I have been pondering purchasing a Stereo Microscope for viewing and grading my coins at home. As I get older too much time looking through the loupe gives me a headache. I scoped out (no pun intended) a few websites I found in the ad's in Coin World, but found more of a price list than a good descriprion of features and benefits. For those of you out there that use one. What do you have?, Where did you get it? What should I avoid? and What is an absolute must? I'm hoping to find something in the $200 - $300 range. Any Suggestions?
what ever you get. Get some thing with some sort of TOP LIGHTING, as in lighting from above the item being veiwed. I have found that it can be a pain in the rare with out such lighting. When it comes to coins, that is.
Personally, I saw an ad in Con World for one called 'Digital Blue' and asked for it as a gift. It turns out that it is/was originally offered as a kid's toy. However, it plugs directly into your computer and takes three magnifications, 10X, 60X and 200X. Priced at only (about) $60- $70, it can take photos directly to your hard drive. I have found unlisted RPM's, MPD's and many varieties with the unit. Personally, for the price, it is great. The negative: It cannot focus on a slabbed coin at 60X. Which I don't like, but I do purchase many raw coins, and that is where I find most of my varieties.
My QX3, an older version of the Digital Blue, was used for my avatar. The reddish cast is in all my pictures from that source. Within its limitations it's pretty good, but the limitations are at least this big.
