I want to get a new microscope/camera for coin hunting because the one I have now has issues with pixel resolution and color. I'm hoping to find something in a reasonable price range and preferably hooks up to my phone though it could have a screen as long as photos are transferable to my phone because I don't have a computer. Thanks for any suggestions you might have. "Learning something new every day"
Please define. Digital microscopes are pretty bad. The one I got was a waste of money in terms of the scope, but worth it to learn how crappy they all were. Almost all under a couple hundred dollars are pretty useless for coins. I've heard and read several people talking about actual scopes. I have to say, if I ever got the bug to hunt doubled dies, I would probably go this route. This is a really cheap example, but you can get a USB camera separately which those that use microscopes here have. https://www.amazon.com/OMAX-40X-2000X-Binocular-Microscope-Mechanical/dp/B005TJ5CEG/ I have no idea exactly what the true magnification is on that thing, but 2000x seems like there is a catch. With that said, are you using a loupe first or are you looking with a microscope first? Personally, I found when looking for little things, a 30x loupe worked a million times better and faster than a digital scope. Then I just needed to take a picture of the area. Now you may still want something for easy pictures and verification of RPMs, but for everything else if you don't see it with a 30x loupe, does it really exist? Which is why I now only use a 5x loupe.
I started reading the "gobbledy-goop" description, and this is definitely NOT a microscope that you would want to use for coins. It's intended for biological studies. The first review was enlightening. The buyer bought five of them and within one year, three of them stopped working. If you want to use a traditional microscope, you'd want one with optical zoom capability, not digital enhancement. Where coins are concerned, any magnification over 100x is simply overkill and a waste of time. It is also a good idea to find a trinocular model (rather than binocular) so you have a dedicated eyepiece for the camera attachment. 15 years ago, when I bought my binocular model with zoom capability which included the camera attachment, it cost about $850, and trinocular models were running $3,000. Now, the trinocular models are running less than $1,500. Chris
I use a 30× to check my coins I only use the USB microscope to take pictures when I have questions and I want to post to get help. Mine is nothing like the one in the link it hooks directly to my phone ($20 Geek Chinese knock off). Funny thing is I went to see what Google recommended and found the same thing at Walmart for $12. Problem is the poor pixel resolution (makes me think of the old asteroid game) so it's hard to show what I'm seeing with the 30x maybe I just need something that's not as strong to take the pictures with I just can't find anything that can take a close up photo at 30x magnification.
The problem is anything digital will be basically the same thing you have now. Like @cpm9ball says, you want optical zoom. Probably better and cheaper to just get a small tripod for your phone and maybe something to hold a loupe. You don't want to just zoom because that's still digital or used to be. I believe some here have had luck with using a loupe and their phone.
The biggest problem with all of the USB microscopes is that they use digital enhancement rather than optical enlargement. That is why you so often see pixelated images. Chris
Using a loupe sucks! The area that needs to be photographed is very limited in size and the loupe and phone interfere with the lighting. Chris
lol... then I have no more suggestions for someone on a potential budget. But that is good to know about the downside; never tried it.
I really don't understand the people who have to have the latest smart phone. They don't need a desktop or laptop any more. They think nothing of spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars for them and expect that the phone will turn them into professional photographers. It ain't gonna happen! Chris
My phone is new but I only paid$150 for it so it's a so-so phone nothing special true I do use it for everything because I can't afford a laptop tv the cost of cable (it's my only entetaenterta) or an actual expensive camera capable of 30x close up shots so it tried making due with the USB microscope even though the problem is it's probably to strong 500x at it's lowest setting and maybe causing my phone is producing the pixel problem but the magnification attachments you can get for your phone looked kind of cheesy. The reason I got it is that when I have a question about a coin I wanted to be able to show what it is that I have the question about so it's easier for people to hopefully be able to help me with my problem which unfortunately is I'm new and don't have the experience or expertise that everyone else here has. "Trying to learn something new every day"
The OMAX is a decent scope for it's price. It is a pure achromatic lens and maybe on a good day would be useful, but it is for transmission microscopy, not opaque use like the face of a coin. Good on Microorganisms, not on a surface unless you use lights from above and the lens are sharp focus. These are photos I took with my microscope for a discussion about the surface of peace dollars vs. morgan dollars as per toning. The top 2 are at 100X and that is a flat area on a Morgan ( left) and a Peace on the right. The bottom one is a Morgan surface at 400X. At 400X, a coin can not be in focus at all levels. Compare the resolution of glass lens with a USB that adds false pixels to fill the space to make the more magnified photo. I could have gone to 1000X, but all above 400 area needs immersion oil to fill the space, and I did not want to add oil to a coin surface. Jim
I understand that not everyone can afford to buy all of the accessories that can make the hobby a more appealing experience. At the same time, those people must learn to accept the fact that they must make allowances. No, you can't take really good close-ups to view varieties and errors. You will have to be satisfied with taking images of the whole coin. If you don't have a decent method of stabilizing your camera, even the best photos can never be enlarged for viewing. Chris
Then there are old folks like me that needs my granddaughter to help me make a phone call or send a text. I have had several members try to help me with set up for photography. The technical jargon is awesome. I'd like to see a photograph of a typical set up.
I realize that with the proper equipment some amazing photos can be produced. I don't need amazing photos, but, I would like to capture a coin and a condition. I use a simple digital microscope and attached are a few coin pictures I took with it:
I'm not sure what a typical set up is but I'll include a picture of what I'm using the small magnifier has a light on it which is helpful. But have 2 pictures of 2 different coins that shows where my problem is. One I had a question why almost all the new coins I find have thousands of tiny little cuts all over the surface unfortunately you can't see them in the picture of the shield penny all you see are over sized pixels. The other was a penny with doubling of some kind but it's not machine doubling because it isn't flat shelf like it's rounded but it's not listed in Wexler's or VarietyVista so I figured it can't be a doubled die so I was trying to see if anyone knew what kind of doubling it could be but because of poor picture quality no one could come up with anything but machine doubling but even though looking at it with my small magnifier it's obviously rounded not flat. Anyway here's the pictures thank you to everyone have a great evening. "Trying to learn something new every day"
Some of you may be interested in this. Stacking...kind of like HDR but far better. Works with scope or any very stable capture device. It basically combines images hence the name, free and simple. Below is the combined image of 4 images followed by only a single image. Enjoy, Link below... Here is another example... https://combinezm.en.lo4d.com/download
