Hi All, Any one here have a stereo microscope, and if so please give me your opinion on the one you have and the brand you have ? I am thinking of getting a 10 x 30 x for around $200.00 plus shiping any advice will be helpful ?
I have used one like this for many years, first professionally in research and then later when I restarted coins. I purchased one from a supplier used for $50. Here is one on ebay that is identical except for eyepieces. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Bausch-...ryZ48741QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem This stereo is a tank. There are prisms inside that can ( if dropped) get out of alignment, but otherwise almost student proof. The dial on the top is a 0.7-3.0 magnifier of the eyepiece power, which in this case is 20X, so you would have a magnification ability of 14X to 60X. You can find eyepieces on ebay often that are 10X, so you could then have 7X to 30X which is what I have. One eyepiece mount is diopter adjustable so you can get sharp vision in both eyes even though your prescription may be different in each. The head can be removed from the focusing body and rotated 180 degrees for easier working. It is missing the round plate ( white on one side and black on the other ) that you would place the coin on to observe, but that can be replaced with whitecardboard. If you can find the light source that is intended for this microscope, it fits in the hole back from the eyepieces and focuses light right on the coin. I notice that they give the disclaimer that they don't know if it works, but a quick look at any coin would tell. The mirror would be of no value for looking at solid subjects. JMHO.
I also used one in the past. However, my question is what are you planning on using it for? It is a lot of money to spend on a large object that may not be required. Today there are microscopic type cameras that you can connect to a computer and see enlargements right on a computer monitor. On another coin forum called coinforum.org, one of the members just posted some fantastic photos of coins taken with such a camera. It's the computer age and well worth looking into. Again, everything depends on what you want a microscope for.
Hi Carl, I will be using the microscope for searching error and die-varieties in all U S coins . My eyes are just not that good anymore, and my 10 x loupe with my eyes is just to hard to see even with good light. The stereo microscope has a built in light and it has two eye lens for better viewing the image on the coin
A friend of mine has the same scope you are looking at and it is very useful when looking for die varieties, etc. Be prepared if you look at a MS65 coin under the scope, it looks like a 63!
Want to take pics of the errors? Don't want to spend a fortune? I spent less than $30 dollars on a kids toy microscope that connects to your PC and uses your monitor for it's screen. To take a pic of the error, I hit a button, then export it to "My Pictures". Just that easy....at 60X a Morgan O/CC mint mark is this.... A clash looks like this... It just depends on what you need it to do, the Digital Blue QX3+ you can still buy used on eBay, or the new model QX5 is about $70.
It's a Digital Blue QX3+, it's no longer made, but you can still buy them on eBay. I've seen results from the new QX5 model that are very good also. As you get a little older, it's nice to have something that helps you see all the little details again One small piece of advice....if you have a lot of slabbed coins to look at, you will want to cut off the bottom of the scope to get clearer and closer results. A hacksaw works quite well.
The brand is "Digital Blue" and the model is QX3 - my father just got the QX5 for about 70 bucks including shipping and handling on Ebay. The manufacturers web site said it was carried by Toy-r-us, Target and a few other places, but when calling around nobody actually carried them. I have only played with his a couple of times, but with the correct lighting and setting you can get some good pictures on it. I plan on asking for one from "santa claus".
Hi Becky, I think I have that same scope. I got mine many years ago when they first came out, because it seemed like such a cool thing to have -- I wasn't in my coin phase at the time, didn't even think of that. But recently found it in the closet and pulled it out and have been using it for my coins. True about needing help seeing... I'm finding that it's not good enough though ... the 60x lense works the best, but even then the resolution isn't as good as I'd like. The 10x doesn't focus well, and the field is just a bit too small for most coins; the 220x is ok, but again, resolution not great. I'm thinking about getting some serious equip, like a scope that I can insert an eyepiece USB camera into. I'm also finding that a mechanical stage would be very helpful, to zero in on very fine details.
here is the setup that a dealer from another message board uses and recommends: entire thread can be found HERE
It's all about how deep your pockets are, and what you are trying to do. If you are writing serious papers on errors, VAMs, etc, you will probably want to spend the $1500 to get a camera that attaches to a stereo microscope. If you collect for the fun of it, and would rather spend the money on coins, then maybe the toy is the best bet. For my needs, the toy is a Godsend. The pics I get with it knock my socks off. It's a nice alternative to the big expensive rigs for us old cheapos.....
Then again are you planning on taking photos of coins? if not and only want to see better you may want to just check out a local flea market, Walmart or something like Carol Wright Gifts. Most places sell a head mounted hi power magnifing system for about $5 or less sometimes. Some come with lights. I have some that have lights, mount like a hat on my head, have about 12X power. I use it to check out error coins but mostly to remove splinters in my hands. For some reason I get a lot of them. At a flea market I bought a magnifing glass that came with a stand and a light. It is about 6" in diameter with about 3X power but has a small area where the magnification is about 10X. I can just slip coin after coin under it and if something looks weird, I move it to the higher power area. I think this one costs about $7. Then at a local flea market I bought what looks like a jewlers glass with a strap for around the head. It is 14X and works fairly good but to much power for removing splinters. I am really old and my eyes are pretty well shot for close up stuff but I have probably more types of magnifications devices than cloths. Odd thing is I have about 25 cameras and never take pictures of coins.
