Can anyone recommend their favorite magnifier loop?

dizzyfoxx · June 9, 2008 9:26AM

I know there are a lot out there to choose from and I've tried a few. I'm curious if any of you "swear" by any particular loop and/or power x magnification?

FLBuffaloHunter · June 9, 2008 9:29AM

For the money this one is hard to beat. Excellent high qulaity 10x triplet glass

Link

… · June 9, 2008 9:29AM

YES! Bausch and Lomb Hastings Triplet. Its a crazy good loupe. In fact, its so good, when i use another loupe, it strains my eyes because the other one is so much worse.

mrearlygold · June 9, 2008 9:30AM

10X ESCHENBACH

In fact, buy the set

No. 9835-FL 5X
No. 9835SPL 10X

You will be absolutely happy.

ricko · June 9, 2008 10:09AM

Zeiss, 3x6x9... Cheers, RickO

golfer72 · June 9, 2008 10:12AM

loupe

dizzyfoxx · June 9, 2008 10:17AM

<< loupe >>

Oupes... I mean oops!

SilverEagles92 · June 9, 2008 10:23AM

<< For the money this one is hard to beat. Excellent high qulaity 10x triplet glass

Link >>

+1

Pistareen · June 9, 2008 10:56AM

I'm with ricko. Zeiss makes the best loupe on the market.

My only complaint about Zeiss is that, unlike B+L, they don't come with a nifty little hanger so I can wear it on a lanyard. Thus, I have lost two Zeiss loupes in 3 years compared to having my old B+L loupe for about 15.

Then again, wearing a magnifier on a lanyard makes pretty girls ask questions like "why are you wearing a whistle?"

atom48coin · June 9, 2008 10:57AM

<< Zeiss, 3x6x9... Cheers, RickO >>

OnlyGoldIsMoney · June 9, 2008 11:04AM

My Zeiss is by far the best I have used. I wish I could put it on a lanyard.

Mark

Doogy · June 9, 2008 11:06AM

i have the Eschenbach 7x loupe that i bought from the ANA. You can find them on their website; well made German engineering, great optics and around $50. hard to beat

drwstr123 · June 9, 2008 11:06AM

B&L 10x Coddington. Mike

291fifth · June 9, 2008 11:09AM

5X Eschenbach model 1177. Excellent for grading, very compact, metal construction. Current MSRP is about $103, but it can be found discounted to somewhere near $75.

IGWT · June 9, 2008 11:11AM

My only complaint about Zeiss is that, unlike B+L, they don't come with a nifty little hanger so I can wear it on a lanyard. Thus, I have lost two Zeiss loupes in 3 years . . . .

There you go, Dizzy. Just follow John around the bourse floor and you'll find a nice loupe for a cheap price.

The hinge pin on the Zeiss is hollow, so you can pass a wire through it to fashion a loop (yes, a loop for the loupe) for attaching to a lanyard. Other folks use a D-ring for that purpose.

Ronyahski · June 9, 2008 11:13AM

Zeiss 3x6x9. Least distortion of any I've used. Swear by it. Even without a nifty litttle hanger, I've had mine for 8 years, though I've had to find it again at least 10 times. If I can avoid losing it, anybody can.

DaveG · June 9, 2008 11:13AM

The best magnifying glass I've found for taking to shows is the B&L 5x Packette.

It's inexpensive (< $10), so I never worry about losing it.

And, I haven't - I've had mine for 15 years!

RYK · June 9, 2008 11:19AM

I agree with the pros and cons of the Zeiss. I am more likely to misplace mine around my desk than lose it at a coin show.

ArizonaJack · June 9, 2008 11:23AM

I carry a B&L pair of Hastings at all times, a 10X and a 20X, and THANK YOU to AstroRat Lane for the back-up pair as well.

MrHalfDime · June 9, 2008 11:31AM

I must agree with Ricko, Pistareen, and IGWT. The Zeiss loupe is by far the best I have ever used. I will admit that I balked at first, spending more than $100 on a loupe to look at coins, but I was allowed to try one for a day at a FUN Show several years ago, to see if I liked it. At the end of the day, the dealer could not get it back from me. I have used it ever since. I justify it by reasoning that if you are buying $5 coins you can use a $5 loupe, but if you are buying more expensive coins, you really should be using a quality loupe. (I should also state that I ALWAYS carry a Bausch & Lomb 5x Packette with me, as recommended by Dave G).

As IGWT states, the hinge pin on the Zeiss loupe is hollow, so those with little imagination or no particular skills can "... pass a wire through it to fashion a loop". (

)Or those with greater dexterity can fashion a "D" ring to fit the loupe, with the ends inserted into the hollow hinge pin, and wear it on a lanyard. I have had mine for several years now without loss, and am presently fashioning another custom Zeiss "D" ring for a fellow half dime collector. I would highly recommend attaching a lanyard to any expensive loupe, though, as it will most certainly grow legs if you do not. They are only expensive if you lose them.

Tvac897 · June 9, 2008 11:35AM

<< For the money this one is hard to beat. Excellent high qulaity 10x triplet glass

Link >>

Thanks for the link!

sparky64 · June 9, 2008 11:38AM

<< The best magnifying glass I've found for taking to shows is the B&L 5x Packette.

It's inexpensive (< $10), so I never worry about losing it.

And, I haven't - I've had mine for 15 years! >>

I have one of those and I like it.
Recently got a B&L 7x Hastings triplet and I love it!

Cameonut · June 9, 2008 11:39AM

I have owned several Hastings triplets. I do not care for them anymore as they didn't have a wide enough field of view.

I also own both the Zeiss D36 3+6=9 and the Eschenbach Achromat 3+6=9. Both are outstanding loupes and I cannot see any difference between them performance wise. However, I give the Eschenbach the edge for two minor reasons 1) it has a ring to put it on a lanyard (to help keep you from losing it) and 2) it just feels better in my hand.

Some people complain about the price (>$100), but they have paid for themselves many times over by allowing me to get a great view of the surfaces of the coins I buy.

Goldbully · June 9, 2008 11:58AM

Where can I purchase the Zeiss Loupe 3x6x9 or the Eschenbach??

Thanks

cheezhed · June 9, 2008 12:06PM

http://www.opticsplanet.net/magnifiers.html

cheezhed · June 9, 2008 12:10PM

http://www.ambericawest.com/zeiss_loupe.html

AACoinCo · June 9, 2008 12:40PM

If you give us a call we are a wholeseller of the Eschebach 3x6=9 loupes. The cost to board members is $110.00 plus shipping. Just call the office vs. using the website due to the forum discount. We use to sell the Zeiss as well but our last batch developed stress fractures in the lens and we had a problem getting them replaced. Our number is 877-456-COIN or our web site is AACoinCo.com

sparky64 · June 9, 2008 12:56PM

AACoinCo
Nice. I just bookmarked you.

Goldbully · June 9, 2008 1:05PM

<< AACoinCo
Nice. I just bookmarked you. >>

This Link works!!!!

foodude · June 9, 2008 1:30PM

I also own both the Zeiss D36 3+6=9 and the Eschenbach Achromat 3+6=9. Both are outstanding loupes and I cannot see any difference between them performance wise. However, I give the Eschenbach the edge for two minor reasons 1) it has a ring to put it on a lanyard (to help keep you from losing it) and 2) it just feels better in my hand.

Some people complain about the price (>$100), but they have paid for themselves many times over by allowing me to get a great view of the surfaces of the coins I buy.

I too own and use both. As far as the price, it is still cheaper than an expensive mistake made using lower quality opitcs.

GFourDriver · June 9, 2008 1:43PM

Zeiss 6x30..... it's the eyepiece from my telescope. Beats any loupe by a mile.

wayneherndon · June 9, 2008 11:31PM

Here's a large selection of Eschenbach, Bausch & Lomb and other loupes and magnifiers.

WH

Coxe · June 9, 2008 11:39PM

Belomo 10X triplet. These are well made and very great deals. I use one as my main loupe and think I have been pretty good in picking out VAMs reliably and fast with it.

Newcomp103 · June 9, 2008 11:41PM

I use 6X for everyday grading and inspection for most coins and 16X for die varieties.

Shamika · June 9, 2008 11:49PM

Bausch and Lomb Hastings Triplet - 10X

skerke · June 9, 2008 11:56PM

Carries most of the brands listed in this thread...

http://www.amateurgeologist.com/shop/equipment_loupes.html#HW-10000001

Link

Stuart · June 22, 2008 12:39PM

I really enjoy using the Eschenbach Achromat 3+6=9 and highly recommend it.

Bayard1908 · June 22, 2008 12:47PM

<< YES! Bausch and Lomb Hastings Triplet. Its a crazy good loupe. In fact, its so good, when i use another loupe, it strains my eyes because the other one is so much worse. >>

I've had one of these for 30 years, but have noticed that the lens diameter is pretty small compared to many current loupes. What advantage will a bigger diameter lens give - more light or greater field of view?

mrearlygold · June 22, 2008 1:10PM

Here too

Eschenbach and others at Rare Coin Books Dot Com

MikeInFL · June 22, 2008 1:43PM

Count me in the Eschenbach Achromat 3+6=9 column. Zeiss is good too, but prefer the better handling Eschenbach....Mike

Swampboy · June 22, 2008 1:55PM

What does 'triplet' mean?

storm888 · June 22, 2008 2:03PM

ANCO 16X

30+ years of service, so far.

BECOKA · June 22, 2008 2:56PM

Here is my favorite from Mark's website.

Oh shoot, you meant loop.

SMK · June 25, 2008 2:55AM

Any feed back on these?

Jcarney · June 25, 2008 3:03AM

<< YES! Bausch and Lomb Hastings Triplet. Its a crazy good loupe. In fact, its so good, when i use another loupe, it strains my eyes because the other one is so much worse. >>

This is the loupe I use along with a cheaper B&L that has two lenses, but I've heard good things about Eschenbach and Zeiss and will probably purchase one of those in the future.

TwoSides2aCoin · June 25, 2008 3:06AM

Hastings triplet. 7x, (for grading) 10x (examining diagnostics to determine authenticity) or 16x is best.
That was under the recommendation of Bill Fivaz in his "Counterfeit Detection Guide".

Why ?

In his words :
"While a bit more expensive that the "average" glass, it is well worth the extra bucks as you get excellent resolution and little or no peripheral distortion."

SMK · August 14, 2008 4:51AM

I'm trying to make up my mind between the Eschenbach 7x Illuminated magnifier and the B & L 4x+5x=9x. I like the fact that Eschenbach 7x has the light so willing to shed the $52. If the light is not very helpful then I'll rather go for the B & L.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Manfred · December 3, 2008 6:54PM

<< Any feed back on these?

>>

Yes, any feedback on this would be great..

keets · December 3, 2008 9:01PM

Eschenbach 3-6-9 after Newmismatist encouraged me to try his. thanks, Ron!!

DoubleEagle59 · December 3, 2008 10:31PM

any brand,

just make sure the lens is a 'triplet'.

This makes a huge difference, since this type of lens (triplet) will give you a correct 'flat' field and correct color .

pheh · December 3, 2008 10:47PM

<< I must agree with Ricko, Pistareen, and IGWT. >>

Yep. I'm with these guys also. I started using the DS6 "24/12" about a year ago and never looked back. Bar none the best loupe you can get for the money, IMHO.

Can anyone recommend their favorite magnifier loop?

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