Which one should I get? http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/product/he-harris-loupe-16x.html or http://www.amazon.com/SE-Illuminated-Loupe-LED-Light/dp/B0013E3DAG
I own both of those, and the only one worth it is the HE Harris 16x loupe from Wizard Coin Supply. It works great! On the other hand, the SE Illuminated uses cheap manufacturing and their loupes usually don't magnify more than 10x.
JD: Of the two you show, I would probably go with the Harris. However, if you are looking for a suggestion, I have had a Bausch & Lomb 10X Hastings Triplet Loupe for the past year or so and absolutely love it. TC
Actually depending on what you are going to do you might need both a 10x and a 16x. I use the 16x for looking for varieties and the 10x for most other things. Keep in mind that I believe the tpgs only use 5x.
The magnification is going to depend upon what you are using it for, but as topcat pointed out, the hastings triplets, probably specifically Bausch and Lomb are the best. You're biggest regret will be buying a cheap piece of glass and I personally would not buy either of these. You can pick up hastings triplets(a type of loupe, not a brand) for not much money. I advise searching for that type of loupe.
From what I hear they first check them without magnification then use either a 3 or 5 X loupe . I like the ones with two lenses you then have 3 different powers for different things . Another thing to think of is the higher magnification you go the smaller the area you can see . rzage
For everyday use / at the ready, I use these two: Bausch & Lomb 81-31-33 Packette 5x Bausch & Lomb Magnifier 8x Loupe (Agfa Style)
These are nice for the money . http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/products/bausch-lomb-magnifiers/index2.html
I've also owned a B&L 10x Hastings Triplet for several years and I can't imagine using anything else. A little more expensive than the ones you've posted, but well worth it and as long as you don't lose the thing you will not need to purchase another in your lifetime. Also, unless you're going to be primarly looking at minor repunched mintmarks and minor doubled die varieties, I think 16x is generally too much magnification. I even find my 10x to be a little too much at times. Generally 5-7x is enough for getting a good look at a coin. I also like to check for certain varieties, so that's why I use the 10x, but anything more than that is overkill for most usage. I also steer clear of the loupes with the LEDs built in... that light isn't the best anyways and in most places you'll be using your loupe there will be superior lighting available anyways.
I have owned the SE and what bothered me was the fact that the battery does not last long. I have been looking for the perfect loupe for some time and I see some very intersting items I´m going to take a look at
