New Toy: Testing out my $55.00 digital microscope

CoinRaritiesOnline · December 13, 2011 2:46AM

I ordered a Barska PC 10x-300x Power Digital Microscope a few weeks ago when someone here on the forum mentioned that Newegg was selling them for $55 or so.

It has been sitting on my desk since it arrived. Today I decided to give it a test run.

It is very simple. The device is about the size of a cigar, plus the USB cable that was included. It plugs into a USB port on your PC.

That's all there is to it!

I fooled around with it with a coin that was on my desk. I held it with my hand at various distances (that's why these photos are a little blurry).

Literally it was 5 minutes from the time I took it out of the box to the time I saved these images to my computer.

I'm sure I can improve the photo quality. But it was easy & fun taking these...

PTVETTER · December 13, 2011 2:49AM

All I can say is WOW
and only $55.00?

perfectstrike · December 13, 2011 2:53AM

I'll second that wow! Do the images go direct to computer and are they live?
David

TomB · December 13, 2011 2:57AM

Nice change that you have laying around on your desk. Might I borrow change for a soda?

kimber45ACP · December 13, 2011 3:06AM

CoinRaritiesOnline · December 13, 2011 3:28AM

<< I'll second that wow! Do the images go direct to computer and are they live?
David >>

I was shocked at how simple it was.

You plug the thing into your computer. It automatically turns on. You open a window where you can see an image of what the camera sees -- live. When you like what you see, you press the button on top of the device.

You can then choose to save the image -- or not.

No software to install or download. Even a chimp like me was able to do it with ease.

It comes with 6 LED lights that surround the camera lens as well.

mrearlygold · December 13, 2011 3:46AM

LanceNewmanOCC · December 13, 2011 4:17AM

<< I'll second that wow! Do the images go direct to computer and are they live?
David >>

the 2 i have used for a couple years now are live feed

you can use a simple program like "snip" that is included with vista and win7 to take multiple images quickly and easily

some of the digi-scopes can take images and do all kinds of things depending on the software included.

my primary scope has no bells & whistles at all but is my favorite one and has helped make and save a lot of money, plus it is fun to use

the other one has a phenomenal software program but only goes to 200x and not 300x and that just happens to be a big difference

but for expert level microscopic study the 200x software package has some features that would be on par with pcgs laboratories authentication labs

once you get used to it and add a little creativity, you will be amazed at how user friendly they are
.
there are a few forum members that achieve nearly the same results with their camera/lens/software setup with amazing clarity, love to have paid lessons from them for photography
.
if you have the chance to get a digi-scope with a stand, i highly recommend it for numerous reasons
.

Timbuk3 · December 13, 2011 4:22AM

Very nice, Good job !!!

GMan · December 13, 2011 4:43AM

That was I that mentioned the newegg sale and I got mine too. I've done a bit with it but haven't had time to really check it out. It works great though and is easy to use. Glad you like yours!

Mowgli · December 13, 2011 4:52AM

I think I just got sold on buying one.

CoinJunkie · December 13, 2011 5:39AM

Very cool!

Have you tried imaging through a slab?

Gemineye · December 13, 2011 5:45AM

Hey..!!!...that's a good deal..I've been trying to hook-up my QX5 to my laptop but haven't had any luck.It's 64bit...my other computer is XP3 and it works OK with that...!!!
Nice pix....

johnny9434 · December 13, 2011 5:56AM

cool, i like. nice job

GMan · December 13, 2011 5:59AM

Here are a couple I took of a 68 Lincoln D/D.

Need to work a bit on the contrast a bit I think, but you can easily see the RPM.

jesbroken · December 13, 2011 6:02AM

Yeah, I had to sell my QX5 because of my new Windows 7 64 bit, so I'll be getting one of these. Can't see buying a $200 microscope for as little as I now use one.
Thanks
Jim

Kove · December 13, 2011 6:02AM

That's very impressive for the price. I just may have to get one of these.

LanceNewmanOCC · December 13, 2011 6:05AM

<< Very cool!

Have you tried imaging through a slab? >>

it can be done but is a little more difficult because of that gap between plastic and coin surface
.

perfectstrike · December 13, 2011 11:57AM

Thanks! I've been searching for a more versatile option for my classroom, this is just the ticket. The 300x sold me.
David

66Tbird · December 13, 2011 12:19PM

I really like mine USB scope more than I thought I would. Coin searching was my reason to make the purchase, but inspecting soldering of PC boards has been the real surprise. Since I do electronics as a hobby it has really helped . Also had a car key doing something weird at times and a quick look found a crack that could of been a real mess when it failed.

edit to add,, get one with a stand if you cannot fabricate one yourself. It's a set it and forget it deal then.

Copperguy · December 13, 2011 12:23PM

nice little toy

nwcoast · December 13, 2011 12:36PM

Amazing quality for the price!
They're going to be sold out after all of us buying them up!!
I'm in too

Meltdown · December 13, 2011 12:46PM

I've been googling around and the cheapest I found so far was amazon for $64.95

Anybody else find them cheaper? It appears the newegg sale is over.

erwindoc · December 13, 2011 12:58PM

Hmmm. My birthday is coming up. Perhaps Ill drop the wife a hint

Meltdown · December 13, 2011 1:02PM

I'm sold... I went ahead and ordered one from Amazon. I did find them a little cheaper through "pricegrabber.com" but wasn't familiar with their site and
didn't feel like registering a new acct. and/or throw my debit card around the internet any more than it is...

I can't wait to play around with it.

MidLifeCrisis · December 13, 2011 1:37PM

<< Nice change that you have laying around on your desk. >>

That was my first thought!

Cool toy!

Lakesammman · December 13, 2011 2:22PM

Can't wait for the next CRO Coin World Ad.

"1796 Large Cent - AARP Edition"

thatboyaintright · December 13, 2011 5:38PM

I just ordered one from ebay. Its only 2M pixel and 200x zoom but I figure that will suffice for my needs. Can't wait to start playing with with it. Merry Xmas to me ! This was says you e can snap the pictures by hitting the computer keys rather than having to use the button on the device. It seems that would be easier.

Zubie · December 13, 2011 6:57PM

Awesome...thanks for great Christmas gift idea for my dad. Just ordered one on Amazon for $65. Thx, Tim

RobertS · December 13, 2011 10:27PM

Amazon should pay you a commission, I went ahead and ordered one too.

ricko · December 13, 2011 11:06PM

Wow... I bet even I could use that one...

Cheers, RickO

seanq · December 13, 2011 11:16PM

I'm going to try and wait for the next sale, since I've been able to keep my trusty IntelPlay QX3 running through several OS changes. The biggest drawback of the QX3 is that it has only three fixed magnification settings (10x, 60x, and 200x). If I understand correctly this new one allows you to pick almost any magnification from 3x to 200x. The picture quality is a little better than the QX3 as well. Many thanks for sharing this.

Sean Reynolds

dorancoins · December 13, 2011 11:59PM

All that magnifying power for such small change in comparison to others? If that thing works for you, then it might work for me as well. Believe it or not, I had intentions to get something like that that I can put in the one eyepiece of my trinocular microscope. Well, I may have to consider getting one to carry on the road to shows, as I have people bugging me to look for coin varieties. Thanks for letting us forum members know about it.

GMan · December 14, 2011 2:28AM

Here are a couple of my 42/1 Merc through the slab:

It does a pretty decent job through the slab. Not bad for the price and very nice for varieties and such.

nwcoast · December 14, 2011 4:12AM

Bummer for me here.....
Isn't MAC compatable....
I guess i won't be getting one after all...
Even went so far as to call the company for ideas... Drivers...3rd party software

mingot · December 14, 2011 4:44AM

<< Bummer for me here.....
Isn't MAC compatable....
I guess i won't be getting one after all...
Even went so far as to call the company for ideas... Drivers...3rd party software

>>

this might work

this will work

illini420 · December 14, 2011 4:45AM

Could you hold that 200x microscope up to a 10x loupe and make it 2000x magnificaiton???

nwcoast · December 14, 2011 3:26PM

<< 

<< Bummer for me here.....
Isn't MAC compatable....
I guess i won't be getting one after all...
Even went so far as to call the company for ideas... Drivers...3rd party software

>>

this might work

this will work >>

Thanks for the tips...
I'll consider this route though i might be more inclined to put that money into optics that would work directly with the mac.
I really don't 'need' any of it, but could more easily get away with buying the less expensive option.

Akbeez · December 14, 2011 4:28PM

NW - let me know if you find something for the Mac. I lost use of Remote Capture with the Lion upgrade, can't find a good live view software replacement for my older Canon camera which still works great.

This digi scope looks quite attractive...

RobertS · December 14, 2011 9:46PM

I get mine today, I think this will be a nice tool to check questionable sealed boxes off ebay. By the way there is a new show called Weed Wars and I saw a gal checking some Marijuana buds with one of these, the buds had been infected with little spider mites, boy she could even see the spiders poop.

STONE · December 14, 2011 10:34PM

Honestly I don't like the quality of these images at all and I am VERY satisfied with my DinoLite microscope.
It has been well worth the $200 investment, even though I probably haven't used it in about a year!

Longacre · December 15, 2011 12:21AM

Nice job.

RobertS · January 2, 2012 10:34AM

Can someone tell me how to use this on windows 7? What software you use to show the picture on the screen? I installed the software that came with the barska but it really sucks and I am not able to take pictures with the button while using their software.

Thanks

Fountainhead · January 2, 2012 12:29PM

I suggest you try messing with the compatibility settings: right-click the icon, click "Properties", click "Compatibility", select "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and choose, say, Windows XP or Windows NT 4.0. Good luck!

BigA · January 2, 2012 9:07PM

<< Can someone tell me how to use this on windows 7? What software you use to show the picture on the screen? I installed the software that came with the barska but it really sucks and I am not able to take pictures with the button while using their software.

Thanks >>

I tried it on my Vista laptop and had to install the software that came on a disk....not very happy with that move since it starts every time I turn on my computer. I also found that it was NOT easy to remove. It did work but not worth the invasive program..I returned it....

Sounds like it works better on an XP machine....

RobertS · January 2, 2012 11:20PM

<< 

<< Can someone tell me how to use this on windows 7? What software you use to show the picture on the screen? I installed the software that came with the barska but it really sucks and I am not able to take pictures with the button while using their software.

Thanks >>

I tried it on my Vista laptop and had to install the software that came on a disk....not very happy with that move since it starts every time I turn on my computer. I also found that it was NOT easy to remove. It did work but not worth the invasive program..I returned it....

Sounds like it works better on an XP machine.... >>

There is an option in settings to keep it from starting when windows loads. I just do not like the size of the picture on the program and it feels clunky to me, it works just not as good as I would have wanted it to.

GMan · January 3, 2012 4:48AM

ON an XP machine, all you have to do is open "My Computer," double click on the Microscope and a window opens that displays the scope and lets you click the button to take pictures. It works pretty well.

GMan · January 13, 2012 10:30AM

Newegg has this back for $60 again.

Link

New Toy: Testing out my $55.00 digital microscope

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