Microscope Advice

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by AnitaMore, Mar 23, 2023.

  1. AnitaMore

    AnitaMore Member

    I'm looking for a good inexpensive coin microscope. How many pixels? Any suggestions?
     
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  3. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Try Wizard coin supplies In Herdon Va. They probably have the best prices for coin and stamp supplies.
    Plus they are great to deal with. Two thumbs up ;)
     
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  4. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Agreed, try Wizard.
     
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  5. lardan

    lardan Supporter! Supporter

    If you get one let us now what you decide on. I'm interested in this too.
     
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  6. Spark1951

    Spark1951 Accomplishment, not Activity

    @AnitaMore …the scope needs to have 3 Megapixel capability or better. Inexpensive ones tend to have 2MP and result in pixelation problems.

    Make sure the one you get works with your computer’s OS (operating system).
    …imo…Spark
     
  7. Mountain Man

    Mountain Man Supporter! Supporter

    My opinion would be based upon why you want one. I have three, and very rarely use any of them, especially since I upgraded to a iPhone.
    You can pick up decent enough small ones for around $20, but then if you need real magnification, it would be worthless.
    My experience has been that people with only microscopes, or use them consistently, tend to "find" so many errors (NOT) that it is actually an encumbrance.
     
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  8. Insider

    Insider Talent on loan from...

    Agree. I've been dealing with a new collector with a microscope that thinks every tiny hit or reflection on a coin seen at 30X is a doubled die or Mint error! :facepalm::rolleyes: And now I'm the :rage: bad guy along with the rest of the experienced :bookworm::cigar:members here. :vomit:
     
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  9. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    Oh, but it can magnify over 100,000X times and can show on a video screen, 3D images of bumps, doubling, and scratches the size of a bacteria's height. You could charge by the number of "variations" :) . They used to be ( 20+Years ago) about $5000-7,000 for a student level when I took a summer class at a university with a new toy. My cheapo college never would buy one as they were only producing nurses and not pre-med. Instead they put in a cadaver room, but after one cadaver went south, it is being remodeled into a spare office :) Jim
     
  10. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    AnitaMore, The very devisive numbers of "pixels" and "magnification" is used freely by dealers and suppliers. What is important to get an excellent image is "resolution"( how close 2 things can be to each other and be seen as 2 rather than 1 blurry). Cheap lens have low resolution ( usually plastic ones)and use the screen size to scream how great the image is. Large it is, but sharp , it is not. I mostly use a 10X Belomo triplet lens ( about $30 )when I go to shop. The 3 different lens brings all of the wavelengths to sharpness in image and color and it is carried easily. Of course Insider may not have the joy of all the newly found oddities. Jim
     
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