What do you think about this microscope?

[Karahbell]

I am looking to get a microscope soon (for under 200.00) I found this online, do any of you know if this is a good one? or have a better recommendation?

http://www.microscope.com/dinolite-am2011-tripod-stand-p-547.html

thank you!

[Roller]

I think you'll find an 0.3 meg camera/microscope virtually useless. I ordered a similar one (not this brand) some time ago and sent it back. First off, it's tiny and in my opinion difficult to handle and focus. I don't know if you intend to use it for examining or just for photographing coins. If for examining I would think it a nightmare to use on so many coins and would slow down my searching to a crawl. Just MHO.

[Karahbell]

Ah thanks for the tip, I want to be able to find cool DD's, errors and take pictures that will load to my computer directly. not sure if I can achieve this for under $200.00? How many megs do you recommend to do this?

[engine823]

Hey look on ebay. I got my AMSCOPE on ebay for under $200. The camera that came with it was not very good ( .3 Meg ) but you could I'm sure find the same microscope with a better camera for around $200
Try ebay for sure

[Karahbell]

Hey look on ebay. I got my AMSCOPE on ebay for under $200. The camera that came with it was not very good ( .3 Meg ) but you could I'm sure find the same microscope with a better camera for around $200
Try ebay for sure

Good idea, thanks! How are LED's on the pennies though? is there a better way to light them up without causing to much shine or reflection than the LED's?

[jcuve]

I too would suggest a full-blown scope on eBay; the AMSCOPEs seem like good deals.

[Roller]

Ah thanks for the tip, I want to be able to find cool DD's, errors and take pictures that will load to my computer directly. not sure if I can achieve this for under $200.00? How many megs do you recommend to do this?

There is another thread on microscopes running presently to which many have responded. You might look at that thread. My opinion is that you need at least a 1.3 but 3 or 5 is much better. You need to make sure that the CMOS chip is at least 1/2" (you seldom if ever find that even in a 3 meg). You need that much to be able to see the entire coin. I would strongly recommend a stereo-zoom scope if you can find one at a good price. I bought my B&L for $150 (used) but now I'm shopping a 5 meg. digital camera for it. That will probably set me back another $225.
Take my word for it, I started off with a Leitz scope that I had; I paid $50 for shipping to get my brother to send me his (binocular scope) and then went from there to the B&L I now have. I tried using and have been using my Coolpix to take shots through it with varying results. I bought lighting, flashes and other gadgets to try and make it better without much success.
In short, I don't wan to think about what it has cost me by now but I can tell you that I would have been much better off spending $500 in the start (had I known what I now know) than to have done what I did and still not be satitsfied.

[Karahbell]

There is another thread on microscopes running presently to which many have responded. You might look at that thread. My opinion is that you need at least a 1.3 but 3 or 5 is much better. You need to make sure that the CMOS chip is at least 1/2" (you seldom if ever find that even in a 3 meg). You need that much to be able to see the entire coin. I would strongly recommend a stereo-zoom scope if you can find one at a good price. I bought my B&L for $150 (used) but now I'm shopping a 5 meg. digital camera for it. That will probably set me back another $225.
Take my word for it, I started off with a Leitz scope that I had; I paid $50 for shipping to get my brother to send me his (binocular scope) and then went from there to the B&L I now have. I tried using and have been using my Coolpix to take shots through it with varying results. I bought lighting, flashes and other gadgets to try and make it better without much success.
In short, I don't wan to think about what it has cost me by now but I can tell you that I would have been much better off spending $500 in the start (had I known what I now know) than to have done what I did and still not be satitsfied.

Thanks Roller
You are right, I better just wait until I can get the good one. That is so true with everything, it ends up costing more in the end if I try and "cheese out" with spending less. I have a Cannon 20D that I have been using but my lens is not good for close up shots. I renting a macro lens a couples year back to get some close up shots of some flowers (this is a baby's breath flower) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2..._1664634_n.jpg and that lens used is 800.00 to purchase. I already have a light box, maybe I should just go that route with getting a new lens... decisions.. decisions....

[Roller]

I'm not suggesting that you must spend $500. I think you can get an adequate set up for less. There is a trinocular stereoscope on on ebay now with a digital camera (3megs.) for $340 or best offer. I have not fully researched the camera but the set up is well worth the asking price. I think I put the item number on the other thread and if not I can send it to you if you PM me. It deserves a look and some investigation.

[launcherimu]

Celestron Microscope

Hi Karahbell..Scopes can be pretty expensive I know BUT I found this Celestron scope that does what I want for now. Maybe later on I will think of upgrading. The price is very good (Around $60) and I think shipping was around $10. The 'A' after the number works with Windows 7 which I have. I have enclosed a couple of shots that I took with this scope. I am still getting used to it however and can't get the color right but for all intents and purposes I think it does what I need it to do without spending several hundred dollars. I think it's great, for if I find an error on a coin with my triplex 10x loop and want to enlarge it or see it better I pick up the Celestron. It comes with a nice metal stand or you can hold it in your hand. Good for things other than coins as well. Whatcha think?? Leslie
The link below is where I purchased it.

https://secure.highpointscientific.com/c=kO0mMi9AUZ1l2MLsdSp1Ecj9x/s=highpointscientific.com/product/CEL-44302-A/Celestron-Deluxe-Handheld-Digital-Microscope-44302-A.html

[Rollem]

I bought 3 of these they worked really as expected. Gave 2 away. Can be used for a lot of things in shop. It is very cheap and a temporary fix until you are ready to spend larger bucks.

here is ebay link http://www.cgi.ebay.com/50-500X-2-0M...#ht_5171wt_802

[financeman]

A friend of mine bought a scope like that one and absolutely hates it. He said the quality of the picture is terrible. I have been looking for a scope my self and with the help of some people here, have found a couple that I like. Here is a link to one of them. Hope it helps.

http://store.amscope.com/se305r-px-p.html

[Rollem]

That is a nice scope in the link. But any usb scope or camera is dependent lightning. I had a dino lite and scope which is being repaired but this amcap hand held will do ok until repairs is finished. I don't know what trouble your friend had but as i said i like mine and it was a surprise to me the quality you can get. I have used this one to trouble printed circuit boards finding cracks in circuit tracing. For the price its priceless to me for that reason.
But I totally agree one needs much more to id and photo coins.

[financeman]

That's what he bought it for Rollem. He bought it to help him in searching and it just does not do what you need for coin attributing.

[Roller]

Well I just won the bid on the 5.1 meg digital microscope camera only to find out that even with the 0.5 reduction lens my field of view will not cover a penny. I'm in negotiations with the seller to see if a smaller reduction lens can be substituted for the 0.5. Otherwise, I'll likely send it back after making certain that it does not do what I want. Another bummer.