Any thoughts on a good microscope?

[Schatzy]

[font:Comic Sans MS]Hello everyone,

 

I was looking into buying a microscope for my fiancé, she is pursuing a Veterinary degree. I don't know a lot about microscopes. I was wondering what are the good models, and I would also like to get one that takes digital images.

 

I thought this would be a great gift for her and I can use it for my coins! Just don't tell her that!

 

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated :-) [/font]

[Ted K-migration]

I was going to post this thread. In particular, I'm looking for a decent trinocular microscope as I've got an SLR that I want to use for the imaging. As to your situation, I would say it would depend on if she's looking at things at low enough magnification that a specimen microscope would do the trick (and would be great for coins) but if she's needing 200x and the like, it might toss it out of the realm of the ability to image coins well. So, dissected rats or slides of cells?

[Hoot]

A good dissecting scope is what is needed for coins and for many examinations in biology that do not require looking at cells. (For the latter, you need a good compound scope.) Personally, I have a Nikon SMZ800, which is a great zoom dissecting scope. It accepts a photo tube that will work with Nikon cameras and has superb optics. Look for a used one in "like new" condition.

 

Hoot

[michael]

mircoscopes are not good for examining coins

 

you actually need a stereoscope

 

and a nice one, brand new with built-in lighting features and up to 30x power are available on the market for 200.00 or less

 

here is a web site that might answer some of your questions...................

 

http://www.coinmicroscopes.com/

[stinkycheese1]

mircoscopes are not good for examining coins

 

you actually need a stereoscope

 

and a nice one, brand new with built-in lighting features and up to 30x power are available on the market for 200.00 or less

 

here is a web site that might answer some of your questions...................

 

http://www.coinmicroscopes.com/

 

If you want a microscope for coins that you can take photos of the coins with then I recommend the digital blue microscope.

I have one, it's great. Just a bit messed up (my rabbits chewed the wires off)

 

[MorganMan]

I have a Digital Blue, and I can take better photos with my camera than the microscope. It does OK on the low power, but the higher powers are hard to focus and grainy in my opinion. And even then, the resolution is only 640 x 480.

 

It is what it is: A kids toy.

 

MM

[cpm9ball]

I have a Digital Blue, and I can take better photos with my camera than the microscope. It does OK on the low power, but the higher powers are hard to focus and grainy in my opinion. And even then, the resolution is only 640 x 480.

 

It is what it is: A kids toy.

 

MM

 

I tried the Digital Blue "Toy" Microscope, too. It was a waste of money for taking pictures of coins. I opted for the Pacific Science stereomicroscope with a 10x-40x zoom. It was a special sale, package deal that came with a gooseneck, flexcam and the imaging software. It costed $825. I'm still learning about the software, but here are some examples of its capability.

 

Chris

 

[doug6078-migration]

I would suggest one that worked with a computer they can go as close up or as far as you need they are high for a good one but well worth it.