Suggestions on a new loupe
erwindoc
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With the holidays approaching, I think that a better loupe might be good to put on the list. Suggestions on brands and magnification?
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if you don't mind spending over $100 (you'll be lucky to find one for less) i'm still a big fan of the zeiss 3x6x9. nice wide field and 3 different magnification options in a sturdy housing. i haven't checked on prices in several years so i don't know where they are at now. i'd be nice if they were half that price but what can ya do?
I agree with Lance. You can't go wrong with the Zeiss 3+6=9. I've owned one for a long time. nother option is the Eschenbach Acromat 3+6=9 at about the same price point. I actually give the edge to the Eschenbach - not for optics - but because it attaches to a lanyard easier than the Zeiss. I've owned the Eschenbach for a long time too.
These two are wonderful for most coins. If you are going to look for tiny pick-up points on varieties, these may not have enough magnification.
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What are you using now and how would you like it to be better?
a good point about the lanyard attachment. i'll look up that eschenbach.
fwiw, there are probably 50+ threads on this subject.
eschenbach?
zeiss
I didn't write anything when there weren't any posts yet because I expected the overwhelming majority of recommendations would be the Zeiss. However, use a Bausch & Lomb 5x and I call these "disposable" lenses since it always seems to be that one or two extra ones are left at my table by folks at shows. It has an aspheric acrylic lens and this is the piece I use 95% or more of the time. When I want or need to get closer I use a Zeiss 10x objective lens from a microscope that I keep in it screw-top plastic holder. Yes, I am a science geek. Regardless, the Zeiss 10x is superb.
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The large glass 2x generic magnifier was acquired cheap at Wizard years ago and is indispensable when scanning lots of coins quickly.
The 5x Eshenbach is then used for the up close work.
My personal favorite for grading is a 5x Eschenbach #1177.
I use a Bausch and Lomb 10x (I need higher magnification for varieties) and it comes highly recommended from me!
Coin Photographer.
When I started in this hobby I spent about a year going through crap magnification devices. I got frustrated and posted a thread on this form ages ago asking what to get. The main recommendations were basically the same as in this thread. I went with the Eschenbach 3x6x9 and never looked back. I absolutely love the thing and have been using the same one for nearly 19 years now.
Eschenbach Acromat 3+6 is what I have. A superb lens, especially at 3x. I have some more powerful ones like a Nikon 10x but the eye relief is smaller and the field isn’t as flat.
My only loupe is a 16x. As a variety hawk the extra power is very useful. Maybe a lower powered loupe may be a good investment as well.
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I like a 16x as well, since I like varieties. It's the only one I use and have become quite adept at scanning large numbers of coins with it.
I love my Eschenbach 4X6 loupe. The lenses are a little bigger in diameter (I like that), and I don't require super high magnification for what I do.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
I have a 5x10x15 no name on it, I've had for 25 years and a 2-3x 3" common magnifier. The loupe works fine for me, I guess I've never used a higher quality loupe. Exactly what would you describe as the difference between a $100-$400 lens and a cheaper lens. Is it just a clearer focus, a color issue or what exactly. I wouldn't mind the expense so much as knowing the true difference before purchasing. Don't really have anyone I could borrow one off of to make a visual comparison. As I said, mine works for what I've needed it to do for me, so not really a reason to replace it, just curious.
Jim
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Eschenbach 3x6x9.
3x6x9's zeiss or eschenbach. If you collect silver dollars I would recommend a Bausch 4x or 3x-4x=7x larger lens
Scarce to find , try old B and M shops.
and can see more of the dollar all at once. Suprising some top dealers use this combo.
When I was a kid 60's dealers were using japanese 4x+4x=8x's
I addition I always bourse it with a 10x and an Anco 16x for varieties..
I like the Bausch & Lomb, Hastings Triplet, 7X or 10X
Lighthouse 5x if you can find one.
I'm using a Bausch & Lomb 10x Hastings triplet. They're about $30-40. The 3+6 magnifier above is more versatile, but more expensive. If you really want a nice 10x and money is not an issue, there's the Schneider 10x loupe, which is expensive, but hellaciously sharp.
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I like the Eschenbach “10 Aplanet” generally but when it is time to separate the “wheat from the chaff” of a variety, I like using a "14X Hastings Triplet Bausch & Lomb".
Right. I think the 10x is a nice middle ground and overall works quite nicely, as it can function as a grading loupe as well (though most grading is done without a loupe).
Coin Photographer.
If it's the 16x I think it is ($20-30, Arco, about 3/4" in diameter), then you'll see varieties better with the Bausch & Lomb 10x Hastings. The cheap 16x is only somewhat sharp dead center, then it starts to become distorted closer to the edges.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Like potato chips, you can't just have one.
My personal choice, and what I'd recommend, is to go with the:
Bausch & Lomb 5x packette magnifier for quick review
Zeiss 3 x 6 x 9 for closer examination **
**There was a notice on one of the web sites I visited which indicated that this product has been Discontinued by Manufacturer, so going forward, if that info is correct, availability may become difficult.
If your looking for a one and done, best of both worlds, approach and you have a budget in mind, I'd suggest Bausch & Lomb 7x loupe as an overall good performer at a lower entry cost.
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Check eBay. I've picked up a couple of Zeiss magnifiers that were lightly used for a fraction of their retail price.
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Wonderful hand-free options! May be used with or without mustache/tophat.
Have the Zeiss but the standard B and L is usually enough, anything like that is better than nothing.
I have used the Zeiss 3x6x9 for over thirty years. Great product. Nothing wrong with the Eschenbach, I have seen those at shows. Cheers, RickO
The one above LanceNewman spoke about is the way to go. Dual lenses that go from around 4X to 8X is optimal. I bought one that was 16X just to identify doubling etc, I hate it.
I have 2 B&L's 7x loupes on lanyards. Haven't been to a show in a long time but use to wear one wherever I went.
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I have the Harris & Co 16x, B&L 10X, B&L 30X 21mm for varieties, Eschenbach 10X and my go to Belomo 10X Triplet. The Eschenback magnification is very clear, but was expensive and narrow FOV, esp for dollars. I think the Belomo is as clear as the Eschenback, has larger FOV and was 1/3 the price. They were/are made in Belarus.
Been thinking about getting a new loupe myself. I don't particularly like the 2 in 1 loupes. Will probably look into a Bausch & Lomb.
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I keep misplacing mine so I have an inexpensive one that does the job for my skills - a HE Harris 16x
The 10X BelOMO triplet with coated optics is very popular with professional geologists for examining mineral specimens in the field. Before the colapse of the Soviet Union, BelOMO (Belarus Optical-Mechanical Organization) made all the Soviet military optics for cruise missles, spy satillites, sniper scopes,etc but have since directed their efforts toward the civilian market. I have one and they have very high quality optics and they are a very ruggid with all-steel housing.
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"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I love my ESCHENBACH 4X-6X Loupe.
Been using this 7 X magnifier sine 2007. Carry it in this old prescription bottle.
