Digital Blue QX3 or QX5, that is the question??!!

Hey Folks,

I am posing this question mainly to those who have owned the QX3 and now have the QX5! Which one is the best or at least the best for the money for examining and taking pictures of coins? I have been considering purchasing one for a long time and think that the prices aren't going to get much lower than they are right now for either one of them! So, please let me know what you think. Give me the pros and cons of both if possible.


Thanks...Frank

 

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I had never heard of these, so I just googled it, and I'm in love!!

The only negative I see is the resolution (640x480) - but unless you're planning on making prints of your coin pictures that probably won't be a problem.

That's just the photography buff in me rearing it's head and thinking that they could put a 2-3MP sensor in and get much better quality pics without raisingthe cost significantly.

All that said, I've gotta have one of these. And I know my boys will love looking at all the disgusting things 4-8 year old boys love to look at.

Now, to your question. I'd say go for the QX-5 unless you have a good portable light source that you can use for the QX-3. That seems to be the main difference - the addition of the LED lights.

 

I agree. I've been using a QX3 for several years, and if I hadn't built a satisfactory (but not great) light box before the QX5 came out, I probably would have overcome my cheapskate nature, and upgraded by now.

 

I have the qx5 here and it works ok. the resolution could be higher but hey its a toy..

 

I bought the QX5 and have absolutely nothing good to say about it. When I bought it, its says on the box, compatible with Windows Vista...well I downloaded the software and the program opens but then a box pops up telling me to connect the cable to my computer, when its already connected. I know I've posted this problem before in other threads and I'm not a computer genius. I cant figure out why it wont work.

 

I hate to tell you this, but you have a Vista problem, not a QX5 problem. Call Bill Gates and see if he cares!

 

Thanks for the technical support. I already called Bill and he told me to call you.

 

I dont know if I have a qx-3 or 5, but I know that it wasnt compatible with my computer, so I had to download another program that made it compatible, try searching on google "qx5 vista doesnt work"


monkeyman

 

I have a qx5 and use it without no problems. Boy does it save on eye strain when looking at mint marks. I like it cause the snaps I take can be loaded straight up onto the board without have to use something like photobucket. You have 10x, 60x(which is what I usually use) and 200x. The only negative I have is it kind of takes over the PC until I exit using it, but I have gotten use to the funky font(or whatever) it does to the screen while it is in use. So if I pull up a picture on the web I might bounce back and forth from the scope to the web browser. Then when I am done I exit the scope and everything is back to normal. Not an issue to me, but bugs my father. Overall if this one breaks I will get another one.

 

I've got the QX5 and it does a good job at 10% and at 60%. At 200% you're looking at the porosity of the metal. Too much. My only couple of drawbacks are the light source and the fact you can't get a full picture of a cent or larger. Also it's not the best to take a photo of a coin in a slab as it tends to focus on the slab and not the coin. Maybe it's me.

All in all, I'm glad I bought it for the minute stuff I might want to see on a coin.

In the first example the word "OF" was repaired on an 1857 Flying Eagle obverse die, and this is the result on the coin magnified by the QX5. I think this is at 60X mag.

The next coin is an 1898 Indian Head Cent MS63RB with a strike thru on the reverse. I believe this is at 60X mag also.

Bruce

 

Go to intels website and dowload the new driver. That fixed the problem for me.

 

My avatar was taken with the QX3. Judge for yourself. I like it.



<------------------This picture.

 

Thanks...I'll try that.

 

Where the heck is the number?
I think that mine is a QX3, but I am not sure.

One problem, and it started with this computer:
Whenever I finish using the unit, I exit and all of my icons on the desk top have been tossed all over the place.
Also the resolution (on the picture as shown on my monitor) is not as good as before.
Is this because I now have a 24" monitor, before it was a 19".

 

mralexanderb


okay, for the computer/QX retarded, how did you post that picture form the file to the web page?

Thanks.

 

I also have a mac and that is what I use most of the time, and the software that came with it does not work with mac so I use this. http://www.edhsw.com/mixscope/