DD's as my eyes aren't as good as they use to be. I'm not planning on doing a lot of picture taking but if I could use this type set up to check my coins, sounds like it would work as well. Thanks for the links and the info, I'll do some research on this.
Edited by OldJoeClark
04/07/2017 10:47 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7174 Posts |
Joe, I think you and I are about the same age. My eyes aren't what they use to be also. I bought a AmScope #SM-1TS-207 with a 12 watt fluorescent light kit about a yr ago. I think it was about $300 For both. The best $300 I've spent in a long time. It makes it possible to line up a lot of coins on a mat and view them one by one. It's great for rmm & dds. I don't take a lot of pictures. I bought a AmScope camera, but I'm such a dinosaur I haven't figured it out yet. I just use a $20 usb if I want pictures. As far as field of view, I can look at whole quarters. Halfs won't quite fit in the field. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1260 Posts |
Thanks for your input Cujohn. After reading all the comments, I am now trying to decide whether to go with the scope or the camera set up. I was going to put this thread on the photo forum and I probably would have gotten more comments from people with scopes but I didn't want folks to think my main interest was taking pictures, it's not, it's trying to get a good view of the coins. Of course, should I need to photo one, I would like to be able to take a decent picture also. I suppose now, I need to decide what would be easier to use. Thanks again, I appreciate it.  Edited by OldJoeClark
04/09/2017 5:26 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1000 Posts |
BStauss, I think one of the cheapest ways to get macro functionality out of a DSLR camera is to purchase a 35-80mm Canon lens and hack that apart. By breaking it out of its casing and flipping the main lens component, you'll end up with a sharp macro lens has a shallow depth of field. I'm not sure of the autofocus capabilities there, but it is the budget option. I think used versions of that lens (an older kit lens that was sold with film SLR cameras) may be under twenty bucks. Here is a thread from a photography forum detailing how to make that work: http://photography-on-the.net/forum...php?t=190428[edit] After skimming part of that thread, I'm seeing that it might be as simple as removing the front lens element. I was sure it involved taking out the central element and flipping the whole set up, then gluing it onto a body cap as a lens mount. There should be more information available online if anyone is interested. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4594 Posts |
Again, really depends on what you want to shoot. If you're looking for 5x to show mintmark details, a microscope objective is probably your best bet. For general macro around 1:2 or 1:1 you have options. Sometimes you can buy a ready made reversing ring. These people: https://fotodioxpro.com/ have an amazing range of accessories for things like lens mount adapters (very important if you are changing brands), reversing, etc. they have an Amazon store and some items are available with 2nd day shipping for Amazon Prime. -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Not sure of mine's make since it is still in the box it came in a long, long time ago.
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New Member
United States
38 Posts |
I have a cheap little AmScope utp200 usb that will take photos quite well of close up mint marks, dates, md's, quite easy to see on laptop or computor, you can change res of screen, small, med, large. only thing I find is field of view is with cheap little stand it came with. can bairly get a dime full view. But with some playing have found that I can get a full view of ATB and quite good.(not with stand it came with) Light has to be minipulated. Led on the scope is very bright to not good. I have bought no external lighting as of yet |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 6,339 |
Posted 04/05/2017 5:16 pm
