Sometimes I think I am the guinea pig for the store at ANA. When I am down there they ask my opinion on new books and other new items they have gotten in. The other day was no exception. I bought a new item they are carrying - a 10X loupe with a built-in LED light. I know. I know. You need a good loupe and a good light for viewing coins but sometimes you just don't have a good light handy. This loupe should come in handy in those situations. The loupe is too large to carry around in your pocket for more than a short time and it is fairly heavy. The optics are pretty good; there is no noticeable distortion along the outer edges of the lens. The light is far from ideal for viewing coins. The light is harsh and creates a lot of reflection BUT it is better than having no light or inadequate light. Once you learn to live with the shortcomings I think it would be a useful loupe for viewing die cracks, mintmarks, details of varieties, etc. at a coin show, coin shop, etc. The Loupe With Light retails for $29.95.
Sorry, but it sounds like a sketchy idea for collectors... What if they become too dependent on the the light and forget how to use NATRURAL LIGHT? Ben
At shows, a light you know and can trust is priceless......I like the idea I was just talking to Harry about show lighting......especially " Long Beach " lighting...yes, the term is in Coin Collecting for dummies.
We locals just walk up to the windows... Jack, & Middle Eastern Jack, You're not at the shows (granted only one) from whence I'm typing. The wind is rustling the Buffalo Grass in the yard and the fan in the window is humming along making the small windmill on the porch spin; the clouds over our plains with the stars peeking out tell of a rain shower before morning and as 'usual the smell of gasoline -- Sturgis' permeates the air, BUT HEY I'm taking next week off... LOL Ben
Ben Sheila and I got our S Dakota tourist pack Saturday from the state. We are planning a trip to Mount Rushmore and some other stuff in the fall. I hope to smell the same air you are right now. Can't wait. I have never seen a Bison. I will this fall for sure. I hear the Walleye fishing is fantastic there !! I'll make a thread in General Discussion so we can take this further.....
Flagstaff has nice air too ya know. That loupe looks pretty neat. If I saw one, I'd definitly give it a try.
I've had this 1 for a couple of years . It's flat and only weighs a little over an oz. The best thing is that it only cost me $5.95 at the flea market. I figured for $6 I'd give it a shot and the light really does come in handy The lens is 10X... John
very nice, i got one that turns the L.E.D on when you slide the lens out, it came "free" with a road atlas at Home Depot, perfect for use with coins in my opinion
i guess that's alright................just as long as the light is incandescent, because if i recall correctly, the ANA grading guide stipulates this type of light when grading coins. YES?
Where would you find that loupe? I searched and found it for 42 online but the store didn't look trustworthy. -DJ
I have a little microscope from radioshack, purchased years ago that I use for looking at mm, rpm, die cracks and the like
If you're asking about the one I bought you can buy it from ANA. Give them a call on their 800 number. I don't think this loupe is in their on-line catalog yet.
Got mine at a coin show many years ago, made by Electro-Optics. Just a cheap little thing, but it does the trick. It's about 2" square and comes in a little case that fits in your short pocket. And it has an incandescent bulb - never cared for LED's. And Jack makes a good point, lighting at coin shows is purposely not the best.
Yeah, When HarryJ told me that the LB lighting was a term in the book, I was suprised they called it that, but it is true. Before I started setting up at shows, I asked my trusted dealer here about what lights to buy. He said florescent to sell, incandescent to buy, lol.
Sounds like just the thing for us up here in Ottawa with six months of darkness when hardly any light shines through the ice of the igloo.
Try www.sciplus.com under optics. They have two pages of magnifiers. I opted for their lighted Super Loupe at $4.50 + shipping. Works for me.
I'm trying to save up to buy this http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com/product/eschenbach-mobilux-illuminated-magnifier-35mm-7x.html