scope cam

[kloccwork419]

I'm thinkin of making the upgrade to a nice dslr camera. Not sure if it would be better to get that or the 10mp scope cam..any thoughts or advice?.. I know the SLR cams are great just don't know anyone with a higher mp scope cam or if they are any good

[mudbox]

I use a Sony alpha DSLR straight through the eyepiece on my scope, I haven't yet splurged for the adapter for the trinocular eyepiece... someday maybe. I really like my Sony DSLR, but I don't think you can go wrong with a Nikon or a Cannon either.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

-Jason

[Maineman750]

I have the 9 MP cam on my amscope...get a DSLR

[thecentcollector]

I use a 9mp Canon powershot (older model) directly through an adapter on the eyepiece. Works *good*, however, full-coin pics are still a no-go.

[Roller]

I use a Nikon D70 with trinoc. access. Because I can't get full coin shots, I have sprung for a Nikkor 50mm macro lens (fully manual not auto capable) and a macro bellows for close-up and full coin shots. (The bellows is on its way today and I should have it mid week next.) The 10mp scope camera should be very pricey and I don't know whether you can get the full shot with it either. That depends on the size of the chip in it and the magnification of your trinoc. or eye piece adapter. My op. is that you can get a very good Nikon or Fuji or other DSLR for that kind of money that you can make use of in general photography in addition to coin shots.

[lara4228]

what is the major difference between SLR and DSLR?

I got my friend who's son manages Bet Buy and is looking into getting me a Canon 18mp SLR at cost. I think the model is Rebel T2i.

Here is the link: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs...0051_245003_-1

I'm not too sure if I want it yet but I'm thinking about it.

Yeah or nay?

[Roller]

what is the major difference between SLR and DSLR?

I got my friend who's son manages Bet Buy and is looking into getting me a Canon 18mp SLR at cost. I think the model is Rebel T2i.

Here is the link: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs...0051_245003_-1

I'm not too sure if I want it yet but I'm thinking about it.

Yeah or nay?

That model is a DSLR which stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. Just make sure that whatever you get has a removable lens so that you can mount the eyepiece or trinoc. converter to the camera body.

[BadThad]

what is the major difference between SLR and DSLR?

I got my friend who's son manages Bet Buy and is looking into getting me a Canon 18mp SLR at cost. I think the model is Rebel T2i.

Here is the link: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs...0051_245003_-1

I'm not too sure if I want it yet but I'm thinking about it.

Yeah or nay?

SLR (Single Lens Reflex) alludes to the fact that the camera is an old film style. Adding the "D" in front means "digital". I believe these days people are just lazy and SLR and DSLR are the same thing.

Personally, I love the bigger cameras that you can connect to a computer for coin pics. With the right stand, macro lens and lighting, you can obtain professional level shots. However, for me, I don't think it's worth all the expense to take some coin pictures.....unless you make coin photography your hobby too.

I'm still using an old Canon SD700IS free-hand to take my pics and I think it does a nice job. I can also get pretty darn good close-up shots using the macro feature combined with up to 4x optical zoom. One thing that frustrates me with ALL cameras is they never tell you what level of optical zoom (if any) you can get in macro mode. That is EXTEMELY important for getting good close-up shots. It lets you keep the lens farther from the coin so more light can get to the surface.....CRITICAL for getting good coin pictures.

[Roller]

Not an expert in camera gear but it is my understanding that the optical zoom is noted on the lens (not the camera). I think mine is 1:1.5 though I don't know if Im mixing up lenses in my memory bank.

[RWBILLER]

I also think up upgrading camera to dlsr camera.
Thx
Rog

[kloccwork419]

Usually optical and digital is shown somewhere but what Thad is saying is it dont show what it will get in Macro. I have one that zooms and one that wont zoom in Macro.

Thad, do you have an amscope or any other scope that you use with the camera you have?. I just want something to get a nice pic through my scope. I have a Nikon s3100 camera but it dont do anything through this scope but works with my handheld. Just cant get any pic with the super widefield eyepieces.

[Amadauss]

I can only relay my experieince and what has worked so far. Have a very good Canon (DLSR if you want to call it) with several lens. I got it to take Swim pictures because my daughter swims in college. Its all about the lens you use to take the shots. For example, I splurged last year with wifes approval and bought a 2000 dollar lens for it. I got to tell you a kid with no experieince could take great pictures with it. During pro football games when you see those guys on the sidelines taking pics with those huge lens, its one of those. Need a freakin one leg tripod to hold it if standing for a long time.

Anyway I have been using a macro lens for taking my coin pics up until I got the scope with the thought of using just the camera body with an adapter you attach to the camera and then it fits on that top hole of the scope for pics. Here is the issue. The camera is designed to work with its own lens made by the same manufacturer. This is not to say you cannot add another type of lens on it and it will not work, my macro lens is a Tamron and the camera canon, but for the most part, you want to stay with the same name when buying the parts. When I put my camera Body (this is the camera without any lens attached to it and then attach an adapter to fit on to the scope, it reads what it sees through the adapter and the scope glass and I feel it is very hard for them to communicate to get the right pictures.

I use a EOS Utility which canon supplies which allows you to tether your camera to your computer and actually rather then looking through the camera viewfinder to take the pic, you look at your computer screen to see what you are taking. Makes it very attractive to take pictures with that view. Only issue is going through the scope to do this, what I see on the screen never comes out when taking the pic. I feel its a communication problem between the camera itself and the scope because in reality the camera cannot communicate with the scope as it can with a lens. So you have to play around with settings and then after taking the picture, what is nice is the EOS program lets me immediately see what I took. In some cases it sucks but in others it turns out ok. But never what I am originally viewing before I take the picture. My best pictures are taken with a setup I posted a pic on here using a macro lens and not the scope.

I have been a member of a canon forum site and have posted at length with others using macro stuff and this EOS and they all say the same thing with having to really work with it a bunch to get it right.

So, the scope is great to look at the coin but like someone else mentioned here keeping it far enough away from the coin to light it correctly can be a challenge because in many cases the scope lens is sitting right on top of the coin when examining it and when you want to take the pic, so lighting becomes an issue. You can diffuse the light in different ways so it does not cast that reflection on the coin you often see, but it is still a battle. Got to say also, some on the site here really have mastered taking pics of coins using a scope.

[BadThad]

Usually optical and digital is shown somewhere but what Thad is saying is it dont show what it will get in Macro. I have one that zooms and one that wont zoom in Macro.

Thad, do you have an amscope or any other scope that you use with the camera you have?. I just want something to get a nice pic through my scope. I have a Nikon s3100 camera but it dont do anything through this scope but works with my handheld. Just cant get any pic with the super widefield eyepieces.

I'm in the same boat, I bought a newer Canon SD880IS thinking it might be better and it turned out it will NOT zoom while in macro mode. Why Canon would take away a simple feature like that is a mystery.....DUMB.

Nope, I don't have a scope, never felt the need as I'm not a huge variety collector like some of you. I only look for the major, well-known stuff generally....but I do know how to spot something out of the norm. Between my eyes and magnification from 4x to 12x I can see as good as I need to.

Here's what my old Canon SD700IS can do:

[BadThad]

Then I can move out and do a pic like this.....good enough IMO for the intended purpose on the web:

[Amadauss]

Nice pics Bad.