Brand of Loupe you use??? are some really worth the $$??

goose3

I use 2 different ones...........a 10x and a 17x. both are Anco brand I think.

I've been thinking about buying a NICE one such as a Bausch and Lomb or even a Zeiss.

Are they worth the dough???


Got any links where to find them at good prices?


ThANKS!

tracker

Belomo Triplet 10X has been good for me. Soviet made and has the quality of most higher end models. And @ $11.00 + s/h... it was a bargain. Can't remember where I bought it online.

coppercoins

I have looked through many different brands of loupes...Zeiss, B&L, Anco...and I frankly cannot tell the difference between them. My dealer friend has a very expensive $100 10X loupe that he swears by, but I really cannot tell the difference between that and my $10 16X Anco.

wingedliberty

7-10x power is best for grading. Lowest distortion and highest quality are Baush and Lomb, about $40
and Zeiss which is more expensive. I use the B&L.

16x is best for variety attribution. ANCO is pretty good on those.


Brian.

oldcameoproofsguy

I've got a VIGOR 18mm 10X Loupe. It is probably the Fiat of Loupes but it works and it only set me back $12.

Oops, if it works, it must not be a Fiat.

JLW

Ruper 10X, made in Japan, I've had it forever, it was extremely cheap, and has been extremely useful.
Joe

stman

I used to only use a 5 power slide, then when viewing classic proofs for a while I bought a cheap 10 power. It didn't work as well as I would have liked. Then bought a B&L triplet 10 power and love it.

I truly feel you get what you pay for sometimes. Also that cheap 10 power I compared it to a 7 and it was the same.

redhott

max for grading is 5 power, any more and you're inspecting the coin

stman

<< <i>max for grading is 5 power, any more and you're inspecting the coin >>




When you are looking for hairlines on proofs and getting older in years, also paying a lot of money.

Darn right I'll inspect the coin.

gmarguli

NGC uses Zeiss. I don't know about PCGS. ANACS uses a 30000X electron microscope.

Personally, I'm happy with my Anco 17X. Most coins you don't need a loupe for. I like the 17X because it makes it easy tolook at varieties.

hughesm1

I use a Bausch & Lomb 5-20x triplet, works really well when cherrypicking or Vamming.

michael

i use an old camera lenses round in copper about 1.25 inch Across it is like a 3/4x then i have a 5 x and i mostly use the old 1900 camera lenses

then i use a hastings triplet bausch and lomb 20x the best of the best in the entire world !! it has paid for itself many many many times over! got it 25 years ago

for close work!! bausch and lomb was started jhere in rochester and at one time i had all the henry lombs civil war medals as he was sort of a hero in the civil war fought for the north!

i got them from my friend whose father knew lomb and served with him in the civil war!

sincerely michael

MrKelso

I use a GEM 30x Loupe. These old eye's need a lot of help. I also use a very Old Stylis inspection scope. It's 18x and was used years ago by Audiophiles to inspect there phonograph Stylis. The Scope is Excellent for looking over Slabbed Morgans.

matteproof

I use a Zeiss D36, 12+24 (9x/3x + 6x). It is a superb loupe. I paid about $100 bucks for it. I think it is well worth it (even though lighting at coin shows is ALWAYS terrible).

matteproof

nwcs

I use a cheap 16x doublet I got at books-a-million.

MacCoin

I have a black plasic 10x 20x 30x I got off ebay with no brand name on it (it kind of sucks) and a nice doublet 16x I really like. I got at a coin shop.

66Tbird

Well, it looks like I am the only one that uses that big comically giant 10 X. loupe. For me it works very well to quickly search through large quantities of coins. As soon as something interesting pops up I switched to the B&L 10x, then if it warrants further examination I grab the 30 X. Triplett. I believe the total price for all three was less than $50

mdwoods

I use this one. It is a Bausch & Lomb. The glass lenses are 1.5" in dia. and are 3X & 4X, and can be combined for 7X. It costs around 20 bucks. As you will see from the link, they also have a 4X,5X, combined 9X model that is actually a bit cheaper. mdwoods

B & L Magnifier

Gilbert

I use a Zeiss D36, 12+24 (9x/3x + 6x). It is a superb loupe. I paid about $100 bucks for it. I think it is well worth it (even though lighting at coin shows is ALWAYS terrible).

Finally, someone else not afraid to admit eccentricity

A loupe is a "tool" of the trade. Acquiring a loupe is like buying a pair of pliers. Some will buy at TruValue - some at Sears - and some will wait until the "Snap-on" truck arrives once a month. Is it sufficient to do the job - is it designed for this kind of work - OR is it the right tool for the job.

Some loupes magnify, some loupes are durable, some loupes are durable, magnify and have corrected lenses. Some are designed for jewels and some are designed for coins; some are just designed.

I have a B&L triplett, the Zeiss D36 mentioned, a 17X Anco and other magnifiers, and use them all. My favorite is the Zeiss due to size, durability, corrected magnification, variable power and I'm not likely to have someone claim it as theirs (when around numerous others). Just depends on what you need and what you want.

paigowjohnny

I've got an old cheapie 3-5x plastic thing I use to take a first broad look, and a Harris 10x for more detailed looking...I wish I had bought the 13x model, but the 10 is fine for my purposes...

Tootawl

<< <i>I use this one. It is a Bausch & Lomb. The glass lenses are 1.5" in dia. and are 3X & 4X, and can be combined for 7X. It costs around 20 bucks. As you will see from the link, they also have a 4X,5X, combined 9X model that is actually a bit cheaper. mdwoods >>



This is the exact one that I use. I like because it has a large viewable area.