Which Amscope?

[cimperialis]

I know there's been a few recent threads on this topic lately, but I want to ask this specific question.

I'm looking into buying an Amscope, as suggested. How strongly would you recommend a zoom microscope? Here is their cheapest model:

10X-40X ZOOM MICROSCOPE BINOCULAR STEREO DUAL HALOGEN

Is this the model you would recommend? Or is there a worthy advantage to an upgrade?

What about trinocular? If you had to choose between a zoom and trinocular, which would you get?

Or do you think that a basic model would suffice?
Thanks all.

[Roller]

There are zoom trinoculars. If you intend to shoot pictures using the microscope it is more convenient to shoot through the photo port rather than having to attach the camera to one of the ocular ports. I think the unit you show is adequate but you will find that the integral halogen lamp is inadequate for picture taking and I do not like it (alone) for inspection either. I think you will want a ring light and I recommend the flourescent kind over the LCD type.

[engine823]

I have a amscope 10x - 60x stereo microscope. I'll be honest I never use more than 30x magnification for taking pictures or searching. They are right that it would be ALOT nicer to not have the camera that you have to place into the eyepiece. That is what I have. It was cheaper but more of a headache. That being said it still does a nice job. I did have to get a different camera than the one that came with it. It came with I believe a .5 megapixal camera! That thing was horrible. I ended up buying a 3 Megapixal MSU camera to replace it.
All in all, I probably ended up spending just as much with upgrades than if I would have just bought a nicer camera! Hope this helps!

[cimperialis]

Thanks, this is very helpful so far.

[cimperialis]

Ok, so I think I've decided on the following model: http://store.amscope.com/sm-1t.html

It's the cheapest zoom trinocular, but I think it'll still suffice. Now I need a lamp and camera. Should I get the ring lamp from their website, or are there better options?

For the camera, I can't get one of their USB microscopes because I have a Mac and not a PC.

[Jim]

looks like a good model.

I have the amscope 90X with back lighting and top LED's stereoscope. 8mm camera slips right into the camera portal. love it. Bit pricey at almost $800

[Jim]

Lighting is so tricky. I am still adjusting mine.

[Roller]

It's a nice scope and is all you can ask for, for this purpose. The other posts on this subject contain my opinion about USB cameras. I'm now working with the one that came with my scope and find it inadequate. I find that it is only 1.3 megs (I thought it was 3.5 when I bought the scope, but the scope is worth more than I paid for the whole set up anyway). Even with the better resolution USB cameras, you will only get part of the coin in the picture at the widest field of view. I think it was Chris who opined some time ago that you will need two cameras to do the whole job. If you have a USB camera, I agree with him. If I were to be looking for a camera, I would (and am) going to a DSLR with a minimum of 5 megs.
Long and short; I would buy a DSLR and the adapter rather than the USB camera.

[cimperialis]

Rollem, when you say "I would buy a DSLR and the adapter," what is the adapter for? Can you get a scope adapter for a DSLR? Would have have more than one lens?

I have a Nikon D70 DSLR with 70-300mm macro lens. See this thread for some pics- http://www.lincolncentresource.net/f...ad.php?t=13092

Do you think those pictures are good enough that I shouldn't bother with getting something else? Thanks.

[Roller]

That camera is more than adequate for what you need. The adapter is what connects the camera to the microscope. Amscope should have the adapter and I think you will need to get a T-mount for the camera (some $10-20). Google "Celestron 93625 Universal 1.25 inch Camera T-Adapter" for a starter If you get something like that, it includes the adapter and the T-Mount. You can just punch in Nikon T-Mount and go from there too. The point is that the adapter has to fit your trinocular tube. Check to see what the diameter of your photo port is. You will not be using your camera lens and will put the T-mount on the camera body and the adapter screws into the T-Mount. In any case, before you spend money talk to Amscope to make sure everything will fit.

[Maineman750]

Try to find the thread where Mike Diamond bought an amscope, he got a zoom with a wide field of view which should be good for viewing the whole coin...or call amscope and talk to them and your needs.

[Roller]

As I recall, Mike's is a USB digital microscope camera. We are talking about adapting your DSLR camera to the scope. You need not worry about field of view with that set up, you will get the full range.

[Maineman750]

Roller, I was just going by the original topic of this thread and responding to that