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Message:: [QUOTE="GDJMSP, post: 1279736, member: 112"]I use 3 inch round, 4x glass for just looking. I even use it sometimes when examining pictures of coins on the computer. That large field of view is great, it allows you see the entire coin at one time. But if I want to look closely at a coin then I'll use my B & L 5x. It has the largest field of view of any 5x - 1 1/2 inches. But if I need to look really close at something then I'll use a lighted 10x glass that has a 1 inch field of view. Most loupes (7x or stronger) only have 3/4 inch field of view. And the size of the field of view is as important as, or maybe more important than, the strength of the glass.  You bet that good magnification has it's purposes. But it is the purpose that determines the strength of the glass that you should be using. Variety attribution, counterfeit detection, 10x is pretty much always needed and often much stronger for counterfeit detection. Some counterfeits can only be detected at 50 or 60x. But it is important that collectors realize that no 1 loupe will serve all of their purposes. The triplets typically have a very small field of view. So even though they offer you different magnification levels, you still have that field of view problem to deal with. Best advice is to own several loupes of various strengths and to use each one for its intended purpose.[/QUOTE]