Gettin a new digital microscope. UPDATED LAST POST!!

bsshog40 · September 14, 2020 7:15PM

So I've had one of those Celestron 10x-150x microscopes for a few years now. It's works ok but I don't like the fact that you can't adjust the lights, and it sits in a frail plastic stand. So I just bought one of these Opti-Tekscopes. I seen a couple videos on them and it seems to be pretty decent for the price. Anyone seen one of these or have one?

Walkerfan · September 14, 2020 7:22PM

No, but it sure looks fun and useful.

Can you take pix with it?

bsshog40 · September 14, 2020 7:27PM

@Walkerfan said:
No, but it sure looks fun and useful.

Can you take pix with it?

Yep, here's the link to ebay where I bought it.
https://ebay.com/itm/Digital-USB-Microscope-Camera-Opti-Tekscope-True-High-Definition-Macro-200x/353196113541?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Walkerfan · September 14, 2020 7:29PM

@bsshog40 said:

@Walkerfan said:
No, but it sure looks fun and useful.

Can you take pix with it?

Yep, here's the link to ebay where I bought it.
https://ebay.com/itm/Digital-USB-Microscope-Camera-Opti-Tekscope-True-High-Definition-Macro-200x/353196113541?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Cool. Thanks!

yosclimber · September 14, 2020 7:50PM

For viewing coins, I prefer a (non-digital) stereo microscope ($100 used on ebay). Great for seeing raised features like die cracks.

For photographing coins, I prefer a DSLR camera ($200), macro lens ($120) and copy stand ($100+).

Originally I bought a $40 USB microscope, but I realized:

It does not have options for white balance. So the colors in the photos are wrong.
It has much less resolution (size of sensor). So I can't see details like smaller die cracks on half dimes.

bsshog40 · September 14, 2020 8:04PM

Well I do have a nice canon IS3 with a decent copy stand. I still think these microscopes are pretty neat. I just took the pic below a couple weeks ago with the little Celestron I have. The frail stand makes it hard to properly focus the thing. I think the one I just bought is much sturdier. I have also used it to video a watch hairspring in action and taking pics of smaller parts inside of my wristwatches.

ifthevamzarockin · September 14, 2020 9:19PM

Looks like you found a good use for your gift card.

Looks nice.....congrats!

Jimnight · September 14, 2020 11:17PM

Nice!

yosclimber · September 14, 2020 11:58PM

Canon S3 IS? It's a good camera for some things, but a zoom lens is not the same as a macro lens,
and the sensor is pretty small compared to cameras available today at roughly the same cost.
I'm using the Canon T2i (aka 550D).
One of the nicest features is LiveView, so I can see the coin in real time on my large computer monitor,
to set up proper lighting and focus (although I normally use autofocus, because it's so fast and accurate).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_digital_SLRs

That's a decent shot of the RPM. But that microscope wouldn't be good if you want to shoot smaller features
or show what the field surface looks like.

Of course, you may not need to make nicer photos.
Spending $320 for camera body + lens could be spent on coins instead....

johnny9434 · September 15, 2020 1:56AM

You'll have a lot of fun and good use with that

ReadyFireAim · September 15, 2020 4:01AM

All I have is a stereo microscope & I can't take pictures.
I'm considering something similar so give us a product review update after you get it.

1630Boston · September 15, 2020 4:21AM

Looks much sturdier than the plastic ones @bsshog40

1630Boston · September 15, 2020 4:21AM

I totally agree that live view makes a world of difference @yosclimber

bsshog40 · September 15, 2020 5:28AM

@yosclimber said:
Canon S3 IS? It's a good camera for some things, but a zoom lens is not the same as a macro lens,
and the sensor is pretty small compared to cameras available today at roughly the same cost.
I'm using the Canon T2i (aka 550D).
One of the nicest features is LiveView, so I can see the coin in real time on my large computer monitor,
to set up proper lighting and focus (although I normally use autofocus, because it's so fast and accurate).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_digital_SLRs

That's a decent shot of the RPM. But that microscope wouldn't be good if you want to shoot smaller features
or show what the field surface looks like.

Of course, you may not need to make nicer photos.
Spending $320 for camera body + lens could be spent on coins instead....

Well I don't take pics of coins for a living so I'm not really concerned about getting extravagant with my setup to take a pic of a mintmark. I just started a thread for a new microscope that I think would be fun to play with. I didn't start it to debate the best way to take a pic. If you would like, you could start your own post as to why you wouldn't buy a cheap microscope!

ricko · September 15, 2020 5:52AM

That looks like a nice set up.... Should get some nice pictures with that. Cheers, RickO

yosclimber · September 15, 2020 7:28AM

Sorry if it seemed like I was hijacking.
I was just trying to compare what you get for $320 (DSLR + macro lens) vs. what you get for $95 (USB microscope).

bsshog40 · September 15, 2020 8:08AM

@yosclimber said:
Sorry if it seemed like I was hijacking.
I was just trying to compare what you get for $320 (DSLR + macro lens) vs. what you get for $95 (USB microscope).

I hear ya. I have a pretty decent camera setup and btw, I can hook my canon up to my pc and get a live view. I just think these little microscopes are a little faster to the point then setting up my camera, copy stand and then taking 20 pictures before I get what I'm looking for. Lol
No harm done my friend!

joeykoins · September 15, 2020 9:04AM

bsshog40 · September 15, 2020 5:46PM

@yosclimber said:
Sorry if it seemed like I was hijacking.
I was just trying to compare what you get for $320 (DSLR + macro lens) vs. what you get for $95 (USB microscope).

I forgot to add, the pic above that I took was thru a slab. I'm gonna attempt another pic of the same MM when I get the new one and post it here. We'll see.

bsshog40 · September 17, 2020 2:04PM

Ok, so I got my new microscope in today. Here is the difference. This coin is in a slab. I actually like the new one better. What about you?

MWallace · September 17, 2020 3:05PM

I like the new one better.

coinbuf · September 17, 2020 3:08PM

Nice photo from the new scope.

bsshog40 · September 17, 2020 3:13PM

What I really like about this one is the light can be adjusted to really bright or dial it down to off. Plus I didn't have to get near as close to the slab as I did the old one. My lens was touching the slab with the old scope, and I was about an inch above the slab with the new one.

ms70 · September 17, 2020 3:19PM

The color is better on the new one. Do you have a link to where the new one is for sale?

MWallace · September 17, 2020 3:23PM

@ms70 said:
The color is better on the new one. Do you have a link to where the new one is for sale?

It's in the 3rd post above.

MWallace · September 17, 2020 3:26PM

@ms70 said:
The color is better on the new one. Do you have a link to where the new one is for sale?

Also available on Amazon for less.

https://amazon.com/Opti-Tekscope-Digital-Microscope-Definition-1600x1200/dp/B00PEZ3GMK/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Digital+USB+Microscope+Camera+Opti-Tekscope+-+True+High+Definition+Macro+200x&qid=1600381473&sr=8-2

thebeav · September 17, 2020 5:44PM

Yup, the new one is better !

jesbroken · September 17, 2020 5:59PM

Great job, Bobby. I agree the new one's pic is great for a microscope and way better than the other one.
Congrats and thanks for sharing.
Jim

bsshog40 · September 17, 2020 6:18PM

@jesbroken said:
Great job, Bobby. I agree the new one's pic is great for a microscope and way better than the other one.
Congrats and thanks for sharing.
Jim

Thanks Jim! It found me a die crack earlier. You should check out the thread. Lol

kaz · September 17, 2020 6:21PM

NIce photo. Looks like a fun toy!

1960NYGiants · September 17, 2020 6:43PM

I see it goes to 200x, what is the lowest? Can it take images of an entire coin?

bsshog40 · September 17, 2020 6:49PM

@1960NYGiants said:
I see it goes to 200x, what is the lowest? Can it take images of an entire coin?

Yea it seems to have plenty of room to work with. I took these earlier in another thread. I even cropped the edges of the full coin pics.

1960NYGiants · September 17, 2020 6:56PM

Nice! And thank you. I think I will pick one up.

jesbroken · September 18, 2020 3:19PM

Bobby, I may get one myself. I've got several, but I like yours far better. Let me know how it does after you've learned all the tricks.
Jim

bsshog40 · September 18, 2020 3:55PM

@jesbroken said:
Bobby, I may get one myself. I've got several, but I like yours far better. Let me know how it does after you've learned all the tricks.
Jim

Not much to it Jim. It has about a 1/4" movement in the stand but not really an issue once you have it focused and get ready to take a pick. They send you a software disk and that has to stay in the cd drive in order to work the program. It wouldn't just install it. I did find it better to go to the website and download the software from there and then just put a shortcut to my desktop. No more disk then. The link below is suppose to be an upgraded model that is a little more sturdier. I would have actually bought this one but I had an ebay gift card and couldn't find this model on ebay, only amazon.
https://amazon.com/Opti-Tekscope-Microscope-Advanced-Definition-Industrial/dp/B0184CCOY0/ref=asc_df_B0184CCOY0/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584070147698888&psc=1

bsshog40 · September 18, 2020 8:01PM

@1960NYGiants said:
I see it goes to 200x, what is the lowest? Can it take images of an entire coin?

Just out of curiosity, I decided to take a pic of my Vam-3D Morgan. This is with the microscope. I turned the light off and just had my little florescent light on above my desk.

ricko · September 19, 2020 5:09AM

That new scope is great.... Nice pictures/detail....Cheers, RickO

ms70 · September 19, 2020 6:14AM

Mine is a cheapie but does an ok job. Yours has WAY better color. I'd like to upgrade but aside from a couple of coin purchases (ALWAYS justified of course) I had to spend $600 this month for my dog's tooth extraction.....

bsshog40 · September 19, 2020 7:43AM

Well my camera setup is in my workshop and does better pics, of course, but this ain't too bad if I don't have time to hit the shop and set my canon up.

MWallace · September 19, 2020 7:56AM

@bsshog40 said:

@1960NYGiants said:
I see it goes to 200x, what is the lowest? Can it take images of an entire coin?

Just out of curiosity, I decided to take a pic of my Vam-3D Morgan. This is with the microscope. I turned the light off and just had my little florescent light on above my desk.

I might just have to get one of these microscopes. I'm going to start selling off a large part of my collection and this sure would come in handy for photos.

bsshog40 · September 19, 2020 8:39AM

Ya, it's not too bad if you need a bunch of quickie shots.

Danno44 · September 19, 2020 9:26AM

@bsshog40 i have the upgraded version (had some gift cards from amazon). I agree, it works well for quick shots or to go through a bunch of coins without fumbling with a loop.
I do have a camera set up for more precise shots, but happy with the scope too for what I use it for.

Walkerfan · September 19, 2020 10:42AM

The color and clarity is better on the new one.

jesbroken · September 20, 2020 6:07AM

Thanks, Bobby. I just ordered the model you recommended from Amazon. Look forward to playing with it. Now I will sell my celestron, I hope. lol
Great pics. I like your pics of the whole coin.
Jim

bsshog40 · September 20, 2020 6:58AM

@jesbroken said:
Thanks, Bobby. I just ordered the model you recommended from Amazon. Look forward to playing with it. Now I will sell my celestron, I hope. lol
Great pics. I like your pics of the whole coin.
Jim

Let me know how like it Jim after you get it. There's not much to it, but if you have any questions, just holler my friend.

Gettin a new digital microscope. UPDATED LAST POST!!

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