Speckfinder vs DSLR camera

I wonder if anyone have an experience using Speckfinder or knew about them? Link

Scenario: Suppose you have 5k to buy high quality camera to take a picture of coins. Which one would you buy? What's pros and cons in between both products?

 

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With 5K, I would get a Nikon or Wild stereo microscope, Halogen fiberoptic lighting, with a Sony NEX or Samsung NX-1000 with adapter ( for inexpensive Mpixels). The Scope is the most part.

 

That's a heck of a budget. If your SOLE purpose is to take photos of coins, I think I'd spend money on the following:

1) Copy Stand (to keep the camera level and solid)

2) Multiple adjustable lights PLUS diffusion filters

3) A camera that you can switch out lenses (doesn't have to be super expensive)

4) A good quality macro lens

5) Perhaps software that allows you to operate your camera from a PC/Laptop

6) A table or "roll-y" cart that you can set up the copy stand on.

7) A USB microscope or connector between a stereo microscope and your digital camera lens.

I'm sure there are multiple ways to accomplish all these things - maybe even I'd skip the expensive camera and lens and use the money on a camera with good macro, adjustable settings, and a small minimal focus distance. I personally own a Nikon D600 with a Tokina 100mm f 2.8 macro lens because I need to use my camera to take dance pictures and videos...so it's not a one-trick pony. A cheap camera would NOT be able to handle both these situations. But there are many options.

 

You don't need a $5k camera to take good images of coins.

 

Still Tom, my present goal in life is to get a Nikon DSLR.

 

You don't even need a $500 camera to take good images of coins.

 

I shoot with a Nikon DSLR purchased new in 2005 for about $500. It is a Nikon D70 and is the only camera I use for coin photography.

 

I want something that I can focus with (manually) and fiddle with F-stops.......

 

And, it's gotta be Nikon......not a Cannon.

 

It's spelled Canon -- not Cannon. And, I know many people who shoot Canon -- myself, Robec, rmpsrpms, and Phil Arnold at PCGS included. To each his own I guess...

 

Oh dear....was I thinking more of weapons of war or photography? Dash it all and shame on me.......

 

The Speckfinder looks to be a really cool system but not something needed for coins. The price is off the chart and I'm not seeing any coin images that sell me on the product.
It looks to be set up to work with XP. I would be sure it works with Windows 7 or better yet Windows 8.

A good DSLR body and a great macro lens would probably cost about $1000-$1200.
Put the money in the lens. $800 for something really cool.

The truth is, you can get great images with many types of cameras if you practice with it enough. A DSLR just puts you on the fast track. Still takes lots of practice.

 

Hello everyone, thank you for leaving your comments here. I just arrive and follow up this thread.

Let you know that I am not looking for best deal, but focus on functional leverage between speckfinder and DSLR at expense of 5k. Since my business partner and I have been discussing on quality camera for multi-uses. We will use camera for coins, sports card, comic books, action figures, etc.

The positive side with speckfinder that its included measurement graph, color and light adjustment, save and crop files on one device. However, the negative is non portable device. DSLR is portable that can be use take some pictures of arcades and larger collections for eBay.

I want to see if coins have more benefits with speckfinder or DSLR? That's where you guys/gals come in and share your opinion on both devices.

Thanks

 

D3200 with a 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor.

Yes, the lens is FAR more important than the body...