USB Microscope...which one to buy?

I think part of the reason for the graininess is that most affordable USB microscopes I've seen are just 2 megapixels. That is not a lot. So as you enlarge the picture the lack of megapixels show up as that graininess. For general use, such as posting pics here, or for your own personal use that would probably be ok. But if you're going to sell coins or trying to pick up delicate details probably wouldn't be good enough. Just my opinion

 

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Your right on stoster38, That's why I keep saying get a good microscope and one you can use for everything else. If you are half way there on cost, why not get something that offers you ten times more use?

 

This is a 2MP image:



It's all about the optics.

 

woot got my microscope (39 dollar one without brandname)
my neck doesn't hurt anymore and i get nice pics
<happy camper>

 

Your satisfaction with the product is all that matters.

 

I bought a digital microscope on Amazon that looks very similar to the one lighthouse sells but cost only $39.99. It does a good job taking pictures of error coins:

 

Here's the Amazon page listing digital microscopes. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...=Digital+Microscope,aps,252&crid=E00VJQMIPZA9

This one is only $17.99! It plugs into the USB port of your computer and shows the image on your screen. You then push on button on the microscope and you have the picture.

 

That one had terrible reviews on Amazon.

 

Just gave it as an example, Go to the page link I gave and it has digital microscopes at different prices. I took the picture above with that scope and I think it works fine for the few times I need to verify an error.

 

all awesome ..i'm amazed at waht so little money can buy ...
if i stick to numismatics and show that i'm learning, i'll get a better one, ifff i need it....
so far, i'm happy
here's a sample

 

that's the one I bought...there were 2 versions...i bought the more expensive one because of the software...the version compatible with the Operating System i use was more expensive (go figure lol)

 

You will... but if presently pleased, it's both a start and all that really matters.

 

after seeing Wexler's pics and reading about DDs, VAMs and traildies, i suspect yes I'll need a better miscroscope...but I have to see first if I can handle the less complicated things first...I don't know yet if my brain can handle that much! lol

i'm like a dazzled deer right now...happy but still trying to find the road

 

Yeh, I had the same problem, because I'm using Windows 10 I needed to buy the more expensive one so that the enclosed software would work with that OS. Still, for $39.99 it was a bargain. One of the members of the coin club I belong to has the Lighthouse one (I think he said he paid somewhere around $125), and it looked exactly like mine.

Again, I just use it to check for errors that these old eyes would have a problem seeing with just a loop, so as I said, I use it infrequently and did not need an expensive one with all the bells and whistles. The fact that it also takes a picture is a plus, just plug it into the USB port and it's ready to go.:

 

Wow! What equipment was used for this shot?

 

That was shot with a cheap, used dSLR in combination with a bellows and a used film duplicating lens. It was originally 10MP, more than double the size at which I posted it. I downsized the image to 2MP dimensions for the purposes of the post.

Since it uses interchangeable lenses, I can stick anything on it from the kit 18-55 lens for shooting full slabs, to a 4x microscope objective for magnification equal to anything you've seen in this thread. And everything in between.

 

If you are going to become very serious about coin collecting, I would say purchase a mixroscope and pay no more than $60 as they can be expensive. That said, I personally use a 30X jeweler's eye and I see great. Depends on whether you say hobby or portfolio builder as to the amount of expense you should incur. Choose wisely.