Best pocket magnifier?

Rob85635

Bored here at work and was looking at my pocket change with my magnifier and decided to make a new post with a picture of it. What is your favorite magnifier? I really like this one, it is about 2" x 1 1/2" collapsed (pic is of it slid open). It is a Bausch & Lomb 5x magnifier. I like this one but was wondering if anyone has any recommendations on a better one. The only dislikes is 5x when I would like 7X and it is in a plastic housing that is a bit flimsly. Is 7x to much for a pocket magnifier? I have a couple of the loupes but I really don't care for those, to hard to get focused, this one is fairly quick to use.

COALPORTER

QUOTE, "I have a couple of the loupes but I really don't care for those, to hard to get focused, this one is fairly quick to use."

The low quality loops are impossible to focus. The high quality loops focas fast and allow you to see most of the coin at once. I have a B-L 7x Hastings loop with lanyard and wear it to coin shows and use it at home.

mrpaseo

My favs

mrpaseo

Nothing special here. Small collection.


And if I want to get up close...

ressikanflute

I need one with a string. I lost one yesterday and almost left one at the flea market today.

rmpsrpms

Picked up a bunch of magnifiers while in Singapore a few years ago. They were all Russian manufacture and I got a range of them from 2.5x to 10x. They are the best optics I've used so far, at least the 2.5x and 4x. For 7x I prefer B&L Hastings Triplet. For higher than 7x I can't recommend anything but a stereo microscope.

Cameonut

I have owned many loupes. Consider it an important tool if you are collecting coins. If you catch one or two problem coins before purchase it will have paid for itself.

That being said, I own several B&L loupes - I don't use them anymore. The Zeiss D36 is very nice (I own it as well), but my overall winner is the Eschenbach Achromat 3+6=9. The optics are the same as the Zeiss, but it feels better in the hand and has a ring for a lanyard. Yes, it will cost you over $100 - but well worth the price.

numisma

I agree with cameonut. Here's some info on the Eschenbach from my website (I sold my last one recently). However, I have personally use a Zeiss for years and have been very happy with the quality.

Link to Eschenbach

gemini12398

I am selling the 10x Eschenbach which looks like the one numisma pictured, but is 1 lens, not two, for 75 dollars delivered! Please pm me if interested folks!

zeebob

Here is a similar darkside thread.

A good triplet can be purchased for $120.

But I have tried several inexpensive triplets and have found them "okay". But I tried a Zeiss triplet at a show and the clarity of the image was night and day against my other less expensive lenses. A few days latter I bought my Zeiss D36 HERE. I paid $85 plus shipping. I see that the link now has $120 price tag. I'd pay that.

I also have a little single lens 5x Eschenbach loupe from ThePennyLady Charmy Harker. This is a great loupe. Very good image. Metal case. Glass lens. I really like the Zeiss lens, but I like the Eschenbach form factor. The Zeiss is a little bulky, but the multiple magnifications is nice. I find myself carrying both loupes a lot and making use of both. I don't remember what I paid for the Eschenbach, but it was like $70-$80 I think. Maybe $50? Charmy will tell you if you ask her.

I did a bit of looking at the Eschenbach site. Wow - they have some nice stuff. I'm pretty sure my Eschenbach is this one..

Cameonut

One nice feature of the Zeiss and Eschenbach loupes is that they have two lenses. One at 3x and other at 6x - combined they are 9x. I mostly take a quick look at coins at 6x - then 9x for more close work. But the 3x is handy to screen coins in the 'normal' dealer cases, without asking to open the case. It is enough magnification to see coins in 2x2's and slabs to get a better look at coins quickly. Then if any coins catch my eye, I can ask to see them in hand.

determined

<< <i>One nice feature of the Zeiss and Eschenbach loupes is that they have two lenses. One at 3x and other at 6x - combined they are 9x. I mostly take a quick look at coins at 6x - then 9x for more close work. But the 3x is handy to screen coins in the 'normal' dealer cases, without asking to open the case. It is enough magnification to see coins in 2x2's and slabs to get a better look at coins quickly. ... >>



Thank you for that! I've been wanting a good loupe and I like the idea of multiple magnifications.

So I just ordered the Zeiss 12 and 24 Diopter 'Triplet' linked above.

Not cheap. But I'm 50 years old and my close-up vision is going which is IRRITATING beyond belief!!! So I wanted a good one.