What Magnifying Device Do You Use.

Hi.

I am interested to know what type of magnifying hardware
others use for their collecting.

My eyesight is declining and also I have cataracts in both
eyes, that sometimes present problems for me when inspecting
stamps in my collection.

I am thinking of buying a good magnifying product, one with
built in lighting so if you have a suggestion then please post
a reply. A pic would also be nice, if you have one.

Thanks for your help and experience on this subject.

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Digital hand held microscope. You can take pictures and video with it. Cost less than $40.

Proper magnification and light is everything - and just as important it should be convenient to use.

For easy use I am using this most of the time:

http://www.lighthouse.us/epages/lig...cts/LU190LED


If more details are required I use this:

http://www.lighthouse.us/epages/lig...Products/FZ5

For the most difficult cases I use high resoultion scans, however this takes time and is thus awkward when there are many stamps to study.
I also have a device similar to Battlestamps doing a good job, however one is depending on having a PC/laptop on the desk as well...
I am dreaming about getting this stand-alone solution on my desk some day:

http://www.lighthouse.us/epages/lig...Products/DM3

I buy every magnafying glass I see at yardsales an keep 1 in every room lol

I use this from DX. It works great and is only $4 with free shipping from China!

[30X 21mm + 60X 12mm Jewelers Loupes/Magnifiers with LED Light & UV Money Detector (3*LR1130)]

I use something similar to the FZ25 and it seems to be adequate for my needs

For magnification, I use my elbow.

But what I find I really need is light. English translations of the bible often use the idiom 'his eyes dimmed' and, boy, does that ever nail it!

Back in the day, the US Navy - trying to systematize the selection of lookouts - did a study of iris diameter and found that the iris of an 18-y/o would open to a maximum of ~10mm, and that this dropped very rapidly with age ... eg, the iris of a 27-y/o was only opening to ~5mm, therefor admitting 1/4 as much light.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Bimbo,

I use an Optivisor with optional LED lighting. Also, some of the magnifiers already shown above.

Jack Kelley

I have tried a zillion different hand-held magnifiers, visors, jewelers eyeglasses, digital microscopes, etc. Any of them are fine if you are looking at "a stamp" for detail, but if trying to create a workflow for examining hundreds (or thousands) of stamps, it becomes a bit trickier.

I like to work on my stamps while watching TV, so visors and eyeglass attachments don't work. Handheld magnifiers mean working at a slow pace, and most do not have sufficient magnification for flyspecking.

Most USB magnifiers and microscopes have either poor camera quality, poor lighting, or too much digital interpolation. They also tend to have too small of a field of vision to see an entire stamp without moving something around.

High-end low vision magnification systems with HD cameras are ridiculously expensive.

I have yet to find the perfect system that allows hands-free operation with sufficient image clarity and size, and at a budget price.

If anyone is interested, I am selling the Merlin low-vision system I showcased in the thread below. I need something that is (1) less bulky, and (2) has better image quality.

https://goscf.com/t/31208

I purchased a 8x magnifier with LED light and measurement guide (in both mm and parts of an inch) made by Lighthouse from a well-known Australian dealer who is very much involved in that other stamp collecting forum. It is a great great piece of equipment and if that dealer has any more you could do no better than get one from him.

Product description is here http://www.lighthouse.us/epages/lig...oducts/LU151

Did I mention that the one I use has two different magnifcations (30X and 60X) and has an LED and UV light...and it is only $4

I really like the Coil magnifiers, made by a firm in the UK. This one is the 7x version- Coil 8277 ATmax LED Illuminated Hand Held Magnifier; I also have a 5x.

The lens is very large and the LEDs very, very bright. Also, these magnifiers don't have an on-off switch that can accidentally drain your batteries. When you hold the handle, the LEDs light up and stay lit as long as you hold the handle. When done, putting the magnifier down shuts off the power automatically.

shermae - I like that one! Never heard off it. Simply take it in your hand and the hunt is on - perfect! thanks

My pleasure Blaamand, you are more than welcome.

An old technology that has, finally, thankfully, made it to this application.

My newer BOSE table radios also turn on & off when (if I've got it right) you ground the micro current flowing thru the case.

Don't know how the circuit in your magnifier works, but I can say that it is brilliant.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Wow! I am very impressed with your replies to my need and say
a big thank you.

I have opted for an handheld one from a guy called Glen in
Australia. It has 3 leds and is 10x magnification. It is very
similar to the one DJCMHOH gives a link to. There are others
in your posts that intrigue me, especially the one that lights
up when you pick it up. I will be checking all your suggestions
out and more than likely buy one or two others.

Thank you for your response and help.

Vince