I am looking to purchase a stereo microscope for coins. I would like to get some opinions on power, lighting and anything else that may help me out. Thanks
I use a Digital Blue QX5. It has 10X, 60X, and 200X magnification. It's under a 100 bucks and my only complaint would have to be that I sometimes have to use an external lighting source. No biggie though. It is easy to learn and at 200X gets into to some serious detail.
if you have the opportunity, find one with an adjustable (position) light source above the subject table, in order to avoid glare. For the record: the Digital Blue QX5 is not a stereo miscrosope, it's a computerized scope, sort of a webcam that magnifies. It's hooked up to the PC using USB and delivers very nice images. Before CoinPeople went down, there was a thread about the Digital Blue QX5 and some images taken with it. That thread is no more now. I'm considering getting one too, but here in The Netherlands, it's about $45 more expensive than in the USA...
QX5 images Zeke, Here are a couple of 10X imagesI just took with my QX5. Trantor is correct in that the QX5 is not a stereo microscope. It does connect to a USB port and easily saves and sends images.
Ultimately, it really depends on what else you want to use the microscope for and how much you want to spend. The QX5 is a very affordable alternative. I personally am saving for a nice metal detector. Good luck with your new toy when you get it!
I have a QX-3 and my only complaint is the depth of field at 60X. In other words, some parts of the image are always out of focus. When the devices (lettering etc) are in focus, the field of the coin is out of focus and vice-versa. You also have to play with the lighting to highlite exactly what you are trying to see in detail (such as doubled lettering, stars, dates etc). I didn`t even know there was a QX-5, moen1305. Do you know what improvements the QX-5 has over the QX-3? Maybe I will pick one up.
Where can a person find these scopes? I have a 10x/30x stereo microscope that I paid $250 for but I can't take pics with it. It would be nice and convenient to have one connected to the computer.
I don't really know the difference but I been told that there is something called a "QX3 plus" that is supposed to be better than either the QX3 or the QX5. I sometimes have problems getting the whole coin in one shot also.
Oddly enough, Toys R Us and a couple of other retailers like Target carry them. They ship pretty quickly from most retailers.
I plan to pick up a QX3+ too. I have heard great things about the QX3 and QX5, but I've heard the QX3+ was the best of the three. Another earlier post mentioned that the plastic edge has to be ground or filed down to allow photographing slabbed coins. I also have a stereo microscope that does not have a camera attachment. This scope was $200 and has 30x and 60x power (15x eyepieces with 2x and 4x main lenses). Do you have a digital camera? I have a compact Olympus camera. I just hold the camera up to one of the eyepieces. No macro mode. No focusing. I just turn off the flash. Have to shoot a few pictures and pick the best, but digital is cheap. Here's a photo of a lamination error I found on Morgan dollar over the weekend. I still want to pick up a QX scope. For me, it will be ideal when traveling for work and making a few detours at coin shops.
That's an amazing result from such a simple method. I never thought of doing that. I'll sure give it a try. Thanks for the tip!!!
Did some Research. I originally had an IntelPlay Qx3. It burnt out. I replaced it last year with the Digital Blue QX3+ The QX3 series have a resolution of 320x240. The QX5 has VGA resolution (640x480) and a faster frame rate for the "movie" function. Think I`ll pick up a QX 5. AMAZING pic nesvt.
Thanks for doing the research and describing the difference. I forgot to give details on my lighting technique. Remove lamp shade. Tip lamp toward scope. When done, replace lamp shade.
Hi all, does anyone have any more input on the Digital Blue QX5? Does it show you a 'live' picture on the computer screen? Do you look into it to focus it? How about stereo microscope features that are worthwhile? 10X-30X? Halogen upper light? Variable lighting? Is trinocular attachment necessary to get good pics? Is the microscope worth the price difference compared to a QX5? I just want to be able to see a coin in good focus and resolution at about 10X with a large field of view and get pics of it. Maybe higher magnification for errors/varieties. I get eye strain and discomfort just from using a B&L 5X magnifier. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance, -Jeff
