Digital microscopes

[Brotherman]

Chris’s cent search post lead me to ask what do YOU use when

searching through a lot of coins? I use a Digital Blue Microscope. It projects

the image in 10X, 60X or 200X right on your computer screen - both PC and

Mac versions are available. The 10X is great for searching, the 200X is great

for close-up viewing. You can also capture your image as a jpeg. There are

more expensive digital microscopes out there, but I found Digital Blue (about

a $100) to be the best fit for me. It was designed as a children’s toy but it

does such a good job they are often used on college campuses. You can

get them at several locations – Amazon has one but it’s $170 – yikes. Mac

users can find them at HERE

Ebay is another source. I’ve found the PC version for about $80 here are 2 sellers:

EBAY 1

EBAY 2

I’m not vouching for these sellers, just pointing out that they can be found at

a good price on ebay.

 

Make sure you get the QX 5 model and NOT the QX 3

The QX 3 is a piece of junk.

Proscope is another popular digital microscope. Their website is HERE

It is a nice microscope but the microscope itself is $250. Then you need a

stand - $160 It comes with a 50X lens so you’ll also have to spend $110 on

the 10X lens. Or you can get much of the package in a carrying case

for $590 – BUT you’ll still need to buy the 10X lens! The total damage = $700

+ shipping. It's available for Mac as well at Apple's store.

The Proscope is sometimes repackaged as a Coinscope. You might have

seen this version at tradeshows

 

Here are a couple of snapshots with my Digital Blue

 

One more thing, if you are a Mac user and want to get a Digital Blue get them

at the Apple store only – that way you are assured you are getting the

right version.

 

Hays

 

I edited this to say that the first pic is a little blurry due to my old eyes NOT

the microscope!

[Brotherman]

I forget that Apple’s site gives you a limited amount of time – so my link

doesn’t work.

Apple’s website is www.apple.com

 

Hays

[MunkyMan95]

From the looks of the photos of the microscope, it looks like it's cheap plastic. Can it handle the wear and tear that is coin collecting?

[Brotherman]

It is plastic but it is quite durable – it was designed for kids to knock around.

I’ve had mine for almost 6 months or so – no problems. Also I forgot to

mention that the microscope can detach from the base so it can be used

as a handheld.

 

Hays

 

Edited AGAIN - to say that the 60X is great for viewing close-up. The 200X

would be good for seeing if metal has been added, moved, or removed.

[cpm9ball]

Thanks, Hays! I just ordered the first one with free shipping. I wonder if I should wait searching the rest of the Lincolns?

 

Chris

[Brotherman]

Thanks, Hays! I just ordered the first one with free shipping. I wonder if I should wait searching the rest of the Lincolns?

 

Chris

 

YES!! If your eyes, neck, and back hurt - just wait! I think you will like it. You

can resize the image on your computer screen so the coin takes up the

whole thing! The 10X doesn't quite show thw whole cent at once, but it will

speed up your search time - plus it is so easy on the eyes

 

Hays

[Brotherman]

Chris - You DID get the QX 5 right?!?

 

Hays

[cpm9ball]

Chris - You DID get the QX 5 right?!?

 

Hays

 

C H R I S

[Brotherman]

Chris – one more thing…

It comes with absolutely NO printed directions.

Load the software FIRST before you plug in the microscope! Also, when in use

be sure to close down the program before you disconnect the microscope.

 

Hays

[zrlevin]

He bought from your first ebay link.

 

I think I will too this afternoon.

 

This guy should pay you advertising fees!

[MunkyMan95]

Yeah Hays, I'm thinking about buying one myself. Not that I search through that many coins, but in the past I've needed to get closeups of coins that I just can't do with my digital camera.

[Brotherman]

He bought from your first ebay link.

 

I think I will too this afternoon.

 

This guy should pay you advertising fees!

 

...I agree.

How could you NOT love this thing?

It may not win you any photo contests, but you can get decent

pics on your computer with a push of a button - plus it's almost 9 times

cheaper than the competition. For me it is a perfect solution for

searching circulated coins.

 

Hays

[Brotherman]

Yeah Hays, I'm thinking about buying one myself. Not that I search through that many coins, but in the past I've needed to get closeups of coins that I just can't do with my digital camera.

 

Man - I shoulda been SELLING these things to you all!

 

Hays

[Brotherman]

I thought I would show you more photos.

The first one is a 200X view of the die crack

You saw in my first post.

The next 3 pics show another die crack.

Different coin – same location.

Finally, here is a cent that is so weakly

struck that most of Liberty is missing

as well as the entire date.

At first I thought the missing items were

worn off. It seemed evident that the flat

parts in Lincoln’s dress meant wear. But

A close-up of Liberty shows no heavy lines

and none going in the same direction. It

occurred to me that the flat areas were not

wear but the flat area of the blank that

didn’t fill the die.

When I rotated the coin I could just

barely make out the date - 2000

 

Well, there are a few more examples.

Hope you like them.

 

Hays

 

Edited to correct an image - man, what's with me today?

[zrlevin]

Do you happen to know how many megapixels the microscope's camera is?

[Brotherman]

Do you happen to know how many megapixels the microscope's camera is?

 

The website says the microscope’s resolution is 640 X 480. I don’t know if

that answers your question. I can’t find anything about megapixels. I

can’t imagine it is much more than 1 or 2 though. I didn’t edit the size of

the photos to post them, so you can see that they are on the small side and

they are still a little grainy

 

On the other hand, here is the closest pic to a coin that I found on the

Proscope’s website: (it's the head of a screw)

It doesn’t look like the pic is any better, not worse either. For $620 less – I’ll stick with the Digital Blue.

 

Hays

 

Looks like I'm going to edit ALL my posts today

[HaydenTubbs]

If a camera's highest resolution is 640x480 it's probably right around 1MP...

[Excaliber]

Make sure you get the QX 5 model and NOT the QX 3

The QX 3 is a piece of junk.

 

I have been very happy with my lil $19.99 QX3, works for me!

 

 

 

 

[Brotherman]

Make sure you get the QX 5 model and NOT the QX 3

The QX 3 is a piece of junk.

 

I have been very happy with my lil $19.99 QX3, works for me!

 

 

 

 

 

I should have known that those words were gonna haunt me.

 

In my defense I was just repeating reviews that I read about the QX 3 – personally I’ve never used it.

 

So let me say this:

If you want to use it for capturing images, then the QX 3 is a fine choice as well as the cheapest route. Apparently with a little work you can get great snapshots as Excaliber has done.

 

If however you want to search through lots of coins I would still suggest the QX 5. It’s only a few bucks more and the focusing is more stable.

 

Would you agree Excaliber?

 

Hays

[Excaliber]

Make sure you get the QX 5 model and NOT the QX 3

The QX 3 is a piece of junk.

 

I have been very happy with my lil $19.99 QX3, works for me!

 

 

 

 

 

I should have known that those words were gonna haunt me.

 

In my defense I was just repeating reviews that I read about the QX 3 – personally I’ve never used it.

 

So let me say this:

If you want to use it for capturing images, then the QX 3 is a fine choice as well as the cheapest route. Apparently with a little work you can get great snapshots as Excaliber has done.

 

If however you want to search through lots of coins I would still suggest the QX 5. It’s only a few bucks more and the focusing is more stable.

 

Would you agree Excaliber?

 

Hays

 

 

Yes, i agree, i was just messing with ya. I got mine RIGHT after the QX5 came out in a "closeout" sale. I didn't have any experience with microscopes at all and figured i couldn't lose much with it just being $20, but you are correct, everything i've read has said the QX5 is WAY better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brotherman]

Yes, i agree, i was just messing with ya. I got mine RIGHT after the QX5 came out in a "closeout" sale. I didn't have any experience with microscopes at all and figured i couldn't lose much with it just being $20, but you are correct, everything i've read has said the QX5 is WAY better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hays

[HalfMad-migration]

Hays,

Having read through this thread the other day,I ordered the Digital Blue microscope from the Apple Store and just received it today. It's a pretty neat little item.

 

The one thing I overlooked in this thread was your comment that it can't take a full image even of a cent. And I had hoped to use it as a convenient way to capture images of half dollars!

 

I guess now I have to decide whether to keep it for looking for die varieties or other high magnfication tasks or send it back. Oh well. Next time I will know to temper my excitement and ask a few more questions.

 

Rich

[MunkyMan95]

I read the reviews on the QX 5 and the lighing seems of a poor quality. Also looked at the Apple store, and HalfMad, you could have gotten one for $20 less off of eBay.

[Brotherman]

Please understand that I DIDN'T mean to imply that this is the greatest

digital microscope made. There are some things that bug me. Like I can’t get

a photo of an entire coin – haven’t tried dimes but they are not that much

smaller than cents. I haven’t had any problems with lighting but I keep a

desk light on as well as the overhead lights so maybe they compensate for

this microscope's shortcomings. Also the images at 10X aren’t razor sharp.

If I see something of interest I always flip it to 60X for a better look.

 

BUT the Proscope is $700! Hey, this one is probably a better

microscope – it better be at that price. It is even used by police crime labs!

 

If you read my first post I said the Digital Blue was a good fit for me. At only 80

to 100 bucks, I think gets the job done. I bought mine from the apple

store because I use it with my iBook. I know there are $80 models of the QX 5

on eBay, but every one I’ve seen is the PC version – I have to be honest I

didn’t search that hard though. For some reason they don’t ship these

with software for both the Mac and the PC. For all I know the hardware might

be a little different.

 

If you want the best possible microscope, and you have an extra 700 bucks,

get the Proscope. Maybe there is an even better more expensive unit out there.

I don’t know for sure but I searched for weeks and these were the only two

I found. I think that if you get one you will like it.

 

Hays

[SuperDave]

I love my QX-5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd do a "Name That VAM" quiz with this, but they aren't all VAM's yet.

[Brotherman]

SuperDave

 

Those are some nice pics.

I really like the last two.

 

Hays

[MikeKing]

I love it, I want one of these!!!

[Brotherman]

I wonder if any one else got this microscope?

 

I know crazyboutcoins and Halfmad did - though I don’t know if Halfmad kept

his because he was mainly interested in taking pictures of the entire coin.

This thing can’t do that.

Chris (cmp9ball) said he had ordered one as well. I haven’t seen him post

in awhile - could he be in Baltimore?

 

If you did buy one or already have one please post your honest opinions on

this product. There might be a few people still on the fence and your

assessment might help them make a decision. If you know of another

digital microscope, please tell us about that too.

 

Hays

[Regis44]

I bought one and am "basically" satisfied BUT, not thrilled because you can not get an entire coin view. It is cheap but, depends what you really need it for. The area to manuver coin is small (for my large hands anyway). To just check coins, I believe you could do as well if you had a video camera or old digital camera with macro or reasonable close up and ran it into 27" or larger TV. If you want to save or post close-up pictures, this is in-expensive solution. The software is more for children but, does work. And, you can save jpeg's to do anything you want. I'll use it some but, not as much as I thought when I ordered it.

 

Regis (still roaming Atlanta with my laptop)