gonna break down

[fiddle-fart]

I'm gonna break down and by me a microscope.
I would like feed back on this one if it is a good one for the price or can I find one alittle bit cheaper

Also, since it comes with a set, set of powers, what does one want in this field(eg: 5 & 15X, 10 & 30X... etc.)

http://www.microscopeworld.com/MSWorld/detail.aspx?ID=8607

right now, I have a hand held one ( 10 & 100X) and in my opinion, the light source causes toooooo much glare.
So what kind of lighting would be best also..
Thanks
Mike

[coop]

The sell that I bought from on ebay doesn't have nay listed at this time. But this one is similar to what I have as far a zoom power. its a 7-45X zoom. That means it will zoom at your will between these oculars power. great for when too close it toooooo close and when too far is tooooooo far. You chose what you want to have in your image. The lighting is always a problem. Many have suggestions. It is just how much do you to spend for it.
Better price than the above:
http://store.amscope.com/sm-1b.html
I'm not affiliated with this sell, but it looks what I would buy if I didn't already have one.

[fiddle-fart]

i like that one but I also would like a usb camera built in so I can take pics and post them if I need to for help(which I need desperately) ( in more ways then one)

with the set feature of power( 5x & 15X....etc. ) would 5 & 15 or 10 & 20 be better for viewing coins.... I know with the 200x that I have now I read toooooooo much ( see) in any given coin.

also still looking for that better deal (wife hoovering over me with a wooden spoon) with such a microscope.....

Mike

[coop]

You will be more happy with a zoom scope than the two power ones. Others here will be the first to tell you that. You always need an image somewhere in between the two powers you have. So I would keep my helmet on and wait for a better price on a zoom one. Maybe shin guard might help you hold out longer?
Here is what I use:

Ive changed my lighting system since that image, but the principle is still the same for location of the light.

No matter how hard I try, it's hard to get ahead!

[coppercoins]

Mike - the scope in your first link is way too expensive for what it is. They do come much cheaper for the same thing - as little as $200.

My scope is an infinite zoom from .75x through 3.5x optical with 10X eyepieces - makes the scope zoom from 7.5X through 35X. Works fine for me.

Search around - the internet is a BIG place. You can find the same quality MUCH cheaper. Ebay would be a good start.

[Dick]

Mike, You have been given very good advice from all above. I also have the stereo-zoom scope like Chuck, and Coop. I have not modified my lighting, however. I also have a 2-power scope which I use for checking. It is 20X/40X. I was looking for a scope with the camera, as an integral part, but they are all too expensive for me. I hope you find something, that will fulfil your desires. You might check with SuperDave on CCF, or Kurt, here on our forum. They have some very nice pictures. BTW, they use 100mm lens for their shots, and they come out beautiful. I have a 105mm zoom lens, but haven't figured out how i am going to use it with my Canon Powershot A590 IS, which I recently purchased, (and haven't figured out all those knobs, dials, buttons, and two books of instructions)! SuperDave also has posted a picture of his setyp, with the lighting, and all.. It is worth checking out. You mifght get some ideas on what you can do with a whole lot less money. That might save the need for a steel helmut, and/o shin-guards!
Dick

[fiddle-fart]

Thanks Dick..
After being married for 30 yrs, one might think that I might be numbed from all the head banging etc. Several yrs ago I got tired from the slapping for mispelling alll the words( she ain't here now ) so I bought a qiuck reference dictionary..
No, she ain't really that bad, love her to death( thats what I promised her ) she's just a stickler on grammer and spending money.....( the things I have to do for something I want )
(whats hers is hers and whats mine is hers)

But getting back to the subject at hand..... I would like one with a ccd built in, this way I can take a pic before my memory starts to wander( sometimers disease)....

I agree with everybody that multi powers is good thing... but now, like chuck said finding a decent one..... CHEAP

Mike

[fiddle-fart]

OK......I am soliciting any thoughts, impressions, opinions, and any other information that will tell me that I'm heading in the right direction. I'll admit, that I not the smartest cookie out of the batch, and this is why I ask others to help...
so HELP
http://cgi.ebay.com/LED-TRINOCULAR-STEREO-ZOOM-MICROSCOPE-7X-45X_W0QQitemZ200263104138QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item200263104138&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262
with this I'm thinking of buying a 1.3m ccd camera that is going to take pics on the Questions I will be asking( so be prepares )


thanks
Mike

[Dick]

Mike, I was looking for something like that, about three years ago, but the $1000.00 price-tag was too far out of my budget, that I passed, and ended up paying $500.00 for a re-furbished dioptical 6-45 stereo-zoom scope. It is nice, and I have used it for shooting pictures thru it with a camera. The probmel obviously is the position of the camera, and the eye-piece. You can't make any focus adjustments, due to the change in focus between the camera, and scope. I made a small platform to off-set that, and it works fine. I cannot get a large image of coins as do kurt, and others. Also, due to my vision problems, I need to see the coin, etc, for any comments, and with thr camera mounted, the scope was out. I bought a second scope, ( ST-20, from DSS, on ebay), which has 20X/40X. it works fine, but is useless for the same reason as the other, image size. I got a bew camera, with 4X optical power, and it helps. Now the 100mm lens for making large images is the next project. it goes without saying, I have my work layed ut for me. You will enjoy your equipment, once you get it, and become used to the operation. Then you will begin to work on the lighting. That is another major problem, as well, but I'm sure you will resolve that, too
Dick

[neutreno]

Any scope is out of my price range. Was thinking about previous post that wished they could shoot straight down through light source.

Has any body tried Circular florecent bulbs found at Lowe's? Or a workbench magnifier minus the mag lens in the middle.

I know that most modern cameras have a setting to correct for this wavelenght of light.

Neutreno

[coppercoins]

fiddle-fart - still too expensive for what it is, and there's no real need for the trinocular tube. You're paying an extra $200 just for that.

Neutreno - Ring lighting has been proven to be very bad for trying to take images of coins. The shadows provided by bidirectional lighting are necessary for depth.

[Brilliantcents]

I am getting sick and tired of the camera/loupe method of taking upclose images of varieties.

The first is from brent-kreuger

http://www.brent-krueger.com/scopes.htm

second is from markjohnsoncoins (the second one down)
http://www.mjcoins.com/coin_microscopes.htm

[Dick]

brilliantcents, I have the same thing as you show, the 20X/40X binocular scope). It is very handy. I got it to be able to check my coins, as well as to make photos of them, at the same time. I had to tear down the photography setup to view the coins, and it got very tiresome The other scope is like several of the others here, stereo-zoom,etc. I also have the QX-3, which is good, but has it's limitations, primarily lighting, but I may have that resolved, now, thanks to some very helpful info from several members of this, and another forum.Once I have it up, and running to my satisfaction, I will post the info.
Dick

[Brilliantcents]

Cd. do you have a picture of your microscope/photo setup. You said that you made a pvc attachment. I would like to see what it looks like.

[fiddle-fart]

well I did, right or wrong, it's gonna work....



1) Computer while searching Coppercoins I can listen to
http://www.deezer.com/ while playing my favorite songs
2) keyboard
3) Coffee cup must have for me
4) Scale
5) microscope 7.5-45
6) red book ( Chucks book close at hand )

I'm not affiliated with Deezer in any way shape or form.... I just love my music

(See, I do keep a spelling dictionary close at at hand)

Mike