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 Replies: 20 / Views: 1,598 |
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
Curious as to what ya'll are using in you coin collecting.
PC/Laptop?
Are you using microscope?
Multi-monitors?
Would love to see pics of your layout.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19150 Posts |
My set up is little more than a typical desktop PC used for a variety of purposes--not dedicated to just numismatics. Display is 32" (diagonal). Within reach are a couple magnification tools--a basic linen tester and a geologist's loupe. Use 3X reading glasses when handling coins--going for higher magnification when needed. Also have access to a 40X graphic arts scope--used very little. Supplies such as 2x2s, coin tubes, etc. are put away across the room.
Use a Nikon DLSR with 105mm lens for coin photos--rarely used these days. Rely on camera phone for quick, adequate photography.
Edited by ijn1944
11/15/2023 7:35 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6498 Posts |
My CRH setup is a plain green rectangle of felt, and a bunch of empty peanut jars labeled by decade. I use an iPad with a little clip-on magnifier to examine coins. I just built a little LEGO axial photography box to take better pictures. I have a two digit gram scale to weigh coins, and more importantly to check my wrapped rolls before deposit at the bank. Low budget all the way.
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Valued Member
 United States
55 Posts |
@Brandmeister - Didn't think of a using a photography box. I'm using a selfie light with my phone. Think it may be illuminating too much. Low budget works.
@ijn1944 - Use to write code before I retired so my laptop was not just numismatics. Having 4 screens comes in handy. Think I'll pick up a linen tester. I'm using a microscope connected to my pc but it's a pain for quick look up.
I appreciate your responses.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1762 Posts |
Desktop PC (Asus) custom made by Mooney's Bay Computer (it went bankrupt two months later, so warranties void). It has worked for over 6 yrs. without a problem, but I soon will be "forced" to buy a laptop. 27 in monitor.
Samsung SCX-4200 laser printer.
Belomo Triplet 10x jewellers loupe, also a cheap 25x loupe which now sits unused. No microscope, so far I have not needed one.
Dymo 1570 labeller. Many Heavy Duty 3 ring binders (2,3 & 4 inch) holding 2x2 or quadrum holders.
My trusty Samsung S9+ phone camera.
Bottle of Verdi-Care, & litre can of acetone, distilled water.
A number of Atlas Mason jars & four 1.75L Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey bottles holding pre-1981 Canadian pennies, nickels, dimes & quarters.
That, plus more, in my den/man-cave. (Yes I know, my computer corrects to Canadian/English spelling)
Edited by Sharks
11/16/2023 3:36 pm
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
Thanks for sharing @Sharks. For the no use of microscope, how would you take zoomed in pics or have you not had to do this?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1762 Posts |
@ RazorsEdge - I usually use the computer program Irfanview and FastStone Image Viewer to manipulate my pictures. The pictures I take are usually about 8 to 12 mp. and can be easily worked on. My Samsung phone also has a "12Mp rear dual-camera with 2x optical zoom" I suspect a microscope might help in simplifying things, but I have lots of time on my hands. Also, I don't take many pictures of my coins, except for insurance purposes. Edited by Sharks
11/17/2023 1:33 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2845 Posts |
My "sophisticated" set-up.... For zoom pics = An ancient LG phone, $7.50 clip-on cellphone magnifier. Example....  For photography = Same ancient LG phone, 3 decks of casino playing cards or Nike high-top shoe & the correct angle/sunlight coming through the window. Example....  A food scale, numerous 3x5 inch paper sheets to wrap coins in until they can be placed in coin-flips & a 38oz Blue Diamond Almond plastic container to throw my "interesting" coins in, for future scrutiny. Edited by coin rejector
11/17/2023 2:54 pm
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Moderator
 United States
95740 Posts |
Quote:
PC/Laptop?
Are you using microscope?
Multi-monitors? Yes. |
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
@Sharks - I'll check out Irfanview @coin rejector - maybe I need to play around with the correct distance. Used natural light from the window on a cloudy day and still received comments about too much light. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2845 Posts |
@Razors.... so, that particular pic of the Morgan, wasn't an easy 1-click-and-done-pic. I utilized many different angles, along w/ the direction of the sunlight to get that shot. I probably attempted to photograph that at least 20 times until I was relatively satisfied with the result. The more you practice, the easier it will become.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
I use a cheap microscope plugged into my laptop b/c I to get a good postable image from a scope you need a computer screenshot. However, for newbies, until you KNOW what true errors look like, I HIGHLY recommend not using a scope for the following reason:  As proof of this, daily we get a lot of people making posts b/c of the above. For pictures though I use the following with an old iPhone 7s. I find its pics allow me to zoom for closeups as much as I have needed. http://goccf.com/t/422658 |
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
@Earle42 - That's basically what I'm doing. Phone selfie light but I'm using a coffee mug instead of books. What I'm not doing is using a cap to force the camera to auto-focus. I'll take a few today and see how that goes. I appreciate the link to that post!
@coin rejector - thanks for pointing out that it still took a few attempts to get your clarity. I'm trying to get the perfect picture on the first attempt. I have over a hundred coins that I wanted to document and upload, I'm guessing I'm rushing myself.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I'm curious what a multi-monitor does for people.
I have a Samsung laptop connected to an old Dell monitor with a USB port extender thing connected to a 2 TB "backup" drive where I store all my coin stuff and occasionally copy it to the laptop drive (backup in reverse). I gave up on desktops since the laptop is just as powerful but portable. I hate using a loupe and use an old magnifying glass, which is probably 2-3x with a 5x insert, good enough. I take images with an old iPhone 6 with the coin propped on my bike trainer seat, which is next to a window for good natural light. Very sophisticated. I occasionally use an Amgen microscope to explore. You can discover legitimate varieties with a scope but if it takes that much to see it, collectors aren't interested.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3848 Posts |
5x, 10x, and 15x power loupes. I use my 15x the most. An analog microscope is something I'll pick up eventually.
Suffering from bust half fever. Want to learn how to attribute early half dollars by die variety? Click Here: http://goccf.com/t/434955Shoot me a PM if you are looking to sell bust halves. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6498 Posts |
I like the little plastic clip-on magnifier that I use. My iPad screen is easy to see, and more importantly, I can immediately snap a picture and upload it to CCF. A loupe just doesn't seem as effective, although I might get one someday.
I disagree a bit with the microscope humor, although the meme is amusing. Most people learn by making mistakes, and then being talked through the differences. It's always easier to work with a coin in your hand, rather than the tomes of information online. Nobody learns to swing a baseball bat by reading a baseball batting manual and then immediately hitting a single on the first try (except maybe Sheldon Cooper). Plus the vast majority of books, online articles, and videos talk about the coins and their features, instead of the process of identifying the features.
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Replies: 20 / Views: 1,598 |
Posted 11/15/2023 8:06 pm
