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<p>[QUOTE="-jeffB, post: 4522676, member: 27832"][USER=57463]@kaparthy[/USER]'s advice is good, and well-informed as always. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>However, there <i>is</i> a big difference between speculating $40 or so on a broken-English-labeled plastic webcam that <i>will</i> let you see more detail on coins you're searching, and spending:</p><p><br /></p><p>$100 or so on a copy stand</p><p>$500 or so on a DSLR</p><p>$500 or so on a good macro lens</p><p>$100 or so on lighting arrangements</p><p><br /></p><p>...that will let you produce publication-quality images, but will actually <i>slow you down</i> if you just want to check for small hits or familiar varieties.</p><p><br /></p><p>A lab-quality stereomicroscope would let you be quick and see very well, but those start at many hundreds of dollars, I think.</p><p><br /></p><p>I don't claim to have The Right Opinion on this, but here's where I find myself these days:</p><p><br /></p><p>First check is with my incredibly nearsighted eyes, probably equivalent to a 3x loupe. This is quickest and easiest.</p><p><br /></p><p>Next resort is a 10x loupe, which is strenuous to use for long stretches.</p><p><br /></p><p>Next step is sometimes to take a macro shot with my phone, then zoom in on it. It's not good enough to publish, but it <i>can</i> show more detail.</p><p><br /></p><p>If that's not good enough, it's time to get the DSLR set up on the copy stand, get a light or two pointed at it, get the macro lens onto it, get the coin oriented under it, take some photos, pop the memory card, put it into my laptop, open the images, crop them, find a place to save them... this all ends up taking many minutes of overhead, and as a result I do it very infrequently.</p><p><br /></p><p>I do have several lab-grade stereomicroscopes I bought at surplus. They're out in the garage. They're too big and bulky to stay on my desk. I haven't used one in years. (I feel bad about the waste. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />)</p><p><br /></p><p>Bottom line: if I weren't so nearsighted (built-in loupe), I'd consider a cheap USB microscope as a first-line tool. I'd view it as a consumable, though, expecting to need a new one every couple of years. And I <i>wouldn't</i> rely on it for (say) eBay sale images. For that, it's worth bothering to build a better setup.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="-jeffB, post: 4522676, member: 27832"][USER=57463]@kaparthy[/USER]'s advice is good, and well-informed as always. :) However, there [I]is[/I] a big difference between speculating $40 or so on a broken-English-labeled plastic webcam that [I]will[/I] let you see more detail on coins you're searching, and spending: $100 or so on a copy stand $500 or so on a DSLR $500 or so on a good macro lens $100 or so on lighting arrangements ...that will let you produce publication-quality images, but will actually [I]slow you down[/I] if you just want to check for small hits or familiar varieties. A lab-quality stereomicroscope would let you be quick and see very well, but those start at many hundreds of dollars, I think. I don't claim to have The Right Opinion on this, but here's where I find myself these days: First check is with my incredibly nearsighted eyes, probably equivalent to a 3x loupe. This is quickest and easiest. Next resort is a 10x loupe, which is strenuous to use for long stretches. Next step is sometimes to take a macro shot with my phone, then zoom in on it. It's not good enough to publish, but it [I]can[/I] show more detail. If that's not good enough, it's time to get the DSLR set up on the copy stand, get a light or two pointed at it, get the macro lens onto it, get the coin oriented under it, take some photos, pop the memory card, put it into my laptop, open the images, crop them, find a place to save them... this all ends up taking many minutes of overhead, and as a result I do it very infrequently. I do have several lab-grade stereomicroscopes I bought at surplus. They're out in the garage. They're too big and bulky to stay on my desk. I haven't used one in years. (I feel bad about the waste. :() Bottom line: if I weren't so nearsighted (built-in loupe), I'd consider a cheap USB microscope as a first-line tool. I'd view it as a consumable, though, expecting to need a new one every couple of years. And I [I]wouldn't[/I] rely on it for (say) eBay sale images. For that, it's worth bothering to build a better setup.[/QUOTE]
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