Loupes- are you using a good one?

darktone · October 30, 2004 3:24PM

A good quality loupe with a wide field of vision is a must in my book. mike

wingedliberty · October 30, 2004 3:28PM

I use a Vigor 10x and a Boush & Lomb triplet 7x.

foodude · October 30, 2004 3:35PM

A 5x Eschenbach loupe. There is no substitute. They cost about $60-$70.

michael · October 30, 2004 4:26PM

yes and no

bausch and lomb hastings triplet 20x

medium big old projector lens from circa turn of the century 1900 4x or so just recently stopped using

cheap piece of sh!t 10x double glass loupe made in china

michael

RYK · October 30, 2004 7:09PM

I previously used a B&L Hastings 7x. At the ANA, a good friend had me upgrade to a Zeiss D36, and it has made quite a difference.

BigD5 · October 30, 2004 9:46PM

I have a Hastings 7x and 10x. I use the 7x almost exclusively unless I'm looking for something specific.

It's always scary when someone approaches the table using a portable electron microscope type of loupe looking to buy coins, but if they're selling.....

coinkat · October 30, 2004 9:52PM

I use a 16x which everyone tells me is way too powerful and that I won't buy anything... I always respond by saying I just want to know what I am buying. It was inexpensive...no more than $20. I refuse to spend more because I have a habit of leaving them at dealer tables at shows...

Cameonut · October 30, 2004 10:06PM

I have several loupes - including B&L Hastings triplets, but the two I use 99% of the time are the Zeiss D36 and the Eschenbach equivalent. Both are wonderful loupes - I don't see any difference optically. They have great field of view and the ability to switch from 3x to 6x to 9x. But I give a slight nod to the Eschenbach only because it has a better way to hook it to a lanyard.

I don't mind spending more than $100 on a good loupe. It will pay for itself when you find that hairline or defect you wouldn't have seen otherwise.

cladking · October 30, 2004 10:49PM

For everyday use I have a large wide angled ~8X glass from an industrial mass spectrometer. For
close-ups I have a couple old scientific microscopes (one is portable) and a Hastings 18X. For look-
ing at large numbers of coins I've got a ~6x power lens that's 5 inches across from an old X-ray ma-
chine mounted on an arm on my desk.

I also use a 30X lens from a telescope for looking for seems and have several other glasses that get
used on rare occasion.

Luvdawgs · October 30, 2004 11:48PM

I have two Hasting triplets. I am interested in learning more about the Zeiss and the Eschenbach after reading your posts, though.

Shamika · October 31, 2004 1:15AM

I have Hastings 7x and 14x triplets.

nwcs · October 31, 2004 1:17AM

Yes, I use a good one.

Cameonut · October 31, 2004 1:27AM

Luvdawgs
Zeiss loupes are available from Margolis 305-865-3487 or loupeman@bell-south.net.

Eschenbach loupes are availble here:
Safe (you may have to look around in this site)

Hope that helps.

foodude · October 31, 2004 1:35AM

This is the one I use:

No. 9870-F - 1-1/16" diameter biconvex glass lens with 5X magnification in a chrome plated body.

Here is the link to the page referred to by Cameonut
Safe

guysmy · October 31, 2004 1:36AM

I ordered a Harris/Anco 10x wide field loupe off the Brent-Krueger site a few days ago. It's a cheapie but hopefully it will be good enough for an absolute beginner.

coinkat · October 31, 2004 1:42AM

I should mention that I use a microscope at home for VAMs, attributions etc...

shylock · October 31, 2004 2:56AM

A 3+6=9 Eschenbach, a Mercedes compared to the K-car I was using.

saintguru · October 31, 2004 2:59AM

Bausch and Lomb...7X and a 10X for really scrutinizing.

boiler78 · October 31, 2004 3:10AM

I was completely sold on Zeiss until Newmismatist turned me on to Eschenbach. There is no comparisson between the two. The Eschenbach is the best I have ever "seen"

mgoodm3 · October 31, 2004 3:11AM

B&L hastings 7X and 10X. Actually use my camera more now as a magnifier.

DaveG · October 31, 2004 4:03AM

I use a B&L Packette 5x.

At least I never have to worry about losing it and no one's ever made fun of me for using it or has declined to borrow it!

RYK · October 31, 2004 4:16AM

At least I never have to worry about losing it and no one's ever made fun of me for using it or has declined to borrow it!

When two friends, one a dealer, refused to use my Hastings 7x, the writing was on the wall.

Actually use my camera more now as a magnifier.

Good point, Mark. But it's cumbersome to use it a show to look at auction lots or coins on the bourse.

I will have to check out an Eshenbach.

mgoodm3 · October 31, 2004 4:20AM

What's the matter with dragging my camera and copystand around a show? I could just borrow a computer at some dealer's table and look at them.

RYK · October 31, 2004 4:31AM

What's the matter with dragging my camera and copystand around a show? I could just borrow a computer at some dealer's table and look at them.

And lamps? Good point. I stand corrected.

jom · October 31, 2004 4:33AM

I use one I got out of a Cracker Jack box. Do you think that's good enough?

jom

Aethelred · October 31, 2004 5:05AM

I only use Eschenbach. I have a 5x and 10x that I use every day!

foodude · October 31, 2004 5:11AM

I've used a 5x Eschenbach loupe since about 1990 or so. I'm on my second one. After about 12 years of use, the lense fell out.

Aethelred · October 31, 2004 5:46AM

<< <i>I've used a 5x Eschenbach loupe since about 1990 or so. I'm on my second one. After about 12 years of use, the lense fell out. >>

They hold up pretty well, I have had my current one since 1997 and it is still in good working order. Some of the black paint you see in the photo above is chipped off, but other than that no problems.

K6AZ · October 31, 2004 5:50AM

Interesting. I tried an Eschenbach once and didn't really care for it. I've been using 7x and 20x Hastings loupes for some time and am perfectly happy with them.

JadeRareCoin · October 31, 2004 5:54AM

Zeiss D-36 (24/12) aplanatic-achromatic magnifier. The best I have found. Use it daily.

MacCrimmon · October 31, 2004 5:56AM

<< <i>The Eschenbach is the best I have ever "seen" >>

Yep!!

I use a 6x and 12x Eschenbach.

foodude · October 31, 2004 6:32AM

They hold up pretty well, I have had my current one since 1997 and it is still in good working order. Some of the black paint you see in the photo above is chipped off, but other than that no problems.

I've used a 5x Eschenbach loupe since about 1990 or so. I'm on my second one. After about 12 years of use, the lense fell out.
I'm not sure how my first one broke. One of the teenagers borrowed it without asking ... then it was returned broken

I wear mine on a lanyard. Some of the black paint has also chipped off mine.

darktone · October 31, 2004 6:33AM

Well it sounds like everyone that responded here uses a good loupe. Maybe some differences should be pointed out between a cheap loupe and a good one so those that use those cheap chrome ones will know what they are missing. mike

foodude · October 31, 2004 6:55AM

Well it sounds like everyone that responded here uses a good loupe. Maybe some differences should be pointed out between a cheap loupe and a good one so those that use those cheap chrome ones will know what they are missing. mike

Lower quality optics tend to have more distortion, whihcnin turn makes it more difficult to get a true sense of what the viewer is looking at. An added advantage of the 5x Eschenbach loupe is that it has a relatively large viewing area.

Most graders use a 5-7X loupe for grading. I occasionaly use a 10x or 20x when looking for certain varieties and when looking for certain signs of alteration/counterfeit detection.

Loupes- are you using a good one?

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