Stereo Microscope

I've been playing around with the idea of getting a new toy, I mean tool. Anyone use one of these?

American Scope
5X-10X-15X-30XR Stereo Coin Microscope + USB Camera
Model SE305R-PX-P

The price isn't too bad, $235.16 + shipping. My concern is that I have bought many tools and they haven't all turned out as useful as I had hoped. So, before I drop my stamp money I'm looking for comments.

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

Art

I always go to Amazon and read the reviews for whatever it is I want, before I buy it.

I was considering buying an endoscope. I think the stereo microscope is better. If you deal in coins as well as stamps it would be a smart investment.

Just curious, but would you get a similar result from doing a very high resolution scan and popping it into photoshop for enlargement?

Terry

Only 30x mag?

Features:

"Clear images with 640x480 resolution" Thats it ? My computer Monitor is 1680 X 1050 and I have an older LCD. For $235 you can buy a 24" Monitor that will do 1920 X 1080 resolution.

What you are looking at is what is known as a dissecting microscope. They are, by design, low power, which explains the 30x figure. For the sort of detail you are looking at, too much power means too little depth of field, so only parts of the subject are in focus. The other advantage is that , being binocular, it is truly stereo so you get a bit of a 3D effect. That may be why it is advertised for coins more so than stamps. As for the USB hookup I don't know. There is a microscope accessory called a camera lucida which may be the same thing. Price wise, it sounds good, but I am always leery when something says "retail value is $900" and "regular price $479.92" and "sale price $235.16" on the same page. Check with a local science store or look at this example from Edmund Scientific, a long established firm: http://www.scientificsonline.com/hi...oscope.html. Whatever you do, don't be seduced by high power. 30x is 15 times more magnification than in a standard magnifying glass, 3 times more than a 10x loupe. You don't need it for stamps.

Stray Feathers has hit the nail on the head. The absolute MAX you want is 50X, and that's considerable overkill. What you NEED is 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, plus one higher setting.

I have an old Asahi-Pentax close-up lens, 8x30 6.2 (25x) and it works very well. I should build a little stand for it, because it shakes (or I shake). Its strongest point is that you can probably find a used one for $20 or less. But no way to hook up a camera. Wish I knew how to take it apart to clean the lens. And I agree, READ Amazon reviews.

Hi doug2222,

The way in to a lens is through the front. There is a ring around the front element which has two opposing slots. You will need a lens spanner for this. Good ones cost around £20 ($30). And a small felt pad to protect the lens. Behind that there may be some screws holding the filter ring on. Behind that are the lens elements, usually glued together in groups with balsam. Unless this glue has gone cloudy or mouldy there is no need to take the elements apart. If there is mould then it is a pro job and will cost about what a replacement lens would set you back anyway. Somewhere in there will be the aperture ring assembly. Tread with care. Remove the lens sections and clean. Do not use lens polish. Lay everything out in the order extracted and reassemble after cleaning in the reverse order. Practice on a gash lens. Lots more info on-line. Good luck.

Terry

Ps. I was once quoted £65 ($95) plus postage both ways at an extra £20 ($30) to tighten a loose flash hotshoe on a Konica Hexar rangefinder camera. Found how to do it on-line and with one small technical screwdriver and 10 minutes of my time had it fixed.

TC.

Found this image on pinterest.
Colored scanning electron micrograph of a perforation at x26 magnification

Hi

Just an interesting comment. A friend of mine used a Norden BombSight eye piece. Where he got it I have no idea. His briefcase weighed a ton. The detail it showed was unreal.

Jerry B