FWIW - I just received my new Celestron #44302-A digital microscope, and I wanted all to know that it works great, right out of the box, with Windows 7. Cost was $38.36 + shipping from Amazon. Good closeups, but takes a little getting used to on the focus knob. The stand is made well, too, EXCEPT FOR ONE THING! The whole thing is metal except for the half circle yoke that fits around the scope which is plastic, and broke after I took the scope out of it a time or two. Had to get out the JB Weld to put it back together. After that, so far, so good. Anybody else had this problem?
I like mine, but had to use sticky post it notes to dim the lights, especially on proof coins. Otherwise the glare made it impossible to view the details.
Now that's a good thought! I'll give that a try. I don't remember having that problem with what I've looked at so far, but I might have when taking pictures. Thanks!
Let me know how well it's working in 15 years.....as my Dino was purchased over 15 years ago....and works just as good today as it did out of the box......cost more yes it did, test of time......passed with flying colors.......
This Saturday I'll pick up my stereo microscope (barring one piece not making it in the mail on time). Yeh, it's big bucks but I can attach my current camera (Nikon D90). I have a feeling the learning curve may be a bit tough. And I can get a few add-on's later if I want: -- doubler for magnification -- micrometer eyepiece
The light below or maybe some nifty used gooseneck fiber optics are great thoughts. That light was less than 20 bucks and I keep thinking I'm going to dissect it and make it work off a big, or two, cellphone battery(s) as well as adding a big and little USB port. You will likely, depending on which scope you got, need a barlow from 0.3 to 0.5X before you need any increase in magnification unless quarters are the largest coins you do.... assuming you got a scope with the desired 'dissection' zoom range. Good luck, you will enjoy it. Which trinocular do you have on the way?
It won't be a trinocular. My camera will shoot through one side. Yeh, it'll be a pain switching back and forth but I had to keep the price down somehow. Nothing to see yet. It's still at the seller's place and I won't pick it up until it's ALL there. The camera adapter is the piece we're waiting on. It's in the mail but coming from Canada so we're hoping it crosses the border and gets to his place by today. Otherwise it's not worth the trip up the road; not far but still about 45 minutes. The scope is a Motic SMZ-168.
I'm envious and am pretty sure that uses Nikon's world class glass, not sure if it uses their mechanicals. Do you know?
Good golly, that's three times the money I've got in my entire imaging system including all the lenses.
At least I already had my camera. I use it for both vacations and coin imaging. It's a nice older Nikon, a D90. And I already had a Nikkor 60mm Macro lens; that's just for coins. Can't do much on vacation with it.
