Seeking opinions about a stereomicroscope/camera set-up

golddustin · August 13, 2013 5:02AM

I have been playing around with a half-homemade copy stand and a very nice Canon w/macro lens for several years. I had been able to get pretty good images after an awful lot of trial & error both in camera settings and system set up. However, when we recently moved, the copy stand was broken. Rather than monkey around trying to piece it back together, I started looking at various stereo microscopes on flea-bay....there appears to be some pretty decent 'kits' available at reasonable prices.
I am wondering if anybody who uses one has a particular favorite model, or combination of scope & camera. I would like to be able to take images as wide as an entire slab, but also detailed enough to pick up varieties such as rpmm, die cracks, etc.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Chuck

rmpsrpms · August 13, 2013 12:49PM

Some folks have reasonable luck with taking pics through stereo microscopes, but I've always preferred to have my optics dedicated to their particular purposes. Full-coin pics are best taken with a DSLR (or MILC) using either dedicated macro lenses or bellows with duplication or enlarging lens. The dedicated macro lens can usually get you to 1:1, while the bellows and duplication lens can get you to 2:1, at which point you will get the best quality shots using objectives intended for mono microscopes. Stereo microscopes are unbeatable for scanning through coins quickly and with minimal eye strain, and for identifying varieties, grading, etc but they will not produce the kind of image quality that you can achieve using a good mono microscope objective.

What I personally use is a Bausch & Lomb Stereo-2 pod with 15x eyepieces or a Stereo-1 pod with 10x or 15x eyepieces for general microscope viewing. I also have a 0.7x-3x StereoZoom4 pod but I rarely use the variable pod, though it would probably be a better instrument for your purposes.

For full coin photos I have a Canon T2i mounted on a bellows with a selection of enlarging and duplicating lenses, with the bellows mounted on a Bausch & Lomb Stereo Microscope stand for precision adjustment. That takes me from Dollars down to 2:1 variety shots. For 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, or even higher magnification I change the bellows lens out to a microscope objective.

Each type of optic is specially suited for its purpose, and gives the highest performance available (within a reasonable price).

Edit...can you post a link to an example of what you're looking at on eBay?

georgiacop50 · August 13, 2013 10:34PM

<< <i> I would like to be able to take images as wide as an entire slab...
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Chuck >>

I just can't imagine any stereomicroscope having a field of view that large.

A scope is great for magnified shots of rpm's etc., but will not functionally replace a copy stand for shooting objects as large as a slab.

golddustin · August 17, 2013 2:14AM

Yes, I am aware that finding a suitable 'scope for imaging slabs is not the best/easiest way to photograph them, but due to limited working space, I would like to just have one set up for all of my imaging. I do have the Canon Rebel IS w/macro lens, plus a folding magnifying plate to place beneath the camera for when I need an even closer shot.
I do think the scope would prove to be much easier to use for imaging varieties, which I have started to take a greater interest in, as well as save a lot of space compared to the copy stand/camera set-up.
I have been thinking about getting a scope w/o a camera, and buying an adaptor for my Canon.....here is one of the eBay items that I was looking at for that purpose -
scope w/o camera

And here is a scope w/camera that I thought might work -
camera & scope

And thanks for the good info!!!

Chuck

LanceNewmanOCC · August 17, 2013 2:19AM

<< <i>I just can't imagine any stereomicroscope having a field of view that large. >>

i'm not endorsing stereomicroscopes but i'm pretty sure that is what L.V.A. uses for our plate images for VAMs
.

golddustin · August 17, 2013 12:20PM

TTT

rmpsrpms · August 17, 2013 12:54PM

All I can say is I know a lot of folks who have gone down that path (including myself), and ultimately gave it up for a simpler bellows-based setup. The best all-in-one setup I've been able to put together is a convertible stand that can mount a stereo microscope pod for variety searching, and then remove the pod and install a bellows for photographing the full coin or variety details.

Note that the microscope you linked to has a mimimum magnifcation of 5x, but for a slab you need around 0.2x, so you'll never get to the point of doing a full slab shot with it...

messydesk · August 17, 2013 3:12PM

I have a stereo microscope (Bausch & Lomb StereoZoom 4) on my desk that I use all the time for attributions. When I need to take a picture, which I also do all the time, I point my point 'n' shoot through the eyepiece and click carefully. I've probably done over 15,000 pictures this way. Works quite well. Perhaps not as perfect as a fixed mounting for the camera, but much more convenient. I'd never use it for full-coin shots, though, as the practical size limit would probably be 3c silver.

LanceNewmanOCC · August 17, 2013 3:56PM

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golddustin, you should for sure listen to messydesk, rmpsrpms, mgoodman if you are going into the world of quality macro numismotography. i would add myself at the end but those 3 would cover everything i'd say and then some.
.

golddustin · August 18, 2013 12:19PM

Hey - thanks to everybody. My main issue is getting quality shots of attributions/varieties, and my current set up just doesn't do that well enough. Besides, my copystand is in need of a fairly major overhaul. I was getting pretty good with what I have as far as postings for eBay, and on the forums, etc., just not happy when trying to pick up those tiny cuds, die cracks and other minute details.

Had a GREAT day at Saratoga & Delmar today, so I now have a little mad money

to spend on something for myself. I just may do something similar to messydesk - that sounds very practical.

Much obliged,
Chuck

rmpsrpms · August 18, 2013 12:28PM

Here's the kind of quality you can get with a Nikon M5 objective, which are typically available for less than $30:

You can also go up to a 10x objective if you want to get down to the mintmark level, or just add a 2x teleconverter to do the same.

Seeking opinions about a stereomicroscope/camera set-up

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