need micrsocope opinion please

hasfam · Veteran Member

I'm going to have approx $400 soon that i can buy a micrscope with. I've had the QX3 for years but never use it. Don't like the quality, color, lighting etc. I saw this micrscope in an ebay store, microscopesupply, and wondered if anyone would recommend it? Its the 7.5x - 35x ZOOM POWER MONOCULAR MICROSCOPE W/ PHOTOGRAPHY PORT. this one is $170 and the one with built in lighting is another $100.00 it also has continuous zoom which I like. I have a Nikon coolpix 7600. Not sure if its compatible, would I just put the camera up to the port and click. This is all new to me and want to make some good decisions. Any advise would be helpful.
Thanks,
Rock

Bob P · Site Admin

That sounds like a great deal Rock. My only complaint would be that it is a monocular scope. I think the best thing to have is a stereo zoom microscope. That is my personal preference. The power range on the scope you are looking at is ideal for what you need to have a good look at coins.
Most folks just bring their camera up to the lens and shoot. Takes a little practice, but good pics can be had.
The following link is to the microscope store.

http://www.microscope-store.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_3/products_id/14

The scope on the home page is what I use to take pics for the site. It is a very nice scope that doesn't have the slippage problem of some of the older scopes.
Before you spend your hard earned money, do your shopping! Good deals can be had. I prefer to go with the new models that come with a warranty...but then again, that may be just me.

murphy · Senior Member

You should be able to get a 7.5 x 45 zoom STEREO microscope with light for about the same money on eBay if you look around.
http://cgi.ebay.com/BINOCULAR-STEREO-MICROSCOPE-WARRANTY-LED-LITE_W0QQitemZ170095061309QQcategoryZ12581QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I might have to get me one of these!...
http://cgi.ebay.com/7X-45X-TRINOCULAR-STEREO-ZOOM-MICROSCOPE-DUAL-HALOGEN_W0QQitemZ170072764943QQcategoryZ48740QQcmdZViewItem

hasfam · Veteran Member

The reason I chose a monocular scope is because I'm blind in my right eye. Don't see the point of 2 eye ports. I'm doing my homework now. I do want a warranty, durability, clarity etc.
Thanks for the advise and link Bob.

hasfam · Veteran Member

Wow. Just checked out the trinocular scope Murph on that ebay site. Thats the one. It looks great, has all the features plus more and the price is right at my budget. Nice lead. I'm going to bookmark it and read some more about it and do some comparisons.
thanks Murph,
Rock

Dick · Expert Member

Murph, and Rock,
I wish i had been a member of the forum BEFORE I bought my QSZ scope. I would have gotten the trinocular, so I could take some decent photos! I STILL have sight in both eyes, but have MD, (dry), and can't focus on a small point. I use my "night-vision" training to see at night. Now you know why I don't look for "Wavy-steps"! I see more curves, and breaks in a perfectly straight line, without trying to see the real ones, and have them show as a nice straight line!
Rock, these guys will give you, as they have given of their knowledge, and experience to others, which includes me. I am very grateful for their help.
Dick

hasfam · Veteran Member

well the puchase has been made. I just bought the trinocular scope that Murph showed me. I was really jazzed when I saw it and thought it was perfect. Thanks Murph. Now the long wait watching the mail.
Rock

murphy · Senior Member

Glad I could help you Rock. Mind if I come over and use it sometimes? Cool

hasfam · Veteran Member

Anytime Murph. Looks like your a short 1/2 day drive away. Anytime you are in or passing nashville, stop in.
Thanks again,
Rock

Bob P · Site Admin

Congrats on your purchase Rock. I hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoy using ours. I expect that you'll be taking professional photographs in about a week??? Laughing

hasfam · Veteran Member

Thanks Bob, I hope so too.

hasfam · Veteran Member

Good news and bad news. I got home from work last night about 10pm and the microscope had arrived. Spent an hour unpacking and reading booklet and playing with it. Realized it didn't come with a photo eyepiece or c-mount or anything else like that for neccessary for me to take pics. I contacted the company and asked about specific part numbers for this instrument. So still waiting. The instrument though is awesome.
Rock

murphy · Senior Member

Rock,
are you able to shoot down one of the eye tubes? I mean is it possible to line your camera up to one of the two eyepieces and take the photo?

hasfam · Veteran Member

Hey Murph,
Well I tried. But the picture floated around too much. Couldn't hold the camera steady enough I guess. Plus, the picture was circular with a dark shadow all around it. And it seemed further away. It looks like I'm going to need at least an eyepiece for the camera mount. I've been working long hours this week and haven't had a chance to mess with it. Tomorrow I will try some camera shots to see how they work. The aggravating thing is that I spent the extra money so I wouldn't have to monkey rig this and compromise the quality.
Anyway, Thats the story for now.
Rock

Dick · Expert Member

Rock, Does the "eye-piece" slip out of the tube? If so, pull it, and get a close measurment of the diameter. Then get a piece of 3/4" wood, and bore a hole, the diameter of the eye piece, and the depth that will leave you the distance the lens on the camers is, protruding ( about 1/8", depending on the camera). This will allow the camera to be stable. It should be the same size as the camera, to reduce bulk Make the piece of wood long enough to rest the camera in position over the LEFT eye piece ( this depends on where the camera lens is. It should go where the camera is right side up, but if not able to go that way, mount the camera up-side down), and on the end towards the right eye piece, cut out the similar size hole to allow the "camera mount" to slip into place on both eye pieces. It does not have to be full circle. Half circle will keep it steady. This will allow you to focus, normally, and if you have an "on-screen" view, (LED, or computer, or even a TV screen) etc, adjusrt the "dark area" around the view from the scope, so that you have the coin in view. This should give you too much light, as well, so you can agjust that to give you a better view, maybe copper-colored, as you reduce the light. I will try to get you a photo, so you have an idea how I do mine. I will edit this later, to post the photos.
This will give you an idea:

shot w/camera in place
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m199/livingdinasaur/camerabase-2.jpg[/IMG]

camera off base.
Crude, but works. I'm working with another camera, suspended on a tri-pod mount, from a shelf. Works great, (when it is adjusted right)!

Dick