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 Replies: 12 / Views: 3,331 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
646 Posts |
I've been carrying a cheap 10x loupe in my pocket for years now, and I'm tired of the distortions away from the middle of the field around the edges. So I'm figuring it's time to get a good quality loupe. I've narrowed it down to basically two; the B&L Hastings triplet, or a Belomo triplet, which is a bit bigger, with a slightly larger viewing area. Would appreciate any input from you folks with experience with these, or alternative recommendations. Also, do you recommend 7x or 10x?
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I have a 10x cloth examination lens three elements in two groups. Much like the design of the old Zeiss Tessar lens.
Excellent for coin examination. I do have a couple of loupes used for gem cutting, so that both hands can be free, but lens better two hands OK, one for the coin one for the lens.
Japanese, dating from the early 1930's. Brass framed, still works as well as the day it was first made.
No color aberration or visual distortion of the image over it's usable range.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
I'll tell you what I use, and what the ANA recommends. I use a Bausch Lomb Hastings Triplet 7x Loupe. It's lightweight, highly dexterous and focuses with ease. It fits my finger well and is comfortable to use for extended periods of time. I actually bought this before I knew what the ANA was, but, the ANA actually recommends this exact loupe. Here's the link on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Bausch-Lomb-...96826&sr=8-4Also, if you buy it through that link, part of the sale goes back to CCF, so you support Bobby in the process! |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
To answer your question,10x Hastings triplet B&L I have the first loupe I ever bought,10x ANCO doublet paid less than $5 As I got older I went to a 14x doublet no brand cost $7 Recently got a B&L Hastings triplet 14x for less than $30,a bit small of a lens but crystal clear. I use my no brand 14x 95% of the time. John1  Edited by John1
07/22/2020 08:08 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Bushnell. However, I have no idea of the power. It opens up with two lenses. Either one is OK with me. Irritating to open though.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
I find the B&L 7X Triplet ideal for everyday work.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7273 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I use a 20x B&L loupe for looking at the internal flaws inside gemstones.
Very narrow depth of field (it needs to be for examination of cut gemstones),
but the extremely narrow depth of field makes it useless for coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
572 Posts |
I have the 10x Belomo triplet and have no complaints.
Build quality is solid, it's large enough to allow comfortable use of the proper grip. Good field of view with minimal distortion on the edges. Easy to use the right way to eliminate most viewing problems.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
I've got an Eschenbach (German) 3-6-9 Achromat.
It gives you the variety of magnification that is very useful.
And the 6x allows you to place it on the glass of a dealer's case at a show and see coins clearly, i.e., the dealer doesn't have to take a coin out of his case so that you can get a good look (unless of course you want to see it at 9x).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9395 Posts |
I just use an old, leftover (and non-radioactive) camera lens. As you might expect, optical quality is superb, although the lens is much bulkier than a loupe.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1767 Posts |
I just bought a B&L 7X Triplet a few weeks ago and it is fantastic.
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New Member
United States
17 Posts |
I Had always bought the cheap loupes from the coin shows And I was really struggling with varieties. A few months ago I bought an "eschenbach Aplanat" 10× GERMAN MADE loupe it was about $100 and this thing is awesome. almost overnight my variety game stepped up a few levels its hard to justify the cost when you can get one for $11 but at the same time why GET a BU 1884 S Morgan for $20k when you can have the AU for $200. There really is a difference I was looking at the eschenbach 3-6-9 loupe before I got mine but decided it was too many moving parts and I wanted something simple and have no regrets. If you like quality coins get a high quality glass to look with. I wish someone had told me this a few years ago. Some people prefer a 5× some a 7x I like my 10X And see better then I did with a Chinese made 30× I hope this helps some people out
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Replies: 12 / Views: 3,331 |
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Posted 07/22/2020 01:48 am
