Microscopes for coin photos help

I recently bought a Celestron 5MP Pro and after wasting all morning and afternoon trying to get it operating properly I find out from Celestron that the software was written to be compatible with Windows 8 - I run Windows 7. So back it goes to Amazon tomorrow.

So can anyone point me in the right direction for a Windows 7 compatible microscope . Any information on the ones you have and really like will be appreciated. I'll reasearch all the info you send and when I get my refund I'll have a go at getting another one - Thanks!!

 

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I got a $20 one from ebay...shipped from US, China made....works great! no names on it, but it is a 50x-500x usb.

 

For what it's worth, I'm planning on getting a Dino-lite AM2111 pretty soon. I had purchased an AM3111 but then found out it didn't work on Android (the AM2111 will do Android *or* Windows).

Folks on this forum seem to be of two different trains of thought: 1) made in China (as Amos stated above), or 2) Dino-lite (costs more, but better support).

 

@techwriter just posted a thread the other day with some pics form this little guy...It purports to support windows, but doesn't say which version. Maybe he can pipe in and tell you what he's running their software on.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XNYXQHE...lid=28JMFOKYJ00YD&coliid=I32DW2KHL6HK8M&psc=1

I bought this one and it is supported on windows 7 as far as I know, but what I like most about it is that Dino-lite has an Android app and I can use this thing on my phone and my Tablet. Its 99 bucks, but I got it for 25 by opening an Amazon Credit card. Its a beginner tho...only goes to 50X...I'm contemplating the one techwriter got, but just haven't found the justification yet.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Q9OVFW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

 

Perhaps installing the right driver would help?

http://www.celestron.com/c3/downloads.php?Products[]=c81

 

my dino-lite uses dino-capture 2.0 software and im running win 7

 

The software with the Celestron 5MP had it's own disk that showed the drivers being installed. Was looking around - and alot of them claim to only support Windows 7 - 32 bit - And of course I just happen to have Windows 7 - 64 bit.

 

Call Alan he's kid Dino-- lite coinzip.com

 

I read of instances where it did and did not work with 64 bit. Perhaps a quick call or email to Celestron customer service would be in order before returning.

Also, and for what it's worth, I did read something regarding potential driver conflicts with 64 bit, and the suggestion was made to remove and reinstall the driver.

 

Here is where the older software from Celestron is stashed. You might find something there. The software for the astronomy camera was useable for other usb camera.

http://downloads.celestron.com/Archives/Drivers_Software/

 

Yes - I removed 2 times and re installed - it worked ONE time and I thought I had it - then just got gone - with a screen pop up saying "cannot detect your device" - So it ain't compatible with W7 64 bit - I bought the Dino from Amazon and we shall see - I'm in no hurry!! Thank you for your information!!

 

Thanks for your help BUT I just bought this yesterday - and I called Celestron and they said it was designed for Windows 8 - I'm just gonna send it back and get something compatible for Windows 7

 

Thank all for your replies!! You are all good people!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It works for me with Windows 7; only minus feature is you cannot always raise the flexible arm
support high enough to have a 'full field' view of some coins; otherwise it works very well for
what I'm doing.
Samples:

 

Do not take the magnifications given seriously as compared to the magnification of the loupe or actual compound microscope ( stereo or singular lens system). 100X in compound scopes is the magnification of one lens ( ocular) X the other ( objective). To get 100X with almost all USB scopes, they measure magnification by the final size of the image. This is from the first amazon scope mentioned

"2.0 Megapixels, up to 250x magnification (Note: Final magnification corresponds to monitor size)"

I use a 40" monitor, so I guess some of these USB photos are thousand of power magnification, and they should be able to show bacteria easily. They don't.

At the lowest "magnification" of the usb scope mentioned above, the image is the smallest and the resolution/sq.cm. of area is the greatest. But when the scope and magnification is cranked up to "300X" the area observed is perhaps 10X larger, but the resolution is fixed by the chip in the camera, so the resolution /area is cut by 1/10.

Look for the Highest Resolution , and not the alleged magnification. May I give an example. These 2 shots were taken with a compound scope at 400X. The left photo is the surface of an Uncirculated Morgan dollar, showing the ^^^^^^^^ type of flow lines/ridges for brighter toning refraction. The right , fewer, more muted lines of a a Peace $ that gives a different toning characteristic. Can a USB do this?



This is the same setup, except at 100X.



Please do not think I am just Dissing USB microscope owners, they certainly can have good outcomes with the right light and stability, but think of the majority of varieties that are presented as large 'blobs' lately, due to the belief all high power images look like that. Start with boos if you like, but I would like to see the Morgan surfaces taken by the USB.

Just a pretty coin of mine

 

Please post link... been thinking of getting one myself

 

search ebay for "usb microscope" and get the one from the university. Its less then $20 shipped.
< it took this photo......

 

This?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351180651320?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

yup, thats the one I have....

 

Thanks for all your good information!!