Anyone tried using camcorder linked to TV for viewing varities?

Amigo · November 13, 2007 9:08AM

Anyone tried using camcorder linked to TV for viewing varieties?

I am the new owner of well over 100 lbs of coins that have been off the market for 40 + yrs. I'd like to search for varities. It's pretty daunting looking thru a small 10x magnifying glass. Also it appears that many varities in the Cherrypicker's guide required more than a 10x.

I don't have a microscope or camcorder. Looking to figure out which to buy.

I've read all the threads I could find on microscopes, but none of them mentioned what would be the idea power that would allow me to see all the possiblities. I'd prefer to buy a nice scope vs the OX5 that seems to be popular.

The other option is, buying a Sony High Def camcorder. They can focus close enough to fill the entire view, then have it linked to a TV , which would in effect be magnifying the image I would guess substantially. Maybe not enough though. I realize it wouldn't be as crisp as a microscope, but it shoud would be a lot faster zooming thru all the coins. Have you tried this method ? I was thinking of this because I'm in need of a new camcorder and thought it would kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks for your input.

grabba · November 13, 2007 9:22AM

Interesting idea.

Wonder if you would need a High Def TV too?

perfectstrike · November 13, 2007 9:38AM

I never thought about using a video camera. I've got one with a 17x zoom that I was going to throw away. It'll mount on the copy stand easy enough. I'll have to try it some day and see if the optics are good enough,

I' have been using a microscope with the AmScope video adapter kit and it save lots of wear on my damaged neck.

David

ibzman350 · November 13, 2007 10:32AM

grabba................

Herb

Coxe · November 13, 2007 10:39AM

...

MrSpud · November 13, 2007 10:51AM

You can do it with just a regular camera with a macro lens. This one is hooked to a TV with a patch cord I got from the dollar store. I've never used it to look for varieties, just to use the TV instead of the view screen on the camera to get a better idea of what the pictures will look like on a computer. It would probably work effectively for looking for varieties though.

lonelyp · November 13, 2007 11:04AM

I was thinking of trying this with a webcam. I don't own one or know if it would work well.

Frankcoins · November 13, 2007 11:26AM

<< <i>Anyone tried using camcorder linked to TV for viewing varieties?

>>

If you had a camcorder with full DVD quality (you don't) you have 480 x 720 pixels...that's 1/3 of a million Pixels...

Typical TV gives maybe half that.

HDTV equipment might do double to triple those numbers, but a still image from a 3 megapixel or better camera displayed on a 1050 x 1680 (or close) LCD computer monitor gives hugely better quality than video equipment.

Frankcoins · November 13, 2007 11:29AM

<< <i>I was thinking of trying this with a webcam. I don't own one or know if it would work well. >>

Typical webcam 320 by 240 pixels. 76,000 pixels compared to 4 to 10 Million pixels for a camera.

EagleEye · November 13, 2007 12:23PM

I did that for my class at the ANA Summer Seminar, but it was for macro images, not extreme close-ups. I projected it on a screen, so the coins got real big. It was great for grading and counterfeit detection. If I attached the camcorder to a microscope I could have gotten much closer.

Anyone tried using camcorder linked to TV for viewing varities?

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