Repeat topic...microscopes

**Roller** · 11-24-2011, 08:17 PM

Nothing wrong with boats, they're fun. A stereo scope is what you need to view three deimentional objects like coins. The scope you linked is one that has 4 magnification settings. A "zoom" stereoscope has infinite magnification options/settings between the lowest magnification (widest field of view) and the highest magnification (narrowest field of view). The zoom is, obvioulsy, more desirable. Binocular means that it has two eye pieces, one for each eye. The trinocular is made for aliens with three eyes. (Just kidding.) The trinocular has a third port where you can mount a camera to take pictures of what you see through the binocular scope. Most stereoscopes will have 10X to 40X magnification. In optics, like many other things, you get what you paid for. The more expensive scopes will have better optics. This is why, I opted for buying a second hand scope for what an Amscope might have cost. I got the better optics and there's nothing wrong with the scope. It's just second hand. I have been through four sets of scolpes, monocular, binocular, binocular stereo and now a National trinocular stereo. The last one is the best and I believe that last I will need to buy. Feeling your way through the process like I did can get costly and at the end you wish you had spent the money, once, the first time and you would have been happier and wealthier in the end. Buy a good trinocular if you intend to stay with this hobby.

**lara4228** · 11-24-2011, 09:51 PM

Oh I intend to stay with this hobby! Remember, I am a woman and we don't like to part with our money, we like to store it, well, spend it too! No! We like to spend OTHER people's money! lol

Your description has helped me. It has given me a clearer picture on what to look for and what the darn terminology means.

RC boats? I don't even want to go there! I just found out about an hour ago that his "clutch" is the wrong one and now he needs a "new" one AND a "new motor mount" to fit the "new clutch". Ptff! It NEVER ends with those darn boats!!! 5" long, 60mph...to me its not worth it! BUY a REAL boat...one that I can fish from!

**Rollem** · 11-24-2011, 10:03 PM

LOL! GO FISH AND GIVE ME ALL THE OLD MAIDS, OR LET ME BINGO TOO! Sorry I have been "letting" grands win at all these games today.

Good advice from Roller there just remember kids can destroy anything. Thats why i am looking for a second scope for son n law.

**lara4228** · 11-24-2011, 10:07 PM

Trust me! No kids will be touching my scope!!! There are few things I won't let them play with .... my money and my equipment!

Well...my 12 year old step-son...maybe

**Chugly** · 11-24-2011, 11:07 PM

Given the downturn in the economy, a great number of scientific/research labs have consolidated or gone out of business entirely. Much of the surplus equipment is sold through an auction house called labx.com. If you find the specs for a scope that you like, be sure to check this website. You can either find amazing discounts on new items at the main page or click the link on the right called Labauction. There you can place bids on scientific equipment very similar to e-bay, but with much reduced exposure. I have scored a huge number of amazing deals for my work on this site. I highly recommend checking this out. You might have to wait a bit for the right scope to come up, but trust me, it will likely be well worth the wait. Good luck on this! I think a good microscope is one of the very best investments a variety searcher can make. I would be totally blind by now without mine

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**copperlover** · 11-25-2011, 06:08 AM

Thank you Chugly and Lara for the input.

Lucien

**lara4228** · 11-25-2011, 06:37 AM

Chugly, thank you for that web site referral. They have some really neat things on there.

Now here is another 'dummy' question. I'm almost too embarrassed to ask it but here it goes....having never used an actual microscope before, my logic of thinking questions the lighting it emits when viewing a coin.

The source of light comes from underneath but when you place a coin on the viewing plate, it will block the light. So how does one get illumination when they are viewing their coins? (Remember, the last time I used a microscope I was in grade 7, maybe 22 years ago?)

Thanks

Lara

**Chugly** · 11-25-2011, 10:48 AM

Hi Lara,

There are several types of microscopes. The best one for variety hunters is called a stereo or "dissection" microscope, NOT a compound microscope. Compound microscopes primarily use lighting from underneath to view very tiny objects on microscope slides. These scopes are nearly useless for our purposes. They are also usually much more expensive.

Stereo microscopes use lighting from above that shines down on the "stage" of view. These are what you want. Search "Stereo microscope" on the web and you will find many examples of what I am talking about.

**lara4228** · 11-25-2011, 11:55 AM

Thanks Chugly.

**kloccwork419** · 11-25-2011, 12:02 PM

Bust Out Another Thousand!!!!
Me personally would like to have a Trinocular Stereo zoom scope. It has the 2 eyepieces for view and one above to connected the camera to. Maybe santa will be nice this year.....Wait..I am santa

.......damn xmas

lol

**lara4228** · 11-25-2011, 12:09 PM

Ha Ha Ha, Jason, I'm Santa too.

Well, I'm not too too much into this hobby, I mean I'm hooked but I don't spend hours a day searching, but when I do search, I'd like to know that what I'm seeing is clear and unquestionable. I'm tired of guessing, asking, glares when I take photos and hoenstly, I'm felling like I'm being a burden to you guys.

I want to fix and resolve the problem...my sight, knowledge and pictures.

**Roller** · 11-25-2011, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by lara4228

Chugly, thank you for that web site referral. They have some really neat things on there.

Now here is another 'dummy' question. I'm almost too embarrassed to ask it but here it goes....having never used an actual microscope before, my logic of thinking questions the lighting it emits when viewing a coin.

The source of light comes from underneath but when you place a coin on the viewing plate, it will block the light. So how does one get illumination when they are viewing their coins? (Remember, the last time I used a microscope I was in grade 7, maybe 22 years ago?)

Thanks

Lara

You will find that the built in lighting that comes with the stereoscope is inadequate. I don't even use mine. Amscope and other outlets sell a flourescent ring light that can be attached to the objective end of your scope. This is far superior to the built in one and you can actually see the coin clearly in all its beauty (or ugly, depending). The ring light is about $30.00 and you should make sure that your scope comes with an objective lens that can accommodate the ring light. If it does not, then ask for a simple clear filter that will attach/screw into the objective end and then you can attach the ring light to that. The light comes with three screws that hand tighten around the cylinder of the filter. If you are confused and want to see the light attached, I'll post a picture.

**lara4228** · 11-25-2011, 01:43 PM

Yes please do attach. Sometimes I'm like a guy...visual

**Roller** · 11-26-2011, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by lara4228

Yes please do attach. Sometimes I'm like a guy...visual

Yep, visual. Here it is. First picture shows it mounted and second and third off the scope, front and back.

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Repeat topic...microscopes

Repeat topic...microscopes

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