Cheap Coin Microscope

WOW! ...800x!

I find that 200x is plenty for examining coins, but 800x will be great for checking out protozoa and mitochondria! :thumb:

I can't wait to see what the surface of a PF70 coin looks like at 800x.

 

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Again, as I know many are confused about this, magnification ( X) is not a specific measurement of ability , RESOLUTION and/or Numerical aperature is. Resolution is the distance between 2 lines that can be separated as 2 separate lines rather than one blurred line. A blur magnified 400 times is just a big blur. With a digital microscope, some of the resolution is with the lens, and most is with the sensor. Plastic lens are not very good, so some resolution goes down the drain. They are cheap however, ground glass lens are many times more expensive, Corrected glass lens are even more expensive.

Even a glass lens with a sensor of 5 mp will only have that resolving ability, 5mp. So much of the magnification given in an advertisement is software cropping and then enlargement so the result may look "greatly magnified, the ability to see lines or small details , doesn't really improve.

They are inexpensive and they do provide what some may be satisfied with, but don't use magnification as a key measurement, use mp.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim!

It sounds like you have a lot of experience with USB microscopes. Are there any that you've had better luck with than others? I'm having a blast with the one I just bought, but I'm sure it won't be too long before I'll want "more" (better optics, software, etc).

 

Yes, thanks Jim! The cheap one I have, now that poo taught me how to use it, really magnifies the MM just fine.

 

I have had a lot of experience with microscopes, but only 1 USB that I bought just to see meyself what it could do. Its been in a box for a long time now, guess I should do something creative with it. Some of the dino-lites with 5mp and long focal distance ( for entire coins) are interesting, but the price is such that I would recommend a binocular stereozoom 10-30X scope and shoot with any 8+MP point and shoot camera, or if you have a DSLR, bellows or a macro lens ( better).

Jim

 

i recently bought a 2MP camera/microscope that arrived today (cheapy) when it arrived the driver disc was empty any idea where i can get the software to run it from ?

 

One of the drawbacks to buying cheap stuff made in China is that it is nearly impossible to get replacement parts. I hope you are able to get the software you need.

As Jim said, 800x, even 200x, is not a good measure and is overkill for what you will usually need. You lose most of the definition at the higher magnification levels. 40x-60x is more than sufficient. Now, if you want to watch a no-see-um eating it's lunch, then by all means, go for it.

Where images of a full coin are concerned, keep in mind that the microscope is not a replacement for a conventional camera. At best, at the lowest magnification, you would probably only be able to get a quality image of a cent or dime. The microscope is only necessary for taking images of that doubled die, RPM, RPD, strikethrough, die break, etc.

I prefer a conventional stereomicroscope with zoom capability and halogen lighting, but my next one will be trinocular so I'll have one eyepiece dedicated for the 5-8MP camera that comes with it. But, hey, that's just me.

Chris

 

Thanks i did get the software

i know i have a good digital camera for the whole coin i mainly got it too see which over date variety my 1/8 guilder is ive posted a pic

 

That is cool. I would like to get a nice microscope/camera combo. Right now, however, my cheap microscope/camera combo gets me by for everything up through half dollars.

 

Same

 

Mine was £17 from eBay, its a Hong Kong special, but they have a storage and distribution depot in the UK for faster delivery at about £1 more than from HK !

 

Here are picture I Have taken.

 

It's not great, but for about $40 U.S., it's pretty decent. Here are more pics.



Once you get to the half dollar/British penny size, good pictures are more difficult to take.