scopes

walkingdude · Veteran Member

I keep seeing post about "Well back to the scope", what would someone recommend to buy. I seen one on Ebay but it was 60-100x. I don't want to look throught the coin only at it. Laughing

coop · Expert Member

Mike: There are already a couple of threads on this subject. one on Scopes and the other on lighting.
Lighting:
http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1239&highlight=scope
Scopes:
http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=619
People use different things to acomplish a purpose. Some like the dual X like 10X & 30-40X on their scopes. They can enhance what they are looking for. But I prefer the one with the floating zoom. It allows you take images from all powers from 7.5-35X. This way you can get the magnification you want and also back enough to show the location of the item you are looking at. Where the dual power, you just have the two choices close or tight. With the 7.5-35X you can get images of full images to tight shots, but have the choice of anything else in between. When you start using the scope, you run into other problems. Lighting/the use of a ramp/ how to focus to get the shot you really want. So keep in mind, the scope helps to get a better shot, but the correct use of the equipment you have will either make or break a shot. So you have to experiment till you get what you really want in an image. Usually takes a couple hundred to get it down. After the next thousand you see where you started and can note what is changing and be glad of your acomplishments. But remember you have a family of brothers here to help. You just have to ask and all will be gald to share what they know.

walkingdude · Veteran Member

Thanks, a little out of my price range. Oh well will stick with the 10x triplet. Laughing

coop · Expert Member

One way to set aside money to purchase a scope is to save every $10 bill you get and set that aside for a scope. There are a lot of little things that you will need after you get your scope, so start saving now and before you know it the money will be there. It's not often you get $10 bills, you usually see Twenties. So start your saving them as they come in.

walkingdude · Veteran Member

If I do this then I'll start seeing rolls of pennies to go through and still wish I had a nice scope. Laughing

I have a show I'm going to, just might see somehting there.

Bob P · Site Admin

Mike...Keep your eyes on Ebay and other auction places. Occasionally, they will have decent deals for scopes. The set-ups Chuck and I use are not cheap. Including the camera, we are close to a thousand dollars. Be that as it may, I started out with a plastic magnifying glass 38 years ago, and have gradually upgraded to the point I am now. The point is that it is no use spending all that money if it's just going to collect dust. A real nice loupe does a great job in finding many varieties.

coop · Expert Member

Mike: try this then. When searching Cents, anything questionable, SAVE. When you get your scope then you can check them out later. That way you can sift out a few now to look at later when you do get it scope. Regular stuff, just pass it on to the next set of eyes. But this way you can build a nest egg and won't be a big expense (one cent) and look at them when you can.

walkingdude · Veteran Member

I do, I mainly curios about the price. I also figured they would give me a better view then constatly having to move the loupe and/or coin around. Now the pics would be a lot better thou. Laughing

coppercoins · Site Admin

I agree with all said so far. Decent scopes aren't cheap - $400 plus. Decent lighting is a must - $300 plus. Good digital cameras can now be had for around $300. That's a grand, but it's a setup you can use for years.

coop · Expert Member

Then Of course there is the editing software. Photoshop can be expensive, but older editions can be purchased for a lot less than the current and will do most of the features that the newest can do. So take it one step at a time. Ask questions on what works for different collectors and what suggestions they would make. I'm sure all of us think we have the best way of catching images, but it is more USE of equipment that you have than what you haven't tried yet. Find what works for you and make it work for you till you can get something better.

walkingdude · Veteran Member

So true, I've choosen a very expensive but very pleasing hobby. Actually I can blame my boss at the gas station I worked at 20 + years ago. He took me to my first coin show and and sound a nice "AU" Susan B. Anthony coin in our till. I was hooked from there but got away from the coin collecting when I discovered computers. Laughing

What I really need is the ability to see very close so I might be able to figure out what I'm looking at, right now I have two 1972 pennies that have what looks like a piece of string in a "S" shape sideways on the forehead and it looks like they are part of the coin not a break of anykind. They look like they are protruding out of the forehead.

coppercoins · Site Admin

If seeing the coins a little closer is what you're after, then a microscope would be somewhat of an overkill. However, if a loupe doesn't work for you, there are simple microscopes available on the web for under $150. I wouldn't plan on being able to use them for much photography, but they will help you get closer to the coin for viewing.